International Women’s Day
Context :
Every year, March 8th is marked as International Women’s Day. It was first proposed by the Socialist Party of America in 1909. However, it was pertained to New York City. The first International Women’s Day was marked first in 1909.
Theme :
An Equal World is an Enabled World.
Women’s Day in India :
For the first time in Indian history, women visiting monuments under Archaeological Survey of India are to be provided with free pass. This is being done to signify Indian Culture’s respect for women. Women are being worshipped as goddess in Indian Culture.
PM Modi is to provide access to his social media account on IWD to inspiring women. The GoI has also initiated serious of actions including telecasting 14 women-oriented films, commemorating women members of constituent assembly, etc.
Source : the hindu
India approved as observer of Indian Ocean commission
Context :
India approved as a member of the Indian Ocean Commission, the inter-governmental organization that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean.
India made the application to join as an observer of the organization last month. IOC has four observers – China, Malta, European Union and International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF)
Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) :
- It was set up in 1982, the Indian Ocean Commission comprises Seychelles, Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius, and Reunion island, France’s overseas territory in the region.
- India supported a more significant role for France in the bigger Indian Ocean Rim Association.
- However, while France is already an IORA dialogue partner, obtaining membership via its overseas Indian territories has proved to be a bridge too far, with opposition from its former colonial states.
Jan Aushadhi Diwas
Context :
The day is being celebrated to commemorate the achievements of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janushadhi Pariyojana Kendras as a part of celebration of the day.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) :
The branded (Generic) medicines are sold at significantly higher prices than their unbranded generic equivalents, though are identical in the therapeutic value. Given the widespread poverty across the country, making available reasonably priced quality generic medicines in the market would benefit everyone.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses. PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs. It was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in November 2008 under the name Jan Aushadi Campaign. Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementation agency for PMBJP.
Vision, Mission and Objective of PMBJP :
Vision :
To bring down the healthcare budget of every citizen of India through providing Quality generic Medicines at Affordable Prices.
Mission :
- Create awareness among the public regarding generic medicines.
- Create demand for generic medicines through medical practitioners.
- Create awareness through education and awareness program that high price need not be synonymous with high quality.
- Provide all the commonly used generic medicines covering all the therapeutic groups.
- Provide all the related health care products too under the scheme.
Objective :
Making quality medicines available at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, through exclusive outlets “Jan Aushadhi Medical Store”, so as to reduce out of pocket expenses in healthcare.
Janaushadhi Kendras :
The Kendras are the biggest retail pharma chain in the world. They are spread across 700 districts. There are more than 6,200 such Kendras in India. In 2019-20, the total sales at these outlets crossed Rs 390 crores. This saved Rs 2,200 crores for common citizens.
Delimitation of Constituencies
Context :
The government has constituted a Delimitation Commission, to be headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, to redraw Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the Union Territory Jammu and Kashmirand the northeastern states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland.
What is Delimitation :
Delimitation literally means the process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a state that has a legislative body.
Who carries out the exercise :
- Delimitation is undertaken by a highly powerful commission. They are formally known as Delimitation Commission or Boundary Commission.
- These bodies are so powerful that its orders have the force of law and they cannot be challenged before any court.
- Such commissions have been constituted at least four times in India — in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952; in 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962; in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and last in 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002.
- The commissions’ orders are enforced as per the date specified by the President of India. Copies of these orders are laid before the Lok Sabha or the concerned Legislative Assembly. No modifications are permitted.
Composition of the Commission :
According to the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002, the Delimitation Commission appointed by the Centre has to have three members: a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court as the chairperson, and the Chief Election Commissioner or Election Commissioner nominated by the CEC and the State Election Commissioner as ex-officio members.
Kishori Health Cards (Scheme for Adolescent Girls)
Context :
The Government is implementing the ‘Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)’ across the country.
About the Scheme :
- Introduced in: 2010
- Implemented By: Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Implemented Through: Existing Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
- Coverage: Pan-India
- Key Objective: To facilitate, educate and empower Adolescent Girls (AGs) so as to enable them to become self-reliant and aware citizens.
- Target Group: Out of school girls in the age group of 11-14 years. The scheme aims at motivating out of school girls to go back to formal schooling or vocational /skill training.
- Components
- Nutrition: Provision for providing specified amount of calories, protein and micronutrients to AGs, etc.
- Non-nutrition: Includes health check-up, mainstreaming out of school girls into the school system, Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation, life skill education etc.
- Funding Pattern
- SAG is a centrally sponsored scheme, implemented through Centre and State share in the ratio of 50:50 for nutrition component and 60:40 for the rest of the activities.
- For both components, the ratio is 90:10 for North Eastern and three Himalayan States and 100% for UTs without legislation.
- Achievement of the Scheme is measured through:
- SAG- Rapid Reporting System (RRS): It is a role based Management Information System (MIS) that captures details of the AGs that are taking benefits under this scheme.
- Kishore Health Card: To record the information about the weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) of AGs along with other services provided under the scheme. These health cards for AGs are maintained at the AWCs.