IYB-Chapter Enviroment

Part1

Nodal agency for implementation of following directives:
1. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
2. South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP)
3. International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
4. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)

Survey and Exploration
1. Survey of Flora -Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
2. Survey of Fauna -The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
3. Forest Survey - Forest Survey of India (FSI)


Part2-
Biodiversity Conservation

PART 3-Wildlife conservation 

Part4

Convention on Mercury

• The salient features of Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management &Transboundary Movement)

Rules, 2016 include the following:

a. Waste Management hierarchy in the sequence of priority of prevention, minimization, reuse, recycling, recovery, co-processing; and safe disposal has been incorporated.

b. All the forms under the rules for permission, import/export, filing of annual returns,transportation, etc. have been revised significantly, indicating the stringent approach for management of such hazardous and other wastes with simultaneous simplification of procedure.

c. The basic necessity of infrastructure to safeguard the health and environment from waste processing industry has been prescribed as Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs), specific to waste type, which has to be complied by the stakeholders and ensured by SPCB/PCC while

granting such authorization.

d. Procedure has been simplified to merge all the approvals as a single window clearance for setting up of hazardous waste disposal facility and import of other wastes.

e. Co-processing as preferential mechanism over disposal for use of waste as supplementary resource, or for recovery of energy has been provided.

f. The process of import/export of waste under the Rules has been streamlined by simplifying the document-based procedure and by revising the list of waste regulated for import/export.

National Green Corps (NGC)

Initiative for creating environmental awareness among children by formulating National Green Corps

(NGC) in 2001-02.

• NGC has received has made the network more than 1,00,000 eco-clubs across the country in 14 years, making it one of the largest conservation networks.

• The unique partnership between the Environment Ministry, the State Government agencies along with the dedicated NGOs, working in the field of environmental education. Children can be catalysts in promoting a mass movement about the ensemble of the environmental issues National Museum of Natural History

• The National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), New Delhi is an institution devoted to environmental education and was opened to the public in 1978, on June 5, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

• Programmes Under NMNH : Temporary exhibitions, mobile exhibitions and a large number of nature camps. It also arranges many local and national level competitions leading to Young Environmentalist of the Year Award (YEYA).

Citizens’ charter

What is a Citizens’ charter?

Citizen’s Charter is a document which represents a systematic effort to focus on the commitment of the Organisation towards its Citizens in respects of Standard of Services, Information, Choice and Consultation, Non-discrimination and Accessibility, Grievance Redress, Courtesy and Value for Money. This also includes expectations of the Organisation from the Citizen for fulfilling the commitment of the Organisation.

Origin and Principles

It has been recognised the world over that good governance is essential for sustainable development, both economic and social. The three essential aspects emphasised in good governance are transparency, accountability and responsiveness of the administration. The “Citizen’s Charters initiative” is a response to the quest for solving the problems which a citizen encounters, day in and day out, while dealing with organisations providing public services.

The concept of Citizen’s Charter enshrines the trust between the service provider and its users. Theconcept was first articulated and implemented in the United Kingdom by the Conservative Government of John Major in 1991 as a national programme with a simple aim: to continuously improve the quality of public services for the people of the country so that these services respond to the needs and wishes of the users.

Indian Scenario

Over the years, in India, significant progress has been made in the field of economic development. Citizens have become more articulate and expect the administration not merely to respond to their demands but also to anticipate them.

It was in this climate that a consensus began to evolve, since 1996, in the Government on effective and responsive administration. At a Conference of Chief Ministers of various States and Union Territories held on 24 May, 1997 in New Delhi, presided over by the Prime Minister of India, an “Action Plan for Effective and Responsive Government” at the Centre and State levels was adopted.

One of the major decisions at that Conference was that the Central and State Governments would formulate Citizen’s Charters, starting with those sectors that have a large public interface (e.g., Railways, Telecom, Posts, Public Distribution Systems and the like).

These Charters were to include first, standards of service as well as the time limits that the public can reasonably expect for service delivery, avenues of grievance redressal and a provision for independent scrutiny through the involvement of citizen and consumer groups.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances in Government of India (DARPG) initiated the task of coordinating, formulating and operationalising Citizen’s Charters.

The guidelines for formulating the Charters as well as a list of do’s and don’ts were communicated to various government departments/organisations to enable them to bring out focused and effective charters.

For the formulation of the Charters, the government agencies at the Centre and State levels were advised to constitute a task force with representation from users, senior management and the cutting edge staff.

Primarily an adaptation of the UK model, the Indian Citizen’s Charter has an additional component of ‘expectations from the clients’ or in other words ‘obligations of the users’.

What are the components of a Citizen’s Charter?

A good Citizen’s Charter should have the following components :-

• Vision and Mission Statement of the Organisation
• Details of Business transacted by the Organisation
• Details of ‘Citizens’ or ‘Clients’
• Statement of services including standards, quality, time frame etc. provided to each Citizen/ Client group separately and how/ where to get the services
• Details of Grievance Redress Mechanism and how to access it
• Expectations from the ‘Citizens’ or ‘Clients’
• Additional commitments such as compensation in the event of failure of service delivery.

