• 09 Jan 2024

Efforts to Rescue Tigress

Why in News?

Recently, two cages have been put up in the Surai range of Terai East Forest Division to rescue an elusive tigress who has been moving for a year with a wire stuck around the lower part of its stomach.

• The Surai range of the forest division is adjacent to the Semal Kuan forest area in the Mahof range of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• In January 2023, the tigress was seen by a patrol team in the forest and a wire noose was wrapped around its stomach near its hind legs.
• To monitor the tigress, camera traps were installed on the spot and continuous photographs of the tigress were seen in 26 out of 35 camera traps.
• The monitoring report of the tigress was sent to Uttarakhand Wildlife Warden and National Tiger Conservation Authority, on which a joint team was formed and the process of capturing the animal was started.

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

• It is situated in the Pilibhit district and Shahjahanpur District of Uttar Pradesh, forming part of the Terai Arc Landscape, in the upper Gangetic Plain Biogeographic Province.
• The northern edge of the reserve lies along the Indo-Nepal border while the southern boundary is marked by the river Sharada and Khakra.
• The habitat is characterized by Saal Forests, tall grasslands and swamp maintained by periodic flooding from rivers.
• The Sharda Sagar Dam extending up to a length of 22 km (14 mi) is on the boundary of the reserve.
• It was designated as a Tiger Reserve in 2014.

Action Plan to Make Uttarakhand a Major Destination for AYUSH

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) Education Department and directed the officials to work with an effective action plan to make the state a major destination in the field of AYUSH and wellness.

Key Points

• According to an official release, to promote the production of herbs in Uttarakhand proper arrangements for collection and marketing should be made in coordination with the AYUSH Department, Horticulture and Forest Corporation.
  • The Chief Minister also instructed to bring a new yoga policy to make Uttarakhand the best yoga destination in the world and emphasized on special efforts to promote Panchakarma.
  • To promote the field of AYUSH, arrangements for a proper platform will be done for marketing herbal products.
  • To provide information related to AYUSH to school students, it is instructed to ensure its arrangement in all schools and to expedite the effective implementation of the AYUSH policy.
  • The establishment of wellness centers, certification of AYUSH services and arrangement for training of AYUSH doctors and pharmacists through renowned AYUSH experts will help in connecting AYUSH medicine with the public.
• The AYUSH policy includes the promotion of the production of high-quality Ayurvedic herbs, mandatory adherence to international standards of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP), use of the latest drone-based technology, the establishment of cold storage on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, and regulation of vendors of medicinal plants.
  • In collaboration with leading manufacturers and reputed marketing agencies in the state,Uttarakhand will establish an online platform to bring together buyers (farmers, local suppliers) and drug manufacturers, 'Assured Buy-back' scheme for medicinal plants.
  • Capital assistance of up to 10% for all AYUSH manufacturing units, encouragement to establish common testing laboratories at 2-3 important places in the state for quality assessment of AYUSH products, mandatory to obtain AYUSH Premium Mark, and Standard Mark for AYUSH products has been done.
• Through the State Tourism Policy, 2023, up to 50% capital assistance will be provided to wellness resorts, Ayurveda/Yoga/Naturopathy resorts and 5% financial assistance to wellness centers, Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy resorts to be established in Category B and Category C areas.
• To promote AYUSH education, a provision has been made to provide an incentive amount of up to Rs 15 lakh to the AYUSH colleges that meet the standards set by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Tiger Population in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

Recently, the tiger population in Uttarakhand has increased at a rate of 314% between 2006 and 2022. According to the Uttarakhand Wildlife officials, the tiger population density in Uttarakhand is among the highest in the world.

Key Points

• The tiger population which stood at 178 in 2006 rose to 560 in 2022, recording a rise of 314%.
• The increase in the population of wild animals in the state is due to steps taken by the forest department in recent years to improve their habitat conditions.
• A slight increase is also recorded in 2023 in the number of people killed and injured in tiger attacks.
  • The total number of people killed in encounters with animals such as leopards, elephants and snakes besides tigers was 71 in 2021, 82 in 2022 and 66 in 2023.
  • The number of persons injured in man-animal conflicts was 361 in 2021, 325 in 2022 and 317 in 2023.
• There are two tiger reserve in Uttarakhand:
  • Rajaji Tiger Reserve
  • Corbett Tiger Reserve

Aadhar Seeding for NREGS Card Holders

Why in News?

