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| CAREER MAKER |
- Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
- NAMASTE SCHEME
- SELA TUNNEL INAUGURATION
- Machine Learning And Intelligence Technology Hub(MATH)
- No Smoking Day-2024
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
On March 11, 2024, the Centre notified the Rules for the Citizenship
Amendment Act (CAA), setting the stage for the implementation of the
controversial law more than four years after its passage in Parliament in
December 2019. The CAA aims to provide citizenship to thousands of Hindu, Sikh,
Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and
Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014, and have been living in
the country illegally or on long-term visas (LTV).
Eligibility and
Requirements for CAA Beneficiaries
The CAA Rules outline the information and documentation required
for the intended beneficiaries to apply for Indian citizenship. Migrants from
the specified countries need to prove their country of origin, religion, date
of entry into India, and knowledge of an Indian language. The law presumes that
members of these communities faced religious persecution in their countries of
origin and has reduced the period of citizenship by naturalisation from 11
years to five.
Proof of Country of
Origin
The CAA Rules have significantly relaxed the requirements for
establishing the country of origin. Instead of a valid passport issued by
Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Afghanistan, along with a copy of a valid Residential
Permit of India, applicants can now provide various documents such as birth or
educational institution certificates, identity documents, licenses, land or
tenancy records, or any other document issued by these countries to prove their
citizenship. Documents showing that the applicant’s parents, grandparents, or
great grandparents were citizens of one of the three countries are also
acceptable, even beyond their validity period.
Date of Entry into India
To establish the date of entry into India, the Rules list 20
admissible documents, including valid visas or residential permits issued by
the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO), census enumerator slips,
driving licenses, Aadhaar, ration cards, government or court-issued letters,
Indian birth certificates, land or tenancy records, registered rent agreements,
PAN card issuance documents, and various other official documents.
Processing of
Citizenship Applications
The Centre has tweaked the process of granting citizenship to
non-Muslim migrants from the three countries, minimizing the role of states in
the matter. Applications will be submitted electronically to a District Level
Committee (DLC) and processed by an Empowered Committee, both instituted by the
Centre. The Empowered Committee, headed by a Director (Census Operations), will
include representatives from the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, FRRO, National
Informatics Centre, and Postmaster General of the state. The DLC will consist
of the District Informatics Officer or Assistant and a nominee of the central
government.
Previous Efforts to
Address Refugee Concerns
The CAA is not the first attempt by the government to
address the plight of refugees from neighboring countries. Steps in this
direction were taken as early as 2002 when the Vajpayee government amended The
Citizenship Rules to grant LTVs and citizenship to migrants in certain border
districts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Subsequent governments under Prime
Ministers Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi have also issued notifications and
amendments to facilitate the grant of LTVs and citizenship to specific
categories of migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. In 2019, the
Union Cabinet cleared the Citizenship (Amendment) bill, which was passed in
the Lok Sabha later.
Benefits for LTV Holders
In 2018, a year before the passage of the CAA, the government
issued a notification making Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian
migrants from the three countries eligible for LTVs if they sought Indian
citizenship. This notification extended a range of benefits to LTV holders,
including the ability to get a private job, start a business, admit their
children to school, move freely within the state, open a bank account, buy a
house, and obtain a driving licence, PAN, and Aadhaar.
Opposition to CAA
Implementation
Despite the Centre’s efforts to streamline the citizenship
process for non-Muslim migrants from the specified countries, some
opposition-ruled states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West
Bengal, have stated their intention not to implement the CAA. However, the new
Rules have been designed to minimize the role of states in the citizenship
application process, with the Empowered Committee and DLC being instituted by
the centre.
The European Parliament’s move to vote on the resolution against the
Citizenship (Amendment) Act was opposed by India in 2020. The United
Nation Human Rights Commission moved to Supreme Court on the matter
of Citizenship Amendment Act.
NAMASTE SCHEME
The National Action
for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme, a joint
initiative by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry
of Housing and Urban Affairs, aims to eliminate the hazardous practice of
manual sewer and septic tank cleaning.
The scheme, implemented by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and
Development Corporation (NSKFDC) from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26, has a budget
allocation of 349.73 crores and focuses on providing a range of entitlements to
Sewer and Septic Tank Workers (SSWs).
Key Components of the NAMASTE Scheme
The NAMASTE Scheme comprises several components designed to support
and empower SSWs:
· Profiling of SSWs in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) through digital tools, with the goal of identifying approximately 1 lakh SSWs.
· Offering occupational safety training to SSWs and establishing Sanitation Response Units for NAMASTE.
· Providing capital subsidy up to Rs. 5.00 lakh for the procurement of sanitation-related vehicles and equipment.
· Distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to SSWs.
· Distributing safety devices to Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs).
