19 July 2018: UPSC Exam PIB Summary & Analysis

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Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan

• National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is organising “Ganga Vriksharopan Abhiyan” with 9th July to 15th July 2018 being observed as ‘Shubharambh Saptah’ in five main stem Ganga basin states – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Aim of the campaign:

• To bring greater awareness among people and other stakeholders regarding the importance of afforestation for the task of Ganga Rejuvenation.
• A number of schools, colleges and departments have been requested to “Adopt a Plant” for turning this campaign into a people’s movement.
• Plantation activities are being carried out with great enthusiasm all along the banks of the River Ganga with participation of local people.

Getting Forest Research Institute (FRI) on board

• In order to implement the afforestation project in a scientific manner, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun was assigned the project to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the basis of which the State Forest Departments would carry out their plantation activities.
• The FRI report provides a multi-disciplinary approach with potential plantation and treatment models. Considering the type of natural ecosystem, identification of native vegetation, soil conditions and agro-climatic zones, potential models of various types have been developed.
• The implementation plan aims to contribute towards the Clean Ganga Mission, particularly Aviral Dhara and Nirmal Dhara besides maintenance of the ecological and geological integrities, by improving the base flow and filtration of the ground water pollution.

Why is Afforestation in Ganga Basin important?

• Forests cause higher rainfall and raise water level in the rivers.
• Through their foliage, craggy bark and abundant leaf litter, trees and forests decrease the speed of water dispersion and favour slow but greater infiltration of rainwater to ensure smooth functioning of the hydrological cycle.
• Presence of healthy forest cover along the river provides self-cleaning ability to the river.
• Thus, afforestation and augmentation of existing forest along the Ganga holds the promise to strengthen the riparian ecosystem thereby contributing to the overarching cause of Ganga Rejuvenation.

Joint Military Exercises

• The details of joint military exercises conducted with foreign countries during the last three years and the current year are as under:

Joint Exercises conducted by Army:

Joint Exercises conducted by Navy:

Joint Exercises conducted by Air Force:

• This is a continuous process, however, relevant steps are taken from time to time to engage friendly countries and to enhance the scope of exercises based on the principle of mutual benefit and our own strategic requirements.

Child Labour – Eradication

• Child Labour is an outcome of various socio-economic problems such as poverty, economic backwardness, illiteracy etc.
• As per 2011 Census, the number of main workers in the age group of 5-14 years in the country is 43.53 lakh which shows a decline from 57.79 lakh as per 2001 Census.
• To ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Child Labour Act and smooth implementation of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme a separate online portal PENCIL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) has been developed.
• The Portal connects Central Government to State Government(s), District(s) and all District Project Societies. Further the Ministry has instructed all the concerned States where NCLP Scheme is sanctioned, to form State Resource Centre (SRC) under the chairmanship of State Labour Secretary, which would monitor the enforcement of Child Labour Act, coordinate for the rescue of children and adolescents, child tracking system and supervise all the functions through PENCIL portal.
• SRC would also prepare and implement awareness generation plan to curb the menace of child labour in the State.

Background:

• Government has enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force w.e.f 01.09.2016. The Amendment Act, inter alia, provides for complete prohibition on employment or work of children below 14 years and also prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes.
• After strengthening the legislative framework through amendment in Child Labour Act, Government has framed the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017 which inter alia specifies the duties and responsibilities of State Governments and District Authorities to ensure effective enforcement of the provisions of the Act.

Shram Suvidha Portal

• Shram Suvidha Portal, launched by the Government on 16.10.2014, caters to four major Organisations under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, namely Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Directorate General of Mines Safety, Employees’ Provident Fund Organization and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation. The main features of the Portal are as follow:-

1. Allotment of Unique Identity i.e. Labour Identification Number (LIN) for effective, efficient and real-time governance in Labour Administration
2. To bring transparency and accountability in the enforcement of labour laws through Online Inspection System and Filing of Online Inspection Report
3. Common Online Registration and Filing of Self-Certified and Simplified Single Online Annual Return for multiple labour laws to ease the complexity of compliance
4. Unified ECR under EPFO/ESIC to encourage compliance by reducing transaction costs and promoting ease of business.

• With these initiatives, the procedures have been simplified; returns and registration forms have been unified to provide an ease of doing business environment through Shram Suvidha Portal.

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