Tamilnadu Affairs
Prevalence of bonded labour has reduced by 81.9% in Tamil Nadu: Report
The prevalence ofbonded labourinTamil Naduhas reduced drastically by 81.9% — from 29.9% in 2014 to 5.4% in 2021, according to areporttitled Implementation of the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act in the State of Nadu’ released by anNGO.
The study on the Bonded Labour Act was carried out byASK Training and Learning. It was released by T Raja, former acting chief Justice of the Madras High Court. The release was facilitated by the Anti-Human Trafficking Club at Sathyabama School of Law in association with the International Justice Mission.
The report was carried out under four methodologies — the prevalence study, achievements of government, deterrence study and confidence study.
Under the prevalence study, a state-wide quantitative survey was undertaken in which 9,942 people, who were rescued from bonded labour in 37 districts (excluding Chennai), were interviewed. The report found “as compared to 2014, there has been a relative reduction of 81.9% in the state, from 29.9% to 5.4% (from 1 in 3 people to 1 in 20) in 2021.
More importantly, the bonded labour complaints submitted in 2020 and 2021 received 100% response rate from district administrations.
National and International Affairs
The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme, launched in 2019, aims to enhance energy security for farmers in India and promote the use of clean energy in the agriculture sector. The scheme seeks to achieve Indias commitment to increasing the share of non-fossil fuel sources in the countrys installed capacity of electric power. In a bid to boost the implementation of solar projects on agricultural lands, the central government is considering linking thePM-KUSUM schemewith the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF). This move aims to provide farmers with access to cheaper loans for setting up solar projects and procuring equipment.
Individual farmers, groups of farmers, cooperatives, panchayats, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Water User Associations (WUAs) can set up solar power Plants with capacities ranging from 500 kW to 2 MW.
India stands as a net exporter of steel witnessing an export of6.72 MTof finished steel against the import of 6.02 MT in the year 2022-23.
In the financial year 2022-23 alone,total finished Steel Production was 122.28 MT which is a increase of 49 % as compared to 81.86 MT in financial year 2014-15.
Under the PLI(Productive linked Incentive) scheme, the Government has approved Rs. 6322 crores to give a new impetus to the Steel sector. Shri Scindia said that the PLI scheme is expected to generate an of about Rs. 30,000 Crores and additional capacity creation of about 25 Million Tonnes of specialty steel in the next 5 years.
Ukraines Nova Kakhovka Dam Disaster
In recent events, theNova Kakhovka Damin Ukraine has suffered a catastrophic blow, leading to concerns of devastating flooding. Ukraines military command has accused Russia of causing the explosion, given the Dams strategic significance.
The Nova Kakhovka Dam is situated on theDnipro Riverin southern Ukraine. Constructed in 1956 as part of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, it holds back a massive reservoir of water, estimated to contain 18 cubic kilometers, similar in volume to Utahs Great Salt Lake. The dams destruction would have severe repercussions locally and affect Ukraines broader war effort.
According to data released by theFederal Statistical Office, Germanysgross domestic product (GDP)decreased by 0.3 percent between January and March.
This follows a 0.5 percent decline in the previous quarter, making it the largest economy in Europe to experience a downturn.
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