· Conducting Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns to raise awareness about SSW safety and dignity.
· Profiling Process and NAMASTE Mobile Application Training
The first component of
the NAMASTE Scheme focuses on creating a national database of SSWs by profiling
them and assigning a unique NAMASTE ID. To initiate the profiling process,
online training sessions on the profiling process and the NAMASTE Mobile
Application were conducted for 30 States/UTs across all five zones.
A total of 2,367 ULBs attended the training, which was given to participants
including Executive Officers, Executive Engineers, Senior Public Health
Inspectors, and Chief Officers nominated by the State government as ULB Nodal
Officers for NAMASTE, as well as surveyors such as Sanitary Inspectors,
Assistant Engineers, and Computer Operators.
State-level NAMASTE Profiling Training
Ten states/UTs
conducted state-level NAMASTE Profiling training to resolve technical queries,
which was attended by 805 urban local bodies. Following the online training, a
sanitation profile of each city is being collected from the ULBs through an
online form, which includes data on SSWs, functional and existing machines, and
the estimated number of camps a ULB will conduct. A Camp Preparatory VC is then
conducted with the states to address any discrepancies in the data and assist
the states with the preparedness of conducting profiling camps.
Training of Trainers on NAMASTE Mobile App Usage
Training of Trainers
programs were conducted in four states, including Uttar Pradesh (physical
training), Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana (online training), to
ensure that officers have a clear understanding of the app and scheme in their
regional language. Uttar Pradesh and Delhi (Delhi Jal Board) have also
conducted physical training sessions.
Profiling Camps for SSWs and IEC Campaign
After the successful completion of training on profiling and the usage of the NAMASTE App/portal, profiling has started in 28 states, along with a proper Information Education Communication (IEC) campaign conducted by states through print, electronic, and mass media. As of 6th March, 2024, a total of 28,732 SSWs have been surveyed, and 21,760 have been validated.
SELA
TUNNEL INAUGURATION
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi dedicated the Sela tunnel to the nation, a strategic
infrastructure project located in Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel, built at an
altitude of 13,000 feet, is expected to provide all-weather connectivity to the
strategically located Tawang district and improve the movement of troops along
the frontier region.
Prime Minister attended the virtual inauguration of the tunnel project at the
‘Viksit Bharat, Viksit Northeast’ programme in Itanagar.
Key Features of the Sela Tunnel
The Sela tunnel,
constructed at a cost of Rs 825 crore, is being hailed as the longest bi-lane
road tunnel in the world at such an altitude. The tunnel, built by the Border
Roads Organisation (BRO), connects Assam’s Tezpur to the West Kameng district
of Arunachal Pradesh. The project was completed in just five years, despite
challenges posed by the difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.
The tunnel has been constructed using the new Austrian tunnelling method and
incorporates safety features of the highest standards. It is expected to
provide a faster and more efficient transport route in the region and prove to
be of strategic importance to the country.
Strategic Significance of the Sela Tunnel
The Sela tunnel will
provide better movement of troops and weaponry to various forward locations
along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, according to military
officials. The tunnel is expected to boost the preparedness of the armed forces
and augment the socioeconomic development of the border region.
BRO’s Role in Border Area Development
The Border Roads
Organisation (BRO) has been at the forefront of developing border areas. In the
last three years, the BRO has completed a record 330 infrastructure projects,
constructed at a cost of Rs 8,737 crore.
China’s Protest
China has lodged a
diplomatic protest with India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to
Arunachal Pradesh, where he inaugurated the strategically important Sela
tunnel. China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, said India’s move
would “only complicate” the boundary issue.
Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said that China never recognized the
so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India and firmly opposes it. He
further stated that India had no right to arbitrarily develop the area of
Zangnan in China, the name China has given to Arunachal Pradesh.
India’s Response
India has asserted
that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and that assigning
“invented” names won’t alter reality. This is not the first time China has
objected to visits by Indian politicians to Arunachal Pradesh.
In a groundbreaking
initiative, the Department of Science & Technology has joined forces with
the Telangana government-led T-Hub to establish a
unique Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH). This
collaboration aims to foster AI innovation, create job opportunities, and
provide a conducive ecosystem for AI startups in India.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
T-Hub has dedicated an
entire floor to MATH, which will be equipped with cutting-edge facilities to
support AI and ML development. These include:
·
A mini data center with
GPU capabilities
·
A world-class learning
management system (LMS) tailored for AI education
·
Robust data
infrastructure to support diverse AI applications
These facilities will
provide startups, researchers, and students with the necessary tools and
resources to drive AI and ML innovation.
Nurturing AI Startups and Creating Jobs
MATH is positioning
itself as the go-to destination for AI-driven initiatives across the country.
