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Sub Mission on National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Nutri Cereals

About the Sub Mission on NFSM – Nutri Cereals

• NFSM – Nutri Cereals is one of the major components of the National Food Security Mission.
• The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2007.
  • The chief objective of the mission was to increase the annual production of rice, wheat and pulses.
  • NFSM was launched to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses through area expansion and productivity enhancement; restoring soil fertility and productivity; creating employment opportunities; and enhancing farm level economy.
  • The sub-components of the NFSM are:
    • NFSM-Rice
    • NFSM-Wheat
    • NFSM-Pulses
    • NFSM-Coarse Cereals
    • NFSM-NFSM-Nutri-Cereals
    • NFSM-Commercial Crops
  • Under the Mission, seed distribution of HYVs, farm machineries/resources conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection, nutrient management, cropping system based trainings to the farmers, etc. are provided.
  • From 2020-21, primary processing units/small storage bins/flexibility interventions have been added as per local requirements with the aim of increasing the income of the farmers.
• The Government, under the NFSM-Nutri Cereals, is creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets) such as ragi, sorghum, bajra and small millets through demonstration and training.
• Under NFSM–Nutri Cereals, incentives are provided to the farmers, through the state governments, on crop production and protection technologies, cropping system based demonstrations, production & distribution of seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management techniques, improved farm implements/tools/resource conservation machineries, water saving devices, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed mini-kits, publicity through print and electronic media, etc.

Scheme for Reclamation of Problem Soils (RPS)

About the Scheme for Reclamation of Problem Soils (RPS)

• Scheme for Reclamation of Problem Soils (RPS) is a sub-scheme of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) introduced in 2016-17 for the reclamation and development of problem soils (Alkalinity, Salinity and Acidity).
• After having implemented this scheme on a pilot basis, in selected potential states, which have a higher extent of problem soils it will be taken up as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Scheme objectives:
  • To reclaim and develop problem soils (lands affected by alkalinity, salinity & acidity).
  • To adopt need based site specific on-farm development, bio-engineering measures and application of soil amendments in a Project Approach.
  • To improve soil fertility and productivity by application of soil test based judicious use of fertilizers and application of macro & micro nutrients, etc.
  • To enhance crop yields by adoption of salt tolerant crop/tree farming systems to ensure food security of the country; and
  • To create awareness amongst farmers & stakeholders for continuous cultivation to prevent re-occurrence of problem of alkalinity, salinity and acidity in conjunction with other ongoing missions.

Global Hunger Index

What is the Global Hunger Index?

Global Hunger Index Scoring
GHI ranks countries on a 100 point scale, 0 representing zero/no hunger. The GHI scores are based on four indicators. Taken together, the component indicators reflect deficiencies in calories as well as in micronutrients. Thus, the GHI reflects both aspects of hunger (undernutrition and malnutrition).

1. UNDERNOURISHMENT: the share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient.
2. CHILD STUNTING: the share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age.
3. CHILD WASTING: the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height.
4. CHILD MORTALITY: the mortality rate of children under the age of five (a reflection of the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments).

Global Hunger Index 2020
Salient Points

1. Worldwide hunger is 18.2 (moderate) down from 2000 level of 28.2 (serious)
2. How many are undernourished? – Nearly 690 million people
3. How many children are suffering from stunting? – 144 million children
4. How many children suffer from wasting? – 47 million
5. What was the child mortality in 2018? – 5.3 million children died before they turned five.
6. Which region has the highest hunger and undernutrition levels – Africa (south of Sahara) and South Asia  — Desert Locust, Covid-19 and following economic challenges are factors for food and nutrition insecurity for millions of people but the impact of pandemic hasn’t been accounted for in 2020 Global Hunger Index.
7. Which countries show alarming levels of hunger? – Chad, Timor-Leste and Madagascar
8. Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger is difficult to achieve by 2030- Around 37 countries are expected to fall short to even reach low hunger by 2030.

India’s Performance in GHI 2020

1. India has a ‘serious’ hunger level.
2. India’s score in 2020 GHI is 27.2.
3. The ranks of some of India’s neighbours in 2020 Global Hunger Index are:
   • Nepal – 73
   • Pakistan – 88
   • Bangladesh – 75
   • Afghanistan – 99
4. India has improved significantly w.r.t the child stunting levels.
5. India’s performance on the GHI’s indicators:
   • Undernourishment – 14 percent of India’s total population is undernourished.
   • Child Wasting – 17.3 percent of children are reported to be wasted.
   • Child Stunting – 34.7 percent of children are reported to be stunted which was 54 percent in 2000.
   • Child mortality – 3.7 percent of children died before the age of five.

