Dairy processing and Infrastructure Development Fund
Why in news?
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved upward revision of interest subvention from “upto 2%” to “upto 2.5% p.a.” under the scheme Dairy processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) with the revised outlay of Rs 11184 Crore.
About:
- Under DIDF, Government of India will provide Interest subvention upto 2.5% to NABARD from 2019-20 to 2030-31 and in case there is any further increase in the cost of funds, it shall be borne by the end borrowers themselves.
- The funding period (2017-18 to 2019-20) of the scheme is revised to 2018-19 to 2022-23 and the repayment period to be extended upto 2030-31 with spill over to first quarter of the FY 2031-32.
Background:
- The scheme is implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF).
- Under it, milk cooperatives are provided financial assistance at the interest rate of 6.5% in the form of financial
assistance loan to be returned over a period of 10 years. With this investment, 95,00,000 farmers in about 50,000 villages would be benefitted. - Major activities covered under DIDF are: Modernizations creation of new milk processing facilities and manufacturing facilities for Value Added Products, Chilling Infrastructure, Electronic Adulteration testing kit and Project Management & Learning.
Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen
Why In news?
- The Union Cabinet has approved the Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) [SBM (G)].
About:
- SBM (G) Phase-II will also be implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
- It will focus on Open Defecation Free Plus (ODF Plus), which includes ODF sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM). The program will also work towards ensuring that no one is left behind and everyone uses a toilet.
- The ODF Plus programme will also converge with MGNREGA, especially for grey water management and will also complement the newly launched Jal Jeevan Mission.
- It will be implemented with a total outlay of Rs. 1,40,881 crores. Of this Rs.52,497 crore will be allocated from the budget of D/o Drinking Water and Sanitation.
- The fund sharing pattern between Centre and States will be 90:10 for North-Eastern States and Himalayan States and UT of J&K; 60:40 for other States; and 100:0 for other Union Territories, for all the components.
Matribhasha Diwas
Why in news?
- The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) is set to celebrate ‘Matribhasha Diwas’ on February 21 across the country.
Key highlights:
- The theme of the programme is ‘Celebrating our Multilingual Heritage’ reflecting the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
- Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is set to be chief guest at the main event to be held in New Delhi on February 20.
- Minister of Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel and HRD Minister Sanjay Dhotre will also be present at the event.
- MHRD along with educational institutions and language institutions has been celebrating the Matribhasha Diwas for the past three years.
- This year also the educational institutions will organise activities like elocution, debating, singing, essay writing competitions, painting competitions, music, and dramatic performances, exhibitions, online resources and activities.
Kala Kumbh
Why In news
- To promote Geographical Indication (GI) crafts and heritage of India the Ministry of Textiles is organising Kala Kumbh – Handicrafts Thematic Exhibition in various parts of the country through the Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts).
Key highlights:
- The exhibitions are planned in various major cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
- The exhibitions sponsored by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) started on 14th February, 2020 and will continue till 23rd February 2020 at Bengaluru and Mumbai and will also be organized in Kolkata and Chennai in March 2020.
- The GI tag is used on handicrafts which correspond to a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country).
- 178 GI handicraft products were registered from all over India.
- The artisans are the backbone of Indian handicraft sector and possess inherent skill, technical and traditional craftsmanship.
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