1st October, 2021 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL

NITI Aayog: Assessment report of District hospitals

According to the “Assessment report of District Hospitals” by NITI Aayog, a district hospital in India has 24 beds per 1 lakh population, on an average.
NITI Aayog’s study called “Best Practices in the Performance of District Hospitals” was released on September 30, 2021.
This report was prepared, after assessing 707 hospitals across 36 states and Union Territories in 2018-19.
As per study, Bihar is having the lowest average of number of six beds per 1 lakh population.
Puducherry is having the highest number of 222 beds per one lakh population.
District hospitals in India is having a range of 1 to 408 beds per 1 lakh population.
In 217 district hospitals, there have at least 22 beds for every 1 lakh population.
In 15 states and UTs, the average number of beds in a district hospital was lower than what recommended by the IPHS 2012 guidelines. These states include- Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana Maharashtra, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
According to Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2012 guidelines, there should be at least 22 beds per one lakh population in district hospitals. This figure is based on district population average of 2001 Census.

PM launches Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0

On October 1, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0) along with the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMTUT 2.0). These schemes were launched at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
Both the schemes, SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0, are in line with the vision of PM Narendra Modi.
These schemes are designed to realize the aspiration of making all cities Garbage Free and Water Secure.
Both of the missions signify a step forward to effectively address the challenges of rapidly urbanizing India.
It will also help in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2030 targets.
In the past 6-7 years, Swachh Bharat as well as AMRUT Missions have brought transformative changes in the lives of people. Both the missions have improved the urban landscape in India by adopting a scientific approach.
AMRUT 2.0 mission will help in making cities self-reliant. It will ensure water security across the cities. This mission has been launched with the aim of providing 100 percent coverage of water supply to all households in 4,700 urban local bodies. This target will be achieved by providing 2.68 crore tap connections and 100% coverage of sewerage across 500 AMRUT cities. An outlay of Rs 2.87 lakh crore has been sanctioned for this mission.
SBM-U 2.0 mission seeks to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’. It also seeks to ensure grey and black water management across the cities that are not covered under AMRUT. Mission will focus on source segregation of solid waste by utilizing the principles of 3Rs that is “Reduce, reuse, recycle”. An outlay of Rs 1.41 lakh crore has been sanctioned for SBM-U 2.0.

Govt to organise Vayo Naman Programme in honour of senior citizens

Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry will organise Vayo Naman Programme in the honour of senior citizens on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons in New Delhi.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will be the chief guest of the programme and will confer the Vayosheshtra Samman awards. The Vice President will also dedicate the Elderly Help Line 14567 to the Nation and launch the Senior Able Citizens Reemployment in Dignity (SACRED) and Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) Portals on this occasion. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar will also be present in the programme.
The Ministry celebrates International Day of Older Persons every year on 1st of October for the cause of elderly persons.

INTERNATIONAL

UNCTAD Digital Economy Report 2021

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published its “UNCTAD Digital Economy Report 2021, recently.
In its report, UNCTAD noted the Philippines as one among six countries that allows free flow of data across borders. Free flow of data is required to boost the digital economy.
Other five countries allowing free-flow of data across border include- Canada, Australia, Mexico, Singapore and the United States. These countries use “light-touch approach” for data flow.
Light-touch approach is mostly favored by countries having strong regulatory environments and sufficient regulatory resources in order to monitor compliance of domestic laws. As per report, Philippines’s use of light-touch approach is towards its “dependence” on the outsourcing industry, which is the major economic growth drivers in the country.
UNCTAD recommends that the global community should enable free flow of digital data across the borders. It suggests to make an international framework in order to allow such activities. New approach should:

Facilitate “worldwide data sharing,
Develop global digital public goods,
Increase trust and
Reduce uncertainty in the digital economy.

As per UNCTAD, no global framework would mean added burden in protecting the privacy for private sector as well as government use of data.
Thus, a new regulatory framework is required that factors in both economic and non-economic dimensions.

Sri Lanka bans import of organic fertilizers manufactured in China

Sri Lanka has banned the import of organic fertilizers manufactured in China after state agriculture authorities detected harmful bacteria in them for the second time. Director-General of Agriculture Ajantha De Silva urged the government to cancel the fertilizer contract with China and insisted that he would never allow organic fertilizer with harmful bacteria to enter the country. Sri Lanka was to import 99,000 metric tonnes of organic fertilizer at a cost of 63 million dollars from China's Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co Ltd.

