Miscellaneous (thou important).. Part II

Ø Millennium Development Goal

“Eight anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals “

Ø  Adopted during the U.N. Millennium Summit, 2000 by 189 countries including India consists of eight goals which are sought to be achieved during the period 1990 to 2015.

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7:  Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

‘India will miss 2015 millennium development goals’

·         India will fail to achieve some of the most important Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets like reduction in maternal and child deaths, and increase in child immunization rates by 2015

·         "The MDG targets will expire in 2015 and not all goals will be achieved by India."

·         One of the MDG goals is to reduce under-five mortality rate to 42 per 1,000 live births by 2015. India will reach 52 by that year missing the target by 10 percentage points.

·         the global health watchdogs are looking at how to achieve the set targets post 2015.

·         the rollout of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme, entitling essential primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services guaranteed by the Central government to all citizens, will help India achieve its unfinished MDG targets only after 2015.  

What is universal health coverage?

ü  The goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them.

ü  Universal coverage is firmly based on the WHO constitution of 1948 declaring health a fundamental human right and on the Health for All agenda set by the Alma-Ata declaration in 1978. Equity is paramount.
ü  Universal health coverage is thus a critical component of sustainable development and poverty reduction, and a key element of any effort to reduce social inequities. Universal coverage is the hallmark of a government’s commitment to improve the wellbeing of all its citizens.

For a community or country to achieve universal health coverage, several factors must be in place, including:
1.      A strong, efficient, well-run health system that meets priority health needs through people-centred integrated care (including services for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, no communicable diseases, maternal and child health) by:
o    informing and encouraging people to stay healthy and prevent illness;
o    detecting health conditions early;
o    having the capacity to treat disease; and
o    helping patients with rehabilitation.
2.      Affordability – a system for financing health services so people do not suffer financial hardship when using them. This can be achieved in a variety of ways.
3.      Access to essential medicines and technologies to diagnose and treat medical problems.
4.      A sufficient capacity of well-trained, motivated health workers to provide the services to meet patients’ needs based on the best available evidence.
It also requires recognition of the critical role played by all sectors in assuring human health, including transport, education and urban planning.

Ø New Free Drug Policy

ü  Aim : at benefitting country’s 120 crore population

ü  The Union Government of India …unveiled the 5.4 billion dollar free drug policy.

ü  Under the new policy,

·         every citizen of the country will be provided free medicines in all public health centres spreaded across the country. 

·         branded drugs have been kept out of this policy, the patients will be given only generic drugs.

·         The policy which will remain effective over the next five years will provide a much needed support to nearly 40 percent people of the country, which spends 1.25 dollar or less a day on health.

India spends about 1.2 percent of its annual GDP on health, making it a country with least spending on public health services.

Ø Cloud Computing Panel

·         Cloud Computing provides the infrastructures (both software and hardware) as services on a semi –permanent (rented) basis ·         You don’t add physical assets (server computers, Air conditioners, special IT staff to maintain those server rooms etc.) ·         Instead you are provided with great flexibility and choice in your purchase is known as Cloud computing. ·         Committee to recommend framework for cloud computing services under the chairmanship of Infosys’ executive Co-Chairman S Gopalakrishnan (Kris).

·         Chairman of committee :Infosys’ Kris Gopalakrishnan 

·         It will suggest a framework to promote cloud computing service in and from the country

·         In cloud computing, end users are not required to buy software or devices as they are provided by service providers on a rental basis.

·         Cloud computing is the way forward to bring affordable services in areas like healthcare, education, e-governance and banking to masses.”

Ø Mukta Vidya Vani

A pioneering initiative of the National Institute of Open Schooling, (NIOS) for using Streaming Audio for educational purposes
·         Mukta Vidya Vani on the World WideWeb is a modern interactive, participatory and cost effective programme, involving an academic perspective along with the technical responsibilities of production of audio and video programmes, which are one of the most important components of the multi channel package offered by the NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling).·          This will enable a two way communication with any audience having access to an internet connection, from the NIOS studio situated at its Headquarters in NOIDA.


