Facts in News

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    Facts in News

    SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme
    • It is formulated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which includes a subscheme – ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’. 

    Key Points

    • The scheme covers several comprehensive measures including welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging. 
    • The focus of the scheme is extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, basic documentation, education, skill development, economic linkages and so on. 
    • The scheme would be implemented with the support of State/UT Governments/Local Urban Bodies, Voluntary Organizations, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) , institutions and others.

    Inland Vessels Bill, 2021

    Recently, the Inland Vessels Bill has been introduced in Lok Sabha.

    About

    • The Bill seeks to bring in transparency and accountability of administration of inland water transportation.
    • It will  strengthen procedures governing inland vessels, their construction, survey, registration, manning and navigation.

    Key Features

    • Unified law for the country, instead of separate rules framed by the States. 
    • The certificate of registration granted under the proposed law will be deemed to be valid in all States and Union territories, and there will be no need to seek separate permissions from States.
    • Central database for recording the details of the vessels and their crew on an electronic portal.
    • It requires all mechanically propelled vessels to be mandatorily registered. All non-mechanically propelled vessels will also have to be enrolled at district, taluk or panchayat or village level.

    Inland Water Transport (IWT) in India

    • India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which consist of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc.
    • They are found to be cost effective as well as an environmentally friendly means of transporting freight.  In India, Inland Water Transport (IWT) has the potential to supplement the over-burdened railways and congested roadways. 
    • As per the National Waterways Act 2016, 111 waterways have been declared as National Waterways (NWs).
    • The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is implementing the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) for capacity augmentation of navigation on the Haldia-Varanasi stretch of Ganga (part of NW-1) with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank.

    Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)

    • It came into existence on 27th October 1986 for development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation. 
    • The Authority primarily undertakes projects for development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping.
    • The head office of the Authority is at Noida.

    Sela Tunnel

    Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has conducted the last blast for the under-construction Sela Tunnel.

    • The Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone of the Tunnel in February 2019.
    • It aims to provide all weather connectivity to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh through the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang Road.
    • The breakthrough facilitates faster completion of Sela Tunnel by undertaking simultaneous activities in two tubes.
      • A two-way tube of 1,555 meters and an escape tube of 980 meters, besides 8.8 kms of approach roads.
    • On completion, it will be the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world at an altitude above 13,000 feet.
    • The tunnel is constructed using the latest New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).
      • NATM is a method of modern tunnel design and construction employing sophisticated monitoring to optimize various wall reinforcement techniques based on the type of rock encountered as tunneling progresses.
      • The name NATM was intended to distinguish it from earlier methods, with its economic advantage of employing inherent geological strength available in the surrounding rock mass to stabilize the tunnel wherever possible rather than reinforcing the entire tunnel.
      • It is also known as the Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) or Sprayed Concrete Lining (SCL) method.
    • Significance
      • It is much below the snow line allowing all weather travel without the challenges of snow clearance.
      • It will reduce travel time and ensure speedier movement across the Sela Pass.
      • It will play a crucial role in the development of not just Arunachal Pradesh, but the entire North-East.
      • In case of natural calamities and adverse weather, it can prove to be a vital link for evacuation of personnel.

    (Image Courtesy: TP)

    China-led South Asian Initiative

    Recently, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh has clarified that 

    India can join the China-led South Asian initiative.

    • The China-South Asian Countries Emergency Supplies Reserve and a Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Centre were set up in China on 8th July 2021.
    • The China-South Asia centre is being established in the Southern Chinese city of Chongqing.
    • Genesis
      • When Bangladesh requested China for vaccines, China suggested setting up an e-commerce economic cooperation forum and an emergency storage facility for vaccines, which would also work as a poverty alleviation centre to deal with economic issues arising in South Asia due to Covid-19.
      • So Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka held a meeting in April and set it up.
      • At that time, it appeared to leave out only India, Bhutan and the Maldives.
    • India has not given any official response on being left out or plans to join the group.
      • However, given the border tensions in Ladakh and India’s firm stand that bilateral relations cannot move ahead without a resolution of the issue.
      • It is understood that India would be unlikely to consider a new grouping involving China, especially one that could be seen to dilute its role in the SAARC region.
      • Some experts suggest that this group was meant to be a “Minus India” initiative seeing the exclusion of India from the grouping and consultations on Covid-19 relief different combinations of all SAARC member countries.
      • India is the only country of all eight SAARC nations that has not requested or accepted Chinese Covid-19 vaccines.
    • However, the membership has been kept open for India as the issues involved in the forum are common to all South Asian countries battling Covid-19 and its impact on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the region.

    Historic Urban Landscape Project

    Recently, Gwalior and Orchha (Madhya Pradesh) have been selected by UNESCO under the Historic Urban Landscape Project.

    • The project was started for the inclusive and well-planned development of fast-growing historical cities while preserving the culture and heritage.
    • On 10th November 2011 UNESCO’s General Conference adopted the new Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape by acclamation, the first such instrument on the historic environment issued by UNESCO in 35 years.
      • The project marks its 10th anniversary in 2021.
      • The anniversary is a platform to share lessons learned from Covid-19 and to resume discussions on the future of urban management, including topics such as public space, renovations, tourism, infrastructure and livelihoods.
    • Varanasi and Ajmer are the other two Indian cities recognised under the project.
    • UNESCO will prepare the development and management plan of these cities, which will be jointly developed by UNESCO, Government of India and Madhya Pradesh.
      • Under the plan, full care of the culture, history, nature, traditions and heritage of the cities will be taken in the sustainable development of the cities.
      • It will help MP tourism get a new dimension and additional employment opportunities will also be created along with the development of tourism.
    • Both Gwalior and Orchha are located in the Northern part of Madhya Pradesh and both are nationally and internationally famous tourist destinations.
      • Gwalior hosts the historic Gwalior Fort, Scindia Royal Palace called Jai Vilas Palace and other monuments of tourist interest.
      • Orchha town is situated on banks of the Betwa river and has bountiful scenic places and historical monuments.

    (Image Courtesy: GHR)

     

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