[CA] Mo Pratibha (UNICEF & Odisha)

In order to keep children engaged in some creative work during 21-days lockdown due to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Odisha state government in collaboration with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), has launched a creative skill competition programme called “Mo Pratibha” (My talent).

Under this online programme children can participate in competitions such as drawings, paintings, posters, writing of slogans, short stories (within 500 words) and poetry. Children will have to upload their work and for this they will get a certificate every week.

Children of 5 to 18 years will be able to participate in this competition, where they have to work under 2 themes – ‘Being at home during lockdown’ and ‘My responsibility as a young citizen during COVID-19’.

Participants can send their entry in three different categories of 5-10 years, 11-15 years and 16-18 years & have to submit online between 10 am to 6 pm.

[CA] Ama Ghare LED

Odisha Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik launched the ‘Ama Ghare LED’ scheme, under which about 95 lakh families in the State will each get four LED bulbs free of cost.

·       The scheme in which the LED bulbs (9-watt each) will be distributed to the beneficiaries registered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) was launched during the ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash’ programme.

·       Distribution of the bulbs will be started through the PEETHA (Peoples Empowerment – Enabling Transparency and Accountability of Odisha Initiatives) schemes on January 15.

·       The scheme will be implemented by Odisha Power Transmission Corporation Limited (OPTCL) and the bulbs will be distributed through camps to be held during 15th to 20th of every month and through the PDS outlets across the State.

·       The beneficiaries will have to produce their bio-metric authentication to avail benefits under the scheme.

·       The ‘Ama Ghare LED’ project, which requires about 3.8 crore LED bulbs for distribution, will help curb high-watt consumption.

[CA] Commemorative stamp and coin on Paika Rebellion

Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi released a commemorative stamp and coin on the Paika Rebellion. The Paika Rebellion (Paika Bidroha) was fought against British rule, in Odisha in 1817.

 The setting up of a Chair on the Paika Rebellion, in Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, was also announced by the Prime Minister.

புவனேஸ்வரில் உள்ள இந்திய தொழில்நுட்பக் கழகத்தில் நடைபெற்ற நிகழ்ச்சியில், பைக்கா கிளர்ச்சி நினைவாக அஞ்சல் தலை மற்றும் நாணயத்தை வெளியிட்டார்.  1817 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஒடிசாவில் வீரம் செறிந்த பைக்கா இன மக்கள் ஆங்கிலேயர்களுக்கு எதிராக போராட்டம் மேற்கொண்டனர் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. புவனேஸ்வரில் உள்ள உத்கல் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் பைக்கா கிளர்ச்சி பற்றிய ஆய்வு மேற்கொள்வதற்காக தனி பிரிவு அமைக்கப்படும் என்று  அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

[CA] Veer Surendra Sai Airport

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has approved renaming of Jharsuguda Airport, Odisha as “Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda”

Veer Surendra Sai is a well-known freedom fighter of Odisha. Renaming of the Jharsuguda airport in his name will fulfill long-pending demand of the Odisha Government, which reflects the sentiments of the local public of the respective area. It will also be a befitting tribute to the contribution of the revered personality associated with the State.

[CA] Somewhere in Odisha

[Defence] Nirbhay

Nirbhay

Basic Facts about Nirbhay

Meaning	“Fearless” in Sanskrit
Missile Type	* Surface to Surface missile. * Can carry both nuclear and conventional explosives. * Two stage flight * Subsonic cruise missile = Less than the speed of sound
Maximum Speed	0.7mach = 858 kmph
Similar to Nirbhay	* Tomahawk Missile (USA) * Babur (Hatf VII) Missile (Pakistan)
Range	* 800+ km * Flight duration – 1 hour
Designer	DRDO
Fuel	Aviation Kerosene
Testing	At Balasore (Odisha) * 2013 – it was failed * Oct 2014 – it was success
Platform	* Lorry, ship, aircraft, submarines * Land and sea versions to be ready in next 3 years. * Sea versions to have range of 200 to 2000 kms.

Special features of Nirbhay

·        Nirbhay designed from pilotless Lakshya drone (0.68 Mach speed). Therefore, it has features of both a missile and an aircraft.

·        Like the Lakshya drone, it can be remotely controlled, can be brought back after mission is over.

·        Nirbhay takes off vertically like a missile. But after reaching 800 mts height, it turns horizontally, spreads wings like an aircraft, and can fly upto 800-1000 kms range.

·        Can carry multiple payloads to attack multiple targets.

·        Seeker system: to lock-on the target, after launch.

Loitering Missile - Nirbhay can circle over an area for many minutes and pick out the target.

