March 17th,2020

 

Topic:-Health

 

Importance:- Prelims & Mains

 

What is the news?

 

• Masks, sanitisers essential commodities under ESMA.

 

The state government today amended Himachal Hoarding and Profiteering Prevention (HHPP) order, 1977, declaring N-95 face masks, surgical masks and hand sanitizers as “essential commodities” under ESMA to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state.

 

What is ESMA act?

• The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) is an act of Parliament of India which was established to ensure the delivery of certain services, which if obstructed would affect the normal life of the people.
• This includes services like public transport (bus services), health services (doctors and hospitals).
• Purpose of amendment of Himachal Hoarding and Profiteering Prevention (HHPP) order, 1977:-
• Amended HHPP order, 1977, renaming it as the HHPP Amendment order 2020, directing all line departments and food controllers to ensure easy availability of N-95 face masks, surgical masks and hand sanitizers for the public across the state.

 

In case of breach:-

• The government would take action under ESMA against the hoarders and ensure easy availability of masks in the state.

(Source:- The Tribune)

 

 

Topic:- Women empowerment

 

 

What is the news?

 

• Rural women to be trained for banking services.

 

Context:-

• As a step towards the inclusion of the rural people in the finance sector, the Department of Rural Development (DRD) will soon launch a project.

 

What is the name of the project?

• ‘Banking Sakhis (BS)’,

 

Purpose:-

• Where women from self-help groups (SHGs) will get a licence to provide financial services in the rural areas of the state.

 

Lalit Jain, Director, Rural Development, who is the brain behind the scheme shared:-

• Financial inclusion is the best way to make the common man a part of the developments in the economy at the national level. We are introducing BS to take various money-growing schemes to the rural pockets where banking is still absent.
• This BS will provide services such as money transfer, fixed deposit receipts, and other related services to rural women. Initially, the department will train 100 women in this model free of cost and one coordinator will be appointed to handle this project.

 

How women will be selected?

• Women will be selected from amongst the 1,700 SHGs of the states, based on their interests and having attended minimum Class XII qualification. They will be given a laptop, card swipe machine, and mini ATM from the community fund.

 

How they will earn?

• They will get a commission from the banks for their services. “The department will provide Rs5,000 as a one-time grant to the BS for purchase of stationery, etc, to run their office and an honorarium of Rs4,000 would also be given for six months as an additional encouragement.

 

What is honorarium?

• Payment is given for professional services that are rendered nominally without charge

(Source:- The Tribune)