National
National Initiative for Promotion of Upskilling of Nirman workers (NIPUN)
⇒ Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, launched an innovative project for skill training of construction workers called ‘NIPUN’- ‘National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman workers on 20 June 2022.
- The project NIPUN is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs under its flagship scheme of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to train over 1 lakh construction workers, through fresh skilling and upskilling programmes. It provides them with work opportunities in foreign countries also.
Implementation Partner:
The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, will be the Implementation Partner for the project NIPUN.
The project implementation is divided into three parts:
- Training through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at construction sites
- Training through Fresh Skilling by Plumbing and Infrastructure SSC
- International Placement through industries/ builders/ contractors
Key Points:
- Onsite skill training will be provided to approximately 80,000 construction workers through industry associations under the RPL certification, co-branded with MoHUA, while about 14,000 candidates will receive fresh skilling through plumbing and infrastructure Sector Skill Council (SSC) in trades having promising placement potentials.
- The courses are aligned with National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) and will be imparted at accredited and affiliated training centres.
- Under NIPUN, it is also envisaged that NSDC will place approximately 12,000 people in foreign countries such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE and other GCC countries.
- Project NIPUN will provide trainees with ‘Kaushal Bima’, a three-year accidental insurance with coverage of INR 2 lakhs, digital skills such as cashless transactions and the BHIM app, orientation about entrepreneurship, and EPF and BOCW facilities.
- A project committee with members from both NSDC and MoHUA will be formed under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary-cum-Mission Director, DAY-NULM to oversee and monitor the project.
- The National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) and the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) have joined Project NIPUN as industry partners and will identify training job roles of aspirational value in the construction sector in collaboration with the SSC.
About DAY-NULM:
- DAY-NULM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which is being implemented since 2014-15.
- The aim of the DAY-NULM to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households in the country by enabling them to access self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, resulting in an appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis.
67th India International Garment Fair (IIGF)
⇒ Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurated the 67th India International Garment Fair (IIGF) at IEML, Greater Noida on 20 June 2022.
- The 67th India International garment fair was held from 20-22 June 2022.
Delivering his inaugural address Shri Piyush Goyal said, Apparel, Fashion Jewellery and MICE are three industries where India has to grow.
Shri Naren Goenka, Chairman AEPC delivering his inaugural address said:
- IIGF provides a direct marketing platform to MSME exporters from across the country bringing together almost 500 exhibitors and more than 2000 overseas buyers and buying agents.
- It is the biggest platform in Asia under one roof wherein Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) showcase latest garment and fashion accessories trends to the world and begin the order booking process.
- 1189 international buyers from 59 countries have registered to participate in the 67th IIGF.
- The buyers are visiting from the USA, Brazil, Japan, UK, Spain, Australia, Poland, Colombia, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Chile, Argentina, UAE, Thailand, France, Germany, Canada, Iran, etc.
» The next edition, 68th India International Garment Fair is scheduled to be held from 30 January to 1 February 2023 in Delhi (NCR), India.
International
12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) Geneva 2022
⇒ The 12th WTO Ministerial Conference began from 12 June in Geneva, Switzerland after a gap of almost five years. The 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) took place from 12 to 17 June 2022 at WTO headquarters in Geneva.
- Ministers from across the world attended to review the functioning of the multilateral trading system, to make general statements and to take action on the future work of the WTO.
Co-host:
The Conference was co-hosted by Kazakhstan and chaired by Mr Timur Suleimenov, Deputy Chief of Staff of Kazakhstan’s President.
- A strong Indian delegation at the Conference was headed by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles.
Key areas of discussions and negotiations this year’s conference include:
- WTO’s response to the pandemic
- Fisheries subsidies negotiations
- Agriculture issues including Public Stockholding for Food security
- WTO Reforms, and
- Moratorium on Custom Duties on Electronic Transmission.
Outcomes at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) Geneva 2022:
- On fisheries, there would be a check on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters and elsewhere. There would be very strict controls on overfished areas so that fish stocks are restored. Additionally, no subsidies to be provided for fishing in areas outside EEZ or RFMOs
- The TRIPS decision will boost export, vaccine equity, accessibility & affordability. A country can authorize production of vaccines patented elsewhere and there would be no consent required as well as there would be no limit on exports. A decision on Diagnostics/Therapeutics would be taken in 6 months. There would be faster pandemic response in future and there would be fewer trade barriers in pandemics.
- The agenda decided on WTO reforms will make the WTO a more efficient, agile body. The dispute settlement body will be revived and play its expected role in settling trade disputes. The reform would deliver better trade outcomes for developing countries. A reference to Gender, Environment & MSME has been made in the WTO reform agenda.
- On e-Commerce, while agreeing to the temporary moratorium, India asked for intensifying discussions on the moratorium including on its scope, definition and impact for taking an informed decision on the same.
- The Food Security Declaration, focusses on making food available in developing countries while working towards increasing productivity and production.
- As regards, the World Food Programme (WFP), there would be no export restrictions on WFP purchases for food security in other countries; However, domestic food security will take priority.
Important Day
World Day Against Child Labour 2022
⇒ World Day Against Child Labour is observed every year on June 12 as a day dedicated to creating awareness about the menace of child labour and human trafficking.
Theme:
The theme for World Day Against Child Labour 2022 is “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labour”.
- The 2022 theme of the world day calls for increased investment in social protection systems and schemes to establish solid social protection floors and protect children from child labour.
Background:
- The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.
Elimination of Child Labour Week:
In the honour of World Day Against Child Labour, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights celebrated Elimination of Child Labour Week in the 75 places as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav in different districts from June 12 to June 20, 2022.
- Elimination of Child Labour Week was observed as a significance to pay attention to the problem of child labour and to find ways to eradicate it.
- During the Elimination of Child Labour Week, rescue operations in 75 places where children are involved in labour work, in the scrap & automobile markets across the country conducted with the help of authorities like State Commission, District authorities, Child Welfare Committee, etc.
About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has been constituted by the Government of India, as a statutory body under section 3 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 for dealing with the protection of child rights and related matters.
- Under section 13(1) of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005, has provided certain functions to ensure that the rights of children are protected especially the most vulnerable and marginalized.
- The Commission has also been mandated to monitor the implementation of the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Children) Act, 2015, Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.