• National Health Authority (NHA) has released a beta version of the lightweight, robust, and  Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission-compliant Hospital Management Information System (HMIS).
• It envisions providing a digital platform for healthcare providers, particularly focusing on private clinics and small health facilities.
• This beta version will allow doctors to generate and fetch Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts for patients as well as to manage their calendars, appointments, and patient details in a single window.
• It will also facilitate e-prescription services and view previous health records and prescriptions for registered patients and take video consultations.
• This is also expected that it will digitize small clinics and improve the discoverability of healthcare providers in India.
• The NHA is also inviting healthcare providers to participate in its beta-testing and share their feedback.

About HMIS

• Health Management Information System (HMIS) is a Government to Government (G2G) web-based Monitoring Information System that has been put in place by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India to monitor the National Health Mission and other Health programmes and provide key inputs for policy formulation and appropriate programme interventions.
• HMIS has been utilised in Grading of Health Facilities, identifications of aspirational districts, review of State Programme Implementation Plan (PIPs), etc.
• The analytical reports generated through HMIS also provides gap analysis and evidence based course correction.
• HMIS was launched in October 2008. Currently, around 2 lakh health facilities (across all States/UTs) are uploading facility wise service delivery data on monthly basis, training data on quarterly basis and infrastructure related data on annual basis on HMIS web portal.
• HMIS captures facility-wise information as follows:
  • Service Delivery (Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health related, Immunisation family planning, Vector borne disease, Tuberculosis, Morbidity and Mortality, OPD, IPD Services, Surgeries etc. data) on monthly basis.
  • Training Data (Trainings imparted to Medicals and Paramedics staff at District and State level data) on quarterly basis.
  • Infrastructure (Manpower, Equipment, Cleanliness, Building, Availability of Medical Services such as Surgery etc., Super Specialties services such as Cardiology etc., Diagnostics, Para Medical and Clinical Services etc. data) on annual basis.
• The HMIS Portal facilitates the flow of physical performance from the Facility level to the Sub-district, District, State and National level using a web based Health Management Information System (HMIS) interface. The portal provides periodic reports on the status of the health services performances and Human Resources and Infrastructure services facilities available.

• Embracing new technology, the Indian Army inaugurated its first ‘3D’ printing technology-based house for soldiers at Ahmedabad. The unit has a ground floor and first floor configuration.
• The Military Engineering Services (MES) has done the construction in collaboration with a private company MiCoB Private Limited using the latest ‘3D rapid construction technology’.
• The construction work of the dwelling unit measuring 71 square metre (some 710 square yards) with garage space was completed in just 12 weeks by utilising the 3D printed foundation, walls and slabs.
• The disaster-resilient structures comply with Zone-3 earthquake specifications and green building norms.
• The 3D printed houses are symbolic of the modern-day rapid construction efforts to cater to growing accommodation requirements of the Armed Forces personnel.
• The technique uses a concrete 3D printer that accepts a computerised three-dimensional design and fabricates a 3D structure in a layer-by-layer manner by extruding a specialised type of concrete specifically designed for the purpose.
• Indian Army units have already started using 3D printing technology in construction of pre-casted permanent defences and overhead protection meant for operations. These structures are currently being validated over a period of one year and are incorporated in all terrains, the recent one being in Ladakh.

• Rajasthan has a huge potential to become a ‘cluster of shipping containers’ to bridge the widening demand-supply gap as currently India is manufacturing only 10,000 shipping grade containers per year as against the requirements of 1,50,000 containers in the next three years.
• Currently, the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has a fleet of 3,700 containers, but the entire fleet catering to the domestic segment is imported to China.
• Hence, Rajasthan has a huge potential of becoming a cluster of shipping containers’, a study conducted by the MSME-EPC revealed (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises–Export Promotion Council).
• “While the global shipping container market is growing at a CAGR of 12 per cent, by 2028, it is likely to touch Rs 1.75 lakh crore. India has a shortage of shipping grade containers as a result of which shipping lines often increase their rates phenomenally severely impacting India’s export/import supply chain and competitiveness of industry,” MSME-EPC said.

