Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship 2022 Announced By The Office Of The Principal Scientific Adviser, GoI

 The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India under its “Waste to Wealth” Mission announced the “Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship 2022” to empower young innovators who are engaged in community work of waste management, waste awareness campaigns, waste surveys etc. as Swachhta Saarthis and implement actions to reduce waste for a greener planet. The Waste to Wealth Mission is one of the nine national missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)

The fellowship was launched in 2021 to recognize students, community workers/self-help groups, and municipal/sanitary workers who are engaged in tackling the enormous challenge of waste management, scientifically and sustainably. The fellowship is aimed at amplifying the role of young students from schools and colleges, and citizens working in the community through Self Help Groups (SHGs), or in independent capacity in sensitizing the society towards waste management and offer innovative solutions for conversion of waste to value. The 2021 cohort had 344 Swachhta Saarthis consisting of high school students, college students, and community workers from across 27 States and 6 UTs that are currently making an impact through their efforts in waste management towards building a sustainable future.

The applications for 2022 cohort are now open for submission. Up to 500 fellows will be recognised under the fellowship. The aim through 2022 cohort is to further empower and recognize the efforts of more young innovators engaged in community work of waste management and form a wide network of waste warriors on ground as Swachhta Saarthis. This fellowship will empower interested students and citizens to continuously engage in their attempts to reduce waste in cities and rural areas.

Announcing the fellowships, Prof. K. VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to the GoI said,“Many people ask what the point is of having 100, 200, and 300 people working on the ground level but it is important because of three reasons. Firstly, your enthusiasm can affect your neighbourhood. Second, earlier times, elders used to teach the young generation about waste management but now it’s the responsibility of the young generation to teach the elders. Lastly, you all go to institutions all over the country, each one of you can influence 3 other people and that will enormously scale up awareness on waste management. This is something that is now in your hands to create an impact. We have to do things to better our future, we should live responsibly and sustainably now so the future generations can grow sustainably as well.”

Targeted to encourage community participation, the Swachhta Saarthi Fellowships invites applications from students, researchers and community workers who have done previous work or are currently engaged in waste management activities, including awareness campaigns, surveys & studies. The three categories of awards under the fellowships are as below:

1. Category-A – Open to School students from 9th to 12th standards engaged in waste management community work. An amount of Rs.  500/- per month would be given as fellowship for a period of 1 year.
2. Category-B – Open to College students (UG, PG, Research students) engaged in waste management community work. An amount of Rs. 1,000/- per month would be given as fellowship for a period of 1 year.
3. Category-C – SHGs or sanitary workers. A maximum of 2 citizens from the same SHG can apply an amount of Rs. 2,000/- per month would be given as fellowship for a period of 1 year.

The last date for applying to the fellowship is April 4th, 2022.

Details and application link is available at: https://www.wastetowealth.gov.in/fellowship-home

Source: indiaeducationdiary.in, 5/02/22

Announcement Of 2023-2024 Fulbright-Nehru And Other Fulbright Fellowships

 New Delhi : The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) announces the opening of the annual competition for Fulbright-Nehru and other Fulbright fellowships. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, such exchanges bring the people of India and the United States closer together through opportunities that enrich fellows’ academic, research, teaching, and professional capacity. Alumni of exchange and scholarship programs administered by USIEF demonstrate strong leadership in their academic disciplines and professions. Outstanding Indian students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 

“The Fulbright-Nehru fellowship provided me the opportunity to understand the nuances of solving global problems, such as climate change and the latest de-carbonization technologies. At Yale University, I was part of a global community committed to welfare of the society and encouraging the spirit of multiculturalism,” says Suman Chandra, 2020 Fulbright-Nehru Master’s fellow at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

 

For Parul Srivastava, 2020 Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research fellow at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, “the experience allowed me to build upon existing research, speak at conferences, learn new techniques in the field of oral history, and foster relationships with people across the globe. Being in the state of Massachusetts, I could explore various archives, museums, and libraries on the East coast.”

Enakshi Ghosh, 2020 Fulbright-Nehru Postdoctoral Research fellow at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO observes, “My Fulbright-Nehru grant helped me go beyond the traditional discipline of agriculture and biology and enabled me to carve out my unique research niche. The fellowship will help me in my future career progression.”

 

For over 75 years, the U.S. government’s worldwide Fulbright program has forged lasting connections, countered misunderstandings, and helped people and nations work together toward common goals.

