KERALA

World Bank sanctions $125 million loan to Kerala

As part of the state’s Resilient Kerala Program, the World Bank (WB) has sanctioned 125 million USD to the state to support the state’s preparedness against natural disasters, climate change impacts, disease outbreaks and pandemics.

The Resilient Kerala Program will focus on two key areas. First, it will incorporate disaster risk planning in the master plans of urban and local self-governments to ease financial constraints on the state government when faced with unexpected shocks. Second, it will help make the health, water resources management, agriculture and road sectors more resilient to calamities.
The program is part of a programmatic series of the bank-financed operations in the state.

The first Resilient Kerala Development Policy Operation (DPO) approved in June 2019 had undertaken several initiatives. It had helped the state draft a river basin conservation and management act, which will conserve and regulate water resources and ensure their sustainable management, allocation and utilization. It had also introduced climate-resilient agriculture, risk-informed land use and disaster management planning. The program laid the foundations for a five-year state partnership framework.

The support to key sectors under the program include sustainable fiscal and debt management through establishing a debt management unit in the finance department to support the state’s efforts to scale down its debt-to-GSDP ratio to a sustainable trajectory, providing timely and adequate assistance to vulnerable households, disaster and climate-resilient urban development, create resilient public health systems, ensure an integrated and sustainable water resources management, ensure sustainable and resilient food systems and create a climate-resilient road infrastructure.

INTERNATIONAL

Nelson Mandela International Day – 18th July

The UN observes July 18 every year as Nelson Mandela International Day. This day acknowledges Nelson Mandela’s contribution to the struggle for democracy and the promotion of a culture of peace all over the globe. This day is an occasion for all to take action and inspire change.

Background:

♦ On July 18, 2009, the first Mandela Day was observed in the city of New York. The UNGA adopted a resolution on November 10, 2009, declaring 18 July as Nelson Mandela International Day. Nelson Mandela day marks his contribution to peace through his active involvement in resolving conflicts, promoting human rights, international democracy, reconciliation, and addressing racial issues.

NATIONAL

Launch of SIATP Programme

School Innovation Ambassador Training Program (SIATP) has been launched to enhance the innovation capability of the students.

Highlights:

♦ The SIATP programme aims at nurturing students with innovation capabilities, develop them a culture of innovation and lay the base of a new and vibrant India.

♦ It was launched jointly by the ministries of Education and Tribal Affairs.

♦ The program launched is a joint effort by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, CBSE and AICTE.

♦ The initiative will benefit a large number of schools for tribal children across the country by giving wings to the children’s creativity and providing a platform so that they can provide something new to the world with their ideas.

♦ The program is aimed at 50000 schoolteachers.

Foundation Day of Indian Council of Agriculture Research
Foundation Day of Indian Council of Agriculture Research

Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research is on 16th July. And this year is the 93rd foundation day.

About ICAR:

♦ Indian Council Agriculture Research is an autonomous body responsible for coordinating agricultural education and research in India.

♦ Indian Council Agriculture Research is the largest network of agricultural research & education institutes in the world.

♦ This body reports to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education under the Union Ministry of Agriculture.

♦ The Union Minister of Agriculture serves as its president.

♦ Headquarters: New Delhi

♦ ICAR is earlier known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research. And, it was established on July 16, 1929, as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Infection spreading in local clusters: Government

Even as there is a consistent decline in daily cases of Covid since May, some states are recording a high share of cases, health officials said underlining need for proactive measures to contain the infection in localised clusters and remain vigilant against wider spread.

Five states — Kerala, Maharashtra, TN, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha — accounted for 73.4% of total new cases in July. Despite the declining trajectory of cases, the share from these states to the total count is increasing, particularly Kerala and Maharashtra — that add up to more than 51% cases reported in July so far.

There are also states like Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh that are witnessing a surge in cases. The Centre has deputed teams to 11 such states to assist governments in controlling the spread. Besides northeastern states, the teams have been sent to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala and Odisha.

The Centre is also worried over the slowdown in rate of decline in daily new cases that have stagnated at an average of around 40,000 cases since last three weeks. Currently, there are 55 districts in 13 states reporting over 10% positivity. While Rajasthan tops the list with nine such districts, Kerala and Manipur have eight districts each, Meghalaya has seven and Nagaland five districts.

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