On September 17, agriculture scientists in Sri Lanka found that China manufactured organic fertilizers that contained a microorganism identified as 'Erwinia'.
Agriculture experts warned that China's organic fertilizer importation would create an agricultural disaster in the island nation. The Agriculture Ministry too confirmed this later but the Minister alleged that the samples which came to Sri Lanka could have tampered.
Subsequently, fresh samples of China's organic fertilizers were brought to Sri Lanka and the Director-General of Agriculture told the media that the new samples too were infected with bacteria. De Silva said though the presence of Erwinia could not be confirmed, the presence of harmful bacteria in this new sample was confirmed. Subsequently, the Agriculture Ministry stated that it would halt the importation of Chinese organic fertilizers.

Jordan fully reopens main border crossing with Syria to boost trade

Jordanhas fully reopened its main border crossing with Syria in a move to boost the countries’ struggling economies.Colonel Moayad Al Zubi, the head of Jaber crossing told a news agency that the security situation is now stable on the Syrian side and they hope it remains stable. The Jaber crossing had reopened in 2018 after the Syrian government drove rebels from the south, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to measures being imposed to curb the transmission of the virus. Jordanian Trade and Industry Minister Maha Al Ali said that the aim of these understandings is to boost trade exchange between the two countries to achieve the interests of every party.

Meanwhile, the United States, which has suspended its diplomatic presence in Syria in 2012, has not shown any indication of an imminent change in ties. A US State Department spokesperson said Washington had no plans to ‘normalize or upgrade’ diplomatic relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and was not encouraging others to do.
At least 350,209 people have been killed in the decade-old war in Syria, the United Nations human rights office has said in its first report since 2014 on the death toll, adding that the tally was an "undercount".

Prominent Rohingya leader Mohibullah shot dead in Bangladesh

A prominent Rohingya community leader Mohibullah was shot dead in the refugee camp of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh on 29-09-2021 evening. He was killed by unknown assailants in his office room in Kutupalong under Ukhia Upazila of Cox’s Bazar last night.
The 46-year-old Rohingya leader was the Chairman of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace & Human Rights (ARSPH) based in Cox’s Bazar. He was a key figure in the Rohingya repatriation process as the representative of over 1 million refugees currently living in camps in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh. Mohibullah was a prominent voice demanding justice for Rohingyas against the Myanmar military which is being investigated by several international agencies for atrocities against the Rohingyas.
Mohibullah sought the safe and dignified return of Rohingyas to Myanmar. In 2019, he met US President Donald Trump as part of the religious freedom meeting organized by the State Department.

Former Afghanistan officials announce Amrullah Saleh led government in exile

Former Afghan officials, who fled the country after the Taliban takeover last month, have announced the continuation of the Afghan government in exile. It will be led by former Vice President Amrullah Saleh. A statement released by the Afghan Embassy in Switzerland said that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the only legitimate government of Afghanistan that is elected by the votes of the people and no other government can replace a legitimate one.
After the escape of Ashraf Ghani, his first Vice-President Amrullah Saleh will be leading the country.
The three powers of the government namely executive, judicial, and legislative will be activated soon and they have been busy consulting in this regard. The statement has also announced their support to the resistance front - the anti-Taliban front led by Ahmad Masoud - and has added that all the embassies and consulates of Afghanistan will be functional as normal.

SPORTS

Women's cricket: Smriti Mandhana becomes first Indian woman to score Test hundred on Australian soil

In a historic moment in women's cricket, Smriti Mandhana became first Indian woman to score a Test hundred on Australian soil.
Continuing her masterclass batting streak this morning, she completed her century to shape up India's first innings on the second day of the first pink-ball day and night One-off Test match being played between India and Australia women at the Carrara Oval in Queensland, Australia. She scored 127 runs with 22 fours and a six.
India were 240 for the loss of 3 wickets when the reports last came in.
Earlier, the opening day's play was suspended after tea due to rain. At the time of stumps, the visitors had put up 132 runs for one wicket.

Put into bat, India women were off to a solid start with both openers Mandhana and Shafali Verma scored together a 93-run partnership. Shafali made 31 off 64 deliveries. Rain twice halted play and the officials were forced to call early Stumps due to inclement weather.

Published date : 01 Oct 2021 06:15PM