CONCOR

• It was incorporated in March 1988 under the Companies Act and commenced operation from November 1989.
• From its humble beginning, it is now an undisputed market leader having the largest network of 81 ICDs/CFSs in India (73 terminals and 8 strategic tie-ups).
• In addition to providing inland transport by rail for containers, it has also expanded to cover management of ports, air cargo complexes and establishing cold-chain.
• It has played an important role of promoting containerization in India through its modern rail wagon fleet, customer friendly commercial practices and extensively used Information Technology.

About:

• BSF ‘Prahari’ app is a great example of Proactive Governance, now Jawans can get personal and service related information, housing, Ayushman-CAPF and leave related information on their mobile.
• Other features of the app include:
  • Availability of Bio Data
  • Grievance redressal on “Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System” (CP-GRAMS)
  • information on various welfare schemes.
• The app will also connect the Jawans with the portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Border Security Force (BSF)

• It is India’s border guarding organisation on its border with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• It is one of the seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)of India, and was raised in the wake of the 1965 war on 1 December 1965.
• It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• BSF contributes its personnel every year for UN Missions.

About:

• As per the report, there were 4,12,432 unfortunate incidences of road accidents during 2021 which claimed 1, 53,972 lives and caused injuries to 3, 84,448 persons.
• This report has been developed by reporting, management, claim processing and analysis of road accident data by using the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) system.

What is iRAD?

• It is an initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and is funded by World Bank, to improve road safety in the country.
• This will facilitate road accident data collection by 4 stakeholder departments; Police, Transport, Highways and Health Departments.
• Through a collection of road accident data from all over the country, a road accident database will be developed. The collected data will be analysed using different data analytics techniques for the identification of accident-prone areas and the causes of the accidents.
• The analysis output will be represented in appropriate dashboards, access to higher authorities of stakeholder departments and MoRTH. And accordingly, a strategy will be formed for the reduction of the number of road accidents in India and to enhance road safety.

About:

• Markets regulator Sebi proposed a framework for index providers, aimed at improving transparency and accountability in governance and administration of the financial benchmarks or indices in the domestic securities market.
• The index provider shall be a legal entity incorporated under the Companies Act in the country of origin and should have a minimum net worth of Rs 25 crore.
• The proposed regulation shall apply to index providers of both domestic and foreign.
• The index providers must be assessed by independent external auditors to evaluate adherence to International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO)principles once in two years.

What is IOSCO?

• Established in 1983, it is the international body that brings together the world’s securities regulators and is recognized as the global standard-setter for the securities sector.
• It works intensively with the G20 and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) on the global regulatory reform agenda.
• There are three categories of members: Ordinary, Associate and Affiliate.
• Recently, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)has become an associate member of this organisation.

Why in News?

• Recently, The Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2022. 

• • The Act will now be presented in the Legislative Council for approval.

About the Act

• Anna Hazare Committee report:

• • The Maharashtra government has approved the Anna Hazare Committee report of introducing Lokayukta in the State along the lines of the Centre’s Lokpal law.

• Key highlights:

• • The Act will give additional powers to the Lokayukta to direct state agencies to probe public servants, including the chief minister and state ministers.
    • The Act will give additional powers to not only recommend action but also direct state agencies to undertake the investigation.
  • Process of investigation: 
    • As per the Act, any present or former chief minister of Maharashtra can be investigated by the Lokayukta only if the motion for the same is passed by the Legislative Assembly by a two-thirds majority.
    • Requirement of approvals:
      • For present or former ministers:
        • Approval of the governor and views of the group of ministers appointed by the governor is required to conduct an inquiry into present or former ministers.
      • For Legislative member:
        • The approval of the Council chairperson or Assembly speaker is required to probe the Legislative member.
      • For IAS officer:
        • The draft has even brought IAS officials under the scope of the probe but the Lokayukta will require the approval of the chief minister and the views of the chief secretary to initiate the probe.
      • For municipal corporator or sarpanch:
        • The Lokayukta will require approval from the minister concerned to probe even the municipal corporator or sarpanch.
    • Significance of approvals:
      • The filters will ensure no false complaints are filed
  • The Anti-corruption Act:
    • The Anti-corruption Act will be made a part of this law.
  • Composition:
    • The Lokayukta will be a retired chief justice of the High Court or a Supreme Court (judge).
    • The Lokayukta will have a team of five people including retired judges.

