Launch of Nationwide Awareness Campaign ODOP-DEH Sampark (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- Recently, the ODOP-DEH (One District One Product- Districts as export hubs) Invest India, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Delhi, in collaboration with the Industries Department, Punjab, organized a nationwide awareness campaign for the initiative and interacted with manufacturers, artisans, state govt. officialsand media personals, in Jalandhar.
- This is the first such event in Punjab to promote district wise local products.
Aim:
- This initiative is part of the Government of India's efforts to promote the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and to support the development of indigenous products.
- The nationwide awareness campaign for ODOP-DEH is aimed at improving the economic viability of MSMEs and promoting the consumption of locally made products.
Stakeholders:
- It brought together manufacturers, artisans, traders, and beneficiaries from different sectors under ODOP-DEH. The ODOP-DEH team engaged in discussions with these stakeholders, providing updates on their products and the support and guidance available from the government.
- ODOP-DEH lead emphasized that the main objective of the campaign is to create awareness among the public about the unique products available in each district and to encourage their consumption.
Focus in Punjab:
- Under the ODOP – DEH initiative the products from Punjab reached a global platform where in AR videos of Sports goods from Jalandhar were displayed at World Economic Forum, Davos. The sports goods were sent to Embassy of India in Croatia, Argentina and Uruguay as well.
- Furthermore discussion for ODOP – DEH Products, Punjab included:
- Wood inlay from Hoshiarpur is facing acute shortage of skilled labour.
- Phulkari promotion at GI Pavilion, IITF
- Better marketing and branding for promoting ODOP – DEH products from Punjab globally.
- Adding Sports goods to Champions list (Top 15 sectors) and Make in India 2.0 list.
- Training workshops from NID, IIP can help significantly.
- Agriculture products can be further promoted and need for laboratories at more locations in Punjab.
Way Forward:
- ODOP platform is facilitating and guiding the producers, farmers, artisans and manufacturers to realise their potential.
Department of Fisheries launches ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program on occasion of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has launched the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program on occasion of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- Sagar Parikrama program is being organized through a pre-decided sea route covering coastal states/UTs.
The main objectives of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ are
- to facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities and stakeholders so as to disseminate information of various fisheries related schemes and programs being implemented by the Government;
- demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholder as a spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat;
- to promote responsible fisheries with focus on sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and
- protection of marine ecosystems.
Significance:
- The fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders in the coastal areas are likely to be benefitted with awareness of various beneficiary oriented schemes and programs being implemented by the Government and showcasing them the best practices that may be adopted.
Integration of programs:
- The interaction programs being organized during the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ aims to resolve the issues of the fishers and other stakeholders and to facilitate their economic upliftment through various fisheries schemes and programs being implemented by the Government of India, such as
- ‘Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana’ (PMMSY) a flagship scheme with highest ever estimated investment of Rs.20,050 crore in fisheries sector,
- ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund’ (FIDF) of Rs. 7522.48 crore implemented since 2018-19 to provide concessional finance to eligible entities, and
- The facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) which has been extended for fishers and fish farmers since 2018-19.
- In addition to the schemes and programs of fisheries sector, the ‘Sagar Parikrama’ program envisages creation of awareness on various other schemes and programs of the Government of India.
WHO publishes zero-draft of pandemic treaty: Equity, IPR take centre stage
(GS Paper 2, Health)
Why in news?
- Recently, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) published a ‘zero-draft’ of the pandemic treaty.
- With this, negotiations will officially begin on what the final document, due to be presented at the World Health Assembly in 2024, will entail for global- and national-level pandemic preparedness.
Key Highlights:
- The zero-draft of the pandemic treaty was established based on recognising the catastrophic failure of the international community in showing solidarity and equity in response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
- Particularly from a developing country’s perspective, the draft noted “common but differentiated responsibilities and capabilities in pandemic prevention, preparedness, response and recovery of health systems” as one of its guiding principles.
- This draft marks a powerful recognition that pandemic response cannot succeed in charity, rather it requires global solidarity.
- As per this draft, if and when a pandemic occurs, parties must “take appropriate measures to support time-bound waivers of intellectual property rights that can accelerate or scale up manufacturing of pandemic-related products.”
- To ensure fair and equitable benefit-sharing, the draft details 20 per cent access for the WHO to pandemic-related products, including diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. Here, 10 per cent each will be designated for donation and sale at affordable prices, respectively.
Strengthening health systems:
- The draft also stresses the need to strengthen health systems to help realise the goal of universal health coverage.
- In addressing gender disparities in the healthcare workforce, the draft aims to “ensure meaningful representation, engagement, participation and empowerment of all health and care workers” by stressing equal pay and addressing barriers specific to women in taking leadership roles.
PABS:
- The constitution of a Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing system (PABS) under the WHO is another key element of the draft. Genomic sequences of all pathogens with pandemic potential and the benefits that come with such information are to be shared on an “equal footing” in the system.
- The information is to be shared on a publicly accessible platform and in a time-bound manner.
What is a pandemic?
- As per the document, an outbreak is considered a pandemic when an infection spreads quickly globally, with high morbidity and mortality.
- Other factors are infecting immunologically naive human populations, pushing health systems to their capacity and beyond, and triggering social and economic disruptions, where mitigation measures require coordinated efforts across the geographical spectrum.
