ASSAM

The scenario of Covid infrastructure for children in Assam

Despite the Union government’s alert to states to prepare for pediatric care and NITI Aayog’s advisory to make preparations for 23% hospitalisation in case of a surge in Covid cases shortly, the state government is more focused on reopening schools. The target of building up Covid infrastructure for children in the state also looks doubtful.

The state government had planned 1,000 Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU), out of which the minimum goal was 10 in each district. But the state health department and the National Health Mission officials could not say anything on the progress of achieving this goal set in June.

Assam is going ahead to complete 10 PICU in each of the district hospitals to treat children below 18 years, while the corresponding figure set for all medical colleges is a minimum of 30. However, the target is yet to be achieved.

Health department sources said five to eight per cent of the total Covid infections in the first and second wave were children in the state. But considering the warning from the Centre, this figure may go up further in a possible third-wave strike. During the fourth nationwide sero survey for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) detected sero prevalence in children on a par with adults in Assam. During the study carried out in the second wave, children between six and 14 years were found to have similar sero prevalence in the range of 39.4% to 52.2%, as in adults.

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

Arunachal cabinet approves credit-linked schemes to boost agriculture, horticulture

In a bid to boost the state’s economy through agriculture and horticulture, the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved two credit-linked schemes, which will facilitate Rs 300 crore investment in the agro-based sectors, a minister said. The state government has earmarked Rs 60 crore of subsidy each for Atma Nirbhar Krishi Yojana for agriculture and Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana for horticulture during the 2021-22 fiscal, he said. The credit-linked programmes will have three components – bank loans, subsidy and beneficiaries’ contribution, Home Minister Bamang Felix told reporters.

Under the programmes, a farmer can get up to Rs1.6 lakh with no collateral or bank guarantee, while self-help groups can avail of up to Rs 10 lakh, the government spokesperson said. The schemes will be available across the state, and people need to apply at the deputy commissioner office in their respective districts.

INTERNATIONAL

Summit on Sustainable Development – World Economic Forum

The Annual Sustainable Development Impact Summit of the World Economic Forum will take place on September 20-23, 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland. This year’s match will focus strongly on inclusively revitalizing economies.

Highlights:

The UN General Assembly, the summit convenes below the theme “Shaping an Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Recovery”. It will welcome nearly all leaders from government, business and civil society who will work collectively to pressure action and construct momentum for an extra sustainable and inclusive future.

NATIONAL

India Signed Deal with ADB for Metro Rails

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India have signed a $500 million loan to enlarge the metro rail community in Bengaluru with the development of two new metro lines totalling 56 km in length.

Highlights:

The undertaking will assemble two new metro lines, usually elevated, along Outer Ring Road and National Highway forty four between Central Silk Board and Kempegowda International Airport with 30 stations.

The new metro tracks will further toughen safe, affordable and green mobility in Bengaluru, having a positive effect on improving the great of life, sustainable increase in city habitat and livelihood opportunities.

Forum for Decarbonizing Transport – NITI Aayog and WRI

NITI Aayog & World Resources Institute (WRI), India, collectively launched the ‘Forum for Decarbonizing Transport’ in India. NITI Aayog is the imposing partner for India.

Highlights:

The intention of the venture is to reduce the height of GHG emissions (transport sector) in Asia (in line with a well beneath 2-degree pathway), resulting in issues like congestion and air pollution.

The Forum has been launched underneath the NDC-Transport Initiative for Asia project. The project NDC Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA 2020-2023) is a joint programme of 7 agencies that will interact with China, India, and Vietnam in promoting a complete approach to decarbonizing transport in their respective countries.

First Smog Tower of India – Delhi

The Chief Minister of Delhi inaugurated the country’s first ‘smog tower’ in Connaught Place. It was once inaugurated months before the air pollution level spikes in the national capital due to burning of crop waste (stubble burning) with the aid of farmers.

Background:

In 2019, the Supreme Court directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi authorities to come up with a sketch to install smog towers to fight air pollution.

IIT-Bombay then submitted a suggestion for the towers to the CPCB.

In January 2020, the Supreme Court directed that two towers need to be established through April as a pilot project.

The smog tower at Connaught Place (CP) is the first of these towers. The 2nd tower, being built at Anand Vihar in east Delhi with CPCB as the nodal agency, is nearing completion.

Launch of Yuktahara – Geospatial Planning Portal

Yuktahara is a geospatial planning portal for facilitating Gram Panchayat level planning of MGNREGA. The new portal under Bhuvan “Yuktahara” will enable the planning of MGNREGA assets, the use of far flung sensing and GIS based total information.

Highlights:

The Yuktahara platform will serve as a repository of property (Geotags) created underneath a number of countrywide rural development programmes i.e. MGNREGA, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, Per Drop More Crop and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, etc., along with discipline photographs.

This G2G service for rural planning fosters decentralised selection making.

The Bhuvan geospatial portal has been developed by ISRO and it supports various authorities packages and initiatives reducing across ministries and sectors.

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