GUJARAT

Plastic in salt: Study calls for better processing

The revelation that microplastics lurk amid edible salt comes as an eye-opener for the state government and salt producers. The researchers who recorded the findings are calling for improved refining processes to reduce microplastics in salt.

Gujarat produces 76% of the country’s salt. Kharaghoda, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, and the Rann of Kutch are major salt-producing centres. The research study, published in Elsevier’s Marine Pollution Journal, has stated that of the solid microparticle pollutants separated from the samples, 90.3% were microplastic fractions and 9.7% were non-microplastic fractions. The study was carried out by a team of 10 scientists including geologists, ocean researchers, and biotechnologists.

Polyethylene (78%) was the dominant microplastic pollutant, followed by polyester (19%). Polyvinyl chloride content was found too. “The packing material of salt was primarily composed of polyethylene. A few large-sized plastic fragments which were greater than 5mm were also observed in the samples.

INTERNATIONAL

Hiroshima Day – 6th August

Each and every year 6th of August marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima at some stage in World War II.

The horrific incident took place on 6th August 1945, when the United States dropped an atomic bomb named “Little Boy” on Hiroshima in Japan. This bomb attack was achieved with the motive to give up the Second World War in 1945. This day is remembered to promote peace and recognise the chance of nuclear strength and nuclear weapons.

During the 2nd World War, which was energetic in 1939- 1945, the world’s first deployed atomic bomb with more than 9000 kilos uranium-235 was loaded. US B-29 bomber aircraft, the Enola Gay, attacked the Japanese metropolis of Hiroshima on sixth August 1945. The explosion was so large that it right away killed 70,000 humans, wiping 90% of the city and later on, around 10,000 human beings died due to the effect of radiation exposure.

NATIONAL

Increase in the Global Hunger Index score

India’s composite Global Hunger Index score has been improved from 38.9 to 27.2 in the year 2020. India was ranked at 94th place among 107 countries in Global Hunger Index.

The Global Hunger Index goals to track starvation at the world, regional and Indian levels. It is an annual record (peer-reviewed) published with the aid of Concern Worldwide of Ireland and Welthungerhilfe (a German non-profit organization).

Global Hunger Index ranks international locations on a 100 point scale, with zero representing zero/no hunger. The GHI scores are based on 4 indicators. They are Undernourishment, Child Stunting, Child Wasting, Child Mortality

Global Hunger Index is Jointly posted through Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. It was first produced in 2006. It is posted each and every October. The 2020 version marks the 15th edition of the GHI.

Funds for Janani Suraksha Yojana

Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Allocation of funds for Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is done as a part of the RCH Flexible Pool.

Highlights:

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a secure motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM).

It is being carried out with the goal of reducing maternal and child mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) was launched in April 2005 to enhance the National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS).

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a centrally sponsored scheme, which integrates money assistance with post-delivery care.

The scheme focuses on the terrible pregnant females with a special dispensation for states that have low institutional delivery rates.

The scheme also gives performance-based incentives to women health volunteers acknowledged as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) to promote institutional delivery among pregnant women.

Grants Under Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana

No grant under the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana has been cancelled due to prevailing COVID-19. The information is by the Ministry of Culture.

The Culture Ministry issues guidelines for conserving cultural events/activities in virtual/online mode under quite a number of scheme aspects of the Central Sector Scheme ‘Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana’ (KSVY).

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY) is an umbrella scheme of the Culture Ministry under which cultural businesses are given financial assistance for the promoting of artwork and culture.

A few of the schemes:

♦ Repertory Grant: Repertory is the overall performance of ballets, dramas, operas at ordinary intervals by a company. Under Repertory Grant, coaching is provided.

♦ National Presence: Under National Presence, cultural programmes/festivals/seminars, etc., at the national level for the promoting of artwork & tradition may additionally be carried out online.

♦ Cultural Function and Production Grant (CFPG): Under the CFPG, seminars, conferences, Workshops, research, festivals, exhibitions, symposia, drama-theatre, production of dance, music, etc. and small research initiatives on one-of-a-kind elements of Indian subculture may also be carried out online.

♦ Himalayan Heritage: By Financial Assistance for the Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas, find out about, and research, maintenance and documentation, dissemination through audiovisual programmes, coaching in typical & fold art may additionally be carried out online.

♦ Buddhist/Tibetan: By the Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts, lookup project, purchase of books, documentation and cataloguing, award of scholarships to monks, holding of extraordinary publications and culture, audio-visual recording/documentation, IT upgradation education aids for monastic, salary to teachers may be carried out online.

♦ Scholarship/Fellowship: Under Scheme of Scholarships and Fellowships for Promotion of Art and Culture, advanced coaching inside India in the subject of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music and research may additionally be performed online, and document can further be submitted in tender version.

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