1.KAS Current Affairs Magazine - DeCEMBER 2017

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SCHEMES AND PROJECTS
Hunger-free Kerala project
Context:
With an aim to providing quality food free of cost at least once a day to the
needy, the Hunger-free Kerala project will be launched in Alappuzha on
January 1, 2018. In the first phase, the project will be implemented in
Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram districts. The State government has
already sanctioned Rs. 70 lakh for the project.
About the project:
 In the first phase, Hunger-free Kerala will be implemented in

Alappuzha municipality.
 Around 500 people will be provided food free of cost, with the
help of voluntary organisations, youth organisations,
Kudumbasree and like-minded people.
 A permanent facility for preparing food would be constructed.
Asha and Anganwadi workers will soon conduct a survey to
identify beneficiaries of the project.
 Food packets will be delivered to bedridden patients and old-age
people at their homes. Besides, food will be served to the poor
and students visiting Alappuzha for exam purpose.
Confusing facts: ‘Hunger-free Kerala project’ and ‘Hunger Free City Scheme in
Kerala’ are different missions by Government of Kerala.
About Hunger Free City Scheme in Kerala
 Kerala State Government has started a hunger-free city project for the
poor people in association with the Social Justice Department, Kerala.

 The aim of the hunger-free city project is to provide highly subsidized
food to the people at different centres in the city, one day started by the
Government of Kerala.
 This project ensures that no person in the city remains single day
without food.
 The project initially started in Kozhikode city and the government spent
more than Rs. 65 lakhs for setting up a modern kitchen. The modern
kitchen has a seating area of 350 persons at one time.
 Benefits of Hunger Free City Project in Kerala

o People get a lot of subsidized food in one day
o Benefits of free food to the poor, the elderly, the women, the
children and the cancer patients.
o Patients get their food for free.
o Rice-based meals with curry of curry during lunch.
Kozhikode in Smart City race
In News:
The city is likely to make it to the final list of the Smart City Mission, the
Centre’s flagship urban development programme with the Chief Minister’s
Office (CMO) said to be pushing the case of the historic city in north Kerala. A
proposal highlighting the unique attributes of Kozhikode has been submitted
to the Ministry of Urban Development.

Profile of Kozhikode city:
 The city had strong international, national and intra-State transport

linkages and was well connected by road, rail, air, as well as water to
different parts of the country and the rest of the world, thereby
facilitating easy movement of people, goods and services.
 An important node and trade centre of north Kerala with around two
lakh commercial establishments. It is one amongst the nine cities
selected in Kerala under the Amrut Mission.
 The literacy rate of Kozhikode is 96%, which was much above the
national average (home to 93 government schools, over 200 private
schools, 50 government and private colleges affiliated to the
University of Calicut and prestigious institutes of higher learning such
as the NIT and IIM.
 It was the seat of the largest and oldest medical college in Kerala.
Also the highest contributor in the field of medical tourism in India.
 The city has two information technology parks which were still in
their budding stage with ULCCS (Urarangal Labour Contract
Cooperative Society) IT Park hosting about 70 companies and the
Government IT Park having 10 companies
Points to note:
1. Smart City Mission

o Launched on 25 June 2015
o According to Ministry of Urban Development,
the concept of smart city aims to promote
cities that provide core infrastructure and give
a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable
environment and application of 'Smart' Solutions.
o The focus is on a sustainable and inclusive development and the
idea is to look at compact areas, create a replicable model which
will act as a lighthouse to other aspiring cities.
o The core infrastructure elements in a smart city would include:

 Adequate water supply
 Assured electricity supply

 Sanitation, including solid waste management
 Efficient urban mobility and
 public transport Affordable housing, especially for the poor
 Robust IT connectivity and digitalization
 Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen
participation
 Sustainable environment
 Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children
and the elderly
 Health and education
o What are smart solutions?

 E-Governance and Citizen Services
 Waste Management
 Water Management
 Energy Management
 Urban Mobility

2. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
Scheme
o Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT), a mission aimed at transforming 500 cities and towns
into efficient urban living spaces, with a special focus on a healthy
and green environment for children. The Cabinet approved Rs
50,000 crore for this mission which is to be spent over the next
five years
o It is an urban transformation scheme with the focus of the urban
renewal projects to establish an infrastructure that could ensure
adequate robust sewerage networks and water supply.
o The Mission will focus on the following Thrust Areas:
i. Water Supply,
ii. Sewerage facilities and septage management,
iii. Storm Water drains to reduce flooding,
iv. Pedestrian, non-motorized and public transport facilities,
parking spaces, and
v. Enhancing amenity value of cities by creating and
upgrading green spaces, parks and recreation centres,
especially for children.
o The category of cities that will be covered in the AMRUT is given

below:
 All Cities and Towns with a population of over one
lakh with notified Municipalities, including
Cantonment Boards (Civilian areas),
 All Capital Cities/Towns of States/ UTs, not covered in
above,
 All Cities/ Towns classified as Heritage Cities by
MoUD under the HRIDAY Scheme,
 Thirteen Cities and Towns on the stem of the main
rivers with a population above 75,000 and less than 1
lakh, and
 Ten Cities from hill states, islands and tourist
destinations (not more than one from each State).