·         The new NIOS website which has been designed in such a way that it not only meets the needs of its learners but is also disabled-friendly, was also launched on the occasion

Ø Direct Benefits Transfer

·         in 20 districts and cover seven schemes, mostly scholarships, to benefit more than 2 lakh people.
·         no attempt to shift transfer of food, fertiliser, kerosene or LPG subsidy to the DBT mode as these
·         Seven schemes are ready for rollout
·         The scheme would be formally called Direct Benefits Transfer and not Direct Cash Transfer cash.
·         The slogan "Aapka paisa, Aapke haath

·         The Aadhaar enabled DBT would enhance efficiency and ensure the implementation of schemes is not dragged unnecessarily.·         These include post-matric scholarship for SC students, post-metric scholarship for OBCs, post-metric scholarship for students with disabilities, post-metric scholarship scheme for minority, merit-cum-means scholarship, UT merit scholarship, UT merit scholarship and pre-metric scholarship for SC students.·         The Direct Benefits Transfer system was rolled out from 1.1.2013 in a phased manner in 43 districts and 26 schemes.·         Most importantly, DBT will be expanded to cover districts in those states which have been allocated initially to Registrar General of India (RGI) for collecting biometric data under NPR. These are states with large numbers of poor and hence, beneficiaries.
·         They include Odisha, West Bengal, UP, Uttarkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. MHA and the Registrar General of India (RGI) will work towards accelerating biometric collection in selected districts in NPR states so that coverage of 70-80% is achieved by June 2013 and DBT could be rolled out from 1.7.2013

a.Post-matric scholarship for SC students - 7 districts; 48,000 beneficiaries (Puducherry, Nawanshahr, Fatehgarh Sahib, Gurdaspur, Anantpur, East Godavari, Diu) b.      Pre-matric scholarship for SC students - 1 district; 24,000 beneficiaries (East Godavari) c.      Post-matric scholarship for OBC students - 6 districts; 105,000    beneficiaries (Puducherry, Alwar, Anantpur, East Godavari, Daman, North Goa) d.      Post-matric scholarship for ST students - 3 districts; 4,800 beneficiaries (Tumkur, Waynad, Harda) e.      Indira Gandhi Matrutva Sahayata Yojana - 6 districts; 55,000 beneficiaries (Dharwar, Puducherry, NW Delhi, Diu, North Goa,Amaravati) f.       Dhanalakshmi Scheme - 1 district; 8,000 beneficiaries (Fatehgarh Sahib) g.      Stipend to trainees under the scheme of welfare of SC/ST job seekers through Coaching-cum-Guidance and Vocational Training - 10 States, 650 beneficiaries (Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, MP, Rajasthan, AP, Maharashtra, Jharkhand)

Ø National Girl Child Day 
·         The Government of India in 2008 declared January 24 of every year to be celebrated as the ‘National Girl Child Day’ with the objective of raising consciousness of the society towards the girl child so that she can be valued and respected.
·         Ministry of Women and Child Development has been taking a multi pronged approach to address and reverse the trend of declining child sex ratio in the country.
·         The objective of all these initiatives is to work towards ensuring that girls are born, loved and nurtured and grow up to become empowered citizens of this country with equal rights and opportunities.
·         Nari ki Choupal organized by NMEW during Vatsalya Mela 2012. 
Ø National Voters’ Day (NVD)
·         25^th January is the foundation day of the Commission, which came into being on this day in 1950·         The Election Commission of India celebrated the 3^rd National Voters’ Day across the country today.
·         The theme for the 3^rd NVD is ‘Inclusion’.·         The Chief Guest also gave EPIC (Voter ID card) to 10 new voters of Delhi (those who attained the age of 18 years – with 1^st January every year as the qualifying date) and a badge with the slogan “Proud to be a Voter – Ready to Vote”·         Chief Election Commissioner, Shri V S Sampath ·         Olympics medalists Ms Saina Nehwal and Ms Mary Kom as the Commission’s new national icons on voter participation.

