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Pb. Current Affairs

November 25, 2019

Topic:- Sustainable Agriculture

Background:- Tthe carcinogenic and bad impact of genetically modified cotton has brought into focus organic cotton.

To promote the production of handspun and handwoven cloth.
It receives the support from Kheti Virasat Mission.
To remove the use of chemicals in the entire value chain system e g.in dyeing process, which pollutes the nearby water bodies and soil.
It seeks to conserve the water resources in the state also by discouraging paddy cultivation.
It also seeks to give employment to the poor of the state.
Trojan has taken inspiration from a similar organization named TULA of South India.

It was established in 2014.
It seeks to help the farmers economically by paying double the market price for the produce.
It has given employment to around 100 farmers.
It also supports spinners, weavers, dyers and tailors.
It is based on Gandhian ideals of Promoting a distributive economy.
The organisation seeks to promote climate-smart Agriculture through traditional organic agriculture.
The abusive and less profitable cotton farming is being challenged by this organisation.

(Source:- The Tribune news)

Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana was launched by Punjab government to provide secondary and tertiary and healthcare services to poor people in listed government and private hospitals.
People have opted for heart surgeries, knee replacement surgeries etc with respect to this scheme.
A beneficiary becomes eligible only after being issued an e-card by the requisite authority.
Bathinda and Ludhiana have stood second and third in the provision of health services.

(Source:- The Tribune news)

The state government amends Punjab Insecticide Rules, 1971.
The regulations and rules regarding sales of pesticides and insecticides have been brought by the state.

It has been made compulsory for the dealers to mention the name of the insect or pest on the packing of the insecticide.
Also, the name of the crop for which the insecticide has been brought to the market should be mentioned.
Section 15 of the Punjab insecticides rules, 1971 have been amended.

Precise and judicious use of chemicals could be promoted.
Awareness generation among all the stakeholders.
Sustainable agriculture would be promoted as the farmers could be discouraged from using the insecticides unscientifically.

(Source:- The Tribune news)

Wetland Mitras to keep an eye on the status of Harike wetlands.
It is a joint venture of the forest department and WWF – India.
It would keep a check on any mishaps in or around the lake.
The mass killing of birds in Sambhar Lake due to Avian Botulism has caused an alarm in the wildlife circles.
In Harike wetland, many birds come from the Colder Central Asian region and Russia to evade the biting cold conditions.
Punjab is 18th in the number of Fatal road accidents among the states in the country.
The Road Transport and Highways ministry have released a report named ROAD ACCIDENTS REPORTS, 2018.

UTTAR PRADESH tops the rankings.

About 4740 deaths and 6428 road accidents have been recorded in Punjab in 2018.

More than 300 casualties or deaths had occurred in Ludhiana alone.

1 Hit and run cases.
Wrong- side driving.
Bad road conditions.
Collisions with parking vehicles.
Speeding is a great cause ( responsible for around 64 % share of the road fatalities ).
6 Non- wearing of helmets.

Among Million plus cities, LUDHIANA and AMRITSAR have the deadliest roads.
A Geneva-based not for profit organization, International Road Federation (IRF) has also highlighted such shortcomings.
It is spreading the ideal of Safe road designs and smart mobility across the world.