PIB Analysis : 26th July

PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE

Topics Covered

1. Krishonnati Yojana
2. Prevention of Communicable Diseases
3. Silk Samagra
4. Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana
5. Facts for Prelims : Muga Silk, Kargil Vijay Diwas, Red Mud

1 . Krishonnati Yojana

About Krishonnati Yojana

• ‘Green Revolution– Krishonnati Yojana’ is an Umbrella Scheme comprising both Central Sector as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes/Missions.
• These schemes look to develop the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic and scientific manner to increase the income of farmers by enhancing production, productivity and better returns on produce

The Schemes that are part of the Umbrella Schemes

• Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) : MIDH aims to promote holistic growth of horticulture sector; to enhance horticulture production, improve nutritional security and income support tofarm Households.
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM), including National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP): It aims to increase production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and commercial crops, through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a suitable manner in the identified districts of the country, restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level and enhancing farm level economy.  It further aims to augment the availability of vegetable oils and to reduce the import of edible oils.
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): NMSA aims at promoting sustainable agriculture practices best suitable to the specific agro-ecology focusing on integrated farming, appropriate soil health management and synergizing resource conservation technology.
• Submission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE) : SMAE aims to strengthen the ongoing extension mechanism of State Governments, local bodies etc., achieving food and nutritional security and socio-economic empowerment of farmers, to institutionalize programme planning and implementation mechanism, to forge effective linkages and synergy amongst various stake-holders, to support HRD interventions, to promote pervasive and innovative use of electronic / print media, inter-personal communication and ICT tools, etc.
• Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Material (SMSP) : SMSP aims to increase production of certified / quality seed, to increase SRR, to upgrade the quality of farm saved seeds, to strengthen the seed multiplication chain, to promote new technologies and methodologies in seed production, processing, testing etc., to strengthen and modernizing infrastructure for seed production, storage, certification and quality etc.
• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) : SMAM aims to increase the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions where availability of farm power is low, to promote ‘Custom Hiring Centres’ to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small landholding and high cost of individual ownership, to create hubs for hi-tech and high value farm equipment, to create awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities, and to ensure performance testing and certification at designated testing centers located all over the country.
• Sub Mission on Plant Protection and Plan Quarantine (SMPPQ) : SMPPQ aims to minimize loss to quality and yield of agricultural crops from the ravages of insect pests, diseases, weeds, nematodes, rodents, etc. and to shield our agricultural bio-security from the incursions and spread of alien species, to facilitate exports of Indian agricultural commodities  to global markets, and to promote good agricultural practices, particularly with respect to plant protection strategies and strategies.
• Integrated Scheme on Agriculture Census, Economics and Statistics (ISACES) : It aims to undertake the agriculture census, study of the cost of cultivation of principal crops, to undertake research studies on agro-economic problems of the country, to fund conferences/workshops and seminars involving eminent economists, agricultural scientists, experts and to bring out papers to conduct short term studies, to improve agricultural statistics methodology and to create a hierarchical information system on crop condition and crop production from sowing to harvest.
• Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation (ISAC) : It aims to provide financial assistance for improving the economic conditions of cooperatives, remove regional imbalances and to speed up –      cooperative development in agricultural marketing, processing, storage, computerization and weaker section programmes; to help cotton growers fetch remunerative price for their produce through value addition besides ensuring supply of quality yarn at reasonable rates to the decentralized weavers.
• Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) : ISAM aims to develop agricultural marketing infrastructure; to promote innovative and latest technologies and competitive alternatives in agriculture marketing infrastructure; to provide infrastructure facilities for grading, standardization and quality certification of agricultural produce; to establish a nation­wide marketing information network; to integrate markets through a common online market platform to facilitate pan-India trade in agricultural commodities, etc.
• National e-Governance Plan (NeGP-A) aims to bring farmer centricity & service orientation to the programmes; to enhance reach & impact of extension services; to improve access of farmers to information &services throughout crop-cycle; to build upon, enhance & integrate the existing ICT initiatives of Centre and States; and to enhance efficiency & effectiveness of programs through making available timely and relevant information to the farmers for increasing their agriculture productivity.

2 . Prevention of Communicable Diseaseas

Prevention of all major communicable disease control programmes.

