PIB Summary- 4th August, 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

MASI Portal

Context
Recently, the Minister of Women and Child Development informed the Rajya Sabha about MASI Portal.

MASI Portal: Monitoring App for Seamless Inspection of Child Care Institutions

• The MASI portal is developed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
• It facilitates synchronous monitoring of Child Care Institutions (CCIs) and their inspection mechanisms nationwide.
• The app is linked to a monitoring portal that automatically generates reports for effective and efficient inspection of CCIs as per the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 (amended in 2021).
• Unified inspections by various authorities, including Child Welfare Committees, State Inspection Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, and State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights, are conducted through the MASI app.
• It serves as a single platform for inspections of all CCIs in the country, enabling streamlined processes and follow-ups before and after inspection cycles.
• The app generates comprehensive reports upon submission of inspection questionnaires by the authorities.

About NCPCR

• It is an Indian statutory body that was established in 2007 under an Act of Parliament – the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005 – and works under the auspices of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD).
• Its mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes, and administrative systems conform to the vision of children’s rights (ages 0 to 18 years) as enunciated in the Indian Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• The Commission envisions a rights-based approach that pervades national-state-local policies and programmes.
• As a result, the Commission envisions the state playing an indispensable role in ensuring o Children and their well-being, o Strong institution-building processes, o Respect for local bodies and decentralisation at the community level, and greater social concern in this direction.

Composition of NCPCR
The commission consists of the following members:

• A Chairperson
• Six other members

Functions the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

• Examines and reviews safeguards provided by or under any law and recommends measures for their effective implementation.
• Reports on the operation of those safeguards to the Central Government on an annual basis and at any other times deemed appropriate.

Investigation and Study

• Investigates child rights violations and suggests legal action when necessary.
• Studies treaties and other international instruments and reviews existing policies, programs, and provides recommendations on child rights.
• Promotes research in the field of child rights.

Public Education and Advocacy

• Educates the public about children’s rights and raises knowledge of the safeguards that can be used to defend these rights through publications, the media, and other available channels.
• Promotes, respects, and gives children’s opinions significant attention in its work and in the work of other government departments and organizations working with children.
• Creates and distributes information on children’s rights.
• Compiles and examines child data.
• Encourages the inclusion of child rights in the school curriculum, teacher preparation programs, and training for other professionals who work with children.
• Examines all barriers preventing children from exercising their rights in the wake of terrorism, intergroup conflict, riots, natural disasters, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, maltreatment, torture, and exploitation, as well as pornography and prostitution, and recommends appropriate corrective measures.

Complaints and Suo Moto Actions

• Inquires into complaints or takes suo moto notice of matters related to deprivation and violation of child rights, non-implementation of laws providing for the protection and development of children, non-compliance with decisions, instructions, or policies intended to lessen hardships for children, ensure their wellbeing, and offer relief to such children, or takes up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities.

Power of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

• The commission is authorized to exercise the following powers:
• Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person.
• Discovery and production of any document.
• Receiving evidence on affidavits.
• Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.
• Issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.

The Commission is authorized to forward any case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same.

Schemes For Farmers’ Welfare

Context
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has informed Lok Sabha that a comprehensive range of Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes have been implemented for Farmers Welfare.

Government Schemes and Missions for Agricultural Development

• Aims to provide income support to all landholding farmers’ families in India for agricultural and domestic expenses.
• Offers an annual payment of Rs. 6000 to eligible farmers’ families with cultivable land holdings.

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)

• Launched the Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs” in 2020.
• Facilitates the formation of FPOs through Implementing Agencies (IAs) and provides professional handholding support, including business plan execution, for 5 years.

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)

• Rs. 1 lakh crore fund introduced in July 2020 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
• Provides medium to long-term debt financing for viable post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets with interest subvention and credit guarantee support.

National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2021 to promote oil palm cultivation and enhance India’s self-sufficiency in edible oils, focusing on North-Eastern States and A&N Islands.
• Aims to bring an additional 6.5 lakh hectares under Oil Palm plantation in the next 5 years.

National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)

• Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020 under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan to promote scientific beekeeping and achieve a “Sweet Revolution” in the field.