Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 02 December 2023 | Download PDF

• The Union Cabinet approved the terms of reference (ToR) for the Sixteenth Finance Commission.

Key points

• This commission will suggest how to share money between the central government and the states for the five years starting from April 1, 2026.
• The government wants the commission to finish its recommendations by October 31, 2025.
• The main focus is on how to divide taxes between the central government and states and how to distribute this share among the states.
• The commission will also suggest ways to add money to a state’s fund to support local bodies based on the recommendations of State Finance Commissions.
• The ToR includes recommending principles for giving money to states from the Consolidated Fund of India and reviewing how to finance Disaster Management initiatives.

• Sri Lanka has a tentative agreement with India and the Paris Club creditors (including Japan) on a debt treatment plan.
• The plan aims to assist Sri Lanka in accessing the next portion of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) $3-billion recovery package.

Debt Background:

• Facing an economic crisis, Sri Lanka defaulted on its nearly $51 billion foreign debt last year.
• Comprehensive loan restructuring is crucial for the country’s economic recovery with IMF support.

Official Creditor Committee (OCC):

• The OCC, co-chaired by India, Japan, and France, was formed in response to Sri Lanka’s request for debt treatment.
• The OCC and Sri Lanka agreed on the main parameters of a debt treatment consistent with those of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement between Sri Lanka and the IMF.

China’s Position:

• China, Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral creditor, has not joined the OCC but attends meetings as an observer.
• China has assured cooperation in the debt restructuring process, and Sri Lanka has promised transparent participation.

• The Union Cabinet approved a special development mission for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
• A total of over ₹24,104 crore will be allocated for this mission over a three-year period, with ₹15,336 crore from the Union government and ₹8,768 crore from respective State governments.

PM Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyaan (PM-JANMAN): 

• Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this initiative aims to improve socio-economic conditions for 75 recognized particularly vulnerable tribal groups.

Focus Areas (11 Interventions):

• Build 4.9-lakh pucca houses.
• Lay 8,000 km of connecting roads.
• Provide piped water to all households in over 22,000 villages.
• Install community water pipelines in 2,500 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups villages.
• Construct 2,500 anganwadi centres.
• Set up 1,000 mobile medical units (10 per district).
• Install mobile towers in 3,000 villages.
• Establish 500 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for the sale of forest produce.

Read About:

PVTG and their existence in different parts of India

The government plans to provide drones to 15,000 women self-help groups (SHGs) for rent to farmers.

Key Points:

• Women’s SHGs, selected from the 89 lakh under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, will receive 80% financial aid for drone costs, totaling up to ₹8 lakh.
• Drones will be used by farmers for applying nano fertilizers and pesticides to crops.
• The scheme has a budget of ₹1,261 crore for the years 2024-25.
• SHG members will undergo 15 days of training, including drone pilot training and agricultural application training, aiming to help them earn an additional income of ₹1 lakh annually.

• Prime Minister Modi announced a five-year extension for the free foodgrain scheme.
• The Union Cabinet formally approved the extension on Wednesday, starting from January 1. 
• The scheme was originally set to end on December 31.

Background of the Scheme:

• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana began in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and concluded in December 2022.
• From January 1, 2023, it absorbed other schemes like Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households for one year.
• AAY cardholders receive 35 kg of foodgrains monthly, while other beneficiaries get 5 kg per person monthly.

Significance and Objectives:

• The decision is hailed as historic and aims to secure food and nutrition for a large population.
• It aligns with the goal of building an aspirational and developed India during the “Amrit Kaal.”

Nation-Wide Implementation:

• The scheme ensures uniform delivery of free foodgrains in all States and Union Territories through a network of over five lakh fair price shops.
• It promotes ease of living by allowing beneficiaries to collect free foodgrains from any fair price shop in the country under the One Nation One Ration Card initiative.

Odisha Regional Specific News

• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given financial help of Rs 2 lakh each to four Odia laborers recently rescued from a partially-collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand.

Key Points:

• The four workers, Raju Nayak, Dhiren Nayak, Bisheshwar Nayak, and Bhagaban Bhatra, reached Odisha from New Delhi via a special flight.
• The Chief Minister welcomed them at his residence, inquiring about their well-being and listening to their 17-day-long struggle inside the tunnel.
• Notably 5 workers from Odisha were saved from the tunnel.

• The National Pollution Control Day or National Pollution Prevention Day is observed on December 2 every year in India. 
• The objective of the day is to raise awareness about the different measures to control pollution and the prevention of industrial disasters. 

Key points

• National Pollution Control Day is especially observed in the memory of people who died in the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984.
• Theme for 2023 is “Sustainable Development for a Clean and Healthy Planet”. 
  • This theme highlights the connection between environmental protection and sustainable development.

• Odisha has seen a big increase in its GST revenue, recording a 100% growth in November this year compared to the same month last year.

Key Points:

• In November, the state kept Rs 2,778 crore from GST, whereas it was Rs 1,390 crore in November 2022.
• It is due to the increase in IGST settlement.The IGST settlement this month was around Rs 1,900 crore. 

AIPH University plans a detailed study on different types of anaemia in different parts of Odisha, a region with high rates of underweight, stunting, wasting, and anaemia in children under five.

Key Points:

• In Odisha, anaemia in children aged 6-59 months rose from 45% (2015-16) to 64% (2019-21).
• Scheduled tribes had the highest prevalence at 73%. 
• Stunting slightly decreased overall but remained high among scheduled tribe children (42%).

• Khandua, also known as Maniabandi or Kataki, represents a traditional ikat sari originating from Odisha . 
• Women typically wear it during weddings , and there’s a distinct variety worn by Jagannath. 
• These garments often feature verses from the Gita Govinda. 
• Specifically, the Kenduli Khandua, a unique type measuring 12 ft with 2 kani (each kani equivalent to the length of a hand), is offered to Jagannath.
• This serves as a special form of khandua adorned with stanzas and illustrations from the Gita Govinda.

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Adda247.