Advantages of Citizen charter

• Citizens can get to know the services provided by the respective organisations

• Citizens can avail services in a time bound manner.
• Citizens will not have to depend on the mercy of the bureaucracy.
• Citizens will not have to face long delays due to red tape
• Citizens can seek compensation for undue delay in delivery of service.
• Basic thrust of Citizens Charter is to make public services citizen centric by ensuring that these services are demand driven rather than supply driven.
• 
  

Problems with Citizens’ charters in India

2nd Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) found following problems with Citizens’ charters in India:

• Measurable standards of delivery are rarely spelt out in the charter.
• Standards are poorly defined, it becomes tough to assess whether the desired level of service has been achieved or not.
• Most charters are verbose. (containing too many words).
• Promises contained in the Charter were vague and meaningless.
• If the service is not delivered then very hard for citizen to get compensatation.
• Citizen Charters are not revised with time.
• The needs of senior citizens and disabled are not considered while drafting charters.
• Resistance to change.
• Lack of Public Awareness.
• End Users (public) & NGOs are not consulted when the charters are drafted.

Recommendations of 2nd ARC:

• The Charters should clearly spell out the remedy / penalty / compensation in case there is a default in meeting the standards spelt out in the Charter.
• Better give a few promises that can be kept, rather than a long list of lofty but impractical aspirations
• Before the organization makes charter, it should restructure its internal system and processes.
• One size does not fit all. Citizens’ Charter should be close to ground reality and local conditions.
• Consult all the stakeholders before finalizing the charter (including civil society).
• Firm Commitments should be made. There must be redressal mechanism should be citizen friendly.
• Organization should evaluate the Citizens’ charters periodically.
• Hold officers accountable for results.

Sevottam Model

Sevottam Model is a model proposed by 2nd ARC (Administrative Reforms Commission) for public Service Delivery. The word, Sevottam, is a combination of two Hindi words: ‘Seva’ (service) and ‘Uttam’ (excellence).

Sevottam Model is now regarded as a standard model for providing services in citizen centric governance.

The model is developed by rectifying the drawbacks in the earlier mechanisms of public service delivery like Citizen Charters (CC), and is gradually adopted by various departments under Central and State government.

Sevottam model, a quality management framework applicable to public service delivery organisations, in all its departments. Service Delivery Excellence Model provides a framework for organisations to assess and improve the quality of service delivery to citizens.

Seven Steps in Sevottam Model

The model prescribes seven steps:

1. Define services and identify clients.
2. Set standards and norms for each service.
3. Develop capability to meet the set standards.
4. Perform to achieve the standards.
5. Monitor performance against the set standards.
6. Evaluate impact through an independent mechanism.
7. Continuous improvement based on monitoring and evaluation.

Three Modules in Sevottam Framework

The Sevottam framework has basically three modules. They are:

Citizen Charter.

• The first component of the model requires effective charter implementation thereby opening up a channel for receiving citizens’ inputs into the way in which organizations determine service delivery requirements. Citizens’ Charters publicly declare the information on citizens’ entitlements; making citizens better informed and hence empowering them to demand better services.

Public Grievance Mechanism.

• The second component of the model, ‘Public Grievance Redress’ requires a good grievance redress system operating in a manner that leaves the citizen more satisfied with how the organization responds to complaints/grievances, irrespective of the final decision

Service Delivery Capability.

• The third component ‘Excellence in Service Delivery’, postulates that an organization can have an excellent performance in service delivery only if it is managing the key ingredients for good service delivery well, and building its own capacity to continuously improve delivery

Sevottam model provides a standard for providing public service delivery in a citizen centric administration. Those organisations adopting Sevottam model for service delivery needs to comply the 7 steps and ensure the formulation of 3 modules.

Recent Initiatives in Agriculture

Farmer FIRST
It is an ICAR initiative to enhance farmers-scientists contact with multi stake holders-participation. FIRST refers to Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology. The project focuses on enabling interaction of scientists with farm conditions and problems; exchange of knowledge between farmers and other stakeholders; integration of technology with different agro-systems;development of rural based institutions; and using the platform of the project having commodity institutions as partners to develop commodity specific contents for e-enabled knowledge sharing.

Mera Gaon – Mera Gaurav
It is launched by ICAR to provide farmers with required information, knowledge and advisories on regular basis. Under this scheme, groups of scientists will select villages and will remain in touch with that village and provide information to farmers on technical and other related aspects through personal visits or through telecommunication. The scheme enables 20,000 scientists of NationalAgricultural Research and Education System (NARES) to work directly in villages.

Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB)
The Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB) at Ranchi (Jharkhand) will be established
as a deemed University. Its foundation stone was laid in August 2014. The mandate of the Institute
would be to undertake multi-disciplinary basic research to develop crops for traits such as increased
yield, or increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress; to develop the highly trained manpower
required for fundamental research in agricultural biotechnology; to provide its research output to
breeders and developers in agricultural universities to develop the germ plasm, vaccines etc.

