CONTENTS
- GANGA UTSAV 2021- THE RIVER FESTIVAL
- BASHA SANGAM INITIATIVE: EK BHARAT SHRESHTA BHARAT
- WHISTLE – BLOWER PORTAL
GANGA UTSAV 2021- THE RIVER FESTIVAL
Focus: GS I- Physical geography
Why in News?
Recently, the 5th edition of Ganga Utsav-The River Festival 2021 has begun which celebrates the glory of the National river Ganga.
- The event will also comprise, launch of the Ganga Tarang Portal, curtain raiser on Ganga Knowledge Portal and many more.
About Ganga Utsav-The River Festival 2021:
- The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) celebrates the festival every year to strengthen the Public – River Connection.
- National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) was registered as a society on under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
- The government had set up the Clean Ganga Fund in 2014 – Using the funded money to finance NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga 2011), cleaning the river, setting up Waste Treatment Plants, Conservation of river biodiversity and related R&D projects.
- NMCG is the implementation wing of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council NGC).
- The NMCG has been registered in the Guinness Book of World Records on the first day of Ganga Utsav 2021 for the highest number of photos of handwritten notes that were uploaded on Facebook in an hour.
- The Utsav celebrates the mystical and cultural river Ganga through storytelling, folklore, dialogues with eminent personalities, quizzes, displaying traditional artforms, dance and music performances by renowned artists, photo galleries and exhibitions and much more.
- It highlights the significance of Jan Bhagidari (People’s Participation) in the revival of Ganga, with a focus on encouraging stakeholder engagement and public participation towards the rejuvenation of river Ganga.
- The objective of all the activities will be to sensitize and motivate the children and youth for action to protect and restore our rivers.
River Ganga:
- The Ganga originates as Bhagirathi from the Gangotri glacier in Uttar Kashi District of Uttarakhand at an elevation of 7,010 m.
- Alaknanda River joins Bhagirathi at Devaprayag.
- From Devapryag the river is called as Ganga.
- The Ganges was ranked as the fifth most polluted river of the world in 2007.
- Pollution threatens many fish species and amphibian species and the endangered Ganges river dolphin (Blind Dolphin).
- The Ganga Action Plan, an environmental initiative to clean up the river, has been a major failure thus far, due to corruption, lack of technical expertise, poor environmental planning, and lack of support from religious authorities.
- Ganga was declared as the National River of India on 4th November 2008.
BASHA SANGAM INITIATIVE: EK BHARAT SHRESHTA BHARAT
Focus: GS II- Governance
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Education launched various initiatives under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) to commemorate Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
- The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
About Bhasha Sangam Initiative:
- It is an initiative of the Ministry of Education under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, to teach basic sentences of everyday usage in 22 Indian languages (Eighth Schedule languages).
- It is developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
- The idea is that people should acquire basic conversational skills in an Indian language other than their mother tongue.
- It is available on DIKSHA, ePathshala and through 22 booklets.
- Other initiatives launched include Bhasha Sangam Mobile App and the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) Quiz App.
About Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat
- “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” was announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 31st October, 2015 on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
- Through this innovative measure, the knowledge of the culture, traditions and practices of different States & UTs will lead to an enhanced understanding and bonding between the States, thereby strengthening the unity and integrity of India.
- All States and UTs will be covered under the programme.
- There will be pairing of States/UTs at national level and these pairings will be in effect for one year, or till the next round of pairings.
- The activity will be very useful to link various States and Districts in annual programmes that will connect people through exchanges in areas of culture, tourism, language, education trade etc. and citizens will be able to experience the cultural diversity of a much larger number of States/UTs while realizing that India is one.
Objectives:
- To CELEBRATE the Unity in Diversity of our Nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our Country;
- To PROMOTE the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States;
- To SHOWCASE the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State for enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity;
- TO ESTABLISH long-term engagements and
- TO CREATE an environment which promotes learning between States by sharing best practices and experiences.
WHISTLE – BLOWER PORTAL
Focus: Facts for prelims
Why in News?
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA), a PSU under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a ‘Whistle-blower Portal’, as a part of ‘Vigilance Awareness Week 2021’.
Details:
- Through this portal, IREDA employees can raise concerns related to fraud, corruption, abuse of power etc.
- The portal has been developed by IT Team of the company.
- Whistle-blower portal is a part of a IREDA’s “zero tolerance” of corruption.
- During the week-long Vigilance Awareness campaign (26th October to 2nd November 2021), various activities like interaction with customers & vendors for redressal of their grievances, seminars, workshops, speech competition, quiz among employees, drawing competitions, dance competitions for students, Nukkad-Natakand other vigilance related awareness activities were carried out in line with the ‘Vigilance Awareness Week 2021’ theme- ‘Independent India @75: Self Reliance with Integrity’.