By mid-January 2024, Bihar is expected to complete the process of linking Aadhar cards of all job card holders under MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme).

• It is part of the Centre’s directive to states to implement Aadhar-based payment of wages to beneficiaries under the scheme.

Key Points

• The Centre had made AePS (Aadhar enabled Payment System) mandatory for all job card holders under MGNREGS from January 1.
• It means payments as wages to beneficiaries for their work would be made directly into their bank accounts linked and verified through their Aadhar number after due mapping by National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI).
• In Bihar, the total number of job card holders under MNREGA is 1.80 crore, of which 1.52 crore have their bank accounts linked with their Aadhar (unique identification) numbers.
  • Of these around 96 lakh active workers (who have been working regularly), around 94 lakh have their bank accounts linked with Aadhar while 79.63 lakh are eligible for payments under AePS.
• In the current fiscal year (2023-24), Bihar has generated 15.64 crore mandays (a day regarded in terms of the amount of work that can be done by one person within this period) so far against the sanctioned 17 crore under the scheme, which is meant to provide at least 100 days of work to unskilled rural workers in a year.
  • A proposal for grant of another 8 crore mandays for work generation in this fiscal would be sent by Bihar to the ministry of rural development.

Aadhar

• It is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India on behalf of the Government of India.
  • The number serves as proof of identity and address, anywhere in India.
• The Aadhaar number is unique for each individual and will remain valid for life time.
  • Establishes identity of individuals on the basis of demographic and biometric information.
• It will help the residents to avail various services provided by banking, mobile phone connections and other Government and Non-Government services in due course.

Moradabad's Brassware Industry

Why in News?

The construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh has revived Moradabad's brassware industry, due to a surge in demand for religious idols, particularly those of Lord Ram.

Key Points

• Moradabad was established in 1600 by Murad, the son of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, as a result, the city came to be known as Moradabad.
• It is renowned for brass work and has carved a niche for itself in the handicraft industry throughout the world.
  • The brassware is exported to countries like the US, Britain, Canada, Germany, the Middle East and Asia. Therefore Moradabad is also called "Brass City" or Peetal Nagri.
  • Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, holds historical and enduring significance due to its remarkable hardness and workability.
• In the 1980s, the industry diversified with the introduction of various metal wares such as brass, iron, and aluminum. This expansion brought new technologies like Electroplating, lacquering, and powder coating to Moradabad's art industry.
• Moradabad Metal Craft (Word Mark) has a geographical indication (GI) tag.
• Under ‘One District One Product Programme’ (ODOP), Uttar Pradesh government encourages indigenous and specialized products and crafts.

Main Objectives of One District One Product Programme’ (ODOP) of UP

• Preservation and development of local crafts / skills and promotion of the art.
• Increase in the incomes and local employment (resulting in decline in migration for employment).
• Improvement in product quality and skill development.
• Transforming the products in an artistic way (through packaging, branding).
• To connect the production with tourism (Live demo and sales outlet – gifts and souvenir).
• To resolve the issues of economic difference and regional imbalance.
• To take the concept of ODOP to national and international level after successful implementation at State level.

List of ODOP Products in Uttar Pradesh
Sr. No.	Districts	Products
1.	Agra	Leather Products and All Handmade Products Manufactured through Stone & Marble
2.	Amroha	Musical Instruments and Readymade Garments
3.	Baghpat	Home Furnishings
4.	Bareilly	Zari-Zardozi and Bamboo Products & Goldsmith Industry
5.	Gorakhpur	Terracotta and Readymade Garments
6.	Lucknow	Chikankari & Zari Zardozi
7.	Mahoba	Gaura Stone Craft
8.	Mirzapur	Carpets and Brass Industry
9.	Siddharthnagar	Kala Namak Rice
10.	Varanasi	Banarasi Silk Saree