11^th February 2015

1- First National Deworming Day observed on 10 February

First National De-worming Day was observed on 10 February.

First National Deworming Day

On the eve of the National Deworming Day, Union Ministry for Health & Family Welfare launched the National Deworming initiative.

It was launched by Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

National Deworming initiative

• Aim:To protect more than 24 crore children in India between the age of 1 to 19 years from intestinal worms. It also aims target intestinal parasitic worms among the children to achieve status of being Worm-free.
• It is one of the largest programmes in the world undertaken to deworm children.
• In the first phase, about 14 crore children will be covered across eleven States/UT. They are, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
• Albendazole tablets will be given to all targeted children in first phase. Dosage of half tablet to 1-2 years children and one full tablet for 2-19 years will be given.
• While in second phase, nearly 10 crore children will be targeted between 11 February and 14 February 2015.

Parasitic worms infestation

Worms interfere with nutrient uptake in small children causing parasitic infestation. It leads to severe complications among the children resulting in anemia, malnutrition and improper mental and physical development.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, nearly 24 crore children in India in the age group of 1-14 years are at risk of intestinal parasitic worm infestation.

2- Union Government to infuse Rs. 6,990 crore in nine public sector banks

Union Government is planning to infuse Rs. 6,990 crore in 9 Public Sector Banks (PSB’s) for enhancing their capital and meeting the global risk norms.

In this regard, Government has allocated Rs.11,200crore in the Union Budget 2014-15, for the first tranche of capital infusion in these banks.

Capital infusion in PSBs was decided on the basis of the performance of the bank. In this case efficiency parameters for all PSBs for last three years were put together. PSBs which were above the average, were considered for capital infusion.

Two parameters were chosen to find efficiency parameters of all PSBs. They were weighted average of return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) during the last financial year.

9 PSBs are: State Bank of India (Rs 2,970 crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs 1,260 crore), Punjab National Bank (Rs 870 crore), Canara Bank (Rs 570 crore), Syndicate Bank (Rs 460 crore), Allahabad Bank (Rs 320 crore), Indian Bank (Rs 280 crore), Dena Bank (Rs 140 crore) and Andhra Bank (Rs 120 crore).

3- Facebook, Reliance Communication tie up to provide free access to Internet

India’s Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) has

Free Internet Access

partnered with social networking giant Facebook to offer free internet access.

Both companies have launched Internet.org, a Facebook-led initiative to bring internet to everyone in the world.

Key facts 

• Under this initiative both companies aim to bring the power of Internet to a billion people in India in order to increase internet inclusion and encourage more Indians to go online.
• As part of this initiative, RCOM will offer free data access to 33 popular websites for all its customers under the umbrella of Internet.org.
• Most of the services of 33 popular websites will be available in several Indian languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Gujarati and Marathi.
• All the subscriber of RCOM who have internet enabled hand set (mobile phones) will get access to this free service.
• Android based app of Internet.org on smartphones will be also provided for accessing free internet. It should be noted that India will be the first country in Asia to get this app.
• It is estimated that 70 per cent of RCOM’s customers who have such phones will benefit from this service that are now off line i.e. don’t have internet connection.

In the first phase this service has gone live in RCOM’s 7 circles which include Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chennai and Kerala. While in second phase, this service will be launched in pan India by May 2015.

Both companies by launching this initiative are opening new socioeconomic opportunities to users in fields like education, information and commerce. It will in turn create more jobs and opportunities in India which is world’s second-biggest mobile market with Internet.

4- Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports revises Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar Scheme

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has revised the

Sport Scheme Revised

Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar.

This scheme was introduced by government in 2009 to encourage involvement of corporates and sports promotion boards in the development of sports in the country.

Revised Scheme of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar

According to the revised plan, this scheme will be given in following four categories. They are

• Identification and nurturing of budding/young talent.
• Encouragement of sports through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• Employment of sports persons and sports welfare measures.
• Sports for Development.

The revised Scheme, prescribes the eligibility criteria for all four categories.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Corporates now can spend and provide funds for promotion and development of sports from the funds earmarked for CSR.

In this regard, training to promote rural sports, nationally recognized sports, Paralympic sports and Olympic sports have been included in the Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): In case of NGOs, who are working in promotion and development of sports, a separate category, Sports for Development has been provided for the NGOs in order to recognize their contributions.

5- ICICI Bank launches India’s first digital bank Pockets

The Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of

Pockets | the First digital bank

India (ICICI) Bank, has launched India’s first digital Bank on mobile phones, Pockets.

This service will enable users to instantly send money to any e-mail id, mobile number, friends on Facebook and bank account.

Key facts

• Anyone, including those who are not customers of ICICI Bank, can download the e-wallet from Google Playstore.
• This digital banking service will be funded from customers any bank account in the country.
• Customers can also choose to add a zero balance Savings Account to this digital wallet, which will allow them to earn interest on their idle money.
• This wallet uses a virtual VISA card which enables the users to transact on any website or mobile application in India.
• Customers can also request for a physical card to use it at any retail outlet.
• The users can pay bills, recharge mobiles, book movie tickets, order food, send physical & e-gifts, split and share expenses with friends by using this e-wallet.

6- 35th National Games mascot Ammu the Great Hornbill in Limca Book of Records

35th National Games mascot Ammu- the Great Hornbill,

Ammu | the Great Hornbill

has made into the Limca Book of Records.

It made into the record books owing to a play Kalikkunna Kuttikal kkayi Bharatham Kathirikkunnu (India Awaits Children Who Play) in which Ammu is featured as lead role.

According to the Limca Book’s 2015 Special Literature Edition, this play is about a mascot, which had been staged in most number of schools. By 9 April 2014, the play had been staged in 147 schools across seven districts of Kerala.

Kalikkunna Kuttikalkkayi Bharatham Kathirikkunnu is scripted and directed by theatre artist Anil Karetee and enacted by a team of police officers. It was envisaged to promote sports among children and persuade them to take up sports along with academics.

About Ammu- the Great Hornbill mascot

• Ammu- the Great Hornbill is official mascot 35th National Games held in Kerala. Designed by Rakesh.
• The Great Hornbill is the State bird of Kerala and was selected as the Games Mascot to reflect state’s concern for conservation of this species which is facing extinction.
• It is also expresses Kerala’s concern to preserve its rain forests and regenerate the lost habitat of this precious bird.
• The feminine name Ammu was chosen for the mascot as a tribute to the women of Kerala and is a reminder that Kerala is proud to have a gender ratio which is tilted in favour of women – the only State in India.

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