 

USIEF is now accepting applications from Indian citizens for the 2023-24 academic year. Selection committees comprising American and Indian subject-matter experts and Fulbright alumni award these fellowships to students, academics, teachers, policy makers, administrators, and professionals in a variety of disciplines across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. USIEF urges you to consider whether you or someone you know would be a good candidate to represent your country as a cultural ambassador in the United States and experience this opportunity firsthand.

 

For more details, visit www.usief.org.in. Applicants may also send any queries to ip@usief.org.in or contact one of the USIEF offices in New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or Mumbai.

 Source:indiaeducationdiary.in, 3/02/22

A digital approach to financial inclusion

 Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman wants to take financial services to every nook of the country using digital technologies. In her budget speech, she proposed the setting up of 75 digital banking units in 75 districts by scheduled commercial banks. This is a sound framework for improving financial inclusion (FI), which in the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) first and most recent FI Index was at 53.9. The budget proposal also ties in nicely with 75 years of India’s independence.

However, the finance minister could have embraced the Olympics motto and set targets that are faster, higher, and stronger. The whole idea of using digital technologies to promote financial services, as well as most other services, is that physicality is no hindrance at all; in fact, it is hardly relevant. Digital financial services have no specified service area. The entire world is a serviceable area for them. Uday Kotak, the head of Kotak Mahindra Bank, succinctly describes the impact of the technological revolution as: “Geography is history."

When it comes to touchpoints, digital financial services, which bring products and services to users’ mobile phones, are like instant messaging. For potential, look no further than WhatsApp’s 2 billion active users worldwide, of which nearly half a billion are in India. The country has 600 million smartphones—adding 25 million more every quarter—and the highest monthly mobile data consumption rate in the world at 12 gigabytes per user per month.

So, when we think about taking digital financial services to every corner of India, we can easily think of taking it to 75 million people, or 750 million, instead of 75 districts. In fact, we can stop thinking of absolute numbers and set a target of giving 100% of the eligible population access to formal financial channels. It is possible if everyone in the ecosystem—policymakers, regulators, and the new-age digital players—appreciates one another’s role and works towards a common goal. 

The start-up way: Financial inclusion is a priority on the agenda of governments around the world. If individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial services and products, they provide a boost to economic activity and growth. It also improves the quality of everyday life by helping people plan for long-term well-being as well as short-term exigencies. That is why financial inclusion has been identified as an enabler for seven of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a blueprint for a better and more sustainable future for all.

The first step to increasing financial inclusion is to provide people with access to banking. That is why the Government of India has pushed ahead with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which has so far banked 445.8 million beneficiaries. The logical next step is to move the focus from access to usage, which is where digital technologies become crucial. 

India has been widely hailed for the development and adoption of financial technologies, or fintech. This year’s budget seeks to leverage this further, as it lists promotion of digital economy and fintech as one of the goals for Amrit Kaal, which the finance minister termed as futuristic and inclusive. Her task would be easier and faster if we start to think like digital start-ups in trying to provide more and more people with access to fruitful financial services.

Branching out of branches: Several steps have been taken in that direction. More than six years ago, RBI modified the service area rules to give banks more leeway. Niti Aayog, the government’s think tank, has presented a roadmap for introduction of full-stack digital banks. 

However, physical branches remain the centerpiece of regulatory approach. That is driven by sound logic: when it comes to trusting someone with their money, consumers prefer those who have a wide network of physical establishments and people. But the benefits of innovative products and services enabled by digital technologies might soon match the assurance of physical infrastructure. This has been proven worldwide in the aftermath of the financial crisis that led to the emergence of technology-driven “challenger banks".

Neo banks, in particular, take the front-end of financial services to a much higher level by increasing the speed of services and reducing friction. They improve returns and transparency for customers while lowering the customer acquisition cost for their partner banks. 

As the Niti Aayog paper notes, neo banks can serve demographics that are “under-catered to by main street banks". This would include small businesses, paycheck-to-paycheck retail consumers, gig economy workers, and millennials. Migrant working population is another segment that will benefit from neo banks. As the recent past has shown, geography for them is already history.

Vibhore Goyal

Source: Mintepaper, 7/02/22

What if there was no carbon dioxide in the air?