National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)
NIHSAD, Bhopal is a premier institute of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for research on
exotic and emerging pathogens of animals. It came into existence in August 2014 as an independent
institute under ICAR from its original status as High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL),
a regional station of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar. The institute has
contributed significantly by detecting many animal diseases of exotic origin and preventing them
from entering our country.

National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI)
NIVEDI, a unit of ICAR has been established at Bengaluru to study the changing pattern of emerging
and re-emerging animal diseases.

National Research Centre on Integrated Farming System
National Research Centre on Integrated Farming (ICAR-NRCIF) will come up in Bihar. The
mandate of the institute will be to conduct research on the development of location specific
integrated farming system models for diverse agro-ecological conditions specially flood and wetland
situation with emphasis on rice, sugarcane and banana which require more water.

National Agricultural Research & Education System (NARES)
NARES is a huge repository of knowledge and information on crop sciences, horticulture, animal
sciences, agricultural engineering, fisheries, agricultural extension, agricultural education and
resource management.

Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) Scheme
ICAR has initiated a programme on “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture” to empower
youth in rural areas to take up agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income
and gainful employment in selected districts. It enables youth to establish network groups to take up
resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing. ARYA project
is implemented in 25 States through KVKs, one district from each State.

STUDENT READY
READY refers to “Rural and Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana”. Student READY is
a skill development initiative to strengthen students with skills to take up global challenges and also
to improve both their employability as well as ability to set up a venture.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
It is a central scheme that aims at providing irrigation facilities to every village in the country by
 converging ongoing irrigation schemes implemented by various ministries. It will focus on ‘end-to enddecentralised state-level planning and execution. This scheme has amalgamated three ongoing
programmes of three different ministries viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme of the
Ministry of Water Resources; Integrated Watershed Management Programme of the Ministry of
Rural Development; and Farm water management component of the National Mission on
Sustainable Agriculture. For 2015-16, Rs.1,000 crore are allotted for the scheme. The funding
pattern between centre and states is 75:25 percent. In case of north-eastern region and hilly states it
will be 90:10.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (Traditional Farming Improvement Programme) has been
launched by Government of India to support and promote organic farming and thereby improving
soil health. This will encourage farmers to adopt eco-friendly concept of cultivation and reduce their
dependence on fertilizers and agricultural chemicals to improve yields. Government has made
budgetary allocation of Rs. 300 Crores for the same in the Union Budget 2015-16.

Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF)
ATIF is aimed at implementation of an appropriate common e-market platform to regulate 585
regulated wholesale markets in the states across the country.

National Agriculture Market (NAM)
NAM is envisaged as a pan-India electronic trading portal which seeks to network the
existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and other market yards to create a
unified national market for agricultural commodities.NAM will be implemented as a Central Sector
Scheme through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF).

Price Stabilization Fund Scheme
To control the rising prices of agricultural commodities a Price Stabilization Fund of Rs. 500 Crore
for agricultural commodities was announced in the Union Budget 2014-15 with a view to mitigate
volatility in the prices of agricultural produce.

MIND_MAPs on Editorials

Current News for Prelims Environment,Geography & Climate Change

Three of India’s natural WHS face threat

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Three-of-Indias-natural-world-heritage-sites-face-threat-from-harmful-activity-WWF/articleshow/51794852.cms

India’s three major natural World Heritage Sites – the Western Ghats, Sundarbans National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary – are facing threats from harmful industrial activities like mining, according to a the survey ‘Protecting People Through Nature’ by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

What’s affecting them?

While ecology of Western Ghats covering six states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – is threatened by mining and oil and gas exploration, Manas Wild Life Sanctuary faces threat from dams and unsustainable water use.

• Sundarbans in West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh have been hit by various activities including unsustainable water use, dams, wood harvesting, over-fishing and shipping lanes.

Way ahead:

These iconic places face a range of threats, including climate change. Removing pressure from harmful industrial activity is therefore critical to increase the sites’ resilience.

Significance of world heritage sites:

• World Heritage sites are not just important environmentally, they also provide social and economic benefits.
• Two-thirds of natural sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List are crucial sources of water and about half help prevent natural disasters such as floods or landslides.
• WWF survey estimates that “11 million people – more than the population of Portugal – depend directly on World Heritage sites for food, water, shelter and medicine. Harmful industrial development poses a threat to these ecosystem services and communities that depend on them.”

UNESCO world heritage site:

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance.

• The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
• Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
• The List of recorded sites on the World Heritage now stands at 981 which include both cultural and natural wonders.
• Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 50 sites.
  

Heat wave warning for Telangana

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/heat-wave-warning-for-telangana/article8468407.ece

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat wave warning for the next two days for Telangana.

• It has warned that heat wave conditions were likely to prevail over parts of Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Rangareddy, Khammam and Nalgonda districts.
• According to IMD, the State would have day temperatures hovering between 40 degree Celsius and 45 degree Celsius.

Heat Wave:

A heat wave is a combination of temperture and humidity for a prolonged period. It is an extended period of very high summer temperture with the potential to adversely affect communities.

