PIB Summary- 8th January, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Year-End Review of DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (2023)

Context
Recently, the year-end-review of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the year 2023 was released.

Key Highlights of Initiatives and Achievements by DEPwD:

• Special events at Rashtrapati Bhavan and India’s First Festival of Inclusion (Purple Fest) in Goa.
• Involvement of thousands of Divyangjan and transgenders, setting world records, fostering a sense of belonging.

India-South Africa Cooperation in Disability Sector:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Governments of India and South Africa.
• Focus on cooperation and collaboration in the Disability Sector.

Divya Kala Mela 2023:

• Hosted in various cities, showcasing the Government’s commitment to holistic development.
• Aligned with the Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative for equal participation in India’s growth.

Disabilities Awareness Days:

• Year-long celebration, commemorating events like World Braille Day and International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2023.

Recognition of Achievements:

• Felicitation of Abilympics winners and honors for the Indian Deaf Cricket Team and Para Swimmer Shri Satendra Singh Lohia.
• Celebrating excellence and contributions in the field of disabilities.

Initiatives and Reforms:

• Integration of universal accessibility courses into architectural programs.
• Release of anonymous data through the UDID (Unique Disability ID) portal.
• Introduction of portals for skill training, employment opportunities, and online case monitoring.

Empowering Through Entrepreneurship:

• Government partnerships with institutes supporting and empowering 3000 Persons with Disabilities through enterprise initiatives.
• Collaboration between government, corporate, and institutions.

Technology and Accessible Resources:

• Launch of ISL (Indian Sign Language) dictionary terms and Video Relay Service.
• Online courses in Indian Sign Language and accessible books through SugamyaPustakalaya.

Sports and High-Tech Training Centers:

• Inauguration of India’s first high-tech sports training center for Divyangjan in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
• Emphasis on equal opportunities in sports and talent enhancement.

Legal Support and Financial Inclusion:

• Impactful judgments providing interest rate rebates to divyangjan borrowers.
• Promotion of financial inclusion through NDFDC loans and collaboration for universal design centers.

Assistance to Disabled Persons Camp (ADIP) Scheme:

• Grant-in-aid totaling Rs.368.05 crore.
• Benefiting 2.91 lakh beneficiaries.

India Nominates Cities for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):

Context
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has submitted three city nominations from India for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA). The nominated cities are Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, along with Udaipur in Rajasthan.

Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):

• A voluntary accreditation system by the Ramsar Convention, initiated during COP 12, 2015.
• Recognizes cities prioritizing the safeguarding of urban wetlands.
• Aims to promote conservation, wise use, and socio-economic benefits of urban and peri-urban wetlands.
• Valid for 6 years, fostering positive relationships with valuable ecosystems.

Key Highlights of Nominated Cities:

Indore:

• Cleanest city in India, awarded India’s Smart City 2023 for sanitation.
• Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site, developed as a Bird Sanctuary.
• Over 200 wetland mitras actively engage in bird conservation, particularly protecting the Sarus Crane.

Bhopal:

• One of India’s cleanest cities with proposed conservation zones around wetlands in its draft City Development Plan 2031.
• Bhoj Wetland, a Ramsar Site, equipped with a world-class wetlands interpretation center (Jal Tarang).
• Bhopal Municipal Corporation has a dedicated Lake Conservation Cell.

Udaipur:

• Surrounded by five major wetlands: Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
• Integral to the city’s culture and identity, maintaining the microclimate and providing a buffer from extreme events.