 

As a life force behind photosynthesis, lack of this gas would create a domino effect with the food chain - no living plants and animals would mean no living humans.

Carbon dioxide stands out as one of the few entities which, although invisible, regularly feature in daily headlines, lead stories and public conversations for the wrong reasons, bearing the brunt of rising global temperatures and sea levels and melting glaciers. However, carbon dioxide (CO2), a naturally occurring tasteless, odorless gas in our atmosphere is equally vital to life as oxygen.

The natural world works on an incredibly delicate balance maintaining an equilibrium in the CO2 produced and consumed. The CO2 levels have witnessed stupendous rise since the industrial revolution with mother earth bearing the detrimental impact of climate change or global warming thereby bringing disrepute and infamously lending it a rogue name. Though it may seem that the absence of this greenhouse gas will end all our climate change woes creating cleaner earth, the outcome would be catastrophic, making it a frigid, dead planet.

As a life force behind photosynthesis, lack of this gas would create a domino effect with the food chain – no living plants and animals would mean no living humans. The problem is not CO2, but the excess of it.

The usages of CO2 are varied across all forms including solid form called dry ice. Being inert, inflammable, inexpensive and easy to mass produce, it finds applications across diverse industries including food and medical industry and even in the entertainment industry to name a few.

As a lifesaving gas, when compressed to a liquid, it is widely used as a fire extinguishing medium. When released, the liquid CO2 reverts to gas form due to pressure and temperature drop, consequently extinguishing the fire. The wide usage for welding purposes, inflating rafts and life jackets further adds to its versatility in industrial applications.

The use of CO2 in the food industry is not limited to putting fizz in the soft drinks, making our cakes and bread soft and spongy, it can be used to make decaf coffee too! In fact, it has become an indispensable tool in commercial kitchens and restaurants. Dry food like grains if kept in a CO2 environment does not spoil for a very long time. Dry ice has made transportation and storage of frozen food stress-free. With a surface temperature as low as -78.5o C, it keeps food fresh. Finding an easy usage in portable coolers without requiring any external power source, it is proving to be a boon for economical transportation of perishable food items.

As dry ice directly evaporates, without coming into the liquid state, it is being rampantly used in medical research and investigations, storing biological samples, medical supplies and even organs without the fear of any kind of contamination. Applications in dermatological treatments for removal of acne, improving the texture and polishing the skin has made it a beauty buzzword.

CO2 plays an enviable role in the oil and gas industry too. When injected into oil reservoirs, it dissolves in crude oil thereby reducing its viscosity and enabling the oil to be extracted easily while remaining underground. This has also prompted the industry wide initiatives to capture and store CO2 into underground formations viz. depleted and abandoned oil fields, or rocks beneath the sea. Once placed there, CO2 remains trapped indefinitely and consequently removing the extra CO2 from the atmosphere. This potential benefit is attracting huge investment and further research towards scaling up and becoming a safe, viable commercial proposition.

This gas has found vivid applications to create suspense or melodrama, making it a scenic choice of the multibillion dollar entertainment industry. It is used in creating a dramatic and versatile effect of fog/ haze effect in movies and TV serials across genres, be it horror or sci-fi.

Its usage in rendering animals and birds unconscious before being slaughtered also makes it a ubiquitous choice among butchers.

Efforts are currently underway to produce clean, carbon-neutral fuel with the help of CO2. This so-called process of Carbon Engineering involves pulling out CO2 from the atmosphere, combining it with hydrogen and producing a synthetic fuel option. This is metaphorically having your cake and eating it too!

Is CO2 a necessary evil, a boon or a bane? CO2 is not exactly the villain, rogue or the monster gas as it is made out to be. It is rather a boon like water; too little will make us thirsty, too much will cause floods putting life on earth in jeopardy. In fact, the discourse around CO2 and global warming is yet another reminder to mankind to live within our resources and in balance with nature.

By Rachna Arora

Source: Indian Express, 4/02/22

Quote of the Day February 7, 2022

 

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”
Confucius.

“जब यह साफ हो कि लक्ष्यों को प्राप्त नहीं किया जा सकता है, तो लक्ष्यों में फेरबदल न करें, बल्कि अपनी प्रयासों में बदलाव करें।”
कंफ्यूशिअस

Economic and Political Weekly: Table of Contents

 

Vol. 57, Issue No. 6, 05 Feb, 2022

Special Articles

The Role of Finance Commissions in Intergovernmental Fiscal Management

Manish Gupta, Atul Sarma

Impact of State Intervention in Oil Pricing on Stock Market Volatility - Evidence from India

Vaibhav Aggarwal, Mrityunjay Kumar Tiwary

Does India Need Vaccine Federalism?