• High temperture are often accompanied by high humidity, that the body cannot tolerate are defined as extreme heat. A heat wave is a very dangerous situation and major threat to lives.
• According to IMD, Heat Wave occurs when temperatures are greater than 4.5 degree Celsius above what’s usual for the region.

South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138834

The Union Cabinet has given its nod for India adopting the statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) which will help in checking cross border wildlife crimes.

• The approval allows the country to become a formal member of SAWEN in order to strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation in the region.

What is SAWEN?

SAWEN is a regional network comprises eight countries in South Asia –Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

• It aims at working as a strong regional intergovernmental body for combating wildlife crimes by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.

Significance of SAWEN:

The South Asia region is very vulnerable to illegal traffic and wildlife crimes due to presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the region. The collaboration in harmonising as well as enforcing the wildlife protection in the region is considered very important for effective conservation of biodiversity.

How will this statute benefit India?

Now, India along with other member countries will take initiatives to bring “harmonisation and standardisation” in laws and policies to conserve fauna and flora and will also document the trend of poaching, illegal trade and related threats to the natural biodiversity.

• This will also strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach and to encourage member countries to prepare and implement their national action plans in curbing wildlife crime.

Cabinet approves changes in bill on afforestation

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Cabinet-approves-changes-in-bill-on-afforestation/articleshow/51910214.cms

Details:

• The legislation will ensure expeditious utilisation of accumulated unspent amounts available with the ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is currently around `40,000 crore, and fresh accrual of compensatory levies and interest on accumulated unspent balance, which will be of the order of approximately `6,000 crore per annum, in an efficient and transparent manner.
• Apart from facilitating timely execution of appropriate measures to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land, utilisation of these amounts will also result in creation of productive assets and generation of huge employment opportunities in the rural areas, especially the backward tribal areas.
• The amendments include deleting some of environmental services for which credible model to assess their monetary value does not exist while it also provides for prior consultation with states for making a rule under it. The amendments provide for use of monies realised from the user agencies in lieu for forest land diverted in protected areas for voluntary relocation from protected areas.

About the Bill:

The CAMPA Bill is meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities to compensate for forest land diverted to non-forest uses, by regulating and managing $5.3 billion (almost Rs.350 billion) collected over years.

• The union government in April 2015 approved the bill for introduction in parliament. However, it was rejected in theRajya Sabha, where the government is in minority.
• The bill basically envisages the establishment of a national Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) and state CAFs to credit amounts collected by state governments and Union territory administrations to compensate for the loss of forest land to non-forest projects.

NGT halts Tawang hydro-power project

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/bird-hit-ngt-halts-tawang-hydro-power-project/article8506412.ece

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has suspended the Union Environment Ministry’s clearance for the Rs. 6,400-crore hydro power project in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The clearance by the centre was granted in 2012.

Why?

This move was particularly aimed at protecting the vulnerable black-necked crane in the region.

Background:

The project was planned on the Nyamjang Chhu river and was the largest of 13 hydro power projects to be built in the Tawang basin.

About the species:

• Black-necked crane is a species that breeds on the Tibetan plateau and migrates to Tawang for the winter.
• The bird, most commonly found in China, is legally protected in Bhutan and Indiaand is considered sacred to certain Buddhist traditions.
• It is rated as ‘vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of endangered species.
• It is also listed in India’s Wildlife Act as a Schedule 1 species, which gives animals and birds the highest legal protection.

Other species that are found in the region include the red panda, the snow leopard and the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala, a recently-described primate species in the area.

Primate species new to India discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rare-primate-sighted-in-arunachal-pradesh/article8510529.ece

A new primate species in India has been discovered by a team of biologists and wildlife photographers during their bird watching trip to Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district.

• With this, White Cheeked Macaque has become a new primate species in India.

Details:

• The White Cheeked Macaque, hitherto unknown in India, was actually spotted by the team last year, but it took almost a year to confirm.
• The White Cheeked Macaque differs considerably from all macaque species such as Raesus Macaque, Arunachal Macaque, Tibetan macaque and Assamese macaque.
• It has relatively hairless short tail, long and thick hair on its neck and chin-whiskers creating a white cheek, among other characteristics.
• White-cheeked macaques are threatened by illegal hunting and potential habitat loss.

Differently-abled:Scaling Up Educational Rights And Opportunities-SUMMARY OF YOJANA_MAY16

http://yojana.gov.in/details_leadarticle.asp?CoverId=90

India's population has increased by 22.4 percent between 2001 and 2011. The number of
disabled, which was 2.19 crore in 2001, rose in 20ll to 2.68 crore- l.5 crore males and 1.18 crore females. The growth rate of disabled population is more in urban areas and among urban females.
The decadal growth in urban areas is 48.2 per cent and 55 per cent among urban females.
Among scheduled castes, it is 2.45 per cent (Census 2011).

