Sunday, December 31, 2023
Saturday, December 30, 2023
Monday, December 25, 2023
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
National Programme for Dairy Development
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing “National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)” scheme across the country since Feb-2014 with an objective of creating/strengthening of infrastructure for Production of quality milk, Procurement, Processing and Marketing of Milk & Milk Products. The scheme has been restructured/realigned in July 2021 for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total budgetary allocation of Rs.1790 crore having two components:
Component 'A' focuses towards creating/strengthening of infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities.
Component 'B' (Dairying through Cooperatives) aims to increase sales of milk and milk products, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of producer-owned institutions.
An amount of Rs.345.93 crore has been allocated (Budgetary Estimate) under both Component 'A' and Component 'B' (Dairying through Cooperatives) of the scheme during 2023-24.
The details of achievements made under NPDD scheme is as under;
- Under Component A of the scheme, 195 projects in 30 States/UTs have been approved with the total outlay of Rs. 3311.10 crore (including Central Share Rs.2479.06 crore). A total amount of Rs.1824.60 crore has been released to States for the implementation of these projects against which Rs. 1429.62 crore has been utilized.
- Under Component B of the scheme, 22 projects in 8 States have been approved with a total outlay of Rs.1130.63 crore. A total amount of Rs.84.02 crore has been released to National Dairy Development Board for the implementation of the projects.
- About 16,794 dairy cooperative societies have been organized/revived, 30,066 Automatic Milk Collection Unit have been installed and about 82 dairy plants have been strengthened with creation of 24.00 lakh litres per day additional/new milk processing capacity under the scheme.
National Food Security Mission
The year 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets (IYoM) by the United Nations on the proposal initiated by the Government of India. The Government is celebrating the International Year of Millets to make it a people’s movement so that value-added products are accepted globally. Both the Central and State Governments have taken numerous steps for promoting millets (Shree Anna). The action plan of IYoM 2023 focuses on a strategy to enhance production, productivity, consumption, export, strengthening the value chains, branding and also creating awareness for health benefits etc.
To increase the production of Nutri Cereals for meeting their enhanced demand, the Central Government is implementing the National Food Security Mission - Nutri Cereals (NFSM-Nutri Cereals). The interventions covered under NFSM-Nutri Cereals include cluster front line demonstrations on improved package of practices, seed distribution & micronutrients, biofertilizers, production of certified seeds of High Yielding Varieties, plant protection chemicals, weedicides, sprayer, efficient water application tools, cropping system based training. Seed Hubs for millets have also been set up. Further interventions include breeder seed production, production of certified seeds, distribution of seed mini kits (HYVs) etc. Further, States such as Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote millets.
The Government also incentivizes farmers to increase the production and productivity of millets through Rashtriya Krishi VikasYojana. It has also fixed the MSP for major millets to ensure that farmers get remunerative prices.
To increase the production of millets based products, a Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been notified by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in June 2022. Millets are also included under the Poshan Abhiyan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Further, the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution has revised its guidelines to increase the procurement of millets under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal. The Ministry has also advised the State Governments and Union Territories to increase the procurement of millets.
Due to the above efforts of both the Central and State Governments, there has been an increased awareness about health benefits and enhanced demand for millets. The Government is committed to ensure remunerative prices to farmers so that the production and supply increase and keep the prices moderated.
Monday, December 4, 2023
Air Quality Index
A Commission has been constituted under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021 up in accordance with the notification dated 23rd April, 2021 towards better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems surrounding the air quality index in NCR and adjoining areas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM), since its inception in 2021, undertakes action for the prevention and control of Air pollution in Delhi-NCR & Adjoining Areas which impacts the air quality of the NCT Delhi. The Commission adopting an air-shed like approach has issued a comprehensive policy to curb Air pollution NCR in July 2022 by constituting an expert group. The policy has sector-wise action plan for prevention and control of air pollution in the region by various sectors contributing to air pollution. The Commission has also issued statutory directions and advisories for control of air pollution in NCR from time to time. Since inception the Commission has so far issued 78 directions and 11 advisories, besides executive orders to various agencies concerned in the NCR including State Governments of Punjab, GNCTD, and various bodies of the Central and State Governments in the region. Due to these concerted efforts general improvements in the AQI level has been witnessed in the region.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was formulated for Delhi-NCR to tackle the issue of sudden rise in air pollution levels which was notified by MoEF&CC in January 2017 on recommendation of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for implementation. A comprehensive review of actions listed under GRAP was carried out by CPCB in 2020 based on actions taken and improvement observed in air quality in recent years. Based on the inputs given by CPCB, the revised GRAP was published by CAQM and further directions were issued for its implementation.
Steps taken for control of air pollution are as following:
1. The CAQM has deputed 40 teams of CPCB officers since December 2021, for conducting incognito inspections of air polluting industries, C&D sites, DG sets in Delhi-NCR to check implementation status of pollution control measures and compliance of other provisions of the Air (P&CP) Act, 1981. A total of 16037units/entities/ projects have been inspected as on November 24, 2023. Based on these inspections, CAQM has issued Closure Directions in 899 cases and out of these resumption orders have been issued in 708 cases while 132 cases are still under closure and cases of 59 balance units have been transferred to State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decision.
2. CPCB has come out with System and Procedure for Emission Compliance Testing of Retro-fit Emission Control Devices (RECD) for Diesel Power Generating Set Engines up to Gross Mechanical Power 800 kW. RECDs have been developed for DG sets of 209-799 kW capacity and installation of RECDs is in progress in Delhi-NCR. In order to control DG set emissions, CPCB is also funding retrofitment/ upgradation of DG sets in Govt. hospitals in Delhi-NCR and guidelines have been issued in this regard. Under the said guidelines, 100 % funding support is provided for RECD and dual fuel kit installation while 40% funding support is provided for procurement of new gas based Generator sets.
3. CPCB has issued guidelines/ mechanism for use of anti-smog guns in Construction and Demolition projects. Also, CPCB has published guidelines for dust mitigation measures in handling construction materials and C&D waste.
4. CPCB has framed guidelines for promoting setting up of paddy straw based pelletization and torrefaction plants wherein one-time financial assistance is provided to individual entities/entrepreneurs/ companies for setting up of such plants.A corpus of Rs. 50 crores has been earmarked for utilisation through the guidelines. A total of 10 plants (1 in principle) have been sanctioned so far: 8 in Punjab, 1 in Haryana and 1 in UP.
5. CPCB has also issued an addendum under which one-time financial assistance is provided to Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and ZillaParishads of the states of Punjab, Haryana, NCT of Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, for establishing paddy straw based briquetting plants for use of briquettes for cremation purpose only.
6. Installation of VRS system at 3256 petrol pumps in Delhi-NCR in compliance with orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court and Hon’ble NGT.
7. Trial study of various new technologies for control of air pollution have been got conducted by CPCB out of which encouraging results were observed in case of Dust Suppressant for control of emissions at construction sites and road dust. Advisory have been issued for use of dust suppressant by road owning and construction agencies in Delhi-NCR.
Mera Bill Mera Adhikaar scheme
The government launched the 'mera bill mera adhikaar' scheme to promote invoice usage and offer incentives to consumers.
KeyPoints:The scheme is currently implemented in Haryana, Assam, Gujarat, and the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Puducherry.
Consumers have a chance to win cash prizes ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹1 crore by participating in the scheme.
The minimum value for invoices to be considered for the draw has been kept at ₹200.
All invoices issued by GST registered sellers will be eligible for the scheme and maximum 25 invoices will be considered from an individual in a month.
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