• Leprosy: Major focus of the programme is to enhance active and early case detection to contain disease transmission and Grade II Disabilities (G2D). In addition, various services are being provided under the programme for Disability Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) i.e., reaction management, provision of Micro Cellular Rubber  (MCR) footwear, Aids & Appliances, referral services for management of cases and reconstructive surgery at District Hospitals and Medical Colleges/Central leprosy Institutions
• TB: The government has issued Guidelines on Airborne Infection Control in Healthcare and other settings in the context of tuberculosis and other airborne infections, to provide guidance on precautions as well as managerial activities to reduce the risk in the facilities. In addition, the Revised National TB Control Programme Technical and Operational Guidelines has provision of TB preventive therapy to People Living with HIV and household contacts <6 years of TB patients after due screening.
• Viral Hepatitis: Ministry of Health has an integrated initiative for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in India to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3 which aims to ending viral hepatitis by 2030.
• Vector Borne Diseases: The preventive measures are directed at reducing the vector density and early case detection. The Ministry of health has undertaken communication campaigns aimed at creating awareness among the citizens regarding food habits and healthy lifestyle so as to control such diseases through mass and mid media.

3 . Sericulture

About Sericulture

• Sericulture is an agro-based industry. It involves rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk, which is the yarn obtained out of cocoons spun by certain species of insects.
• The major activities of sericulture comprises of food-plant cultivation to feed the silkworms which spin silk cocoons and reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament for value added benefits such as processing and weaving.

Importance of Sericulture

• High employment Potential
• Provides Vibrancy to village economies
• Low gestation and Higher returns
• Women Friendly occupation
• Ideal programme for weaker sections of the society
• Eco Friendly Activity
• Satisfies Equity concerns : Benefits of sectoral value-addition primarily accrue to rural households. As the end-product users are mostly from the higher economic groups, the money flows from high end groups to low end groups.

Silk Samagra Scheme

• Under the Central Sector Scheme Silk Samagra an Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) implemented by Government of India through Central Silk Board (CSB).
• The scheme comprises four major components viz. (i) Research & Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and Information Technology Initiatives, (ii) Seed Organizations, (iii) Coordination and Market Development and (iv) Quality Certification Systems (QCS) / Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.

Features of the Scheme

• All the four major components of Silk Samagra are interlinked with each other and aimed at a common goal.
• The main objective of the scheme is to maintain Breeders stock, Breed improvement through R&D Projects, Development of mechanized practices, Technology translation through Sericulture Information Linkages and Knowledge System (SILKS) Portal, Mobile Application for Stakeholders and for seed quality monitoring, develop technology packages, impart training on improved technology programmes to Stakeholders, and transfer technology to the field through front line demonstration, produce Basic & Commercial Seed of the improved Silkworm breeds developed by the Research Institutes, encourage Private Partnership  in Seed sector, and Maintain & Certify the quality standards set by the R&D units for Silkworm Seed, Cocoon, Raw Silk and Silk products covering the entire Silk value chain.

4 . Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana

About Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana

• The Government launched the Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY) in the  year 2001-2002 with a view to mobilize the artisans into Self Help Groups  thrift and credit, training of Self Help Groups on various aspects of forming and running the community business enterprises for self sustainability of artisans.
• The salient features of the Yojana are as follows:-
  • Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans)
  • Design & Technology Upgradation
  • Human Resource Development 
  • Direct Benefit to Artisans
  • Infrastructure and Technology Support
  • Research and Development
  • Marketing Support & Services

5 . Facts for Prelims

Muga

• Muga is a golden yellow colour silk and the pride of Assam state. It is obtained from semi-domesticated multivoltine silkworm, Antheraea assamensis. 
• These silkworms feed on the aromatic leaves of Som and Soalu plants and are reared on trees similar to that of tasar.
• Muga culture is specific to the state of Assam and an integral part of the tradition and culture of that state.
• The muga silk is a high value product and is used in products like sarees, mekhalas, chaddars, etc.
• For Conservation of Muga in natural habitat, under Integrated Sericulture Development Project (ISDP) of North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), the Government of India has approved a project on conservation of Muga in natural habitat in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and Meghalaya. 

Kargil Vijay Diwas

• 26th July is celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas. It is named after the successful mission of Operation Vijay.
• Operation Vijay is the name of the Indian operation to clear the Kargil sector. On this day India successfully took command of the high outposts which had been lost to Pakistan

Red Mud

• Red Mud is a solid waste generated during the aluminium production process.
• Red Mud raises environmental concerns due to presence of impurities such as caustic soda and others minerals.
• Global generation of red mud is more than 150 million tons and there exists a global inventory of more than 3 billion tons. Red mud generation in India is around 9 million tons per year.