Relevance IN - Prelims (about SEED and TIDE)
What's the NEWS

• The Department of Science and Technology has taken several initiatives to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 among Divyangjan and Elderly and identified various challenges faced by them for finding technological solutions.

• The organizations supported by Science for Equity Empowerment and Development(SEED) Division of DST have been instrumental in developing various assistive tools, technologies and techniques, that are affordable and adaptable to the Indian milieu through its programme on Technology Interventions for Disabled and Elderly (TIDE), for creating inclusiveness and universal accessibility for Divyangjan and Elderly.
• Under this programme an e-Tool to create awareness and impart health and hygiene related information along with education and entertainment to overcome loneliness of the persons with intellectual disabilities, due to COVID-19 pandemic has been developed by Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai.
• This will help the persons with Intellectual Disability to learn with fun through Tabs and mobiles.
• The e-Tool can also be converted to other vernacular languages and the Beta Version of the e-tool is being used by 200 specially-abled children.

• Jharkhand's Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana's Telia Rumal were given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications Registry headquartered in Chennai.

• The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, naturally available soils of different colours in the area of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.
• Traditionally painted on the walls of mud houses, they are now seen on other surfaces, too.
• The style features a profusion of lines, dots, animal figures and plants, often representing religious iconography.

• Telia Rumal cloth involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three particular colours - red, black and white
• Telia Rumal can only be created using the traditional handloom process and not by any other mechanical means as otherwise, the very quality of the Rumal would be lost.

• Last week Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur, the Gorakhpur terracotta, the Kashmir Saffron and the Kovilpatti kadalai mittai of Tamil Nadu bagged the GI tags

Relevance IN - Prelims ( all about Self-Reliant India economic package ) + Mains ( GS III economic development + GS II Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)
What's the NEWS

• The Prime Minister announced a Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crores - equivalent to 10% of India's GDP. (The package includes earlier announcements made by the RBI and the government which together is equivalent to around 10% of India's GDP.)
• He gave a clarion call for आत्मनिर्भर भारत अभियान or Self-Reliant India Movement by promoting business, attracting investment, cutting down import dependence and by strengthening Make in India
• He also outlined five pillars of Aatmanirbhar Bharat - Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand.
• The goal is to build a self-reliant India
• The focus would be on land, labour, liquidity and law.

Following measures were announced
1. Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Working Capital Facility for Businesses, including MSMEs
2. Rs 20,000 crore Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs

• Provision made for Rs. 20,000 cr subordinate debt for two lakh MSMEs which are NPA or are stressed.
• Government will support them with Rs. 4,000 Cr. to Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small enterprises (CGTMSE).

6. No Global tenders for Government tenders of up to Rs 200 crores.
7. Employees Provident Fund Support for business and organised workers

• The government has extended the EPF support of up to Rs 2,500 crore for another three months.
• Under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, payment of 12 percent of employer and 12 percent employee contribution was made into the EPF accounts of eligible establishments.
• This support was offered till May. Now the same is being extended for June, July and August.

8. EPF Contribution to be reduced for Employers and Employees for 3 months

• Statutory PF contribution of both employer and employee reduced to 10% each from existing 12% each for all establishments covered by EPFO for next 3 months.

9. Rs 30,000 crores Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFC/HFC/MFIs

• Government will launch Rs 30,000 crore Special Liquidity Scheme, liquidity being provided by RBI.

10.Rs 45,000 crores Partial credit guarantee Scheme 2.0 for Liabilities of NBFCs/MFIs
11.Rs 90,000 crore Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs
12.Relief to Contractors

• All central agencies like Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and CPWD will give extension of up to 6 months for completion of contractual obligations, including in respect of EPC and concession agreements

13.Relief to Real Estate Projects

• State Governments are being advised to invoke the Force Majeure clause under RERA.
• The registration and completion date for all registered projects will be extended up to 6 months and may be further extended by another 3 months based on the State's situation.
  
  

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