National
Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers for the Elimination of Sickle Cell Anaemia
⇒ Union Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda launched the ‘Awareness Campaign and Training of Trainers’ as a part of the ‘Mission for Elimination of Sickle Cell Anaemia’ in New Delhi on 29 August 2023.
- The programme envisages training of grassroot level functionaries so as to create awareness in this direction among the masses, especially in tribal regions.
The Minister further identified the challenges and opportunities in making this initiative a success.
- The fundamental challenge would be to make the mission a grassroot level movement by ensuring Jan Bhagidari.
- It would require countering misconceptions among masses and bring them on board to develop a truly participative ecosystem for eliminating the disease.
- The Minister cited the importance of creating a healthcare database of the affected population, which in turn would help in research and finding a lasting solution. Only then it would be possible to stop the transmission of this disease and save the coming generations.
Three technical sessions were held on-
- Awareness modules and its importance as a preventive measure
- Diagnosis in Sickle Cell is critical
- Role of health workers in the prevention and management of the Sickle Cell Disease
Background:
- In a recent announcement, the Government declared a Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 in the budget of 2023-24.
- This Mission will entail awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas, and counselling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.
- The Mission was formally launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on 1st July, 2023 in Shahdol District of Madhya Pradesh.
Kolkata Metro Railway is set to become member of elite club of London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul Metro
⇒ Kolkata Metro Railway, India’s first Metro built by Indian Railways on 24th October 1984, has been serving as a lifeline for Kolkata, the city of Joy for nearly 40 long years.
- In Kolkata Metro Railway, the power to Metro Rake is supplied to rolling stock at 750V DC through steel Third Rail. The Third Rail Current Collector (TRCC) made of steel fitted on metro rake collects the current from Third Rail. Kolkata Metro Railway using steel Third Rail for the last 40 years.
» Kolkata Metro Railway has now decided to use composite Aluminium Third Rail in all the upcoming corridors being undertaken for construction along with retro fitment in existing corridor with steel Third Rail.
- With this Metro Railway, Kolkata would become the member of elite club of London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul Metro who have also shifted from steel Third Rail to Aluminium Third Rail.
- A total of 35 km mainline steel Third Rail will be replaced in stages. This will result in huge savings in traction energy costs like a straight saving of ₹210 Crores capital investment for 35 km of Metro corridor.
International
Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform under US - India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership
⇒ A meeting was held between the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India on August 29, 2023.
» During the meeting, the new US – India Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) was launched under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership.
RETAP was announced during the June 22, 2023 meeting in Washington D.C, between His Excellency Joseph R. Biden, President of the USA and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi; when the two leaders announced the expansion of collaboration on new and emerging technologies to accelerate the clean energy transition. This launch marks rapid translation of the leaders’ vision into reality.
Led by DOE Deputy Secretary David Turk and MNRE Secretary Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, the RETAP was established to take bilateral collaboration further with a result-oriented, time-bound technology-focus.
- It is intended to advance new and emerging renewable technologies with a view toward deployment and scaling.
- RETAP’s initial focus is to be on green/clean hydrogen, wind energy, long duration energy storage, and to explore geothermal energy, ocean/tidal energy and other emerging technologies as mutually determined in the future.
DOE and MNRE outlined an initial workplan regarding RETAP collaboration. Work is guided by five themes:
- Research & Development
- Piloting & Testing of Innovative Technologies
- Advanced Training & Skill Development
- Policy and Planning for Advancing RET and enabling technologies
- Investment, Incubation and Outreach programmes
Going forward, DOE and MNRE intend to enhance RETAP collaboration, including potentially through the creation of a RETAP Steering Committee, joint working groups and collaboration among subject matter experts.
Important Day
National Sports Day 2023
⇒ National Sports Day is celebrated every year on 29 August in India.
The day is dedicated to the nations’ sports heroes and champions, honoring their contribution and dedication towards bringing laurels to the country.
Theme:
The theme of National Sports Day 2023 was “Sports are an enabler to an inclusive and fit society”.
Background:
- National Sports Day is a day to celebrate the birth anniversary of the legendary hockey champion Major Dhyan Chand.
- Major Dhyan Chand, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, made a mark as a key member of the Indian hockey team, securing gold in the 1928, 1932, and 1936 Olympic editions. Across his career, spanning 185 appearances for the country, he netted 570 goals for India.
- The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India announced that August 29 is to be observed as the National Sports Day in 2012.
National Sports Day 2023 Celebration:
3rd edition of Fit India Quiz:
On the occasion of National Sports Day 2023, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur launched the third edition of the Fit India Quiz, among other initiatives, at an event at the JLN Stadium on 29 August.
- It is India’s biggest sports and fitness quiz competition for school students featuring total prize money of Rs 3.25 crores.
» Shri Anurag Singh Thakur also launched the National Sports Federations portal.
The National Sports Federations portal launched is in line with the Government of India’s vision for Digital India, for ensuring ease of business and good governance.
- It is a unified online portal for the NSFs, which shall be a single window system for processing of annual renewal of recognition of NSFs, elections of National Sports Federations etc.
- This will do away with the existing system of physical mode of submission of documents by NSFs and examination of the same by the Union Sports Ministry. The online portal will also be ensuring better coordination among the Department of Sports and the National Sports Federations.
» The Minister also launched an Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme.
- The Information booklet on Sports Infrastructure Projects sanctioned under the Khelo India Scheme, meanwhile, showcases how the Khelo India Scheme has transformed the nation for sporting excellence since 2016.
- The booklet throws light on the entire sports infrastructure that has been developed and is in pipeline in various States and UTs of the country. The Khelo India Scheme, since its inception, has remained pivotal in sports development in the country with focus at the grassroots level.