Hridyam initiative
Context:
The government has performed 120 critical newborn cardiac surgeries since
the Hridyam programme was started two months ago and most cases, over
100, have been done at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences
and Technology (SCTIMST).
About Hridyam programme
 Hridayam is a unique initiative by the state government to support

children with congenital heart disease (CHD), which happens to be the
'largest treatable cause of death' among infants.
 Hridayam is a web-based solution that will care for children with CHD.
The initiative will monitor the programme envisaged for the
management of children with CHD, identify bottlenecks for
implementing established protocols, and understand case status and
response time.
 As per the plan, a beneficiary will have to register at Hridayam website
and after the registration process is complete, the surgery dates fixed by
the empanelled institutions would be provided to the child's parents.
 Under the Hridyam programme, the government proposes to spend Rs.
25 crore a year to save children born with cardiac defects that can be
corrected through surgeries.
 At the moment there are three government empanelled hospitals
namely Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and
Technology, Government Medical College, Kottayam and the medical
college in Kozhikode. In the private sector, only Amrita Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIMS) was empanelled.
Congenital Heart Defects
A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart. It is

present at birth. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth
defect. The defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart,
and the arteries and veins near the heart. They can disrupt the normal flow of

blood through the heart. The blood flow can slow down, go in the wrong
direction or to the wrong place, or be blocked completely.
Signs and symptoms of severe defects in newborns include

 Rapid breathing
 Cyanosis - a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails
 Fatigue
 Poor blood circulation
Many children with congenital heart defects don't need treatment, but others
do. Treatment can include medicines, catheter procedures, surgery, and heart
transplants. The treatment depends on the type of the defect, how severe it is,
and a child's age, size, and general health.
Aksharasagaram
Context:
Aksharasagaram, the coastal literacy project of the Kerala State Literacy

Mission Authority, will soon be expanded to Kollam, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode
districts.
About Aksharasagaram:
 Aksharasagaram, the State government’s scheme for improving literacy

levels in coastal areas. The scheme aimed at bringing fisherfolk who
were among the backward sections in society to the mainstream
 Launched with the financial assistance of the Fisheries Department, the
project was first kicked off in Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, and
Kasaragod, whose coastal areas have the least literacy.
 The project mainly aims at strengthening class four, seven, and 10
equivalency activities.
 It will benefit illiterate persons, neo-literates, school dropouts, mentally
and physically challenged persons, and fishermen who have not passed
Class 4.
 Aksharasagaram will cover areas such as conservation of fish wealth,
environment protection, and career guidance.

Changathi, a Malayalam literacy programme
Context:
The Minister for Labour T.P. Ramakrishnan released the survey reports
prepared for implementing Changathi in the remaining districts in the State,
after Ernakulam. The reports were prepared by the district literacy missions in
association with the local self-government concerned in each district where
Changathi will be implemented.
About Changathi:
 Changathi, a Malayalam literacy programme for migrant workers was

launched by the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority.
 Changathi, which means friend in Malayalam, was launched in
December 2016 by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
 It is Kerala’s unique mission to teach the land’s native language to
workers of other states.
 The larger aim of the programme is to integrate the migrant workers
with the state’s culture, so that they don’t feel alienated.
 Migrant workers will be taught how to read and write in Malayalam so
as to enable them to mingle more freely with locals in the state. Apart
from providing literacy classes, they will be impressed upon the need for
imbibing good lifestyle patterns in order to ward off various diseases.
 Hamari Malayalam, a textbook specially prepared for the purpose, will
be used for the literacy programme.
 The mission has also launched a programme to bring trans person
dropouts back to school.
Kerala Cancer Control Strategy (KCCS) 2017-30
Context:
The Health Department has proposed the setting up of Kerala Cancer Care Grid
(KCCG), a voluntary network of all cancer care facilities in public and private
health sector hospitals. The KCCG will play an important role in delivering an
equitable cancer prevention and control programme, a key goal of Kerala
Cancer Control Strategy (2017-30), which has been formulated to reduce the
burden of cancers and enhance the quality of life of patients.

About Kerala Cancer Control Strategy (KCCS):
 The Kerala Cancer Control Strategy (KCCS) 2017-30, aims at reducing the
burden of cancers and enhancing the quality of life of people with
cancer.
 The draft of the KCCS has been developed by WHO India, with assistance
from the Health Department and cancer specialists, to support the State
government in strengthening prevention and management of cancers.
 The KCCS for 2030 is proposed along the cancer continuum from
prevention to palliative care, with focus on equipping the health system
with infrastructure and human resource to ensure affordable and
accessible services to all, enhancing leadership and governance and
devising financial protection mechanisms to reduce out-of-pocket
expenditure.
 Other major strategies proposed under the KCCS:
o Strengthening the healthcare delivery for cancer through the
setting up of the Kerala Cancer Care Grid
o Improving the monitoring and evaluation of cancer incidence and
mortality through the establishment of a State Cancer Registry.
About Kerala Cancer Care Grid (KCCG):
The Kerala Cancer Care Grid, a proposed voluntary network of cancer care
facilities, will be the crucial vehicle which will help the State achieve the
avowed goals of the KCCS by implementing an equitable and accessible cancer

prevention and control programme. It will form the backbone of cancer
prevention in the State and provide seamless cancer care, right from
prevention to rehabilitation. The government has entrusted the Regional
Cancer Centre (RCC) with the task of setting up the KCCG.
Kayyethum Doorathu
In News:
‘Kayyethum Doorathu’, the special adalats conducted by the Kozhikode district

administration with the support of the Composite Regional Centre for persons
with disabilities, has set a model for the State on how to clear legal hurdles and
help the differently-abled receive eligible benefits declared by the State and
Central governments.
The result was (impressive) — 4,000 persons who had been missing out on
various Central and State government aid programmes due to the lack of
relevant certificates managed to secure it at the end of the first phase.

