CONTENTS
- Year-End Review of DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (2023)
- India Nominates Cities for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):
Year-End Review of DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (2023)
Context:
Recently, the year-end-review of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the year 2023 was released.
Relevance:
GS II: Government policies and Interventions
Dimensions of the Article:
- Key Highlights of Initiatives and Achievements by DEPwD
Key Highlights of Initiatives and Achievements by DEPwD:
Historic Gatherings and Festivals for Inclusion:
- Special events at Rashtrapati Bhavan and India’s First Festival of Inclusion (Purple Fest) in Goa.
- Involvement of thousands of Divyangjan and transgenders, setting world records, fostering a sense of belonging.
India-South Africa Cooperation in Disability Sector:
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Governments of India and South Africa.
- Focus on cooperation and collaboration in the Disability Sector.
Divya Kala Mela 2023:
- Hosted in various cities, showcasing the Government’s commitment to holistic development.
- Aligned with the Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative for equal participation in India’s growth.
Disabilities Awareness Days:
- Year-long celebration, commemorating events like World Braille Day and International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2023.
Recognition of Achievements:
- Felicitation of Abilympics winners and honors for the Indian Deaf Cricket Team and Para Swimmer Shri Satendra Singh Lohia.
- Celebrating excellence and contributions in the field of disabilities.
Initiatives and Reforms:
- Integration of universal accessibility courses into architectural programs.
- Release of anonymous data through the UDID (Unique Disability ID) portal.
- Introduction of portals for skill training, employment opportunities, and online case monitoring.
Empowering Through Entrepreneurship:
- Government partnerships with institutes supporting and empowering 3000 Persons with Disabilities through enterprise initiatives.
- Collaboration between government, corporate, and institutions.
Technology and Accessible Resources:
- Launch of ISL (Indian Sign Language) dictionary terms and Video Relay Service.
- Online courses in Indian Sign Language and accessible books through SugamyaPustakalaya.
Sports and High-Tech Training Centers:
- Inauguration of India’s first high-tech sports training center for Divyangjan in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
- Emphasis on equal opportunities in sports and talent enhancement.
Legal Support and Financial Inclusion:
- Impactful judgments providing interest rate rebates to divyangjan borrowers.
- Promotion of financial inclusion through NDFDC loans and collaboration for universal design centers.
Assistance to Disabled Persons Camp (ADIP) Scheme:
- Grant-in-aid totaling Rs.368.05 crore.
- Benefiting 2.91 lakh beneficiaries.
India Nominates Cities for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):
Context:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has submitted three city nominations from India for the Wetland City Accreditation (WCA). The nominated cities are Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, along with Udaipur in Rajasthan.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Wetland City Accreditation (WCA):
- A voluntary accreditation system by the Ramsar Convention, initiated during COP 12, 2015.
- Recognizes cities prioritizing the safeguarding of urban wetlands.
- Aims to promote conservation, wise use, and socio-economic benefits of urban and peri-urban wetlands.
- Valid for 6 years, fostering positive relationships with valuable ecosystems.
Key Highlights of Nominated Cities:
Indore:
- Cleanest city in India, awarded India’s Smart City 2023 for sanitation.
- Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site, developed as a Bird Sanctuary.
- Over 200 wetland mitras actively engage in bird conservation, particularly protecting the Sarus Crane.
Bhopal:
- One of India’s cleanest cities with proposed conservation zones around wetlands in its draft City Development Plan 2031.
- Bhoj Wetland, a Ramsar Site, equipped with a world-class wetlands interpretation center (Jal Tarang).
- Bhopal Municipal Corporation has a dedicated Lake Conservation Cell.
Udaipur:
- Surrounded by five major wetlands: Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai.
- Integral to the city’s culture and identity, maintaining the microclimate and providing a buffer from extreme events.
