TOPIC 1 : NITI Aayog's 'Sampoornata Abhiyan'

Syllabus - GS- 3 (Government Policies & Interventions)

Overview

• Launch Date: 4th July 2024
• Duration: 3 months (4th July – 30th September 2024)
• Objective: Achieve 100% saturation in 12 key social sector indicators across Aspirational Districts and Blocks.

Key Themes

1. Health
2. Nutrition
3. Agriculture
4. Social Development
5. Education

Program Details

• Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP): Targets 112 districts focusing on comprehensive development.
• Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP): Targets 500 blocks in 329 districts to ensure essential government service saturation.
•  

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Aspirational Districts (ADP):

1. Soil Health Cards distribution
2. Schools with functional electricity at the secondary level
3. Fully immunized children (9-11 months) (BCG+DPT3+OPV3+Measles 1)
4. Pregnant women registered for Antenatal Care (ANC) within the first trimester
5. Pregnant women taking Supplementary Nutrition under ICDS Programme
6. Schools providing textbooks within 1 month of the session starts
7.  

Aspirational Blocks (ABP):

1. Screening for Diabetes and Hypertension
2. Pregnant women registered for Antenatal Care (ANC) within the first trimester
3. Pregnant women taking Supplementary Nutrition under ICDS Programme
4. Soil Health Cards generated
5. SHGs receiving Revolving Fund
6.  

Activities and Events

• Health Camps: Organized across various regions focusing on local health issues.
• Nutritional Demonstrations: Display of regional food varieties for pregnant women and young children by ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
• Sampoornata Yatras: Awareness marches involving school children and NCC cadets.
• Cultural Programs and Competitions: Painting competitions, nukkad natak, and exhibition stalls.
• Distribution Initiatives: Soil health cards and supplementary nutrition for pregnant women.

Significant Launch Events

• North-Eastern States Participation:
  • Arunachal Pradesh: Launch by Deputy Chief Minister Shri Chowna Mein.
  • Nagaland: Launch event addressed by MLA Shri C Kipili Sangatam.
  • Manipur: Free health camp on Diabetes and Hypertension in Lamka South Block.
  •  

Collaboration and Support

• Emphasizes cooperation among local and state governments, central ministries, and NITI Aayog officials.
• NITI Aayog officials and Young Professionals participating across 300 districts to guide and support local governance.
• Focus on Competitive and Cooperative Federalism for socio-economic development.
•  

Background Information

• Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP): Launched in 2018 to transform 112 districts with a focus on Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Infrastructure, measured across 81 development indicators.
• Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP): Launched in 2023 targeting 500 blocks to achieve saturation of essential government services in Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Allied Services, Basic Infrastructure, and Social Development, measured across 40 indicators.

Significance

• Socio-Economic Impact: Aimed at holistic development and improving key social indicators in underserved regions.
• Community Engagement: Mobilizes local communities and officials for active participation and commitment.
• Federalism: Strengthens the cooperative and competitive spirit between various levels of government.

2. TOPIC - 2 SAMRIDDHI POULTRY

Context - "Phase-II of the SITA-funded project 'Samriddhi Poultry,' aimed at economic empowerment of rural women through a model egg village under Sualkuchi Development blog was inaugurated at Bongsor-Gandhmow cluster in Kamrup (Metro) district."

Project Details:

• Title: Samriddhi Poultry: An innovative approach for economic empowerment of rural women of Assam through model egg village
• Phase: II
• Funding Agency: State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA), Assam
• Implementing Body: Directorate of Research (Vety), Assam Agriculture University, Khanapara
• Previous Implementation: Phase-I at Goriaghuli cluster under Dimoria development block, Kamrup (Metro) district, successfully completed

Key Objectives:

• Economic Empowerment: Enhance the economic security of farm women through increased egg production.
• Enterprise Development: Position the egg sector as an enterprise to double farm income.
• Gender Mainstreaming: Improve gender mainstreaming by involving more rural women in economic activities.
• Capacity Building: Develop the skills of rural women in improved layer farming.
• Nutritional Security: Increase egg consumption among the local population to provide nutritional security.
• Self-Employment: Act as a tool for self-employment and livelihood security.
•  
• What is SITA?
•  
• The State Innovation and Transformation Aayog (SITA) of Assam, initially known as the State Planning Board, plays a pivotal role in the governance and development strategies of the state. Here's a detailed overview of its role, function, and composition:

COMPOSITION

Chairman: The Chief Minister of Assam, emphasizing SITA's top-level influence in state governance.

• Vice-Chairman: Holds a rank equivalent to the rank of Cabinet Minister,facilitates high-level coordination and strategic execution.
• Chief Executive Officer: Manages daily operations and policy implementation.

ROLE

• Advisory and Coordinative: Enables the Vice-Chairman to summon department officers for strategy integration.
• Liaison with National Bodies: The Vice-Chairman collaborates with national bodies like the National Economic Council and NITI Aayog, aligning state and national development goals.

FUNCTIONS

• Evaluation & Monitoring: Aligns state and central initiatives with Assam's goals.
• Coordination Guidance: Advises on distributing roles across governance structures.
• Financial Oversight :It will analyze and suggest improvements in the flow of credit and management of financial resources in the financial and banking sector in the state.
• Strategic Goals: Sets objectives based on the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Technology Viability: Analyzes tech solutions for industry and infrastructure enhancement.
• Focused Initiatives: Targets key sectors like the tea industry and river management under policies like "Make in Assam" and "Act East Policy

Topic- 3 SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION ( SCO) 

• Syllabus- G.S Paper-2 (IR) G.S- 3(Border security)

• Source- The Assam Tribune

CONTEXT

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar represented India at the SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan

SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION (SCO)

• Founded: 2001
• Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
• Objective: Enhance regional cooperation against terrorism, separatism, and extremism in Central Asia
• Secretariat: Beijing
• Official Languages: Russian and Chinese
• Observers: Afghanistan, Mongolio
• UN Status: Observer at UN General Assembly since 2005

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

•  Latest Summit: Held in Astana 
•  New Members: Belarus admitted as a full member; Iran admitted the previous year
• Shift: Originally aimed at border security; now emphasizes Russia- China cooperation against Western influence

SIGNIFICANCE OF SCO

• Security Focus: Deals primarily with combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism in Asia.
• Regional Influence: China and Russia use the SCO to counter Western- dominated organizations.
• Expanding Membership: Belarus' inclusion aims to boost SCO's international standing.
• Strategic Role: Part of China and Russia's efforts for an alternative global order, along with BRICS, opposing US and Western influence.

INDIA'S ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SCO MEMBERSHIP

• Central Asia Ties: SCO membership enhances India's relations with Central Asian nations.
• Security Cooperation:  India utilizes SCO's RATS for joint counterterrorism efforts and intelligence sharing.
• Diplomatic Influence: Participation in SCO boosts India's multilateral diplomacy and global standing.

CONCERNS WITH SCO RELEVANCE

• Internal Strains: SCO's effectiveness is hindered by strained relations among member states. India faces challenges with China and Pakistan.
• New Delhi Declaration: In 2023, India declined to endorse a paragraph supporting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) due to concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir.

WAY FORWARD

• Enhanced  Engagement: Strengthen ties with observers, dialogue partners, and international organizations to support international law
• Economic Development: Focus on local currency settlement, sovereign digital currency cooperation, and establishing an SCO development bank for regional growth.

MAINS WITH eKuhipath

Discuss the evolving role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in global geopolitics. How can member states and observer countries collaborate to enhance regional stability and economic development? Evaluate the challenges and opportunities for the SCO in achieving these goals.