Where do We stand now?
India seems a long way to go to ensure educational rights of children with special needs if
we compare the number of persons with disabilities reported in 2011 population census and
number of children with special needs studying in primary and secondary schools. There is no
data on inclusion of children with special needs in 0-6 age group and in higher education. This
is one of the major gaps that exists today for planning purpose.
1. SSA Inclusive education scheme has included 10.7l lakh children with special needs.
2. Inclusive education of children with disabilities in Secondary schools around 2 lakhs children
with special needs.
3. Around one lakh children with special needs studying in 977 special schools.

The number of persons with special needs in the age group of 0-29 years who need access
to education is 1.23 crores as per 2011 Census data, out of which, 53.4 lakhs are girls and
women with special needs. At present, a 'conservative estimate' shows that around 20 lakhs
persons with special needs our studying in primary, secondary and special schools. The challenge
ahead is how to ensure educational access to the unreached children/persons with special
diverse needs.
It is not debatable that we have not been able to reach even 20 percent of our children/
persons with special needs though we have legislations such as Right to Education since 2005
and compulsory and free education to all children guaranteed in the Indian constitution. India
has signed many international declarations and treaties concerning rights of persons with disabilities
and the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed and ratified
by India in 2006. Article 24 of the CRPD refers specifically to education, and creates an obligation
for governments to do two things:
1. Provide education to children, youth with disabilities on an equal basis with other children;
and
2. Provide that education within an inclusive system.


NEP : Potential Game Changer
A comprehensive policy on education is basically a path finding effort to translate political
will and vision into action. Inclusion of the disadvantaged sections of our society into mainstream
education and development is a process, which needs identification and systematic removal of
socio-economic-cultural-political- administrative and other barriers on the road to inclusion.
A broader understanding of inclusive education is reflected in NEP-2015. Inclusive education
in the Indian context must include the diverse needs of SC/ST/Minorities/Children and young persons with disabilities, children living in extreme poverty and difficult challenging
conditions.
NEP adopts, for the first time in India, an Indian perspective to inclusive education reflecting
global concerns and commitments to which India is a participatory /signatory.

The key factors that may exclude children/persons with special needs from the mainstream
education can be:-
1. Policies that ignore education for all cannot be achieved unless children and youth with
disabilities are included in the mainstream education.
2. The framework for monitoring progress in achieving Education for All ignores children
and youth with disabilities.
3. Failure to identify and remove systemic barriers to inclusive education at planning,
administration, monitoring and implementation levels.
4. Lack of recognition of the factors that affect inclusive education are within the social gaps
that are existing in education of children and youth with disabilities among SC/ST/Minorities/
Gender discrepancies within these groups and in general.
5. Disability being a state subject/ PRI subject and education being a concurrent subject is
leading to gaps in educational access to children/young persons with disabilities across
the different states in India.

NEP 2015: Bridging the Social Gaps
NEP 2015 has adopted bottom-top approach, which opens' debates/ discussions, participation
of the community. This is a unique feature of NEP-2015 and the participatory approach
was essential for the policy makers to understand the concerns of the community and ground
realities and reflect these issues adequately in the policy framework. NEP 2015 on inclusive
education makes this attempt successfully. We see conceptual clarity of inclusive education
stated very clearly in the framework.
NEP 2015 has adopted bottom to top approach, which opens' debates/ discussions, participation
of the community. This is a unique feature of NEP-2015 and the participatory approach
was essential for the policy makers to understand the concerns of the community and ground
realities and reflect these issues adequately in the policy framework. NEP 2015 on inclusive
education makes this attempt successfully. We see conceptual clarity of inclusive education
stated very clearly in the framework.
NEP-2015 has included disability concerns in all components of the education system-be it
in education admission, admission policies, teacher training, curriculum development, teaching
strategies, learning materials, evaluation system, virtual learning platforms, etc. NEP 2015
has adopted an educational view to inc1usive education in place of disability view. NEP 2015
supports to move away from labeling and isolation of children with disabilities in segregated
environments. It aligns the inclusive vision and goals with specific, observable, measurable and
achievable steps towards ensuring that every child has the right to education in an enabling
and caring environment which does not discriminate the child based on disability and gender.
NEP- 2015 has tremendous potential to be a major game changer when it gets implemented at
the grass root level.


Data Base on Disability: Is it available?
In India, we need disability data for planning services leading to effective inclusion. This
demands innovative approaches as survey methodology cannot provide comprehensive information
about individuals with special needs. We need information on disability, socio-economic educational-
employment profiles, diverse needs of each person (rehabilitation needs, employment,
skill development, education etc) to plan services leading to effective inclusion at the
community level without disintegrating children with special needs away from their families.
India must introduce mandatory registration of persons with disabilities at community level/
school level/ ICDS levels. It could be achieved by introducing village disability registers, school
special needs registers, ward level disability registers and issue add on card to Aadhaar card /
ration cards. This digitized data could be used to provide smart ill cards replacing existing
paper based disability ill cards.