GAIL Project
In News:
The anti-GAIL pipeline activists who faced a set back with the majority of
landholders withdrawing from the agitation following the announcement of
the revised compensation package and benefits by Gas Authority of India
Limited are planning to resume their agitations by mobilising public support
through fresh regional campaigns.
Background:
 The Kochi-Kootanad-Bengaluru-Mangalore pipeline is an
ambitious project initiated in 2007 by Gas Authority of India
Limited (GAIL).
 The project aims at connecting the
southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu
and Karnataka to the national gas
network.
 The gas pipeline project was approved
by the Kerala government and
commissioned in 2013. GAIL
authorities had informed that the
ambitious 438-km Gas Authority of
India Ltd (GAIL) pipeline project from
Kochi to Mangaluru is expected to be

completed by December 2018. The project is estimated to cost Rs
3263 crore.
 The pipeline was being laid by using the most scientifically
advanced technology under the close and strict monitoring and
supervision of satellite. This was made possible because of the
advanced SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition System) being installed as an integral part of the
pipeline project.
 The pipeline was laid strictly in accordance with the PMP
[Petroleum and Minerals Pipe Line (Acquisition of Right of Users in
Land)] Act, 1962.
Benefits of the GAIL Pipeline Project:
1. More Power: Building a natural gas infrastructure – which includes the

setting up of a 1200 MW gas-based power plant at Cheemeni in
Kasaragod – will go a long way in bridging the estimated 1700 MW
power deficiency expected by the year 2016-17. The GAIL project allows
us to dream about a Kerala summer without dark/ hot homes reeling
and sweating under the ubiquitous power cut.
2. More Cooking Fuel: There will now be an alternative to LPG. The City
Gas Distribution will provide Piped Natural Gas ‘on tap’. The ordinary
housewife and the small hotelier need no longer worry about when the
next LPG cylinder will arrive.
3. More Employment: The Gail project will bring about an improvement in
the power supply as well as provide raw material or feedstock to power
units and factories. This will bring about an improvement in the State’s
industrial performance. In addition, small industrial units which have run
into the red due to lack of power will also benefit.
4. More Economic Benefits: The Kerala Gail Gas Limited will be setting up
CNG stations and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)
fleet will be converted to CNG. The conversion to CNG will help improve
KSRTC’s financial performance. Tune-ups and oil changes for natural gas
vehicles aren’t needed as frequently because compressed natural gas
burns so much cleaner than diesel.

5. More Health and Wellness: Natural gas is one of the cleanest fuels. It
emits fewer pollutants thus resulting in a greener, cleaner Kerala.
Improvement in air quality will lead to a lower rate of respiratory
diseases and better health and wellness.
Why are people protesting against the GAIL project?
The residents claim that the proposed pipeline will be going through densely
populated areas and have expressed their concerns over land acquisition and
demolition of houses. The project requires 160 acres of land in Kozhikode for
completion. The land, 20-metre wide, was to be acquired to for the proposed
pipeline. The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (PMP) Act of 1962 specified
that no gas pipeline should be laid through residential areas.
First-anniversary fete of Haritha Keralam inaugurated
In News:
Haritha Sangamam, the first anniversary celebrations of the State

government’s Haritha Keralam Mission. The mission had been set up to
address the shortcomings in various areas.
About Haritha Keralam Mission:
 Haritha Keralam, an ambitious programme envisaged by the

Kerala government to make the state clean, protect its water
sources and soil, was launched by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan
at nearby Parasalla.
 Brand ambassador of the scheme - eminent Carnatic vocalist and
playback singer K J Yesudas and noted actress Manju Warrier

 Haritha Keralam (Green Kerala)
mission, a part of the Nava Kerala
Mission, envisages a clean and
green state through waste
management, organic farming
and conservation of water
resources with peoples support;
hopes to reclaim the lost
agriculture heritage of the state.
 The mission envisages:
o Pollution-free water sources
o Revival of water sources
o Water conservation with the help of people
o Eco-friendly and sustainable waste management
o Enhancing organic farming
Nine community skill parks to be set up in State
Background:
The Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) — an initiative of the

Department of Higher Education — is gearing up to roll out the first phase of
the Community Skill Parks programme that is expected to play a pivotal role in
fostering an industry-led skill ecosystem in the State.

 In the first phase, nine parks would be set up across the State. Designed
to be multi-skill training centres, each park can, at a time, host 2,000
trainees.
 The parks are expected to cater to the lifelong education and training
requirements of the local population and would be equipped to design
separate programmes for different categories such as students, women,
aged people, and migrant labourers.
 The parks would also offer ‘up-skilling’ programmes for the existing
workforce.
Throwing light on migrants’ issues
In news:
The International Migrants Day observance by the Self Employed Women’s

Association (SEWA) union here on 19th December proved to be a platform for
discussing the migrant labourers and their many issues.
Welfare schemes for migrant workers:
1. Kerala Migrant Workers’ Welfare Programme
 It began in the year 2010

 The scheme provides a registered migrant four benefits:
o accident/ medical care for up to ₹25,000
o in case of death, ₹1 lakh to the family
o children’s education allowance and
o termination benefits of ₹25,000
after five years of work.
 When a worker dies, the welfare fund provides for the embalming
of the body and air transportation.
 To avail the benefit, a worker needs to register with the scheme.
The membership has to be renewed every year by paying ₹30.

2. Apna Ghar Project
 The Apna Ghar Project aims at developing hygienic and safe rental
accommodation for Domestic Migrant Labourers in Kerala.
 shouldered by Bhavanam Foundation, a public sector non-profit
company owned by the state government.
 The government announced the completion of its first venture
under the Apna Ghar scheme, a 4 storied building with 64 rooms,
in Kanjikode, Palakkad district. The project was completed at a
total cost of Rs 8.5 cr by the government.
 The 4 storied building is built in three blocks, with 32 kitchens, 96
bathrooms, 8 dining halls and cloth drying areas. One room is
expected to accommodate as many as 10 workers with bunker
bed facilities. This means that a total of 640 workers will find their
"home away from home" in this building.
3. “Awaz Health Insurance Scheme”
 The objective of this scheme is to provide a health insurance

coverage for migrant labourers working across the state. This is a
first of its kind scheme in the country that is providing health
insurance to all migrant labourers. Under the scheme, labourers
aged between 18 and 60 will be covered.
 Insurance providing: This scheme aims to provide death insurance
to migrant labourers up to Rs. 2 lakh, along with a health
insurance of Rs. 15000.
 The labour and skills department of Kerala is preparing a
comprehensive database of migrant labourers in the state. The
government will record personal details and biometric data of
individual migrant labourers. After the collection of data, the
department will enrol them under a health insurance scheme.
 The benefit of this medical insurance scheme can be availed in
government hospitals of the state as well as empanelled private
hospitals.

