PIB 24th July

Contents

1. Red Cross relief supply for flood affected people
2. Department of Posts: Small savings schemes extended
3. Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana

RED CROSS RELIEF SUPPLY FOR FLOOD AFFECTED PEOPLE

Focus: GS-III Disaster Management, GS-II International Organisations

Why in news?

The President of India flagged off nine trucks of Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) relief supplies for flood affected people.

Details

• These relief supplies for the flood affected people of Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh shall be carried from Delhi to the concerned states by train and will be received by the state Red Cross branches of respective states.
• The relief material included items such as tarpaulins, tents, dresses etc., and in addition, COVID-19 protection items such as surgical masks, PPE kits, gloves and face shields are also present.
• These items are meant to safeguard and protect health workers associated with IRCS medical services in these states as well as the volunteers of IRCS who are at the forefront of flood relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS)

• The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is a voluntary humanitarian organization to protect human life and health based in India.
• It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and so shares the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• The society’s mission is providing relief in times of disasters/emergencies and promoting health & care of vulnerable people and communities.
• The President of India is the President of the IRCS.
• The Minister of Health and Family Welfare is the Chairman of the Society.
• The Chairman and 6 members of the managing body are nominated by the President.
• The remaining 12 are elected by the state and union territory branches through an electoral college.

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

• The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide
• It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering.

The movement consists of several distinct organizations that are legally independent from each other:

1. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is a private humanitarian institution founded is 1860s. Its 25-member committee has a unique authority under international humanitarian law to protect the life and dignity of the victims of international and internal armed conflicts.
2. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) coordinates activities between the 190 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies within the Movement.
3. National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies exist in nearly every country in the world like the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS). Currently 190 National Societies are recognized by the ICRC and admitted as full members of the Federation.

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS: SMALL SAVINGS SCHEMES EXTENDED

Focus: GS-III Indian Economy

Why in news?

The Department of Posts has now extended all small savings schemes upto the Branch Post Office level.

Why was this done?

The Extension was done in order to strengthen its network and postal operations in rural areas and provide facility of small savings scheme to the vast majority in villages.

Advantages

The new order has allowed Branch Post Offices to offer facilities of Public Provident Fund, Monthly Income Scheme, National Savings Certificate, Kisan Vikas Patra and Senior Citizen Savings Schemes also.

People living in villages will now be able to get the same Post Office Savings Bank facilities which people in urban areas have been availing.

They will be able to deposit their savings into these popular schemes through the post office in their village itself.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) is a financial service provider that will operate under the country’s postal department.
• The government-owned payments bank will be able to accept deposits of up to Rs. 1 lakh from customers.
• But they do not have the rights to use these funds to advance risky loans at higher interest rates.
• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) offers three types of savings accounts—regular, digital and basic.
• The primary rationale is to help in the goal of achieving financial inclusion.
• India’s age-old postal department has a wide network of branches across India, IPPB can thus offer savings, remittance, and payments services to the rural and unorganised sectors.
• IPPB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deparment of Post, with 100 percent Government of India equity.
• It will be governed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

KUMHAR SASHAKTIKARAN YOJANA

Focus: GS-II Social Justice

Why in news?

The Union Home Minister distributed 100 electric potter wheels to 100 trained artisans under the Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana

• Kumbhar Sashaktikaran Program is an initiative of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for empowerment of potters’ community in the remotest of locations in the country.
• The program reaches out to the potters in : U.P., M.P., Maharashtra, J&K, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana and Bihar.

This program provides the following support to potters:

1. Training for advanced pottery products
2. Latest, new technology pottery equipments like the electric Chaak
3. Market linkages and visibility through KVIC exhibitions

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)

• The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is a statutory body formed in April 1957 by the Government of India, under ‘Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956’.
• It is an apex organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries within India
• Aim of KVIC is: plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.