Amrit Sarovar Mission

• 20 Jun 2022

For Prelims: Amrit Sarovar Mission, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, XV Finance Commission Grants, PMKSY

For Mains: Government Interventions and Policies, XV Finance Commission Grants, Amrit Sarovar Mission

Why in News?

The Union government has asked the Ministry of Railways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to use the soil/silt excavated from ponds/tanks in all districts across the country under the Amrit Sarovar Mission for their infrastructure projects.

What is Amrit Sarovar Mission?

• About:
  • Amrit Sarovar Mission was launched on 24^th April 2022 with a view to conserve water for the future.
• Aim:
  • The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
  • In total, it would lead to the creation of 50,000 water bodies of a size of about an Acre or more.
  • The Mission encourages mobilisation of citizen and non-govt resources for supplementing these efforts.
• Ministries Involved:
  • This Mission has been launched with a whole Government Approach with 6 Ministries/Department namely:
    • Department of Rural Development
    • Department of land resources
    • Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation
    • Department of Water resources
    • Ministry of Panchayati Raj
    • Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Changes.
• Technical Partner:
  • Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) has been engaged as technical partner for the Mission.
• Refocusing with Various Schemes:
  • The Mission works through the States and Districts, through refocusing of various schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, XV Finance Commission Grants, PMKSY sub schemes such as Watershed Development Component, Har Khet Ko Pani besides States’ own schemes.
• Target:
  • Mission Amrit Sarovar is to be completed by 15^th August 2023.
  • Around 50,000 Amrit Sarovar may be constructed in the country.
    • Each of these Amrit Sarovar will have approx. area of 1 acre with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic meters.
  • People’s participation in the Mission is the focal point.
    • Local freedom fighter, their family members, Martyr’s family members, Padma Awardee and citizens of the local area wherein an Amrit Sarovar is to be constructed, will be engaged at all stages.
  • On every 15^th August, National Flag hoisting will be organized on every Amrit Sarovar site.
• Achievements:
  • So far, 12,241 sites have been finalized for construction of Amrit Sarovars by States/Districts, out of which works has started on 4,856 Amrit Sarovars.

What is Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav?

• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
• This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• The official journey of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on 12^th March 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence and will end post a year on 15^th August 2023.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Which of the following best describes/describe the aim of ‘Green India Mission’ of the Government of India? (2016)

1. Incorporating environmental benefits and costs into the Union and State Budgets thereby implementing the ‘green accounting’.
2. Launching the second green revolution to enhance agricultural output so as to ensure food security to one and all in the future.
3. Restoring and enhancing forest cover and responding to climate change by a combination of adaptation and mitigation measures.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Exp:

• National Mission for a Green India, also known as Green India Mission (GIM), is one of the eight missions outlined under India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change. It was launched in February 2014.
• Goals of Mission
  • To increase forest/tree cover to the extent of 5 million hectares (mha) and improve quality of forest/tree cover on another 5 mha of forest/non forest lands. Separate sub-targets existing for different forest types and ecosystems (eg., wetland, grassland, dense forest, etc.). Hence, 3 is correct.
  • Improvement in quality of forest cover and ecosystem services of forests/non-forests, including moderately dense, open forests, degraded grassland and wetlands (5 mha).
  • Eco-restoration/afforestation of scrub, shifting cultivation areas, cold deserts, mangroves, ravines and abandoned mining areas (1.8 mha) with separate sub–targets for each one of those.
  • Improvement in forest and tree cover in urban/ peri-urban lands (0.20 mha).
  • Improvement in forest and tree cover on marginal agricultural lands/fallows and other non-forest lands under agro-forestry/social forestry (3 mha).
  • To improve/enhance eco-system services like carbon sequestration and storage (in forests and other ecosystems), hydrological services and biodiversity, along with provisioning services like fuel, fodder, and timber and non-timber forest produces (minor forest produces or MFPs) etc., which are expected to result from the treatment of 10 mha.
  • To increase forest based livelihood income for about 3 million households in and around these forest areas, and enhanced annual CO₂ sequestration by 50 to 60 million tonnes by the year 2020. Launching 2nd Green Revolution and incorporating green accounting in the Union and State budget are not the objectives of Green India Mission. Hence, 1 and 2 are not correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Source: TH