Gender Park
In news:
Come February 2018, it will be two years since the first and only Gender Park
in the State was opened by the then President, Pranab Mukherjee, at
Vellimadukunnu in Kozhikode. But the much-hyped facility, which was meant
to be a premier convergence point of gender-related activities, is now
gathering dust.
About Gender Park:
 India’s first Gender Equality convergence centre at Kozhikode was

inaugurated by the President Pranab Mukherjee
 Gender Park has grown out of an awareness of the critical linkages
between gender equality, economic growth and poverty reduction, and
to effectively address gender in national development processes.
 It aims at defining critical issues, generating and garnering knowledge
for developing data necessary for responsive policies that are
personalized to the specific socio-economic context of the sub-continent
and other developing nations.
 One of the first initiatives launched by the Gender Park was the ‘She
Taxi’, aimed at solely empowering women.

Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana (PMAY)
Context:
The first instalment of funds was distributed to the beneficiaries of the

Pradhan Mantri Awaz Yojana (PMAY) housing project on Tuesday. Minister for
Local Self-Government K.T. Jaleel distributed the first instalment of Rs. 30,000
each to 1,300 beneficiaries.
The funds will be provided in four instalments, with disbursals of 10 percent,

40 percent, 40 percent and 10 percent, over a period of one year, during which
the construction should be completed.
About PMAY:
Important points regarding Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
 This scheme will be implemented during 2015 to 2022.

 To be eligible to receive benefits under this scheme, the family should
not own a “pucca” house.
 Up to 30 square meter carpet area will be covered for housing purpose
with basic civic amenities. All infrastructures should abide by the
standards provided in National Building Code (NBC).
 The houses under PMAY should be designed as per the guidelines set up
by the National Disaster Management Authority to withstand
earthquake, flood, cyclone, landslides etc.
The features of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are as following:
 The government would provide an interest subsidy of 6.5% on housing

loans availed by the beneficiaries for a period of 15 years from the start
of the loan.
 The houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana would be allotted to
preferably the female member of the family. Along with this, preference
would be given to the female applicants. This scheme is mostly a pro-
women scheme.
 While allotting ground floors in any housing scheme under the
PMAY, preference would be given to differently-abled and older people.

 The construction of houses under PMAY would be carried out through
technology that is eco-friendly.
 In addition to the above, a Rs 1.5 lakh would be provided to all eligible
urban poor who want to construct their own house in urban areas or
wish to make necessary renovations in their existing houses.
Sarana Balyam Scheme
Context:
The Sarana Balyam scheme for identifying and rehabilitating children being
used for child labour and child begging, which has been piloted in
Pathanamthitta, would be scaled up Statewide, Health Minister K. K. Shylaja
said here on Thursday.
About the scheme:
 The scheme was instituted following reports that children were being
used for begging, for labour and being exploited in other ways at
pilgrimage centres, railway stations, bus terminals, and in crowded
cities.
 The main purpose of this scheme is to protect and to rehabilitate the
children from child labour, begging and harassment.
 This scheme is under the supervision of the Child Development &
Women Welfare Department.
 Once the new initiative comes into complete implementation, the
government is eying on eliminating the children exploitation in the State
completely.
 The State government has also started the Toll-free number complaint
service for the better implementation of the scheme. Anyone who found
the child exploitation in the State they can report that through the toll-
free number.
 In the four major district of the State government has also established
the special rescue force. Rescue force always stays on alert and act
immediately against such exploitation of the children.

 Once any child found exploited in the street of the State complete DNA
test is conducted on the child. The instructions are very clear to the
departments and they act according to this new initiative.
 After conducting the DNA test the child parents or guardians be
searched and the district welfare committee handover the child to
children parents or guardian custody.
 If the child parents or guardians were not found then the other steps
taken by the department and local authorities for the better future of
the children.
Confusing facts: ‘Valsalyam’ campaign launched by the Women and Child

Development Department is to identify and rehabilitate children involved in
child labour and beggary.
Community Disability Management and Rehabilitation Project (CDMRP)
In news:
The state government is bringing out a holistic project to ensure individual

attention for the differently abled of the state, said Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan. While inaugurating the district-level Community Disability
Management and Rehabilitation Project at Parassinikkadavu near here on
Sunday he said that unlike other states the state is bringing out the project
after conducting a detailed survey of the disabled.
About the project:
 The CDMRP is jointly implemented by the Calicut University’s

Department of Psychology and the State government’s Social Justice
Department.
 The project envisages early detection of mental retardation, autism,
cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and various other disabilities as also
free treatment and rehabilitation of children with such disabilities.

‘Arogya Jagratha’ to check communicable diseases
Context:
The Kottayam district administration will soon launch a comprehensive

programme to prevent communicable diseases, District Collector B.S.
Thirumeni has said. The programme named ‘Jagratha’ has been designed as a
pre-emptive measure against communicable diseases which had claimed at
least 32 lives in the district during 2017.
Purpose of ‘Jagratha’
 It is a Vector control campaigns.

 Aims at bringing down the number of fever cases and preventing deaths
due to these fevers.
 Steps would soon be taken to clear sewers, open tanks, and other such
waterbodies.
Life mission
Context:
The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is finding it difficult to find land for its

housing and sanitation schemes. The issue figured prominently at a meeting of
the Corporation council on Wednesday. The Mayor said the Corporation had
set aside Rs. 18 crore for land for housing under the Life Mission and Rs. 5
crore for waste management.
About the Life Mission:
 The project LIFE was launched on November 1, 2016

 Project LIFE – Livelihood, Inclusion, Financial Empowerment, is an
ambitious mission of the state government of Kerala.

