National
Healthy Child Award
⇒ A total of 306 children of 33 Districts of 14 Lok Sabha Constituencies in Assam have been awarded healthy child award.
At the State level, the Healthy Child Award was given away to 10 children on 1st September 2022, on the inaugural function of 5th Rastriya POSHAN MAAH by the Chief Minister of Assam and Minister for Women and Child Development.
The main objective of the healthy child award is:
- To identify healthy children in age group of 6month-3 years and 3-5 years and to generate awareness and conduct campaigns for growth measurement of children.
- To promote a sense of constructive competition among parents for their child’s health and well being, to encourage the parents of healthy children.
- To sensitize the community on children health and to improve the nutrition of infants/children through increased social awareness such as importance of diet diversity and age-appropriate feeding.
- To mobilize community participation for health and nutritional wellness in the State.
Multiple projects for development of Bogibeel, Assam
⇒ The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched multiple projects for the development of the Bogibeel region near Dibrugarh in Assam on 19 September 2022.
The foundation stones were laid by the Union Minister for construction of two floating jetties at Bogibeel and Guijan. Shri Sonowal also inaugurated Bogibeel Riverfront Passenger Jetty.
Two floating jetties:
- The Two floating jetties at Bogibeel in Dibrugarh district and Guijan in Tinsukia district will be constructed as state-of-art terminals using the most advanced & updated technology.
- Both the jetties are being constructed by IWAI over the National Waterways – 2 (NW-2), popularly known as River Brahmaputra.
- The work has been awarded to Coastal Consolidated Structures Pvt Ltd on an EPC contract mode (engineering, procurement, construction).
- The two jetties are estimated to be built at a cost of ₹ 8.25 crores and scheduled to be completed by February, 2023.
Bogibeel Riverfront Passenger Jetty:
- Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, also inaugurated Bogibeel Riverfront Passenger Jetty which has been developed by the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) as part of Riverfront Development near the Bogibeel bridge.
- Further to this development, plans are afoot to construct an Open platform, a restaurant, 8 bio-toilets and 6 awnings as part of the Riverfront site.
- The estimated cost of the project is ₹ 2.5 crores.
- A total of 3560 square meters are being developed under this project.
National Conference of State Tourism Ministers
⇒ Ministry of Tourism, Government of India organized National Conference of State Tourism Ministers from 18th to 20th September 2022 in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
- The National Conference was held under the Chairmanship of Shri G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER to discuss issues related to development of Tourism in the country.
Participants:
The three-day National Conference of State Tourism Ministers was attended by Central Ministers, Tourism Ministers from States and Union Territories, Governors, Administrators & Seniors Officials of the Central Government, State Governments, and Heads of the Tourism & Hospitality Associations.
The Conference focused on the various policies and programmes of the Ministry of Tourism which include-
the development of Tourism Infrastructure, Cultural, Spiritual & Heritage tourism, Tourism in the Himalayan states, Responsible and sustainable tourism, Role of digital technology for the marketing and promotion of tourism destinations, emerging importance of home stays in the Indian hospitality sector, Ayurveda, Wellness, Medical Value travel and promotion of domestic tourism.
» Other issues such as Wildlife Tourism, Responsible Tourism, tourism related aspects of G-20 were also discussed along with the review on the implementation of various projects implemented by Ministry of Tourism.
International
Tourism Ministers meeting of the BRICS member countries
⇒ The Tourism Ministers meeting of the BRICS member countries was held virtually on 19th September 2022. The Tourism Ministers meeting of the BRICS member countries was attended by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and DONER.
Presidency:
China took Presidency of the BRICS Council in 2022 from India.
Key Points:
The Tourism Ministers’ of the other countries viz Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa participated in Meeting and adopted the Comminique on the theme Green Growth, Sustainable Development and Resilient Recovery.
Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Tourism Minister stated that India had launched the BRICS alliance for Green Tourism during BRICS chairship of India last year.
- It promotes measures which can shape a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism sector.
- It can accelerate the recovery and development of tourism on sustainable lines.
- India also attaches great importance to implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to promoting sustainable development in the tourism sector to address the challenges in environmental protection and climate change.
The Ministry’s approach is to focus on post COVID growth and development of tourism sector and priority areas like Cultural Tourism, Adventure tourism, MICE, Medical, Wellness Tourism and Rural Tourism for which the following major initiatives have been identified:
- Green Growth and sustainable development
- Digital Tourism
- Destination Management
- Tourism and Hospitality Skill Development & MSME Development
Important Day
International Coastal Cleanup Day 2022
⇒ Globally, “International Coastal Cleanup Day” is celebrated on the third Saturday of September, every year. This year it was celebrated on 17th September 2022.
Every year Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA) joins Ocean Conservancy and the international community to commemorate International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Theme:
International Coastal Cleanup Day 2022 was observed under the theme- ‘CONNECTING PEOPLE FOR A TRASH FREE COASTLINE’.
Background:
- The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day is conducted in various parts of the world every year under the aegis of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) in South Asian Region.
- The Indian Coast Guard has been co-ordinating ICC activity in India since 2006 to generate awareness among coastal populace and students towards safe & clean beaches.
- The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1986 on the west coast of Washington.
- The International Coastal Cleanup Day began more than 35 years ago, when communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering their coastline.
- The first cleanup consisted of 2,800 volunteers. Since then, the cleanup has grown into an international event in more than 100 countries.
Celebration In India:
» This year, the “International Coastal Cleanup Day” coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on 17 September, which is observed as ‘Sewa Divas’.
“Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign:
The Government of India along with other voluntary organizations, and the local society carried out a cleanliness campaign “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” along India’s entire coastline.
- This campaign included Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) along with other social organizations and educational institutions.
- A 75 days long campaign launched from 03rd July 2022 to raise awareness about “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” culminated on “International Coastal Cleanup Day” on 17th September 2022.
Mobile app:
A mobile app “Eco Mitram” has been launched to spread awareness about the campaign and also for the common people for voluntary registration for the beach cleaning activity on the 17th September 2022.