CBR programmes in India already use a system of Village disability registers to provide
community based inclusive services.
The other issues which are seen as a major barrier for inclusion are listed below:
1. Children with disabilities remain invisible to the education system;
2. Families are not supportive;
3. Teachers lack training, leadership, knowledge and support to adapt curriculum;
4. Poor quality education;
5. Poor access to: knowledge and information for -parents, teachers, administrators and policy
makers
6. No inclusive education infrastructure -governance, policy, planning, financing, implementation
and monitoring
7. Lack of public support for inclusion; and
8. Lack of accountability and monitoring mechanisms.

 The Census and data base on on Disability:
● The census data on disability covers more than it reveals. The identification of disabilities
needs skills especially to identify special needs (intellectual, sensory disabilities of mild and
moderate levels) which are not easily visible unless persons are trained in the identification.
● In India, we need disability data for planning services leading to effective inclusion. This
demands innovative approaches as survey methodology cannot provide comprehensive
information about the individuals with special needs.
● India must introduce mandatory registration of person with disabilities at community level/
school level/ ICDS level.The digitized data could also be used to provide smart ID cards
replacing existing paper based disability ID cards.

"Gram Uday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan"-SUMMARY OF YOJANA_MAY16

“Gram Uday se Bharat Uday" Abhiyan, -

(http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138372
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ambedkar-birth-anniversary-villagers-to-take-tolerance-oath-on-ambedkar-birth-anniversary-birender-singh/)

A nation wide campaign on rural development
and social harmony was launched by the Prime Minister from Dr Ambedkar's birth place Mhow
in Madhya Pradesh on 14th April, 2016. The eleven day programme, to commemorate the
125th Birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, ended on 24th April 2016,
which was Panchayati Raj Day.
The campaign aimed to generate nation-wide efforts to increase social harmony across
villages, strengthen Panchayati Raj, promote rural development, and foster farmers' progress.

During the campaign, discussions on issues pertaining to rural development, improving farmer's
income, SC and ST welfare and social harmony were held on different platforms.
The programmes,included a 'Social Harmony Programme' in all Gram Panchayats, where
villagers honoured Dr. Ambedkar, and resolved to strengthen social harmony. Information
regarding the various schemes of the government to foster social justice was also provided.
Village Farmer Assemblies were organized in Gram Panchayats to promote agriculture. In these
assemblies, information on Fasal Bima Yojna, Social Health Card, etc. were provided to farmers
and their suggestions for bringing about improvements in agriculture solicited.
Gram Sabha meetings were held from 21st-24th April, 2016 across the country.
Preceding the main event of Gram Sabha meetings for Panchayati Raj Day, a National meeting of tribal women and Gram Panchayat Presidents from Fifth Schedule Areas of 10 States was held at
Vijayawada on 19th April 2016 focusing on Panchayat and tribal development.
The topics of
discussions in these Gram Sabhas included :-
• Gram Panchayat Development Plans for local economic development,
• Optimum utilization offunds available with Panchayati Raj Institutions, .Clean drinking
water and sanitation,
• Role of women in village and rural development,
• Social inclusion including welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, person with Disabilities
and other marginalized groups.
Information regarding various schemes for socio-economic development were also provided.

News for Prelims-(2015-2016)- Environment & Climate Change

                                                 

                                           Environment & Climate Change

Breakthrough Energy Coalition
A group of 28 investors from various countries have launched a new global consortium called –
Breakthrough Energy Coalition.
The members of the Breakthrough Energy Coalition include Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerburg, Jack Ma,
Jeff Bezos, Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani etc.The multi-billion dollar group is launched to develop
zero-carbon energy technologies. The group plans to invest in a number of sectors including
electricity generation and storage, transport, industry, agriculture and energy system efficiency.
http://www.breakthroughenergycoalition.com/en/news.html

Inle Lake in Myanmar
Myanmar has launched its first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – Inle Lake in Shan state. The lake was
designated under the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme in June 2015. The
wetland ecosystem of this freshwater lake is home to various wetland birds, freshwater fishes, otters
and turtles. The lake is reported to be the nesting place for globally endangered Sarus crane.
http://alittleadrift.com/2012/03/inle-lake-burma-myanmar/

India inks Raptor MoU
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) on the
Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia. This MoU is also called as the
‘Raptor MoU’ under the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS). With signing it,
India will become the 54th signatory to the MoU.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/india-inks-pact-for-saving-birds-of-prey/article8333171.ece

Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO)
To study the effects of climate change, India has launched long term ecological observatories (LTEO)
programme. Under the programme, eight long-term ecological observatories are opened to study the
health of eight different biomes. They will cover the Western Himalayas to Western Ghats, Eastern
Himalayas to Andaman & Nicobar Islands, central India to the Sunderbans, and from Jammu & Kashmir to Rajasthan and Gujarat. The initiative will help India to build capacity in study of impact of climate change on various ecosystems including human systems of agriculture and pastoralism. The development of scientific database in this key area will reduce the country’s dependence on studies done abroad.
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/india-to-have-8-new-observatories-to-study-climate-change/article7960634.ece