 The mission is to provide homes to 2 Lakh homeless families in the
state within next 5 years through a comprehensive housing scheme.
 Objectives of the mission:
The mission to provide homes to the homeless and provide the
occupants with opportunities to integrate with the mainstream by
bringing in social security schemes.
 Phase I:
Under the first phase of the mission, the government would provide
homes to 600 families in the first year on pilot basis. The government
would also ensure facilities such as power supply & backup, water
supply, sanitation facilities, cooking fuel and other amenities are being
taken care.
 Each complex build under the Project LIFE housing scheme would offer
flats to about 100 families.
 Beneficiaries:
Under the housing scheme, priority would be given to families run by
women, single women, households which have ill or old people, girl
students below 15 years of age, and victims of riots, natural calamities
and domestic violence.
 The list of beneficiaries are prepared by Kudumbasree.
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme
Context:
Kerala, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Airports Authority of India
(AAI) on Wednesday signed a tripartite agreement to commence domestic
flight services from the upcoming Kannur International Airport (KIAL) under the
Union government’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, an endeavour
to make regional connectivity easy.
About UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme:
The following are the key features of the scheme:
 The UDAN scheme aims to stimulate regional connectivity with flights

covering distances up to 800 km through a market-based mechanism.

 43 cities are expected to be mainstreamed on India’s flight connectivity
grid. A dozen airports where limited but irregular flights operate will be
connected. As many as 31 destinations that are not operational despite
the existence of airports will become active.
 The VGF will be used to bridge the gap between the cost of airline
operations and expected revenue.
 Among the commitments of the States are those to make sufficient land
available; ensure adequate security; and provide essential services at
concessional rates for the airports or air strips. The Centre would like the
States to provide minimum land, free of cost, for development of the
RCS airports. More importantly, the States will have to bear 20%
towards VGF. The share will be 10% for North Eastern States and Union
Territories.
 Five airlines — Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Turbo Megha, Air Odisha and Air
Deccan — were awarded 128 routes under the scheme after a bidding
process.
 The government aims at making flying affordable by capping fares at Rs.
2500 per seat per hour. Airfare for a 1-hour journey of approximately
500 km on a fixed wing aircraft or for 30 minute journey on a helicopter
would be capped at Rs. 2,500.
 The scheme is a component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP)
which was released on June 15, 2016.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) Scheme
Relevance:
A high-power committee chaired by Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham has given

administrative sanction for 71 projects worth Rs. 448.53 crore in the
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur Corporations and
the Alappuzha, Palakkad, and Guruvayur municipalities under the Atal Mission
for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

About Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)
Scheme:
o Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

(AMRUT), a mission aimed at transforming 500 cities and towns
into efficient urban living spaces, with a special focus on a healthy
and green environment for children. The Cabinet approved Rs
50,000 crore for this mission which is to be spent over the next
five years
o It is an urban transformation scheme with the focus of the urban
renewal projects to establish an infrastructure that could ensure
adequate robust sewerage networks and water supply.
o The Mission will focus on the following Thrust Areas:
i. Water Supply,
ii. Sewerage facilities and septage management,
iii. Storm Water drains to reduce flooding,
iv. Pedestrian, non-motorized and public transport facilities,
parking spaces, and
v. Enhancing amenity value of cities by creating and
upgrading green spaces, parks and recreation centres,
especially for children.

INFRASTRUCTURE
Floating solar plant ready for commissioning
 Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is gearing up to commission the

largest floating solar project in the country on the Banasurasagar dam at
Padinharethara in Wayanad district.
 The KSEB has spent Rs. 9.25 crore on the project, including a sum of Rs. 7
crore from the Innovation Fund of the State government and Rs. 2.25
crore as loan from NABARD.
 The 500 kWp (kiloWatt peak) plant was the largest floating solar project
to come up in the country.
Kannur airport nearing takeoff stage
 As the Kannur international airport is nearing the takeoff stage with 95%
of the work already completed, the soft launch of the Greenfield airport,
near Mattannur, is planned in January 2018. The new airport would be
the fourth largest in the country in runway length.
 The fifth airport of Kerala at Sabarimala may take time and the sixth
could be the resurrected Pathanamthitta airport.

 How will Kannur airport benefit?
o The boost to rail and road linkages that the airport project will
entail has made the trade bodies buoyant.
o Infrastructure links between Mattanur and Thalassery hold the
key to development in the region.
o The export industry in the region will find its way to a larger
market through the Kannur airport. The annual revenue of Kannur
from exports is Rs 1,000 crore. Once the airport becomes a reality,
the revenue will double in a couple of years.
o The airport will bring more investors in the hospitality sector to
Malabar.
o Now major buyers prefer export houses in Mumbai and Delhi
because of the poor connectivity of the region. Time is a major
factor in business and airport will help in addressing this.
 Why does Kerala love airports so?

o The state already has four airports, three of them international.
With the proposed airport, it will become the only state with four
international airports. Two of them are within barely 150
kilometres of each other.
o The fascination for airports in every district could also be a
reflection of this economic reality.
o Kerala has several dollar billionaires and all of them move around
in their private planes. Four of them can already claim this luxury
when the Kannur airport at the northern extremity (about 50 km
from Mangalore which already has an airport) is commissioned
towards the end of this year.
o Besides, locals going abroad or returning will now be within a
short distance from their homes, wherever they are; no need to
travel to a city.

ART AND CULTURE
Thriprayar Ekadasi celebrated
Triprayar Ekadasi
 Triprayar Ekadashi is a world-famous event host at the Triprayar Sri
Rama temple, located at the banks of river Theevra, in Thrissur District.
The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Rama, one of the incarnations
of Lord Vishnu.
 The Ekadashi is observed after the full moon day in the Malayalam
month of Vrishchikam (November – December).
 On Dasami, the day before Ekadasi, there is a procession of Lord Shasta.
This shows the importance of Ayyappa whose temple it was before the
installation of Sri Rama.
 On the Ekadasi day, an utsava idol of Lord Rama worshipped in the
temple is taken out for procession atop an elephant and the Lord is
accompanied by 21 elephants.
Thriprayar Temple
Shree Rama Temple is Hindu temple
situated in Triprayar in Thrissur
district of Kerala. The deity is
Shree Rama and with four arms with
bearing a conch, a disc, a bow and a
garland. The temple is situated on the
bank of river Theevra. The Temple deity is
the presiding deity of Arattupuzha Pooram.

