09, March 2019 09/03/2019 – Posted in: Press Information Bureau

Pulse Polio Programme for 2019

(Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)

WHAT

  • President launches countrywide Pulse Polio Programme for 2019.
  • Free polio drops to childrens less than five years old.
  • More than 17 crore children will be given polio drops.
  • National Immunization Day is observed on 18 January.
  • Government has also introduced the injectable Inactivated Polio Vaccine into its routine immunization program.

BACKGROUND

  • India has been implementing the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme since 1995.
  • On 27 March 2014, India and 7 other Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives and Myanmar) were declared polio-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • It should be noted that WHO declares any country polio free if no case is reported for three consecutive years.

POLIO

Poliomyelitis (polio) is a very irresistible viral disease, which for the most part affects young kids underneath age of 5. The virus is transmitted from individual to-individual. It mailnly spreads through the faecal-oral course (for example contaminated water or food). After entering body, it multiplies in the digestive tract, from where it can attack the nervous system and can cause Paralysis.

NEW VACCINES

  • Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine.
  • Rotavirus vaccine.
  • Measles-Rubella vaccine.

FACTS

  • Decline of Infant Mortality Rate from 39 in 2014 to 32 per 1000 live births in 2017.
  • 87 lakh pregnant women have been vaccinated through Mission Indradhanush drives.

Source: PIB

 

 

India Urban Observatory

(Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs)

 

WHAT

  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched the state-of-the-art India Urban Observatory and Video Wall.
  • As urban regions begin to implement ‘smart’ arrangements, data turns into a critical resource and empowering influence for data driven Governance, leading to urban transformation.

URBAN OBSERVATORY

  • It is a platform that uses data from different sources to enable analysis and visualization over a geospatial platform can make this possible.
  • The concept of Urban Observatories was formally initiated at the UN Habitat-II Conference in 1997 in Istanbul.

INDIA URBAN OBSERVATORY

  • The India Urban Observatory is an important component of the recently launched Data Smart Cities strategy that envisions creating a ‘Culture of Data’ in cities, for intelligent use of data in addressing complex urban challenges.
  • The strategy aims to lay down the basic premise, three foundational pillars vis. People, Process, Platform, and a suggested roadmap for cities to improve their readiness for intelligent use of data.
  • Making cities ‘Data Smart’ is key to realizing the full potential of technology interventions and innovation ecosystems in cities.
  • The Data Smart Cities Strategy also presents a Data Maturity Assessment Framework (DMAF) that measures the readiness and evolution of cities in their efforts to implementing the Data strategy.
  • Video Wall will showcase the insights gained from the Observatory and the various Missions with the idea to proactively engage with citizens in spreading awareness about the various initiatives of the Ministry.

Source: PIB

 

 

Golden City Gate Tourism Awards 2019

(Ministry of Tourism)

WHAT

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has won the First Prize in the category of TV Cinema Spot at the prestigious international Golden City Gate Tourism Awards at ITB, Berlin.

  • The awards are given annually in various categories related to the Tourism and Hospitality sectors.
  • The ‘Golden City Gate’ is a creative multi-media international competition for countries, cities, regions and hotels.

Incredible India 2.0 Campaign received the awards:

  • Yogi of the Racetrack.
  • The Reincarnation of Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
  • Sanctuary in Paris.
  • Maharani of Manhattan.
  • The Masala Master Chef.

Source: PIB