KERALA

• ‘Model anganwadis’ to be set up across Kerala

 

• The state women and child development department is all set to establish ‘model anganwadis’ across the state, for which Thiruvananthapuram-based Child Development Centre (CDC) has submitted a detailed report to health and social justice minister K K Shailaja.

 

• Aimed to remove the general notion that anganwadis are just ‘feeding centres’ and to transform them into centres which can play a vital role in nurturing the physical and mental abilities of children, the project, in its first phase will witness establishment of one model anganwadi in all the 14 districts.

 

• Land for model anganwadis will be identified and facilitated with the help of respective local bodies and voluntary organizations.

 

• Though 10 cents are recommended for each centre, the report has also put forth models which can be established on three, five and 7.5 cents of land.

 

• The CDC’s report has its focus on physical growth and intellectual development of children aged up to six years. It has recommendations on duties and activities of anganwadi staff and on mild physical activities which can create a suitable and pleasant ambience for children.
  With more focus on pre-school education, additional training programmes in accordance with children’s intellectual development have been envisaged, even while retaining the existing ‘theme-based curriculum’. The CDC will provide training for anganwadi workers.

 

• The report has recommended a second edition of the handbook ‘Anganapoomazha’, which could be helpful for children to improve their writing and reading skills, besides detailed suggestions on the layout and contents of pre-school classrooms. It has also recommended a particular uniform for pre-school children in anganwadis. Meanwhile, the ‘model anganwadi’ building has been designed by College of Architecture, Thiruvananthapuram.

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

 

 

●       India’s growth rate to touch 7.5 percent in 2019-20: World Bank

 

• The World Bank has said that India’s economy will accelerate to 7.5% in 2019-20 as consumption remains robust and investment growth continues in the country.
• It also added that India will retain its position as the fastest growing major economy in the world.
• World Bank’s report has also projected India’s 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years’ growth rate at 7.5%.
• In South Asia, Pakistan’s growth rate is forecast to fall drastically from last fiscal year’s 5.8 per cent to 3.7 per cent this fiscal year.

 

 

 

• India to become world’s third largest consumer market by 2030: WEF

 

• A report by World Economic Forum (WEF) said that India is set to become the world’s third largest consumer market behind only USA and China by 2030.
• Consumer spending in India is expected to grow from 1.5 trillion US dollar at present to six trillion US dollar by 2030.
• With the annual GDP growth rate of 7.5 percent, India is currently the world’s sixth largest economy.

 

NATIONAL

 

      

 

●       Centre introduced the Trade Unions Act, 1926 in LS

 

• Centre introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the Trade Unions Act, 1926.

 

• The Centre said that the Bill would grant recognition to trade unions, ensure representation of workers in tripartite bodies and check arbitrary nomination by the government. The CPI(M) members protested against introducing the Bill and walked out in protest.

 

 

 

 

●       Centre has launched NCAP to combat air pollution

 

• The Centre has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), a programme to reduce particulate matter (PM), pollution by 20-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.
• The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which was formally unveiled is envisaged as a scheme to provide the States and the Centre with a framework to combat air pollution.
• The World Health Organisation’s database on air pollution over the years has listed Tier I and Tier II Indian cities as some of the most polluted places in the world. In 2018, 14 of the world’s 15 most polluted cities were in India.

 

●       Cabinet approved the setting up of 3 AIIMS in J&K and Gujarat

 

⇨      The Union Cabinet approved the setting up of three All India Institutes of Medical Sciences in Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat. The institutes will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. These will be in Samba in Jammu at a cost of Rs. 1,661 crore, in Pulwama in Kashmir at a cost of Rs. 1,828 crore, and in Rajkot, Gujarat, at a cost of Rs. 1,195 crore.

⇨      The objective is to establish the new AIIMS as Institutions of National Importance for providing quality tertiary healthcare, medical education, nursing education and research in the region.

⇨      The Cabinet approval also involves the creation of a post of director with a basic pay of Rs. 2,25,000 for each of the three AIIMS. The cost of construction, operation, and maintenance of the three AIIMS will be fully borne by the Central government.

 

• Six States sign agreement for Renukaji Multipurpose Dam Project

 

 

• An agreement for Renukaji Dam Multipurpose Project signed among the states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The project is aimed at meeting the drinking water needs of these states.
• Under it, three storage projects are proposed to be constructed on the river Yamuna and two of its tributaries – Tons and Giri in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
• These include Lakhwar project on river Yamuna in Uttarakhand, Kishau on river Tons in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Renukaji on river Giri in Himachal Pradesh.
• The projects were conceived in 2008. Most of the irrigation cost and the drinking water component of these projects will be funded by the central government. In addition to this a concession agreement will also be signed for Namami Gange projects for the city of Prayagraj under Hybrid Annuity Mode and One City One Operator Concept.