More about Lokayukta

• About:

• • The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption authority constituted at the state level.
  • It investigates allegations of corruption and maladministration against public servants and is tasked with speedy redressal of public grievances.

• Origin: 

• • The origin of the Lokayukta can be traced to the Ombudsman in Scandinavian countries.
  • The Administrative Reforms Commission headed by Late Morarji Desai in 1966 recommended the creation of the Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in the states.
  • The State of Maharashtra is the first and pioneer State in India to introduce the concept of Lokayukta by enacting the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971.

• Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013:

• • The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provided for the establishment of Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States.
  • The Act states that not less than 50% of the members of the Lokpal should be from among persons belonging to the SCs, the STs, OBCs, minorities and women.
  • The same rules apply to members of the search committee.
  • Salaries, allowances and service conditions of the Lokpal chairperson will be the same as those for the Chief Justice of India; those for other members will be the same as those for a judge of the Supreme Court.
  • These institutions are statutory bodies without any constitutional status. 

• The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill, 2016:

• • The Bill amends the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 in relation to the declaration of assets and liabilities by public servants.
  • It requires a public servant to declare his assets and liabilities, and that of his spouse and dependent children.
  • Such declarations must be made to the competent authority within 30 days of entering the office.

• Selection, Appointment and Removal of Lokayukta:

• • The Lokayukta is usually a former High Court Chief Justice or former Supreme Court judge and has a fixed tenure.
  • The Chief Minister selects a person as the Lokayukta after consultation with
    • The High Court Chief Justice, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,
    • The Chairman of the Legislative Council,
    • Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and the
    • Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council.
    • The appointment is then made by the Governor.
  • Once appointed, Lokayukta cannot be dismissed nor transferred by the government, and can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by the state assembly.

• Work and Functions:

• • The Lokayukta (sometimes referred to as the institution itself) investigates allegations of corruption and maladministration against public servants and is tasked with speedy redressal of public grievances.

Way ahead

• In order to tackle the problem of corruption, the institution of the ombudsman should be strengthened both in terms of functional autonomy and the availability of manpower.
• The appointment of Lokpal in itself is not enough. The government should also address the issues based on which people are demanding a Lokpal.
• The slogan adopted by the government of “less government and more governance”, should be followed in letter and spirit.

Why in News?

• Recently, the CAG, in an audit report, has said that plastic waste management rules could not be implemented effectively.

Report highlights

• No action plan with ministry:

• • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has no action plan for the implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, as a result, plastic waste management rules could not be implemented effectively and efficiently, stated the report.

• Lack/ineffectiveness of data:

• • There were data gaps due to which the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) as well as the MoEF&CC did not have a complete and comprehensive picture of plastic waste generation in the entire country during the period 2015-20.
  • The CAG report also said that all three sampled ULBs (urban local bodies) of Delhi did not furnish the data of plastic waste generated to the DPCC every year during 2015-20.
  • Loss of expenditure:
    • The report also stated that the ineffective monitoring by MoEF&CC and delay in release of financial assistance resulted in non-achievement of environmental benefits from the demonstration project and unfruitful expenditure of Rs 73.35 lakh.

Recommendations

• Effective data collection:

• • The CAG has recommended that the Ministry needs to put a system in place for effective data collection in relation to generation, collection and disposal of plastic waste, through its agencies (CPCB, SPCBs/PCCs) and monitor their performance.

• Assessment of plastic waste being generation:

• • It also said that the CPCB and state PCBs/PCCs in coordination with local bodies need to carry out, periodically, a comprehensive assessment of the quantity of plastic waste being generated and collected data according to parameters like
    • population size,
      geographical size of the area,
    • economic growth,
    • increased demand for consumer goods and
    • change in manufacturing methods etc.

