National Action Plan for Children (NPAC)
24-Jan-2017: Child Vulnerability map forms part of National Action Plan for Children
A district-wise map depicting problems facing children in the country was released as part of the ‘National Plan of Action for Children’ launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
"Child Vulnerability Map" is prepared by NGO Childline India Foundation. It covers 409 of total 678 districts in the country and shows prevalence of various issues affecting children therein.
A digital version of the map is also in the offing.
Different factors that have been mapped include child marriage, child labour, child trafficking, missing and runway children, children affected by civil unrest, child sexual abuse, dropouts & low literacy rate, malnutrition, foeticide, HIV AIDS affected children.
According to the map, for example, child trafficking is most prevalent in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
The worst-affected states in terms of malnutrition are Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Several states in the north-eastern region also fare poorly in this aspect and these are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram.
This is a planning tool. District officials will be able to match the various government services designed for children with the issues prevalent in that area.
24-Jan-2017: National Action Plan for Children, 2016 released by WCD Ministry
National Action Plan for Children, 2016 (NPAC) was launched at a special function held to celebrate the National Girl Child Day in New Delhi.
The NPAC has been developed by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. It seeks to ensure the following:
The Action Plan has four key priority areas; survival, health and nutrition; education and development; protection and participation.
The NPAC defines objectives, sub-objectives, strategies , action points and indicators for measuring progress under the four key priority areas and also identifies key stakeholders for the implementation of different strategies.
The plan also puts focus on new and emerging concerns for children such as online child abuse, children affected by natural and man-made disasters and climate change, etc.
The strategies and action points largely draw upon the existing programmes and schemes of various Ministries/Departments. However, for new and emerging issues related to children; it also suggests formulation of new programmes and strategies, as required.
The plan takes into account the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provides a roadmap towards achieving them though co-ordination and convergence with different stakeholders.
The National Policy for Children (2013) provides for formation of a National Co-ordination and Action Group (NCAG) under the Ministry of Women and Child Development to coordinate and implement the plan and monitor the progress with other Ministries concerned as its members.
Mission 41K
17-Jan-2017: Minister of Railways Unveils Mission 41k
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu unveiled Mission 41k during the Roundtable Discussion with External Stakeholders on Energy Initiatives of Indian Railways. Shri Suresh Prabhu said that Ministry of Railways has come up with Mission 41k to save Rs. 41000 crore in the next decade in Railways’ energy costs. To implement this comprehensive strategy with the participation of various stakeholders, we shall take advantage of regulatory frameworks, look at new technologies. He said that this is an opportunity to relook at everything and determine an ideal baseline. All electrification works done in the last decade would be doubled and this would change the energy mix of Indian Railways. Indian Railways has set a target of 1000 MW of solar power and 200 MW of wind energy.
Shri Prabhu also informed that around 15 – 16 Roundtable Conferences with Stakeholders are in the pipeline on various initiatives of Indian Railways. He said that a Round Table discussion is planned on Data Analytics. Indian Railways generates massive amounts of data and has a huge captive audience. Ability to optimally utilize these will generate additional revenue for the Indian Railways.
Hyperloop project
6-Jan-2017: NITI Aayog may seek trial run of Hyperloop
The government has referred the proposal to set up a hyperloop transportation system in the country to NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog may now call for a trial run for the technology at some small stretch after which the government will be able to take a call on the matter.