In News:

The Central government  has recently increased the cost of cooking for midday meals.

About the News:

• Ministry of Finance has recently raised the mid-day meal per child cooking cost by 9.6% in pursuance to the demands by the school authorities and food rights activists across the country for more funds to run the scheme.
• At present, the scheme has 11.8 crore student beneficiaries across 11.35 Lakh schools across the country.
• With new norms, the allocation at the primary level and upper primary levels will be Rs 5.45 and Rs 8.17, respectively.

Major highlights:

• Price share: Under the scheme, renamed as PM Poshan in 2021, most components including cooking cost are split in a 60:40 ratio between the Union government and the states and UTs with legislatures, and 90:10 with the Northeastern states, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

• More funds: Since the cost of foodgrains is borne entirely by the Centre, it will have to shell out an additional amount of Rs 660 crore in 2022-23, while the states will spend Rs 400 crore more than what was sanctioned in the annual budget to implement the revised cooking cost.
• Cooking cost: It includes the prices of ingredients such as pulses, salt, vegetables, condiments, and fuel needed to prepare cooked meals.
• Black marketing: The current supply of LPG isn’t adequate, forcing schools to purchase from black market at inflated rates which increases the cooking cost.
• Inflation: The inflation on pulses which is the major source of protein in hot-cooked meals provided under the scheme also increases the effective cost.
• New norms: The government is likely to devise a new ‘PM Poshan Index’ to track the change in prices of items in the mid-day meal basket and revise the cooking cost annually.

Mid-day meal programme:

• History: The concept of providing meals to students was first introduced in 1925 in India and Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to introduce a noon meal programme in primary schools followed by Gujarat, Kerala and other states.
• Pan-India scheme: The Tamil Nadu model was taken up as a national scheme called Nutrition Support to Primary Education Scheme or Mid-Day Meal programme which was launched in 1995, in 2,408 blocks across the country for providing one meal per day to students in primary school (Class I to V).
• Universal scheme: The scheme was made universal in all public schools in 2001 after the Supreme Court’s directions and the scope scheme was extended to cover the students of Upper Primary (Class VI to VIII) in 2007.
• Implementation of scheme: The scheme is guided by the MHRD in the centre and departments like education department or women and child development department or the Panchayati Raj department in states.
• Objective: The scheme attempts to address the issues of hunger and education in schools by serving hot cooked meals. It also aims to improve the nutritional status of children and improve enrolment, attendance and retention rates in schools and other education centres.
• Beneficiary: According to MDM Scheme every child studying in primary and upper primary classes in government schools and government-aided schools like Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres and Madrasas gets free lunch.
• Ingredients: The meal comprises cooked rice or wheat (depending on the local staple), mixed with lentils or jaggery, and supplemented with oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs or dessert at the local level.
• Specified calories: The children in primary school must be provided with at least 450 calories with 12 grams of protein through MDM while the children in upper primary schools get 700 calories with 20 grams of protein.
• Allocation: The children of primary classes are entitled to 100 grams of foodgrains, 20 grams of pulses, 50 grams of vegetables and 5 grams of oils and fats. While, the children of upper-primary schools are entitled to get 150 grams of foodgrains, 30 grams of pulses,7 5 grams of vegetables and 7.5 grams of oils and fats.
• Importance: Mid-day meal programme has a positive impact on the learning outcomes as children tend to attend school more where mid-day meal is being served.
• Infrastructural provisions: According to the MDM norms, the required infrastructure includes, a kitchen shed, cooking and serving utensils, cooking stoves and cooking fuel.
• Remuneration: Each cook/helper is given an honorarium of Rs. 1000 per month and there has to be one helper/cook up to 25 children, two helpers up to 26-100 children with one extra helper with every addition of 100 children.
• Contribution: While the implementation of the scheme rests with the state government, MDM is a centrally-sponsored scheme which implies that the central government provides more financial assistance for running the scheme than the contribution of the state governments.
• Private Participation: The implementation of MDM is supported by some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in various states under the public-private partnership with state government, for example, Akshaya Patra Foundation and ISKON among others.

Source:

• https://indianexpress.com/article/education/finance-ministry-hikes-mid-day-meal-per-child-cooking-cost-by-9-6-per-cent-8184791/#:~:text=After%20a%20gap%20of%20over,school%20to%20enrolment%2C%20The%20Indian

Image:

• https://swachhindia.ndtv.com/national-nutrition-month-things-to-know-about-india-mid-day-meal-scheme-world-largest-school-feeding-program-38040/

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In News:

• In order to address mental health issues within the global workforce, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have released guidelines.