TOURISM
Kerala Tourism Policy 2017
Context:
The state government’s Tourism Policy 2017 unveiled by Tourism Minister

Kadakampally Surendran has private participation in destination development,
the formation of a regulatory authority and new tourism projects as its
highlights.
 The new policy aims to address the key issues of the tourism industry in
cooperation with the local bodies such as waste management and
renovation of roads.
 The policy emphasises on the active participation of the differently-
abled and transgenders while implementing the Responsible Tourism
Mission across the State to promote the tourism sector.
 According to Kadakampally, the proposed Kerala Tourism Regulatory
Authority (KTRA) is to ensure quality service for tourists and curb
unhealthy practices in the sector.
About the proposed Kerala Tourism Regulatory Authority (KTRA):
The proposed regulatory mechanism for the tourism sector is to curb

unwanted activities, ensure rule of law and to enforce the guidelines, rules and
regulations among various stakeholders of the tourism industry.
 Aimed at making the State further tourist-friendly, safe and secure.

 Broad network for the KTRA will be formed by Kerala Tourism.
The need for the KTRA assumes significance in the wake of the recent
harassment of a foreign tourist aboard a houseboat in Alappuzha by a crew
member, unhealthy practices in the travel trade and unscientific development
works upsetting the ecology in the name of tourism promotion and increasing
the keys for holidayers.

Kerala govt. app maps 1,000 festivals
Context:
As part of a re-branding exercise, Kerala Tourism is launching a Geographic

Information System (GIS)-based inventory of around 1,000 festivals in the
State. These will be promoted as tourist attractions.
Attractions:
 The GIS-based Festival Inventory of Kerala, a geo-coded, user-friendly

web application, offers the user a comprehensive platform that maps
listed festivals to their respective venues.
 It details each festival’s legend, origin, popularity, duration, associated
celebrations, rituals, and directions to the venue, along with the name of
a contact person for further queries.
 The map-based search allows a user to identify the location and plan the
journey. It also includes details such as the annual festivities at the
various shrines, boat races, Theyyams, music and dance festivals, and
sporting events.
 A variety of unique and lesser known events such as the Shadow
Puppetry Festival, Malabar River Festival, Manaveeyam Queer Fest,
Oachira Kali, Splash-Wayanad, Ananthapuri Chakka Mahotsavam, and
Malabar International Kite Festival also figure in the inventory.
 Ten common festivals celebrated across the State in a secular spirit have
also been included. The details of each festival are accessible as PDF
documents.

HEALTH
MR vaccination yet to reach 95% coverage in district
In news:
The coverage under the measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign in the

district is yet to reach 95% despite an intensive drive to meet the target.
Officials of the district administration, health and education departments, and
the National Health Mission had conducted the vaccination campaign from
October 3 with the support of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics and over 35
private hospitals. By mid-December, the coverage had managed to reach 90%.
The motivation for the action:
The programme had started with a one-month campaign to vaccinate children

between the ages of 9 months and 15 years to protect them against the two
diseases that had proved fatal in many newborns and had been the main cause
of congenital disabilities in cases where the mother had acquired the infection
during the pregnancy.
What is Rubella?
Also known as German measles or three-day measles, is an infection caused by

the rubella virus. A contagious viral infection preventable by vaccine and best
known by its distinctive red rash.
Symptoms (often appear two to three weeks after exposure):
 Mild fever and headache,
 Enlarged neck lymph nodes,
 Eye redness,
 Red rashes,
 A runny nose,
 Or swollen lymph nodes
The disease can spread through:
 Direct contact with the saliva or mucus of an infected person or
 Through the air by respiratory droplets produced from coughing or
sneezing.

How it spreads:
 By airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes).
 By saliva (kissing or shared drinks).
What is Measles?
A viral infection that's serious for small children but is easily preventable by a
vaccine. The disease spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced
from coughing or sneezing.
Symptoms (don't appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure):
 Pain areas: in the ear
 Skin: rashes, rashes, red rashes, neck rash, or red spots
 Gastrointestinal: diarrhoea or vomiting
 Also common: coughing, fatigue, inflammation of ear, puffy eyes,
seizures, or sneezing
How it spreads
 By mother to baby by pregnancy, labour, or nursing.
 By airborne respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes).
 By saliva (kissing or shared drinks).
 By skin-to-skin contact (handshakes or hugs).
 By touching a contaminated surface (blanket or doorknob).
About measles-rubella (MR) vaccination campaign
 Under the campaign, children will be given a single shot of Measles and
Rubella (MR) campaign irrespective of their previous measles/rubella
vaccination status or measles/rubella disease status.
 MR vaccine will be provided free- of- cost across the states from session
sites at schools as well as health facilities and in the sites of outreach
session.
 Importance of the campaign:
o The campaign also marks the introduction of rubella vaccine in
India’s childhood immunization programme to address CRS which
causes birth defects such as irreversible deafness and blindness in
nearly 40 000 children every year.

o Measles immunization directly contributes to the reduction of
under-five child mortality, and in combination with rubella
vaccine, it will control rubella and prevent CRS.
 The campaign involves multiple stakeholders apart from Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare.
Diphtheria
In news:
Yet another case of diphtheria was reported from Malappuram.
About Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes

of the throat and nose. Although it spreads easily from one person to another,
diphtheria can be prevented through the use of vaccines. A type of bacteria
called Corynebacterium diphtheria causes diphtheria. Even if an infected
person doesn’t show any signs or symptoms of diphtheria, they’re still able to
transmit the bacterial infection for up to six weeks after the initial infection.
 Symptoms: The most visible and common symptom of diphtheria is a

thick, grey coating on the throat and tonsils. Other common symptoms
include fever, chills, swollen glands in the neck, a loud, barking cough, a
sore throat, bluish skin, drooling, a general feeling of uneasiness or
discomfort.
 Vaccination: The vaccine for diphtheria is called DTaP. It’s usually given
in a single shot along with vaccines for pertussis and tetanus. The DTaP
vaccine is administered in a series of five shots. It’s given to children at
the following ages - 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4
to 6 years.