International festival on Birds
Uttar Pradesh Government has launched International festival on Birds in a bid to promote state as
an international bird-watching destination. The first-of-its-kind festival was inaugurated by Chief
Minister Akhilesh Yadav at the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS).
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/agra-to-host-first-ever-international-bird-fete/article7946131.ece

Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF)
The World Bank has launched a $500 million Transformative Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) to help
developing countries pay for emission reductions and combat climate change. The Transformative
Carbon Asset Facility (TCAF) will establish the world’s first programmatic carbon market. The
scheme will reward countries for reducing emissions by paying a fee for each tonne of carbon dioxide
(CO2) reduced. The facility will help countries implement their Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs).
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2015/11/30/new-500-million-initiative-to-boost-large-scale-climate-action-in-developing-countries

Gorewada Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Centre
India’s biggest Wildlife Rescue Centre named as Gorewada Zoo and Wildlife Rescue Centre has been
commissioned at Gorewada near Nagpur, Maharashtra. It is managed by the Forest Development
Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM).
http://www.buzzgk.in/2015/12/indias-biggest-wildlife-rescue-centre.html

Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon along with 13 agencies of the UN system
has launched the new initiative titled “Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape” to build climate resilience in the
world’s most vulnerable countries. The 13 UN organisations participating in the Initiative are FAO,
UNEP, UNFCCC, UN-Habitat, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNOPS, UNISDR, WFP, OCHA,
WHO, and WMO. The initiative has been launched during the United Nations climate change
conference (COP21) in Paris. The initiative will enhance the ability of the countries to anticipate
climate hazards, absorb consequences and reshape development to reduce risks from climate hazards.
The initiative will also work on mobilizing finance and knowledge and to create and operationalize

partnerships to fight against climate change.
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/11/un-secretary-generals-initiative-aims-to-strengthen-climate-resilience-of-the-worlds-most-vulnerable-countries-and-people/

HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE-IYB2016

HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the apex body for the implementation of various programmes on a national scale in the areas of health and family welfare, prevention and control of major communicable diseases and promotion of traditional and indigenous system of medicines. The Ministry also assists in preventing and controlling the spread of seasonal disease outbreaks and epidemics through technical assistance. Expenditure is incurred by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare either directly under central schemes or by way of grants-in-aids to the autonomous/statutory bodies etc. and NGOs.
• In addition to the centrally sponsored family welfare programmes, the Ministry is implementing several World Bank assisted programmes for control of AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in designated areas. Besides State Health Systems Development Projects World Bank assistance programmes are also under implementation in various states which are being implemented by the respective State Governments.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare only facilitates the states in availing of external assistance. All these schemes aim at fulfilling the national commitment to improve access to Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities keeping in view the needs of rural areas and where the incidence of disease is high. National Health Policy 2002 The National Health Policy (NHP) 2002 evolved from the National Health Policy of 1983 under the recommendation and guidance of ‘Bhore Committee Report’ of 1946 wherein the main underlying principles for future health development of the country, aiming that "No individual should fail to secure adequate medical care because of inability to pay for it." Concerning the complexity of modern medical practice, the aim is to
provide all the consultant, laboratory and institutional facilities necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment when fully developed.
The National Health Policy, 2002 framework envisages, accelerated achievement of public health goals in the backdrop of the socio-economic circumstances prevailing in the country.
Some of the salient aspects of the NHP 2002, inter alia, include:
i) Making good the deficiencies in availability of health facilities, narrowing the gap between various states,
ii) The gap across the rural-urban divide in attainment of health goals and reducing the uneven access to and benefits from the public health system between the better endowed and the more vulnerable sections of society.

National Health Mission
The main programmatic components include Health System Strengthening in rural and urban areas,
ReproductiveMaternal-Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) and Communicable and Non- Communicable diseases. The NHM envisages achievement of universal access to equitable, affordable and quality healthcare services that are accountable and responsive to people's needs. In terms of major initiatives taken under NHM is More than 8.96 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have been appointed across the country and who serve as facilitators, mobilizers and providers of community level care. ASHA is the first port of call in the community especially for marginalized sections of the population, with a focus on women and children

It has two sub-missions:
i. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)
ii. National Urban Health Mission (NURM)

National Rural Health Mission
The thrust of the mission is on establishing a fully functional, community owned, decentralised health delivery system with inter-sectoral convergence at all levels, to ensure simultaneous action on a wide range of determinants of health such as water, sanitation, education, nutrition, social and gender equality. It seeks to provide affordable, accessible and quality healthcare to the rural population, especially the vulnerable groups. Under NRHM, the
Empowered Action Group (EAG) states as well as North-Eastern States, J & K and Himachal Pradesh have been given special focus.

National Urban Health Mission
National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) approved by the Union Cabinet on May 1, 2013 as a sub-mission of NHM which seeks to improve the health status of the urban population particularly urban poor and other vulnerable sections by facilitating their access to quality primary healthcare. NUHM would cover all state capitals, district headquarters and other cities/towns with a population of 50,000 and above (as per census 2011) in a phased manner. Cities and towns with population below 50,000 will continue to be covered under NRHM. The Centre-State Funding Pattern for special category states have 90:10 whereas rest of the states have 75:25. Rogi Kalyan Samiti, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram, National Ambulance Services, India Newborn Action plan, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram, Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakaram etc. are the components of National Health Mission.