The center of excellence (CoE) has set ambitious targets to nurture over 150
startups per annum and generate more than 500 AI-related jobs by 2025. By
providing access to state-of-the-art compute infrastructure, AI skilling
programs, data lakes, virtual connectivity to global AI ecosystems, and
opportunities for patent conversion, MATH aims to become the ultimate
destination for all things AI and ML.
India’s Growing AI Market
The launch of MATH
comes at a crucial time, as India’s AI market is experiencing significant
growth. Estimates suggest that the market is growing at a compound annual
growth rate (CAGR) of 25-35% and is expected to reach $17 billion by 2027. The
establishment of MATH will further fuel this growth by providing a platform for
startups and researchers to innovate and develop cutting-edge AI and ML
solutions.
Empowering Entrepreneurs and Driving Change
T-Hub CEO Mahankali
Srinivas Rao emphasized the importance of the collaboration between T-Hub and
MATH in empowering entrepreneurs to harness the power of AI and ML. By
providing the necessary support and resources, the initiative aims to drive
meaningful change and propel India onto the global stage of technological
leadership.
MATH CEO Rahul Paith
highlighted the significance of the inauguration of MATH, stating that it marks
a milestone in the journey towards harnessing the potential of AI and ML to
drive innovation and create impact. With its state-of-the-art facilities and
comprehensive support ecosystem, MATH is poised to become the epicenter of AI
and ML innovation in India.
The establishment of the Machine Learning and
Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH) through the collaboration between
the Department of Science & Technology and the Telangana government-led
T-Hub is a significant step towards fostering AI innovation and creating job
opportunities in India.
No Smoking Day-2024
No Smoking Day is an
annual event observed on the second Wednesday of March, with the aim of
creating awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and encouraging
individuals to quit the habit. This year, 2024, the day falls on 13th March.
The initiative was
first introduced in 1984 in the United Kingdom and has since gained global
recognition for its efforts in promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle.
History
The first No Smoking
Day was observed on Ash Wednesday in 1984. Since then, the event has been held
every year on the second Wednesday of March. The campaign has gained
significant momentum over the years and is now celebrated annually in the UK
and many other countries worldwide.
The Dangers of Smoking
Smoking is detrimental
to overall health and well-being, affecting not only the lungs but the entire
body.
According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year,
including an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand
smoke.
Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke, also
known as passive smoking, refers to the smoke inhaled by individuals who are
near sources of tobacco smoke, such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.
It is the smoke that
non-smokers unintentionally breathe in due to exposure to burning tobacco
products.
Health Risks Associated with Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke poses
significant health risks to both smokers and non-smokers. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), secondhand smoke can cause:
·
Coronary heart disease
·
Stroke
·
Lung cancer in adults
who do not smoke
WHO also emphasizes
that secondhand smoke increases the risk of coronary heart disease and can lead
to the development of cardiovascular issues such as:
·
High blood pressure
· Arteriosclerosis
·
Heart attack
·
Stroke
Additionally,
secondhand smoke can trigger lung problems, including:
·
Chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD)
·
Asthma
Exposure to secondhand
smoke can also affect reproductive health in individuals.
Impact on Children
Children are
particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Exposure
can lead to:
·
Frequent coughing
·
Sneezing
·
Shortness of breath
·
Other breathing problems
Important Facts on Smoking
1.
Cigarettes contain more
than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 known carcinogens such as arsenic,
benzene, and formaldehyde.
2.
The first European to
smoke tobacco was Rodrigo de Jerez, a Spanish explorer who encountered the
practice among the Taino people in Cuba in 1492.
3.
In 1602, an anonymous
English author published an essay titled “Work of Chimney Sweepers,” which was
the first known publication to link smoking with health problems.
4.
In the early 20th
century, some doctors actually recommended smoking to their patients as a way
to relieve stress and digestive issues.
5.
During World War I,
tobacco companies sent millions of free cigarettes to soldiers as part of their
rations, leading to a significant increase in smoking rates among young men.
6.
In the 1930s, cigarette
companies began using doctors in their advertisements to promote the health
benefits of smoking.
7.
The term “coffin nail,”
referring to cigarettes, originated in the mid-19th century due to the
perceived health risks of smoking.
8.
The world’s longest
cigarette measured 100 meters (328 feet) and was rolled in Nakhon Sawan,
Thailand, in 2019.
9.
In 1965, the U.S.
Congress passed the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act, which
required health warnings on cigarette packages.
10. Bhutan is the only country in the world that
completely bans the sale and production of tobacco and tobacco products.
The Importance of Quitting
Given the potential
dangers of secondhand smoke, it is crucial for smokers to quit not only for
their own well-being but also for the health of those around them. No Smoking
Day serves as a reminder of the importance of quitting and provides support and
resources to help individuals in their journey towards a tobacco-free life.
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