NIUA Launches Infant, Toddler and Caregiver-Friendly Neighbourhoods Training and Capacity Buildin...
National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) virtually launched the 'Infant Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme'. The Programme is designed to help build capacities of city officials and young professionals for developing young children and family-friendly neighbourhoods within cities in India.
The programme is envisioned with the twin objectives: First, embedding the learnings from the inventory of knowledge developed by NIUA and BvLF within the on-going and proposed urban development initiatives at neighbourhood and city level; and second, handholding participants to embed learnings into the various initiatives of the cities, taking into account the everyday needs of young children and caregivers. In addition, an academic certified course for young professionals has been planned to sensitize them about the needs of young citizens (0-5 years) in the city and to equip them with the adequate tools for the purpose.
The event was launched remotely by Mr. Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary & Mission Director (Smart Cities), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, GoI.
Apr 14, 2021
Mission Aahaar Kranti
The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched "Mission Aahaar Kranti". The mission aims to spread the message of the importance of nutritionally balanced diet. It will also promote the importance of accessibility to local fruits and vegetables.
The Mission is designed to address the major problem faced by India and the world, which is, "Hunger and Diseases in Abundance".
India produces two times the amount of calories it consumes. Still, several people are malnourished in the country.
The mission is also co-launched by the Vijnana Bharti and Global Scientists and Technocrats Forum.
The motto of the mission is "Good Diet-Good Cognition".
According to UNICEF, India is at the tenth spot among countries with highest number of underweight children. Also, the organisation says that India is at the seventeenth spot among countries with highest number of stunted children. Both the problems of stunting and underweight are caused by malnutrition.
Apr 11, 2021
President Promulgates Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021
The President promulgated the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 for providing pre-packaged resolution for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The government said that it has set the minimum default threshold for initiation of pre-packaged insolvency resolution process by a MSME corporate debtor at Rs. 10 lakh.
While pre-packaged resolution is for defaults up to Rs. 1 crore.
Pre-pack for MSMEs is a hybrid corporate rescue process, which blends elements and virtues of both formal and informal insolvency proceedings. A resolution plan is negotiated between debtor and its creditors before commencement of formal proceedings.
Apr 10, 2021
Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Arjun Munda Launch Tribal Health Collaborative- 'Anamaya'
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda launched 'Anamaya'- the Tribal Health Collaborative through video conference. A multi-stakeholder initiative supported by Piramal Foundation and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Anameya' will converge efforts of various Government agencies and organisations to enhance the health and nutrition status of the tribal communities.
Dr. Vardhan said that in the past one year, several efforts have been made by the Health Ministry to jointly address the health gaps of the tribal communities with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said that as part of this Collaborative, the Ministry will undertake several activities such as setting up of the National Council on Tribal Health to drive policy initiatives in tribal health, establishment of a Health Cell to closely monitor healthcare delivery in the tribal areas and devising mechanisms to implement the Tribal Health Action Plan.
Apr 09, 2021
Cabinet Okays Solar Manufacturing Scheme
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for ramping up domestic manufacturing of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.
The proposed scheme is envisaged to create additional 10,000 megawatt capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants in the country.
Under the PLI scheme, the Cabinet in November 2020 had approved Rs. 4,500 crore for manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules. The nodal ministry thereafter proposed a national programme on high efficiency solar PV modules for the same.