India’s Rank on Global Hunger Index 2018-2020
The table below mentions India’s performance in the last three years in the Global Hunger Index.

Global Hunger Index 2019
The Global Hunger Index 2019 report mentioned a rise of 37 million in the number of hungry people as compared to 2015.
Furthermore, the hunger level in multiple countries still hasn’t reduced or has got higher than 2010 and approximately 45 counties are set to fail to achieve ‘low’ levels of hunger by 2030.

• For the year 2019, India has ranked 102nd amongst the 117 that were mapped for the Global Hunger Index.
• With a score of 30.3 on the Hunger Index Scale, India is one of the 47 countries categorized with “Serious” levels of Hunger.
• Compared to the 2018 GHI report where India was ranked 103rd amongst the 119 countries that were mapped, the situation hasn’t improved in the country.

Why is India ranked Serious on the Global Hunger Index?

• The share of wasting among children in India marked a steep rise from 16.5% in the 2008-2012 period to 20.8% in 2014-2018.
• According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), child wasting is a strong predictor of mortality among children (under 5 years of age).

India and Other Countries on the Global Hunger Index
India is behind every other country except Afghanistan amongst the South Asian countries.
Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan (in that order) are all ahead of India.
17 countries including China, Belarus and Turkey have the top rank in Global Hunger Index 2020, with score less than 5.

Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana

• Minister of Culture said no grant under the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
• The Culture Ministry issues guidelines for holding cultural events/activities in virtual/online mode under various scheme components of the Central Sector Scheme ‘Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana’ (KSVY).

About the Kala Sanskriti Vikas Yojana (KSVY)

• It is an umbrella scheme of the Culture Ministry under which cultural organizations are given financial assistance for the promotion of art and culture.
• A few of the schemes under this are:
  • Repertory Grant: Repertory is the performance of ballets, dramas, operas at regular intervals by a company. Under Repertory Grant, training is provided.
  • National Presence: Under National Presence, cultural programmes/festival/seminars, etc. at the national level for the promotion of art & culture may be conducted online.
  • Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG): Under the CFPG, seminars, conference, research, workshops, festivals, exhibitions, symposia, production of dance, drama-theatre, music, etc. and small research projects on different aspects of Indian culture may be conducted online.
  • Himalayan Heritage: Under Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas, study and research, preservation and documentation, dissemination through audiovisual programmes, training in traditional & fold art may be conducted online.
  • Buddhist/Tibetan: Under Financial Assistance for Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Arts, research project, purchase of books, documentation and cataloguing, award of scholarships to monks, holding of special courses and culture, audio-visual recording/documentation, IT upgradation training aids for monastic, salary to teachers may be performed online.
  • Scholarship/Fellowship: Under Scheme of Scholarships and Fellowships for Promotion of Art and Culture, advanced training within India in the field of Indian Classical Music, Indian Classical Dance, Theatre, Mime, Visual art, Folk, Traditional and Indigenous Arts and Light Classical Music and research may be performed online and report can also be submitted in soft version.

Battery Operated Vehicles exempted from payment of fees

• A notification of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways exempts Battery Operated Vehicles from the payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark.
• According to the government, this has been notified to encourage e-mobility.

Janani Suraksha Yojana

About the Janani Suraksha Yojana

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM).
• It is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.
• Janani Suraksha Yojana was launched in April 2005 by modifying the National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS).
• JSY is a centrally sponsored scheme, which integrates cash assistance with delivery and post-delivery care.
• The objective of the scheme is to reduce maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.
• The scheme focuses on poor pregnant woman with a special dispensation for states that have low institutional delivery rates.
• The scheme also provides performance based incentives to women health volunteers known as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) for promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.

National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)

About NACP

• The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), launched in 1992, is being implemented as a comprehensive programme for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India.
• The NACP I (started in 1992) was implemented with an objective of slowing down the spread of HIV infections so as to reduce morbidity, mortality and impact of AIDS in the country.
• In November 1999, the second National AIDS Control Project (NACP II) was launched to reduce the spread of HIV infection in India, and to increase India’s capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS on a long-term basis.
• NACP III was launched in July 2007 with the goal of Halting and Reversing the Epidemic over its five-year period.
• NACP IV, launched in 2012, aims to accelerate the process of reversal and further strengthen the epidemic response in India through a cautious and well defined integration process over the next five years.
• NACP IV Objectives:
  • Reduce new infections by 50% (2007 Baseline of NACP III).
  • Provide comprehensive care and support to all persons living with HIV/AIDS and treatment services for all those who require it.