Key Findings by WHO & ILO

• According to the WHO, depression and anxiety are account for 12 billion lost workdays yearly, costing the global economy close to $1 trillion.
• Only 35% of countries have national programs for the promotion of mental health at work in place, with 5% of working age population suffering from mental illness.
• COVID-19 caused a 25 per cent increase in anxiety and despair, demonstrating how poorly governments anticipated its effects on mental health.
• In 2020, governments worldwide spent only 2% of their health budgets on mental health, with lower-middle-income countries spending less than 1%.

Associated Challenges

Mental Health impacts Productivity:

• Poor mental health can impact a person's performance and productivity, but the individual's wellbeing is a sufficient motivation to take action.

Socio-economic Issues:

• Broader socioeconomic issues, like inequality and discrimination, which have an impact on mental health, are accentuated by an unfavourable work culture.

Frequent Mobbing:

• Bullying or psychological assault in the workplace, often known as mobbing, is one of the most frequent forms of harassment.

Other Challenges:

• Inadequate Social Support
• Inefficient Chances for Growth or Development
• Low Pay
• Uninteresting or Unchallenging Work
• Overwhelming Workload
• Having little authority over decisions pertaining to employment
• Ambiguous Performance Expectations
• Contrasting Demands

Way Forward

• In order to prevent stressful work environments and support troubled employees, the WHO has recommended manager training.
• To end stigma and social exclusion and make sure employees with mental health disorders feel protected and supported, there is a need to invest in redesigning the workplace.
• Additionally, the guidelines recommended better methods for accommodating the needs of employees with mental health conditions and prescribed programs that encourage their return to work.
• Additionally, it provided ways for those with serious mental illnesses to find paid employment. The recommendations emphasized the importance of taking steps to protect emergency, medical, and humanitarian workers.

Content Source Link:

• https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/who-ilo-lay-down-guidelines-to-tackle-stress-in-workplaces-85171#:~:text=The%20global%20body%20has%20also,'%20and%20'quiet%20hustling',

Image Source Link:

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstock.adobe.com%2Fsearch%3Fk%3D%2522stress%2Bat%2Bwork%2Bcartoon%2522&psig=AOvVaw0hNEjEsnMjgZKSZj5p0gcR&ust=1664768599077000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCKCvnM7QwPoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

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In News:

• Recently, a list of 50 unique and distinctive national textile crafts was just published by UNESCO.
• Lack of appropriate inventory and documentation is one of the main issues preventing South Asia from protecting its intangible cultural heritage.

Some Important Textiles Mentioned in the List

• From North: Khes from Panipat, Chamba rumals from Himachal Pradesh, Thigma or wool tie and dye from Ladakh and Awadh Jamdani from Varanasi.
• From the south: Ilkal and Lambadi or Banjara embroidery from Karnataka, Sikalnayakanpet Kalamkari from Thanjavur, Toda embroidery and Sungadi from Tamil Nadu and Himroo weaves from Hyderabad.
• Other states:Kunbi weaves from Goa, Mashru weaves and Patola from Gujarat, Himroo from Maharashtra and Garad-Koirial from West Bengal and Bandha tie and dye weaving from Sambalpur in Odisha.

Textile Sector of India

• In terms of employment, the textile and apparel industry in India, which employs 45 million people, is only surpassed by the agricultural sector.
• One of the country's oldest industries, textiles serve as a repository and a conduit for traditional knowledge, heritage, and culture.

Significance

• It contributes 3% to India's GDP, 7% to industrial output, 12% to export revenues, and more than 21% of all employment in the country.
• India is the world's top producer of cotton and jute and ranks sixth in terms of technical textile production, with a 6% global market share.
• Technical textiles are useful materials that are used in a variety of fields, such as automotive, civil engineering, healthcare, agricultural, personal protection, and construction.
• Additionally, 95% of the handwoven fabric in the world is produced in India, which is also the second-largest producer of silk in the world.

Government Initiatives for Textile Sector in India

• Power-Tex India
• Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS)
• Silk Samagra Scheme
• Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP)
• Jute ICARE
• National Technical Textile Mission

Way Forward

• These famous legacy crafts must be evaluated and promoted as modern treasures despite the challenges of industrial mass production and competition from new nations.
• Utilizing innovations, cutting-edge technology, and facilitations will help the textile industry realize its enormous potential.