Sickle cell anaemia
Context:
A sitting of the Legislative Committee on Welfare of Backward Classes held

here on Wednesday directed the Health Department officials to open the
special ward constructed for sickle cell anaemia patients at the Mananthavady
district hospital from January 1.
About Sickle cell anemia:
With sickle cell disease, an inherited group of disorders, red blood cells contort
into a sickle shape. The cells die early, leaving a shortage of healthy red blood
cells (sickle cell anaemia) and can block blood flow causing pain (sickle cell
crisis).
The major features and symptoms of sickle cell anemia include
Fatigue and Anemia, Pain Crises, Dactylitis (swelling and inflammation of the
hands and/or feet) and Arthritis, Bacterial Infections, Splenic Sequestration
(sudden pooling of blood in the spleen) and Liver Congestion, Lung and Heart
Injury, Leg Ulcers, Aseptic Necrosis and Bone Infarcts (death of portions of
bone), Eye Damage.

GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENON
Ockhi cyclone
Context:
The deep depression which had formed in the Bay of Bengal near Kanyakumari
district in Tamil Nadu, bordering Kerala, has now intensified into a cyclonic
storm named Ockhi.
About Ockhi cyclone
 The name Ockhi was given by Bangladesh which in Bengali means ‘eye’.
 This cyclone is a result of a deep depression in the south of Kanyakumari
and west of Sri Lanka. As this depression intensified, it led to the birth of
a cyclonic storm.

 the cyclone is moving at a speed of 38 kmph and is centred at Latitude
7.5°N and Longitude 77.5°E, around 55 km south of Kanyakumari, 120
km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram, 480 km east-southeast of
Minicoy and 340 km west-northwest of Galle in Sri Lanka.
How are Cyclones named?
 Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones are all the same, just different names for
tropical storms in different parts of the world; Hurricane in the Atlantic,
Typhoon in the Pacific and Cyclone in the Indian Ocean. If the storm's
wind speed reaches or crosses 74 mph, it is then classified into a
hurricane/cyclone/typhoon.
 The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) started
the tropical cyclone naming system in 2000.
 Cyclones in the North Indian Ocean basin are named by the Indian
Meteorological Department and the first tropical cyclone was named in
2004 as Onil (given by Bangladesh).
 Eight north Indian Ocean countries — Bangladesh, India, the Maldives,
Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, gave eight names
each which was combined into a list of 64 names.

 Why name a Cyclone?
o It's easier and less confusing to say "Cyclone 0ckhi" than
remember the storm's number or its longitude and latitude. It's
also easier when you have more than one storm to track.
o Provide ease of communication between forecasters and the
general public regarding forecasts, watches, and warnings.
How is ochki different from other cyclones that have hit the Indian coast?
 Mostly cyclones are known to originate in both Bay of Bengal and the
Arabian Seaside, but Ockhi originated near the south-western coast of
Sri Lanka.
 Moreover, it followed a unique trajectory by travelling along the coasts

of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep, then it took north-easterly turn
travelling along the coast of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
 Ockhi was originated very near to the equator (usually cyclones do not
originate the equatorial zone due to earth’s rotation and shape)
Cyclone Ockhi leaves its impact on marine landscape too
In News:
 Cyclone Ockhi has left a trail of destruction not only on land but in the
near-shore areas of the seabed and long stretches of the shoreline along
the coast of Thiruvananthapuram. The damage is so severe that it could

take months for the ecosystem to rebuild itself. Fishers and citizen
scientists also feel that the cyclone could have aggravated the damage
caused to the underwater ecology by the dredging activities for the
Vizhinjam international seaport project.

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Ockhi raises questions on disaster preparedness:-
Background:
Cyclone Ockhi not only left a trail of destruction across South Kerala but also
raised questions over the State’s preparedness to deal with major natural
calamities affecting tens of thousands of families.
Even as the Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force began efforts to rescue over 150
fishermen reported missing at sea, coastal communities allege that the storm
had exposed fundamental flaws in the State’s disaster management system.
Criticism: Against the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) for the
failure to provide a warning in time.
 SDMA was guilty of having ignored the warnings issued by the

India Met Department.
 Disaster management set up in the State had failed to respond to
the situation.
Counterpoints by SDMA:
 The routine alerts on strong winds and high waves issued by the IMD
and INCOIS could not be taken for a disaster situation. The SDMA kicks in
only after a cyclone has been declared. This is to avoid creating false
alarms that could lull vulnerable communities into complacency.

Whither disaster management after Ockhi?
Background:
Cyclone Ockhi struck Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala
on November 29th night and 30th morning. As per the information was given
by fishermen associations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, over 120 fishermen are
dead and about 900 are still missing.
Failure in damage control:
 There are three basic failings in the government’s response:

1. The cyclone warning was delayed;
2. The warning, when it came, was ineffective because it could not
be conveyed to thousands of fisherfolk who were already out at
sea; and
3. Once the cyclone struck, there was no war-like mobilisation and
action, which are the hallmarks of good disaster management.
 On November 30 morning, action plans should have kicked in and the
Indian Coast Guard, with its seaborne vessels and helicopters, should
have launched emergency search and rescue operations.
 Coast Guard ships should have taken along a few fishermen from the
villages as navigation assistants (because they knew where to look for
missing people) and should have intensely combed the area. Had this
been done, hundreds of fishing boats and fishermen would have been
found and rescued within the shortest possible time.
 Even when the Coast Guard reluctantly moved with some fishermen on
board, all it did was to go up to about 60 nautical miles and then stop
saying that it cannot go beyond its jurisdiction.
 The Indian Navy with its vast array of ships, aircraft and state-of-the-art
technology should have stepped in immediately. This too did not
happen.
What has happened to the National Disaster Management Act (2005), the
National Policy on Disaster Management (2009), the National Disaster
Management Plan (2016) and the National Disaster Response Force and
infrastructure created thereof? Did the disaster management control room in