Tree Top Missile - Nirbhay can fly at very low altitude to avoid detection. Enemy aircrafts, anti-missile technology can’t destroy it easily.

“Make in India”

·        Nirbhay is India’s first long range subsonic missile.

·        80% of Nirbhay parts are indigenous built.

·        After 2022, India will not have to import any missiles.

Nirbhay in Cold Start

Recall Nirbhay’s special features: Drone-like + attack missile + low flying + no radar detection. Such missile can-

·        Attack Pakistan’s nuclear establishment.

·        Attack incoming Pakistan tank columns.

·        Surgical attack on a specific area within densely populated cities of Pakistan e.g. house of Hafeez Syeed or Dawood Ibrahim- that too before Pakistan radars or jets can detect Nirbhay.

·        Thus, Nirbhay will be a “force Multiplier” for India’s Cold Start Doctrine. Although Nirbhay alone is insufficient, we need modernization in other areas as well.

Nirbhay Vs. MTCR

·        1988: India tested first Agni missile.

·        1989: USA led MTCR forbade India from getting further missile technology.

·        Later, USSR collapsed, We were forced to become self-reliant.

·        Nirbhay: Desi subsonic cruise missile with range 800-1000 kms. So, we’ve not violated MTCR.

Good for India: Experience building. New weapons can be developed using the research data.

Bad for India: Lot of time and money wasted because we had to go by trial-error.

·        Pakistan’s Babar (cruise) and Shaheen (Ballistic) missile developed using Chinese technology. [MTCR violated because in the 90s, China promised to comply with MTCR, without joining as a member.]

Good for Pakistan: Atleast they did not have to waste time and money doing trial-errors like India.

Bad for Pakistan: No experience-building. So their engineers and scientists will always have to steal and smuggle technology in future. Hard to get warranty/replacement/ after sales service because it’s a smuggled Chinese technology!

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[CA] Virginius Xaxa Committee

Virginius Xaxa Committee report on Tribal land alienation

Topic in News: Xaxa Committee was formed in 2013 and gave report in May 2014. But Indian express released detailed report in October 2014 hence in news.

What was purpose of Xaxa Committee?

·        2005: UPA had setup Sachar Committee to Muslim community’s socio-economic-educational status.

·        2013: On the similar pattern, UPA-II setup Committee under Virginius Xaxa. He was a member of NAC (National advisory council).

·        To study the socio-economic, health and educational status of tribals.

·        To suggest policy initiatives and interventions for tribal-upliftment.

·        2014: Gave report.

  

 Land acquisition: Problems found:

·        Government notifies rural areas as urban areas to keep them out of PESA coverage.

·        The PPP (Public private partnership) model, is simply a backdoor method of tribal land alienation.

·        Government agencies acquire land for “public purpose” but later transfer it to private companies at throwaway prices.

·        Government has signed such MoUs with companies, Government officials became “dealers and negotiators” of tribal land. “Neutrality of the State” is forgotten.

·        In scheduled areas, tribal’s land cannot be transferred to non-tribals. YET Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) sometimes hastens project-files which directly /indirectly violate this provision.

·        Development projects lead to influx of outsiders to tribal areas, thus harm tribal interests by money landing activities and pollution.

Land Acquisition: Suggestions given

·        Prevent all kinds of tribal land alienation

·        Gram Sabha’s consent compulsory for any type of land acquisition. Even if the government wants land for its own use.

·        If anyone obtains Gram Sabha’s consent fraudulently = impose penalties and cancel such projects.

·        Empower Gram sabhas to restore alienated land back to original owner, even while case is pending in court. This will discourage non-tribal buyers from committing frauds.

·        Earlier Vijay Kelkar Committee suggested that unused Government land should be sold off/leased off to get more money and reduce fiscal deficit. Xaxa asks Government to use such land for tribal-resettlement.

·        Promote small sized water-harvesting structures instead for large dams.

·        Impose penalties on officials, if delayed implementation of Forest Rights Act or PESA.

Mining in tribal areas

·        After mines are exhausted, return the land back to original owner. Amend the Coal-Bearing Areas Act, 1957 to implement this.

·        In Andhra Pradesh, tribal-cooperative societies are can do mining activities. Other states need to adopt same model.

·        In Scheduled Areas, only permit tribals to exploit mineral resources.

·        Future policy makers should learn lessons from Niyamagiri episode.

  

Linkage with Extremism

·        There is no legal basis for terming anything a “Naxal offence”.

·        Yet many tribals are arrested for protesting against developmental projects.

·        Thus, laws are used as tools of tribal oppression.

·        Appoint a judicial commission to investigate such “naxal cases” registered against tribals and their (non-tribal) supporters.

·        Avoid making Salwa Judum like policies to combat left wing extremism.

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