Content Source Link:

• https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/unesco-launches-list-documenting-50-iconic-indian-heritage-textiles/article65950852.ece#:~:text=From%20the%20south%2C%20Ilkal%20and,among%20the%2050%20iconic%20textiles,

Image Source Link:

• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Ffigure%2FCultural-Heritage-Saleh-2010-3-Five-key-elements-of-intangible-cultural-heritage-in_fig6_319547288&psig=AOvVaw3OeEQW3pVzCXEW7WEJjyXm&ust=1664780379215000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwiu4qmq_MD6AhVHk9gFHQXwC8IQr4kDegUIARCGAg

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• Context: The President recently awarded Indoreas the cleanest city for the sixth consecutive year as part of the Azadi@75 Swachh Survekshan 2022, hosted as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. 
• Swachh Survekshan has been conducted since 2016 and is the world’s largest urban sanitation and cleanliness survey.

• The primary goal of Swachh Survekshan is to encourage large-scale citizen participation and create awarenessamongst all sections of society about the importance of working together toward making towns and cities better places to reside in.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is the Nodal Ministry.
• Key Highlights:
  • Cleanest City: More than 1 lakh Population: Indore, the city of lakes and palaces followed by Suratand Navi Mumbai.
  • Less than 1 lakh Population: Panchgani and Karadfrom Maharashtra bagged the first and third positions, while Patan from Chhattisgarh bagged the second position.
  • Best Ganga Town: Haridwarin Uttarakhand received the award for the best Ganga town in more than one lakh population cities.
  • Fast Mover City Award:Shivamogga in Karnataka.
  • Cleanest States: States with More than 100 Urban Local Bodies: Madhya Pradeshemerged as the ‘Cleanest State’, Chattisgarh in second place and third in Maharashtra.
  • States with less than 100 Urban Local Bodies: Tripuraemerged as the Cleanest State. Jharkhand and Uttarakhand received the second and third spots respectively.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/swachh-survekshan-awards-2022-indore-deemed-cleanest-city-6th-time-in-a-row-surat-retains-2nd-position/article65958837.ece

Image source:

• https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indore-cleanest-city-india-for-the-6th-time-in-a-row-101664649173570.html

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• Context: Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) has recently launched the Telecom Technology Development Fund scheme.
• The USOF is the telecom department's Rs 58,000-crore reserve to fund rural and remote digital connectivity.

• Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) aims to fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications and help the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem, through synergies formed by start-ups, research industries etc.
• Scheme aims to promote technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, create a culture of technology co-innovation, reduce imports, boost export opportunities and creation of Intellectual Property. This is a part of Jan Anusandhaan in the new phase of Amrit Kaal.
• Through the scheme, USOF is also targeting to develop standards to meet countrywide requirements and create the ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, use cases, pilots, and proof of concept testing, among others.
• The scheme will ensure grants to selected Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor-made to meet domestic needs.
• Apart from the existing R&D funding mechanisms, an allocation of 5% of annual collections from USOF will be available for funding R&D in the Telecom sector, starting with the funds collected in the financial year 2021-22.

Source:

• https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/dot-launches-telecom-technology-development-fund-scheme/94595060
• https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1864133

Image source:

• https://usof.gov.in/ttdf

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• Context: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recently celebrated its 18^thFormation Day.
• The (NDMA) is India’s apex statutory body for disaster management.
• It was formally constituted on 27^thSeptember 2006, by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

• The Prime Minister is its chairperson and it has nine other members. One of the nine members is designated as Vice-Chairperson.
• The primary responsibility for the management of disaster rests with the State Government concerned.However, the National Policy on Disaster Management puts in place an enabling environment for all i.e., the Centre, state and district.
• The functions of the NDMA include:
  1. Approve the National Disaster Plan
  2. Lay down policies on disaster management
  3. Approve plans prepared by Ministries or Departments of the Central Government in accordance with National Plan
  4. Lay down guidelines to be followed by State Authorities in drawing up State Plan
  5. Coordinate enforcement and implementation of disaster management policy and plan etc.

Source:

• https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1863178

Image Source:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Disaster_Management_Authority_(India)

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• Context: Over 6,000 trees have been illegally cut for tiger safari project in Corbett Reserve, according to the recent FSI report.
• Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, this is India's first national park located at the Himalayas' foothills, near the popular hill-station of Nainital (of Uttarakhand) and named after the legendary naturalist and conservationist Jim Corbett.