Ø MPLAD funds

·        The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Division is entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).
·        Under the scheme, each MP has the choice to suggest to the District Collector for, works to the tune of Rs.5 Crores per annum to be taken up in his/her constituency.
·        The Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament can recommend works in one or more districts in the State from where he/she has been elected.·         The Nominated Members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may select any one or more Districts from any one State in the Country for implementation of their choice of work under the scheme.
·         The MPLAD Scheme was launched in 1993 by the minority PV Narasimha Rao government as an incentive to recommend developmental works to create durable community assets based on local needs.
·        Lok Sabha MPs may spend the money on their constituencies; Rajya Sabha MPs in their states and nominated MPs in any state they thought warranted developmental funds.
·        Though the Ministry of Rural Development originally administered the scheme, it was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation the next year·        The Standing Committee on MPLADS, headed by Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha PJ Kurien

Ø Intranet  Prahari  Project

·         major benefit:  All the BSF Jawans posted in 237 locations will now be able to access their personal data from wherever they are posted·         The Intranet Prahari Project was sanctioned by MHA on 25 February 2010.
·         This Project essentially is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solution through NIIT Technologies Ltd for Border Security Force (BSF) where-in all major processes such as Finance, Inventory Management, Operations and Personnel Information have been automated and integrated to act as a robust and quick Decisions Support System and for consolidated view of data by higher echelons and for various analyses.

Ø Pravasi Bharatiya Divas2013

·         Chief Guest, His Excellency Rajkeswur Purryag, President of the Republic of Mauritius. 

·         Nearly a hundred years ago, almost to this day, Mahatma Gandhi returned to lead a nation’s march to freedom.

·         Apart from commemorating it by the issue of a special postage stamp today, upgraded  the Gadar Memorial in San Francisco into a functional museum and library with a sculpture to honour the Gadar Babas, the heroes of this great national movement. 

·         The theme for this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is “Engaging Diaspora – the Indian Growth Story”.

       ·          This is only appropriate since there have been concerns recently about the direction and content of India’s growth story and about larger social and governance issues. 

Ø “Pragati Ki Dhadkan"

·         Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee launched the signature tune of the Indian Customs - “PRAGATI KI DHADKAN” …raiser to the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Indian Customs Act, 1962.·         It captures the presence of Indian Customs on the Indian waters, over the Indian skies and the land borders in the three movements of the music. Its vibrant beat is evocative of this dynamic force and symbolizes the March of Progress.·         For the first the Central Board of Excise & Customs on behalf of Ministry of Finance, participated in the Republic Day Parade, 2012, through a Tableau Indian Customs - “The Guardian of Our Economic Frontiers”, which showcases the myriad facets of Indian Customs and its vigil at all frontiers.·         Composed by noted music director Shri Aadesh Shrivastava

Ø Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

·         is an agency of the Government of India responsible for implementing the AADHAAR scheme, a unique identification project.

·          It was established in February 2009, and will own and operate the Unique Identification Number database.

·         The authority aims to provide a unique id number to all Indians, but not smart cards

·         The authority will maintain a database of residents containing biometric and other data.

·         The agency is headed by a chairman, who holds a cabinet rank.

·          The UIDAI is part of the Planning Commission of India.

·         Nandan Nilekani, former co-chairman of Infosys Technologies, was appointed as the first Chairman of the authority in June 2009

·         Ram Sewak Sharma, an IAS Officer of Jharkhand Government is the Director General and Mission Director of the Authority

Salient features of AADHAAR

·         Aadhaar is a 12 digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India. ·         This number will serve as a proof of identity and address, anywhere in India. ·         Any individual, irrespective of age and gender, who is a resident in India and satisfies the verification process laid down by the UIDAI, can enroll for Aadhaar. ·         Each individual needs to enroll only once which is free of cost. ·         Each Aadhaar number will be unique to an individual and will remain valid for life. Aadhaar number will help you provide access to services like banking, mobile phone connections and other Govt and Non-Govt services in due course.