National
Centre launches Technological Advancements in Crop Insurance to Empowering Farmers and Streamlining Operations in PMFBY
⇒ The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare launched several new technological initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to empower farmers and streamlining the operations.
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar launched three important initiatives- YES TECH (Technology based Yield Estimation System), WINDS (Weather Information Data Information System) and AIDE mobile app (App for Intermediary Enrolment) dedicated to the farmers.
Speaking at the launch program in New Delhi on 21 July 2023, Union Minister of Earth Sciences Shri Kiren Rijiju has called for adapting Agriculture to Climate Change with a “responsive and appropriate scientific mechanism.”
YES-TECH Manual:
YES-TECH Manual is a comprehensive guide developed after extensive testing and piloting in 100 districts of India.
- It facilitates the implementation of YES-TECH, a technology-driven yield estimation system, offering methodologies, best practices, and integration insights for accurate yield assessments at the Gram Panchayat level.
WINDS Portal:
The WINDS Portal is a centralized platform that hosts, manages, and processes hyper-local weather data collected by Automatic Weather Stations and Rain Gauges at Taluk/Block and Gram Panchayat levels.
- The portal enhances risk assessment and decision-making in crop insurance, agriculture advisories, and disaster mitigation, supporting the agricultural sector and rural economy.
Door to door enrollment app AIDE/Sahayak:
The AIDE app’s introduction on Android platform aims to revolutionize the enrolment process, bringing it directly to the doorstep of farmers.
- This door-to-door enrolment ensures a seamless and transparent process, making crop insurance more accessible and convenient for farmers.
8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards
⇒ The Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Thakur conferred the 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards on 23 July 2023.
- The awards were conferred during the Inaugural Session of the two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan (North) which was inaugurated by the Union Minister at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi. Community Radio Regional Sammelan was held on the occasion of National Broadcasting Day on 23rd July 2023.
- The winners of 8th and 9th National Community Radio Awards is a recognition of Community Radio Stations who have done commendable work in their field, in public interest.
» A total of 12 awards were given in 4 categories for the 9th National Community Radio Awards. The award-winning Community Radio Stations are situated in the States of Haryana, Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Tripura.
- In the thematic awards category, ‘Green Radio’ from Sabour, Bihar won the third prize for the programme ‘PoshanShrinkhla’.
List of Award Winners:
Thematic Awards
- First Prize: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana; Name of Programme: Hope Jeene Ki Rah
- Second Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambalpur, Odisha; Name of Programme: Adhar O PoshanBigyan
- Third Prize: Green Radio, Sabour, Bihar; Name of Programme: PoshanShrinkhla
Most Innovative Community Engagement Awards
- First Prize Radio SD, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of the programme: Hizra in Between
- Second Prize Kabir Radio, Sant Kabir Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; Name of Program: Selfie Le Le Re
- Third Award: Radio Mind Tree, Ambala, Haryana Name of Programme: Book Bugs
Promoting Local Culture Awards
- First Prize: Voice of SOA, Cuttack, Odisha; Name of Programme: Asmita
- Second Prize: Friends FM, Tripura, Agartala; Name of Programme: Revived a dying art: MASK & POT
- Third Prize: PantnagarJanvani, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand; Name of Program: Dadi Ma Ka Batua
Sustainability Model Awards
- First Prize: Radio Hirakhand, Sambhalpur, Odisha
- Second Prize: VayalagaVanoli, Madurai, Tamil Nadu
- Third Prize: VAGAD Radio “90.8”, Banswara, Rajasthan
About National Community Radio Awards:
- The Government of India instituted the National Community Radio Awards to promote better programming in Community Radio and encourage Community Radio Stations to generate programmes in the interest of local community.
- The National Community Radio Awards are given to those Community Radio Stations who have done exemplary work in the field of Community Radio Broadcasting through Community Centric Programmes.
- The various categories of awards have worked as a nudge for the Community Radios to develop programmes on various themes. The awards have promoted a culture of sustainability, innovation and citizen-participation.
- The National Community Radio Awards carry 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for Rs 1 Lakh, 75,000, and 50,000 respectively.
About Community Radio:
- Community Radio is an important third tier in Radio Broadcasting, distinct from Public Service Radio broadcasting and Commercial Radio. Community Radio Stations (CRSs) are low power Radio Stations, which are meant to be set-up and operated by community-based organisations.
- The Community Radio provides a platform to communities to air local voices on issues concerning Health, Nutrition, Education, Agriculture etc. Community Radio also has the potential to strengthen people’s participation in development programmes through its holistic approach.
- As on date, there are a total of 449 Community Radio Stations in the country, out of which 70% are in the rural areas. Around 100 odd organizations have been permitted for establishment of Community Radio Stations.