• Notification of rules:

• • It recommended that local bodies may expedite the process of notifying their bye-laws by incorporating plastic waste management rules.

Hazards of Plastic waste

• Environmental pollution & Climate change:

• • Millions of tonnes of plastic waste are lost to the environment or sometimes shipped thousands of kilometres to destinations where it is mostly burned or dumped.
  • Plastic, which is a petroleum product, also contributes to global warming.
    • If incinerated, its toxic compounds are spewed into the atmosphere to be accumulated in biotic forms throughout the surrounding ecosystems.
    • If incinerated, it also releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thereby increasing carbon emissions.

• Soil, water & ocean pollution:

• • When buried in a landfill, plastic lies untreated for years.
  • In the process, toxic chemicals from plastics drain and seep into groundwater, flowing downstream into lakes and rivers.
  • The seeping of plastic also causes soil pollution due to the presence of microplastics in the soil.
  • Rivers and lakes also carry plastic waste from deep inland to the sea, making them major contributors to ocean pollution.
• Tourism:
  • Plastic waste damages the aesthetic value of tourist destinations, leading to decreased tourism-related incomes and major economic costs related to the cleaning and maintenance of the sites.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules

• The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016:
  • It clearly stipulates that urban local bodies (ULBs) should ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow the usage of recycled plastics for packing food, beverage or any other eatables.
  • It introduced the concept of EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) to manage plastics in India.
    • EPR means the responsibility of a producer for environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.

• Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022:

• • The guidelines on EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) coupled with the prohibition of identified single-use plastic items.
  • It banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy-five microns.
  • The items that will be banned are—Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives, straw, trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100-microns and stirrers.
    • The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act.

• Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has been accorded the status of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly by Protem Speaker Chander Kumar.
• The Congress won 40 seats in the 68-member Assembly. The BJP won 25 seats while three went to Independents. Thakur, a six-time MLA, won from Seraj with the highest margin. The ex-CM was elected unanimously as all 24 BJP MLAs proposed his name for the post.

Leader of the Opposition:

• The leader of the largest Opposition party having not less than one-tenth seats of the total strength of the House is recognised as the leader of the Opposition in a House.
• S/He provides constructive criticism of the government policies and to provide an alternative government.
• The leader of Opposition in both the Houses were accorded statutory recognition in 1977 and are entitled to the salary, allowances and other facilities equivalent to that of a cabinet minister.
• The office of leader of the opposition is not mentioned in the Constitution but in the Parliamentary Statute.

Crime against women:

• The maximum cases of crime against women were registered in Kangra and Mandi, the most populous districts of the state, this year.
• As per the data from January 1, 2022, to November 30, most cases of cruelty to women (33) and molestation (102) were reported from Kangra, followed by Mandi at 28 and 59, respectively. Mandi reported the highest rape cases (55) followed by Kangra (51).
• Overall, the graph of crime against women witnessed a slight dip in comparison to the last year. As many as 1,515 cases were registered till November 30 compared to 1,700 cases reported last year.
• While the incidence of rape, molestation and abetment to suicide remained more or less the same as in the past few years, the cruelty to women cases dipped to 183 from 222 last year – the lowest in the last one decade.
• As for dowry deaths, just one death has been reported this year.

The cases registered under the NDPS Act:

• As for the cases registered under the NDPS Act, Shimla ended on top with 225 cases followed by Mandi (198) and Bilaspur (183).
• The number of cases registered under the NDPS Act hasn’t seen much fluctuation from the last two years as against 1420 cases registered so far this year, the count last year was 1537 and 1538 in the year before.
• Compared to last year when 14.9 kg heroin was seized, the seizure this year has been 10.1 kg.

The cases registered under the SC/ST Act:

• As for the cases registered under the SC/ST Act, the graph showed a slight dip from last year and 234 cases have been registered so far this year as compared to 272 last year.
• The highest number of cases has been registered in Mandi (43), followed by Hamirpur (34). The police maintain that no particular area of the state is notorious for offence against SC/ST community, and the incidents are sporadic.