National Commission on Population
Constituted on May, 2000 to review, monitor and give direction for the implementation of the National Population Policy (NPP), 2000 with a view to meeting the goals set out in the policy, to promote inter-sectoral coordination, involve the civil society in planning and implenmentation, gacilitate initiatives to improve performance in the demographically weaker states in the countryand to explore the possibilities of international cooperation in support of the goals set out in the National Population Policy. The NCP has been reconstituted with 40 members. The Prime Minister is the Chairperson of the NCP. The present membership includes the Chief Ministers of the States of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. As per NCP decisions there should be Annual Health Survey (AHS) of all districts which could be published annually so that health indicators at district level are periodically published, monitored and compared against benchmarks.

National Helpline: Aim is to provide reliable information of reproductive health, sexual health, contraception, pregnancy, child health and related issues. It is specifically for adolescents, newly married and about to be married persons from the high focus states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh but anyone of any age can seek help.



Family Planning Programme
The objectives, strategies and activities of the Family Planning division are designed and operated towards achieving the family welfare goals and objectives stated in various policy documents (NPP: National Population Policy 2000; NHP: National Health Policy 2002 and NRHM: National Rural Health Mission) and to honour the commitments of the Government of India (including ICPD: International Conference on Population and Development; MDG: Millennium Development Goals, FP; 2020 Summit and others).


The Child Health Programme
The Child Health Programme under the National Health Mission (NHM) comprehensively integrates
interventions that improve child survival and addresses factors contributing to infant and under 5 mortality. It is now well recognized that child survival cannot be addressed in isolation as it is intricately linked to the health of the mother, which is further determined by mother’s health and development as an adolescent. Therefore, the concept of continuum of care, that emphasizes care during critical life stages in order to improve child survival, has been adopted under the national programme. Another dimension of this approach is to ensure that essential services are made available at home, through community outreach and through health facilities at various levels (primary, first referral units and tertiary health care facilities). The newborn and child health are
now the two key pillars of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) strategic approach, 2013.


Public Sector Undertakings
Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation: A Government of India Enterprise having 97.61% shares of Government of India and 2.39% shares of Uttrakhand State Government through Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd., was in corporated in July 12, 1978. The registered office and factory of the company is at Mohan, District Almora, Uttarakhand. IMPCL comes under the Administrative Control of the Ministry of Ayush, New Delhi. IMPCL is supplying Ayurvedic and Unani medicines all over India. As the automation and 3rd phase modernization is under progress, the plant capacity for Tablets, Vati, Capsules, Churns, Avaleha, etc. will be enhanced at least by 8 to 10 times on completion of modernization work. The sales during the year 2014- 15 were approximately Rs. 32 crore.

• Drug Quality Control
The Drug Control Cell (DCC) in the Ministry of AYUSH deals with regulatory and quality control matters of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs including amendment in the regulations, introduction of new regulations and examination of other drugs related issues.
During 2015-16, the Drug Control Cell has taken a number of steps for regulation and quality control of AYSUH Drugs. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines for Ayurveda, Siddha Unani Drugs have been finalized and one training programme/workshop in Pharmacopoeial Laboratory for Indian Medicine (PLIM), Ghaziabad was organized for capacity building on regulatory aspects, which was attended by State Drug Inspectors and Licensing Authorities of AYUSH.

Several Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed with various countries during
2015. These are:

1. A letter of Intent (LoI) was signed between University of Strasbourg, France and The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Science (CCRAS) during the visit of Indian Prime Minister of India to France in April, 2015;

2. An MoU on Cooperation in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine between Government of India and Government of Mongolia was signed on May 17, 2015;

3. Cabinet had approved the extension of tenure of the MoU signed with SATCM, China after its expiry for further period of five years up to 2017;

4. The Ministry of AYUSH agreed to provide one Yoga Expert to Yoga College to be established under Yunnan Minzu University, China. An MoU in this regard was signed between Indian Council for Cultural relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the University at China;
5. The Ministry of AYUSH supported by providing Yoga experts and financial assistance for organization of Yoga-Taichi event in China during the visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India to China in May, 2015;
6. An MoU was signed between CCRAS and Rangsit University, Thailand on June 29, 2015 for setting up of Ayurveda Chair;
7. The Ministry of AYUSH had set up an AYUSH Information Cell in the premises of Indian Consulate at Dubai, UAE. The Cell was inaugurated on June 21, 2015;
8. The Ministry organised an 'International Conference on Yoga for Holistic Health' on June 21-22, 2015 consequent to the adoption of resolution for observing June 21 as the International Day of Yoga;
9. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of Turkmenistan on Cooperation in Yoga and Traditional Medicine on July 11, 2015 during visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India of Turkmenistan. The Centre established under the MoU was inaugurated during visit of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on July 11, 2015.