International
G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting
⇒ The G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting was convened on July 21, 2023, in Indore following the successful conclusion of the 4th Employment Working Group Meeting.
Participation:
Their meeting witnessed the participation of over 176 Delegates, including 26 Ministers from G20 Member and Guest countries, and 15 Heads and Representatives of International Organizations, namely OECD, ISSA, ILO, and World Bank.
Previously, four Employment Working Group (EWG) meetings, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment Ms. Arti Ahuja have been successfully held.
- 1st Employment Working Group Meeting, Jodhpur
- 2nd Employment Working Group Meeting, Guwahati
- 3rd Employment Working Group Meeting, Geneva
- 4th Employment Working Group Meeting, Indore, Madhya Pradesh – July 19-20, 2023
Apart from that, numerous bilateral meetings have been held between India and other G20 countries. The EWG deliberated and negotiated on three priority areas selected by the Indian Presidency, namely:
- Addressing global skill gaps;
- Gig and platform economy and social protection
- Sustainable financing of social protection.
The work of the EWG was cemented by the Labour & Employment Ministers by holding deliberations and adopting the outcome documents related to these priority areas.
» The meeting of the LEM commenced with a video message delivered by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, where he shared his inspiring vision for the ever-evolving world of work.
Highlights:
- Discussions and rich exchange of diverse perspectives took place among G20 Member and Guest countries on the increasing criticality of the priority areas and the related Outcome Documents.
- The LEM meeting and EWG’s journey under India’s Presidency concluded with the adoption of the Chair’s Summary and Outcome Documents. Adoption and implementation of these outcomes will enable people to avail gainful employment across the world leading to sustainable, resilient and inclusive global economic development.
- The ‘G20 Policy Priorities on Strategies to Address Skill Gaps Globally’ were adopted by the Ministers. The G20 countries have united under India’s Leadership as they have committed to addressing skill gaps and enhancing global employment.
- The agreement to work towards the adoption of common language and mapping by the ILO and OECD will boost the accurate mapping of global skill gaps and surpluses. This is Indian Presidency’s contribution towards a global good. This pioneering step under the Indian G20 Presidency will usher in an era of unprecedented global employment opportunities for more than two-thirds population of the world through enhanced cross-country comparability and mutual recognition of skills.
- The EWG adopted ‘G20 Policy Priorities on Adequate and Sustainable Social Protection and Decent Work for Gig and Platform Workers’. In a significant breakthrough for the gig and platform economy, the Indian Presidency forged consensus in the G20 for providing social protection to the gig and platform workers on priority, irrespective of their classification. The outcomes will be game-changing for the Gig and platform workers by helping workers tide over stresses across the life cycle.
- Ministers adopted ‘G20 Policy Options for Sustainable Financing of Social Protection’. G20 Labour & Employment Ministers led by the Indian Presidency leave a lasting legacy as they adopt a menu of “Global solutions for sustainable financing of social protection”. It includes strengthening contributory and non-contributory mechanisms to ensure sustainable financing of adequate social protection for all.
4th Employment Working Group Meeting:
» The G20 4th Employment Working Group Meeting under the Indian Presidency was held on July 19 – 20, 2023 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
- The 4th Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting focused on finalizing the Ministerial Declaration and outcome documents.
The discussions were spread over three sessions and concluded with the finalisation of the following:
- G20 Policy Priorities on Strategies to Address Skill Gaps Globally,
- G20 Policy Priorities on Adequate and Sustainable Social Protection and Decent Work for Gig and Platform Workers, and
- G20 Policy Options for Sustainable Financing of Social Security
The finalised document was submitted for the consideration and adoption by the Labour & Employment Ministers’ (LEM) meeting that was scheduled on July 21, 2023, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
Important Day
National Broadcasting Day 2023
⇒ National Broadcasting Day is celebrated every year on 23 July in India.
- The day aims to remind us about the impact of radio on our lives.
History:
- On this day in 1927, the first-ever radio broadcast in the country went on the air from the Bombay Station under a private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company.
- Since 1927, Radio has been an important part of people’s life in India.
- On the 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio.
- The famous Akashvani tune was composed by Indian Jewish refugee Walter Kauffman in 1930.
- The Central News Organisation (CNO) came into existence in August 1937. In 1941, AIR came under the purview of the Department of Information and Broadcasting in British India.
- All India Radio (AIR) has been officially known since 1956 as ‘Akashvani’.
- All India Radio has been serving to inform, educate and entertain the masses truly living up to its motto – ‘Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujana Sukhaya’.
- The Vividh Bharati Service was launched in 1957 with popular film music as its main component.