PIB Analysis for UPSC CSE
Topics Covered
- National Communal Harmony Award
- Eat Right Awards, State Food Safety Index, Raman 1.0, Food Safety Magic Box
1 . National Communal Harmony Award
About National Communal Harmony Award
- The National Communal Harmony Awards have been instituted by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
- The National Communal Harmony Awards, 2019 consist of a citation each and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh in the individual category and Rs. 10 lakh in the Organization category.
- Individuals who have worked in the area of national integration and communal harmony for a minimum period of ten years is eligible for consideration of the Award while Organizations will be adjudged over a five years’ work in the field of promotion of national integration and communal harmony.
Objectives of National Foundation of Communal Harmony
- undertake programmes or projects for providing assistance to the children of families affected by communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence which fracture social harmony, as may be decided by the Governing Council from time to time, in particular for their care and education.
- undertake programmes or projects for assisting in the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the children, families or other victims of communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence / clashes which fracture social harmony for their assimilation into the mainstream of society, as may be decided by the Governing Council from time to time, and;
- promote or undertake activities which will highlight and strengthen the bonds of unity and affinity between different religious and other groups in the country;
- undertake and encourage activities which will promote belief in the principles of non-violence in resolving disputes between different religious and other groups in society;
- institute awards to individual as well as institutions for their outstanding contributions to the cause of communal harmony and national integration;
- cooperate with, and secure the cooperation of the Central Government, State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, industrial & commercial organizations, non-governmental, voluntary & other organisations and bodies in promoting the objectives of the Foundation;
- provide information services, set up libraries, bring out journals, books or other forms of literature to promote the objectives of the Foundation;
- do all such other lawful acts and things as may be necessary or conducive for furthering the objectives of the Foundation.
2 . Eat Right Awards, State Food Safety Index, Raman 1.0, Food Safety Magic Box
Eat Right Awards
- FSSAI has instituted the ‘Eat Right Awards’ to recognize the contribution of food companies and individuals to empower citizens to choose safe and healthy food options, which would help improve their health and well-being.
- Food Companies : This is to recognize food companies that demonstrate their commitment to Eat Right India movement by promoting and ensuring availability of healthier food options.
- Individuals : The Eat Right Individual Awards will recognize and celebrate outstanding contribution by individuals in the safe foods and healthy diets space.
State Food Safety Index
- FSSAI has developed the first State Food Safety Index (SFSI) to measure the performance of States on five parameters of food safety. The categories included Human Resources and Institutional Arrangements, Compliance, Food Testing- Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training and Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.
Raman 1.0
- It is a new-age, hand-held battery operated device called ‘Raman 1.0’. This device performs rapid detection (in less than 1 minute) of economically driven adulteration in edible oils, fats and ghee.
- The equipment tests more than 250 samples per battery charge, collects and stores data on the cloud using a smart device.
- This is the first of 19 such equipment and methods that have been provisionally approved by FSSAI for strengthening the food testing infrastructure in the country.
Food Safety Magic Box
- An innovative solution to take food safety to schools, called the ‘Food Safety Magic Box’ was launched
- This do-it-yourself food testing kit comprises a manual and equipment to check for food adulterants, which schoolchildren can use in their classroom laboratories.
- This kit is also useful for frontline health workers.