ODISHA

Government aims to cover 25l farmers under PMFBY

Despite the resentment over the nonpayment of compensation to farmers in time, the Government of Odisha has set an ambitious target of enrolling 25 lakh farmers under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) by July 31 in the ongoing Kharip season that will cover 20 lakh hectares of the Kharip crop.

Of them 20 lakh are loanee farmers and 5 lakh are non loanee farmers. Till date data uploading of 7 lakh farmers has been done and the date for uploading of data has been extended up to August 14, though cutoff date remains July 31.

During the last year, 8.5 lakh farmers were enrolled to cover 15 lakh hectares of land.

This will cover all 6,799 Gram Panchayats(GPs) and 114 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). The commercial banks have been asked to enroll farmers on priority basis.

Besides, Banks Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACs) are entrusted with the task to mobilize more non loanee farmers and a special incentive has been declared for maximum enrollment. Special direction has been given to 10,000 odd CSCs active in the State.

Of the seven crops covered under this insurance scheme only paddy will be registered in GPs, ULBs and in banks. Other commercial crops like maize, arhar, ground nut, turmeric, ginger and cotton will be done at the Block Offices.

Odisha since long is known as a disaster affected State. Frequent natural disasters cause innumerable losses to the farming community.

The PMFBY is meant to cover losses caused by drought, flood and local calamities, besides unseasonal rain.

Meanwhile, farmers in different districts have started protesting against the Government for not settling the claims of last year.

INTERNATIONAL

· International Army Games 2018 declared open in Moscow

TheInternational Army Games 2018 at Patriot Park in Moscow region was declared open by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Indian teams are taking part in two major competitions– Tank Biathlon event at Alabino ranges and Moscow region and Elbrus Ring competition in Caucasus mountains.
The games are being held from July 28 to August 11 at 24 training grounds in seven countries namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, and Russia.
For the first time that Armenia and Iran are co-hosting events of the Army Games.
The opening ceremony was attended by Indian Ambassador to Russia, Pankaj Saran along with Indian attaches attended the ceremony.

· Swelect introduced a technique to produce pure drinking water using sunlight and air

Swelect Energy Systems Ltd. has partnered with the U.S. based Zero Mass Waterfor the project ‘Source’, a hydro (solar) panel. It aims at providing pure drinking water using sunlight and air.
In this, the water vapour from the air will be drawn into the Source through fans. As the air flow passes through a condenser, the vapour will be collected. It then flows into a reservoir where it is mineralised with calcium and magnesium. Water is pumped through a polishing cartridge before being delivered to a dispenser.
The cost of one panel is Rs.2 lakh. It can generate up to 5 litres of water/day depending on humidity and sunlight.

· India plans to buy missile shield from U.S. for USD 1 billion

Indiais aiming to buy an advanced air defence system from the S. to defend the National Capital Region (NCR) from aerial attacks like 9/11-type. The cost estimated for buying National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System-II (NASAMS-II) is $1 billion. The buying process has been initiated.
India is also planning to buy a very long range S-400 air defence systems from Russia. India is also developing an indigenous Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system. Phase-I of the BMD will be deployed soon.

NATIONAL

· LS passes Bill on rape of girls

The Lok Sabha passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2018, that provides for the death sentence for raping a girl under 12 years and enhances the minimum punishment for rape of a woman from seven to 10 years.
It amends the IPC, CrPC, Indian Evidence Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The Bill, once passed by the Rajya Sabha, will replace the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated in April, 2018, after outcry over the Kathua rape case.
The minimum punishment for the rape of a girl under 12 will be 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, the maximum being death sentence or life imprisonment. Earlier, the punishment was rigorous imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
The minimum punishment for rape of a girl under 16 will be 20 years of rigorous imprisonment, extendable to life imprisonment.
The minimum punishment under the Bill for the rape of a woman over 16 is 10 years, extendable to life (under Section 376, IPC). The minimum punishment earlier was seven years and the maximum, life imprisonment.

· ONGC conferred with INFRA Icon Award

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)was awarded the INFRA Icon Award in the ‘Global Energy’ category at the mid-day INFRA Icons Awards 2018, in Mumbai.
The award was given away by Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA),Pravin Darare.
The theme of the event was:‘Smart cities envisages to take infrastructure development to a next level’.
ONGC received this award as a recognition of its valuable contribution in upgrading India as a whole.
It aims to bring a change with trendsetters related to the infrastructure of India.

· States agree to supply milk under Mid-Day Meal, Anganwadi schemes

Most states, including Rajasthan, have agreed to supply milk for two days a week through Mid-Day Meal and Anganwadi schemes in order to absorb surplus stock and ensure better prices to farmers

Currently, the country has a stock of 2.30 lakh tonnes SMP and 60,000-70,000 tonnes of white butter.

Stating that the government is taking all possible measures to alleviate the distress of farmers, the secretary said import of whey milk powder has been hiked to 40% from 30% and also incentives have been provided to boost export of dairy products.

As per the official data, milk production is estimated to have increased by 6.6% to 176.35 million tonnes during the last financial year. The government expects milk production to touch 254.5 million tonnes by 2021-22.

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31.07.18 OPSC (Orrisa) Current Affairs