Kerala Affairs
More than 1K tonne reject waste removed so far
Clean Kerala Company and other empanelled agencies have so far removed over 1,050 tonnes of reject waste from public places in the city, since they started to collect waste after the fire broke out at Brahmapuram waste dumping yard.
All the reject waste collected from the city is transported for burning in cement factories with which the agencies have an agreement. The rejects are waste which cannot be recycled or repurposed.
There is a drop in mixed waste reaching public places now as the public has finally realised that the corporation is not going to collect such waste. Still there are many not willing to abide by laws, and dump waste in public places, said the official.
While the Clean Kerala Company officials said there is no drop in plastic waste reaching public places. They said they are now getting good quantity non-degradable waste which can be recycled or repurposed as against earlier days of the collection.
National and International Affairs
Soon, Tele-MANAS doctors may prescribe medicines remotely
Psychiatrists who are part of Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS), which is operating in about 27 states andUnion Territories, will soon be able to prescribe medicines. This thanks to the programmes upcoming integration with e-Sanjeevani platform, the Union health ministrys flagship telemedicine service.
Till the last week of April, Tele-MANAS, the nodal centre of which is Bengaluru-based Nimhans and which facilitates in-person and telephonic counselling, has handled one lakh calls. It was launched in October 2022.
However, as Tele-MANAS provided only for audio consultation, psychiatrists couldnt prescribe medicines and would ask those needing the same to visit in person. Telemedicine practice guidelines also mandate a video session for the prescription of drugs.
Former President of India,Ram Nath Kovind,presented theBharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Awardto Chief MinisterYogi Adityanathfor his efforts in creating a fear-free Uttar Pradesh. The award ceremony took place at the Shri Shanmukhananda Auditorium in Mumbai, where Dr. Lalji Prasad Nirmal, a member of the UP legislative council, received the award on behalf of the Chief Minister. The event was organized by the Buddhanjali Research Foundation and was attended by Ramnath Kovind as the chief guest. This was the 13th edition of the award ceremony.
The Dr. Ambedkar Award is an annual award presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to Society in the areas of Education, social welfare, and economics, in the spirit of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a renowned Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and politician who played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution and fought for the rights of the oppressed sections of Indian Society.
TheMaharashtragovernment, under the leadership of Chief MinisterEknath Shinde, is set to launch a new initiative calledShasan Aplya Dari(government at your doorstep). The primary objective of this initiative is to provide citizens with easy access to government schemes and documents, all in one place. District administrations have been directed to organize two-day camps in their respective areas to facilitate the distribution of benefits to approximately 75,000 locals. The inaugural event for this campaign will be held in Satara district, the Chief Ministers home district.
The Shasan Aplya Dari initiative aims to eliminate the difficulties faced by citizens when availing government Services and benefits. Often, individuals have to navigate through various bureaucratic processes and visit multiple offices to access the schemes they are entitled to. This new drive seeks to simplify the process by bringing the government directly to the peoples doorsteps.
Japanisseriouslyevaluating adoptingIndias UPI payments systemas both governments look at promoting digital cooperation by creating interoperability where the digital payments system could bring ease of cross-border payments. Japan and India aim to boost digital collaboration by creating interoperability through the real-time funds transfer system to ease digital payments.
The potential for Japan to join UPI is significant. It would be the first major country to adopt the system, and it could help to boost digital payments in both countries. It would also be a sign of the growing cooperation between India and Japan in the digital space.