“Charan Paduka” Campaign, “Uttarakhand Simply Heaven”, 73rd World Health Assembly
1. Government implements Shekatkar Committee recommendations related to creating border infrastructure
- Government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of Committee of Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border Infrastructure.
- These were related to speeding up road construction, leading to socio economic development in the border areas.
On the matter related to creating border infrastructure, the Government has implemented recommendation of CoE to outsource road construction work beyond optimal capacity of Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore.
- New Technology like blasting technology for precision blasting, use of Geo-Textiles for soil stabilisation, cementitious base for pavements, plastic coated aggregates for surfacing, is also being used to enhance the pace of construction.
2. 73rd World Health Assembly
- The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO.
- The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget.
- The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, Switzerland.
The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states.
It is the world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states.
This might not be enough as primary health care is more than universal health care. WHA should take a human rights-based approach to health for a more just and caring world.
- Universal health coverage (UHC) is about ensuring all people and communities have access to quality health services where and when they need them, without suffering financial hardship.
It includes the full spectrum of services needed throughout life—from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care—and is best based on a strong primary health care system.
Achieving UHC is one of the key targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
3. Boost Education Sector
- “One nation , one digital platform” and “one class one channel” will ensure reach of quality education to farthest corners of the country.
- The initiatives will boost the access and equity in education and improve the gross enrolment ratio in the times to come.
- A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA will be launched which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education.
This will enable multi-mode access to education, and includes:
DIKSHA (one nation-one digital platform) which will now become the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content in school education for all the states/UTs;
TV (one class-one channel) where one dedicated channel per grade for each of the classes 1 to 12 will provide access to quality educational material.
SWAYAM online courses in MOOCS format for school and higher education.
IITPAL for IITJEE/NEET preparation.
Air through Community radio and CBSE Shiksha Vani podcast.
And study material for the differently abled developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language.
This will benefit nearly 25 crore school going children across the country.
The Manodarpan initiative is being launched to provide such support through a website, a toll-free helpline, national directory of counselors, interactive chat platform, etc. This initiative will benefit all school going children in the country, along with their parents, teachers and the community of stakeholders in school education.
- Government is expanding e-learning in higher education – by liberalizing open, distance and online education regulatory framework.
- A National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission will be launched, for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy in Grade 3.
This mission will cover the learning needs of nearly 4 crore children in the age group of 3 to 11 years.
4. ‘Uttarakhand Simply Heaven’ under "Dekho Apna Desh"
- “Uttarakhand Simply Heaven” highlighted the potential of tourism in Uttarakhand’s two regions namely Kedar Khand (Garhwal Region) and Manu Khand (Kumaon Region) and touched upon.
The popular destination like Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hemkhund Sahib and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valley of Flowers.
- Uttarakhand’s Adventure Tourism Potential such as river rafting at Rishikesh and Pittoragarh, winter sports and skiing in Auli, Paragliding at Tehri Dam and Kaushani, innumerable options for trekking available such as Chopta and Pindari Glacier and India’s highest bungee jumping facility in Rishikesh were highlighted.
Besdies adventure activities, the session also presented options for experiencing the best of nature by paying a visit to the oldest national park of the country- Jim Corbett National Park, Rajaji Tiger Reserve and UNESCO site of Nanda Devi National Park-exploring the rich diversity of floral and fauna of Himalayan Region.
- Uttarakhand’s immense opportunities for developing and exploring rural tourism offerings, the best options for homestays wherein one can experience and feel the real hospitality of the people serving the best of local cuisine also was highlighted.
- Uttarakhand ‘Dev Bhoomi’ ,the Land of Gods is a mesmerizing destination for tourists of all tastes.
It is a multi-faceted destination, i.e. from being a sacred and religious site to be an adventure land with rich biodiversity in its purest form.
5. “Charan Paduka” campaign
- “Charan Paduka” campaign has been launched by the Madhya Pradesh for the migrant labourers moving through the state.
- Under this campaign, shoes and slippers will be offered to those labourers going barefoot in order to reduce their pain.
The “Charan Paduka” campaign is being conducted by the police at most of the places in the state, starting from the Rau Police Station of Indore.