• The Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park (first National Park of India),which is part of Corbett Tiger Reserve.
• The entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces.
• The climate is sub-tropical.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosiare the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.
• Sprawling over500 square kilometres, CTR is home to 230 tigers and has the world’s highest tiger density -at 14 tigers per hundred square kilometres and also houses Asiatic Elephants.
• With 550 species of avifauna, Corbett has been declared as an 'Important Bird Area' (IBA) by Birdlife International.
• Dense moist deciduous forests are found. It also has 600 species of plants - trees, shrubs, ferns, grass, climbers, herbs, and bamboo.
• The most visible trees found in Corbett are sal, sissoo and khair.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/over-6000-trees-illegally-cut-against-163-for-pakhru-tiger-safari-in-corbett-says-report/article65959687.ece

Image source:

• https://twitter.com/GuideforAll/status/1556619253868302336

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Essence - The article highlights that the recent draft of Telecommunication Bill 2022 lacks the necessary democratization of the system and has a colonial legacy that can act as a hurdle in its development.

The licensing regime is still highly centralized and ignores the learnings that evolved in courts and other institutions of authority. It completely ignores the suggested reforms calling for keeping user rights as the cornerstone of the telecommunication sector.

Further, the bill keeps the over-the-top (OTT) services under the same laws as telecommunications. In doing so the bill has rejected the 2020 TRAI recommendations that were supportive of minimizing the regulatory burden on internet communication services. The bill also does not address the concerns around intercepting encrypted messages by authorized personnel and temporary suspension of the internet in cases of public emergency or safety.

Why should you read this Editorial?

• To understand the shortcomings in the laws concerning the regulation of telecommunication services and OTT platforms in India.
• To understand the necessary changes that are needed to further secure digital privacy, the right to free speech (owing to access to the internet), and the right to choice (usage of OTT platforms) with respect to telecommunication.

Source:

• https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/letting-go-of-a-chance-to-democratise-telecom-services/article65956189.ece

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Essence – The editorial discusses about the link between the rising interest rate and inflation. It explains how the rise in the interest rate impacts the price of goods and the demand for consumption. It also elaborates on the  fractional reserve banking system wherein an initial amount of deposit grows multifold due to loans issued using the deposit. Later it explains the concept of opportunity cost in light of the inflation using the example of gold price.

Towards the end it mention about the decline in gold price due to artificially strengthening the rupees and its impact on our export and trade deficit. It talks about the elasticity of our export and suggests for being more liquid at present to attract investment in future.

Why should you read this Editorial?

• To know about the link between the interest rate and the rate of inflation.

Source:

• Rationale behind raising interest rates - The Hindu

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Background:

An avalanche recently occurred in the Kedar Peak area, of the Chorabari glacial lake region, around 6-7 km away from Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag.

About Avalanche

• Avalanches are masses of snow, ice, and rocks that fall rapidly down a mountainside.
• The causes of Avalanche include:
  • Topographic factors
• Inclination of slope, Shape of slope, Location (ridge line or toe of slope), Orientation of slope
  • Vegetation factors

• Vegetation cover and height of trees
• Vegetation cover and its thickness
  • Weather factors
• Depth of snow cover, Depth of snowfall, Wind velocity, Atmospheric and snow temperatures
  • Other factors
• Increase in weight of snow cover because of snow dropping from cornices or snow covers.
• Vibrations such as earthquake or the sound of gunfire
• The impacts of Avalanches include:
  • An avalanche obstructs anything in its path.
  • Roads and railways can be blocked.
  • Power supplies can be cut off.
  • A powerful avalanche can even destroy buildings and people can also be killed.
• Avalanche Mitigation
  • Non-structural methods include avoidance (through land use restrictions or temporary evacuation) and artificial triggering.
  • Structural measures include diversion structures, dams, retarding structures and starting zone structures design to prevent avalanche initiation.
• Avalanches Prone Areas in India include:
  • Jammu and Kashmir: Higher reaches of Kashmir and Gurez valleys, Kargil and Ladakh and some of the major roads
  • Himachal Pradesh: Chamba, Kullu- Spiti and Kinnaur vulnerable areas
  • West Uttar Pradesh: Parts of Tehri Garhwal and Chamoli districts are vulnerable areas.

Source:

• Avalanches

Image source:

• https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/avalanches-weather-explanation-geologic-side-view-outline-diagram-labeled-educational-scheme-windward-cornice-226791983.jpg

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