02-03-22 Daily-Odisha-OPSC Current Affairs

It seems the inclusion of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in development of Odisha is not a priority of the Odisha Government as it is evident that, leave alone central schemes, there is not a single dedicated scheme solely out of State funds under the provision of Scheduled Caste Sub Plan focusing development of SCs.

Majority of SCs in Odisha are historically victims of the practices of untouchability. Besides, they are poor and landless. Many of them are distressed migrant workers. It has been widely understood that without the States intervention to change their socio-eco condition, it is difficult for them to stand on their own.

Though they constitute almost nearly one-fifth of the Population of the State but they have been deprived of funds in State Budget proportionate to their population for development. Leave aside job reservation in Government which covers only a very microscopic number of families among them, a vast majority of them, about 99 per cent of the families, are struggling to make a living against all odds.

In this context, lets discuss about schemes for SCs in Kerala which has achieved highest rank in social development indicators among the States. The SCs constitute about 9.1 per cent of the total population of the State and STs constitute almost 1.45 per cent. The total area of Kerala is 38,852 sqkm with about 590 km coast line and a majority of its population are in urban area. By contrast, the total area of Odisha is 1, 55,707 sqkm and the State has 480 km coast line.

Kerala has had a long HISTORY of progressive socio-political tradition that is rooted in ideology of social and social Justice promoted by social reformers such as Ayyankali (1863-1941), Narayana Guru(1856-1928), and powerful social movements such as Vaikom Satyagraha against untouchability (1924-25) with involvement of MK Gandhi and EV Ramaswami. Later the Left Front Government led by EMS Namboodiripad, the first Chief Minister of Kerala launched land reform, Literacy, universal primary Education, Panchayati Raj system and progressive literary and science education movements, which contributed immensely to building an inclusive social development.

The three major institutions evolved in Kerala laying focus on SCs development are the Scheduled Castes Development Department, Kerala State Development Corporation for SCs and STs and Kerala State Commission for SCs and STs.

The many unique initiatives of the State Government include a host of schemes covering from nursery education to EMPLOYMENT in abroad and business sector and radical social reform agenda such as employing Dalits as priests in temples and promoting inter caste marriage.

The State has developed a scheme to finance SC and ST families to purchase land both in rural and urban areas for housing and suitable agricultural activities with 6 per cent rate of interest and repayment within 8 years. In order to ensure basic amenities schemes for self-sufficient village, SC habitations having more than 50 families are being provided about Rs 1 crore grant under local MLA supervision. The scheme ensures all basic facilities, connecting roads, toilet, drinking water, electricity, drainage line, and Waste Management, renovation of house, bio gas Plants and IGP for the villagers.

With increasing use of agricultural machinery especially tractors, demand for bullocks for agricultural purposes has gone down over the years. Official data shows the number of bullocks has decreased by 31 per cent in the last seven years in the state.

and animal Resources development (FARD) ministerRanendra Pratap Swaintold the assembly on Wednesday that requirement of bullocks has declined due to reduction in usage of the animals in ploughing and bullock carts.

Odisha Milk Farmers Association (OMFA) chairmanRabi Beherasaid the situation has drastically changed after the introduction of farm mechanisation techniques and machines.

A free Health camp was conducted for the workers and supervisory staff involved in the works related to the water conveyor system under the Kaleshwaram lift Irrigation project at Namapur village in Pegadapalli mandal of Jagtial district.

According to a press release, the free health camp was conducted by the executing agency concerned on the occasion of the National Safety Day.

More than 300 persons availed the free Services offered by a team of doctors at the medical camp.

The Control Bureau (NCB) will hire experts and firms dealing with financial data analysis and forensic audit to augment its probe in sophisticated drug crimes that involve use of the dark web, cryptocurrencies and deals concealed through layered transactions.

The NCB has issued a notice for empanelment of consultancy agencies which would be required to help it in “unearthing the chain of transactions for drug Money and provide effective guidance in financial investigation matters.”

The experts will also assist NCB sleuths in conducting forensic audits, scrutiny of reports and documents and analysing bank statements, and property transactions to unearth the illegal income of an accused, associates and family members.

UNICEF YuWaah facilitated the NaariShakti conversation, on STEM and Financial Literacy for Young Women. STEM refers to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

The event was part of the Ministry of Women and Child Developments Iconic Week celebrating International Womens Day under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani participated in the event.

YuWaah is a UNICEF-initiated multi-stakeholder global platform. It aims to prepare young people to transition from Education and Learning to productive work and active .

Sambhav and Svavlamban initiatives were launched by Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs),Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, at the International Summit on Plastics Recycling and Waste Management.

The Sambhav and Svavlamban initiatives and the summit will have multiple benefits i.e. formalizing the informal waste sector, job creation in the MSME sector, and reduction in plastic waste.

These initiatives aim to encourage young entrepreneurs, especially from the aspirational districts of India.

The two-day-long 19th military cooperation meeting between India and the US has ended in Agra in Uttar Pradesh, the DEFENCE Ministry stated.

The India-US military cooperation group is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between the countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters of Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Defence Ministry mentioned.

China announced a 7.1% hike in its DEFENCE spending as well as an annual GDP Growth target of around 5.5% for the coming year.

Chinas Premier and second-ranked leader Li Keqiang announced the GDP target at the opening of the week-long session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) or Parliament, which approves policies for the coming year.

A draft budget, which the NPC will approve, said defence spending would be hiked by 7.1% to 1.45 trillion Yuan or around $ 230 billion. The military budget was hiked by 6.8% last year when it crossed the $200 billion mark for the first time. Indias military spending this year was announced as around $70 billion, a 4.4% hike from the previous year, although a greater share of Indias defence spending goes towards imports and pensions.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change has clarified that the railways does not need to seek permission to develop Infrastructure on its land in forest areas, after its contradictory orders on the issue created confusion in many states.

This paves the way for the national transporter to execute infrastructure projects even in sensitive forest areas without seeking permission from the Centre.

In a boost to aviation sector, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) has approved a new variant of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s aircraft ‘Hindustan 228-201 LW.’

Giving details of the nod, the public sector aerospace conglomerate said on Monday, this variant has maximum take-off weight of 5,695 kg with 19 passenger capability. With this modification, the aircraft would fall in the Sub 5,700 kg aircraft category, the Hal said.

E-Sanjeevani app’s 10 cr reach reflects power of India’s digital revolution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the contribution made by E-Sanjeevani app towards treating 10 crore patients by way of tele and video consultations as he spoke on various issues including Swachh Bharat Mission, Tribeni Kumbh Mahotsav, and Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award.

The Prime Minister said the country has seen that in the time of Corona, E-Sanjeevani played a pivotal role in giving contact less treatment to the virus affected patients.

The Centre and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) have directed state governments to expedite energy efficiency activities on a mission mode.

In accordance with the Government of Indias policy to increase energy efficiency and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by achieving the countrys <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change targets (Panchamrit), the Union Ministry of Power-led BEE has emphasized the need for all state designated agencies to engage deeply in the energy efficiency movement on a mission mode.

This type of corrosion is characterized by a wormhole-like 1D morphology that can serve as a mass-flow pathway.

The discovery of this type of corrosion is significant for the understanding of material degradation mechanisms in molten salt environments, particularly in relation to next-generation nuclear power Plants that use molten salts as coolants.

The 1D wormhole corrosion is a highly localized form of penetrating corrosion that occurs in a nickel-chromium Alloy when exposed to molten fluoride salt.