D K Srivastava, Muralikrishna Bharadwaj, Tarrung Kapur, Ragini Trehan

Review Article

Simply Subbu - Intrepid Voyage through Policy Dilemmas

Romar Correa

Perspectives

Changing Livelihood Dependence on Forest in North East India

Reimeingam Marchang

Commentary

Building Workers under the New Labour Codes

Chirayu Jain

The Paradox of Data-based Governance - Challenges and Opportunities

Kripa Ananth Pur

Population, Health Status, and the Sustainable Development Goals - Emerging Indications from NFHS-5

K S James, S K Singh, H Lhungdim, Chander Shekhar, L K Dwivedi, S Pedgaonkar, F Arnold

Deciphering the Indian Slip on the Global Hunger Index 2021

Neetu Choudhary

Strategic Affairs

Russia Draws a Line in Europe

Zorawar Daulet Singh

Discussion

Hydrology versus Ideology - Flawed Concepts Underlying the Water Sector Reform Proposal

Chris J Perry, M Dinesh Kumar

Postscript

Submergence - Lost Space in Kalira Atita

Sourav Mohanty, Sujit Kumar Mishra

Meeting Lautrec in Chicago

Tapas Mitra

Floating Heads - On the Interlocution of Hauntings 4,500 Miles Away

Azania Imtiaz Khatri-Patel

Last Lines

Letters

The Illegality of Ken–Betwa Link Project: Letter to the Prime Minister of India

Manoj Mishra, K J Joy, Chicu Lokagariwar, Himanshu Kulkarni, Veena Srinivasan, and others

Current Statistics

Current Statistics

Editorials

Budget Focus: A Desperate Gamble

Comment

Ukraine: A Flashpoint or Diversion?

From the Editor's Desk

Annual Budget and Its ‘Amrit Kaal’

From 50 Years Ago

From 50 Years Ago: Marx, Weber and India Today

Referees

Referees Consulted In 2021

Statue of Equality

 

Key Points

• He will dedicate a 216-feet tall “statue of equality” to the nation, on this occasion.
• ‘Statue of equality’ commemorates the 11th century bhakti saint Sri Ramanujacharya. The saint promoted the idea of equality across all the aspects of living, including caste, creed and faith.
• Inauguration of the statue is part of ongoing 12-day celebrations of his 1000th birth anniversary.

About Statue of Equality

• The statue is made of ‘panchaloha’, which is a combination of five metals namely, gold, silver, copper, zinc and brass. It is one of the tallest metallic statues in sitting position worldwide.
• It is mounted on a 54-feet high base building named ‘Bhadra Vedi’.
• It comprises of:

1. Floors, which is devoted for a vedic digital library & research centre,
2. A Theatre
3. Ancient Indian texts
4. An educational gallery, detailing several works of Sri Ramanujacharya.

• Statue has been conceptualised by Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami, from Sri Ramanujacharya Ashram.

3D presentation mapping

During the programme, a 3D presentation mapping on life journey and teachings of the saint Sri Ramanujacharya will be showcased. On the occasion, PM Modi will also visit the identical recreations of 108 ‘divya desams’ (ornately carved temples), surrounding the statue.

Inauguration of climate change research facility

During the visit, PM will also inaugurate ICRISAT’s climate change research facility on plant protection. He will also inaugurate ICRISAT’s rapid generation advancement facility. Both the facilities will be dedicated to smallholder farmers of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Logo of ICRISAT

PM Modi will also unveil a specially designed logo of ICRISAT. Commemorative stamp will also be issued on the occasion.

About ICRISAT

ICRISAT is an international organisation, involved in conducting agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The organisation helps farmers by providing them improved crop varieties and hybrids. It also helps smallholder farmers in drylands to fight against climate change.

Who was Sri Ramanujacharya?

Ramanujacharya was a Hindu theologian, Indian philosopher, social reformer, and an important exponent of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition. His philosophical foundations for devotionalism influenced the Bhakti movement. He worked for upliftment of people with the spirit of every human being equal regardless of caste, creed, gender, race and nationality.