Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 28 September 2023 | Download PDF

Media reports have focused on the working conditions and deaths of migrant workers building Gulf countries’s infrastructure and in the Middle East at large. 

What is the Kafala System?

• It is a sponsorship system that binds migrant workers to one employer
• It is practiced  in many countries of West Asia Like Gulf countries 
•  It emerged in the 1950s
•  objective to provide temporary and rotating laborers  in the period of economic boom.

• The Kafala system based on  migrant workers, employer and contractual period
• A  migrant worker is legally bound to his employer.
• A worker cannot enter or leave the country without permission of the employer

Did you know?

ILO report called it modern-day slavery.

International Labour Organisation:

• The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work.
• Its mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards.
• Motto:ILO’s mandate as the basis for peace is expressed today as Decent Work for all.
• HQ:Geneva, Switzerland.
• Parent organization:Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

• • The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work.
  • Its mandate is to advance social and economic justice
  • It sets  international labour standards.
• HQ:Geneva, Switzerland
• Motto:ILO’s mandate as the basis for peace is expressed today as Decent Work for all.

• Report is published by UN Fund For Population(UNFPA)
• About 18.7% of the elderly in India live in the poorest  wealth quintile
• According to a report , 20% of the population  in India will be aging by 2050.

• It was established in 1940
• It is bordered in the west by wayanad sanctuary , in the north by Bandipur national park  and in the east by Sigur reserve forest.
• The Moyar river flows through the reserve 
• It was originally a national park area
• Later it  declared as Tiger Reserve
• It is at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Did you know?

The name Mudumalai means ” the ancient hill range”, it is as old as 65 million years when Western Ghats were formed.

• Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is the first Biosphere Reserve to be declared in 1986.
• It is UNESCO world heritage site 
• It is spread across three states, Tamil nadu, karnataka and Kerala.
• A biosphere reserve consists of

1. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, 
2. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, 
3. Bandipur National Park,
4.  Nagarhole National Park, 
5. Mukurthi National Park and 
6. Silent Valley.

Did you know?

• It is home to Nilgiri tahr 

The Supreme Court allowed Chhattisgarh to withdraw its petition challenging  the legality of provisions of the PMLA.

Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA):

• It is an Act to prevent money laundering and to provide for the confiscation of property derived from or involved in money laundering.
• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, is responsible for investigating the offenses of money laundering under the PMLA.

Amnesty International alleges that Indian authorities are exploiting the recommendations of FATF to target civil society groups and hinder their work

Amnesty International 

• Amnesty International (AI) is a non-governmental organization.
• Its headquarters is in the United Kingdom
• It is focused on human rights.

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental  organization.
• It was formed in 1989 by the G7 Summit which was held in Paris. 
• It was originally established to combat  money laundering.
• Later terrorist financing and other related threats were also covered.
• Currently it has 39 members.
• The FATF is a policy-making  body that works with governments to bring about national legislation and regulatory reforms in these areas.

Odisha Assembly amends law to accommodate 22 castes in OBC list

Key points

• Recently The Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed.
• It seeks to replace the Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (Amendment) Ordinance 2023.
• Under the amendment , 22 communities were accommodated in the  backward class (OBC)
• These communities were already included by the central government in the OBC.

• It  is the World’s largest slum land titling project,
• It is also called as Odisha Liveable Habitat Mission.
• “JAGA” is a society under the Housing & Urban Development Department
• It aims at transforming the slums into liveable habitat with all necessary civic infrastructure and services 
• To continuously improve the standard of the infrastructure and services
•  access to livelihood opportunities.

Did you know?

Under the Mission, 52,682 urban poor families living in slums have been granted land rights certificates.

Odisha tribals asks for implementation of PESA in true spirit

Demand of the tribals

• They want protection under Odisha State Immovable Property Transfer Act 1956, Regulation-2 .

About Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA)

• PESA Act 1996 was brought in as a response to the long-standing demands of the tribal communities in India for greater autonomy and control over their own affairs. 
• PESA Act was enacted on 24 December 1996.
• It enables tribal self-rule in fifth schedule areas and the Act extended the provisions of Panchayats to the tribal areas of Fifth Schedule states. 
• The PESA act drew inspiration from the provisions of the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian constitution. 
• It aimed to provide greater autonomy to the Scheduled areas, which are predominantly tribal in nature, and protect their rights over land and forest.
• The PESA Act gives special powers to the Gram Sabhas in Scheduled Areas, especially for managing natural resources. 
• The main rationale behind the Act is to preserve the tribal population from exploitation with the active involvement of the Gram Sabha. 

Nigerian delegation will in study rice fortification ecosystem in Odisha

Key points

• The delegation will visit rice fortification sites
• Visit will  be focused  upon to  understand the process, machinery used, quality control measures and safety standards.
• The visit is facilitated under the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Did you know?

Odisha piloted its first rice fortification in 2012 in Gajapati district

World Food Programme is a branch of the United Nations

• It deals with hunger eradication and promotes food security in the world.
• It is a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• It is operating in more than 120 countries
• It provides food assistance during emergencies 
• It works with communities to enhance nutrition and generate resilience

• Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals
• iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D are generally added to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.
• These nutrients may or may not have been originally present in the food before processing.

Devika Rege was awarded the Ramnath Goenka Sahitya Samman for Best Fiction 

Key points

• She was awarded this for her debut novel, Quarterlife
• Quarterlife talks about an individual’s moral and existential crisis.

Did you know?

90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India.

Wild Bear Rescued From Khajuria Pali  Village.

About sloth bear

• Sloth bears are one of the eight bear species found across the world.
• Their range includes India, Sri Lanka and southern Nepal.
• They live in a variety of habitats  of dry and moist forests.
• They have long, shaggy dark brown or black fur and curved claws, which are the longest out of any of the bear species.
• IUCNstatus: Vulnerable
• Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule 1

Did you know?

90% of the global Sloth Bear population is found in India.

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