Delhi function at all? Villagers have printed the photos of the dead based on
eye-witness accounts and the number is not less than 100. The government
continues to dismiss this as being untrue.
The need for compensation
The cyclone has also resulted in massive losses to the livelihoods of people
living on the coasts due to the destruction of crops, banana, rubber, coconut
and forest trees.
 Relief and rehabilitation are going to be a monumental task and the

State government alone cannot take the huge burden of providing a
decent compensation to the victims of the cyclone.
 The Central Relief Commissioner should immediately visit the district,
make realistic assessments, and award reasonable compensation
immediately.
Steps sought for coastal security

 The tie-up between Fisheries Department and ISRO to study the change
in sea conditions and climate should be immediately implemented, the
Thiruvananthapuram Coastal View has said. The forum has called for
alerts, marine ambulance service, insurance for fishing equipment, a
wireless set and life-saving equipment at low rates.
Cyclone Ockhi: Kerala to get Rs 133 crore as immediate assistance
In news:
The Centre will release Rs 133 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund
as immediate assistance for the rehabilitation of Ockhi victims in the state.
Union Additional Secretary (Disaster Management) Bipin Mallick announced it
during his visit to cyclone-hit areas in the capital. He said the amount would be
sanctioned in response to the state government’s request to grant Rs 423
crore as immediate relief.

Operation Synergy
The state government and its agencies are coordinating with the Navy, Air
Force and Coast Guard for the Ockhi rescue mission christened ‘Operation
Synergy.’
National Disaster Response Fund
 National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) was set up under the

administrative control of the Home Ministry in 2007 with an initial
amount of Rs. 100 crore.
 NDRF was set up in consonance with the provisions of the Disaster
Management Act, 2005.
 States also have an SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) to cover the
rehabilitation efforts post-disaster.
 The erstwhile National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) which was
constituted as per the recommendations of the 11th Finance
Commission has been merged into National Disaster Response Fund
(NDRF) in line with the recommendation of the 13th Finance
Commission.
 The amount collected from National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD) is
transferred to the NDRF.
Declared compensation:
 The compensation of Rs 20 lakh, provided to the next of kin of those

killed will be deposited in the treasury account for five years.
 A monthly interest of Rs 14,166 will be provided to the relatives. If the
relatives of the deceased informed the government of needs such as
wedding expenses, arrangements will be made to withdraw the full
amount.
 The same quantum of compensation earmarked for those killed will be
given to the relatives of missing persons as well.
 If the deceased fishermen have bank loans, the dues will be waived off.
If there are other loans, the details should be shared with psychosocial
counsellors who visit the families.

Other measures from the government side:
NavIC to guide fishermen in deep sea
» From January, the fishermen from the state will be guided in the deep
sea through NavIC, which is the country’s own regional satellite
navigation system.
» The state government is introducing the new system in the cooperation

with ISRO that has developed the navigation technology. The ISRO will
provide 250 NavIC systems in January. In the second phase another 250
NavIC equipment will be provided in February.
» The device will provide information on the risk factors on sea and land.
» The government has decided to buy about 1,000 of the navigation
equipment that will be fitted in the boats.
» As part of installing the system in the boats, a 24-hour master control
room will be functioning in Thiruvananthapuram.
» The information received at the central control room will be passed on
to the six zonal control rooms and from here the information will be
passed on to the mobile phones of the fishermen.
» The fishermen can stay connected up to 1,500 km from the shore.

ECONOMY
SIB implements block chain technology
Context:
The South Indian Bank has successfully executed overseas transactions using
blockchain technology in partnership with a leading currency exchange house
in the Middle East.
Block Chain Technology:
What is blockchain?
Currently, most people use a trusted middleman such as a bank to make a

transaction. But blockchain allows consumers and suppliers to connect directly,
removing the need for a third party.
Using cryptography to keep exchanges secure, blockchain provides a

decentralized database, or “digital ledger”, of transactions that everyone on
the network can see. This network is essentially a chain of computers that
must all approve an exchange before it can be verified and recorded.
How does it work?

Benefits
 The technology can work for almost every type of transaction involving
value, including money, goods and property. Its potential uses are
almost limitless: from collecting taxes to enabling migrants to send
money back to family in countries where banking is difficult.
 Blockchain could also help to reduce fraud because every transaction
would be recorded and distributed on a public ledger for anyone to see.
 Blockchain records and validate each and every transaction made, which
makes it secure and reliable.
 Blockchain technology discards the need for any third-party or central
authority for peer-to-peer transactions or exchanges.
 Users are in control of all their information and transactions.
 Blockchain data is complete, consistent, timely, accurate, and widely
available.
 Blockchain transactions can reduce transaction times to minutes and are
processed 24/7.
 The decentralized system, therefore it is less risky to be hacked.
Ration shops to switch over to e-PoS machines
In news:
Ration shops in Kerala are set to switch over to electronic Point of Sale (PoS)
machines for distribution of items to consumers from January 2018.
Why is it important?
The Aadhaar-based e-PoS machines would use biometric identification to

ensure that ration card-holders get their allotted share of foodgrains.

Finance Ministry follows RBI, warns about cryptocurrencies
In news:
The government has joined the Reserve Bank of India in cautioning potential
customers about investing in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, likening them to
ponzi schemes where investors risk losing their money.
What is cryptocurrency
 Cryptocurrencies are a subset of digital currencies.

 Unlike other digital currencies that can be centrally issued, circulated
within a community or geographical location, or tied to fiat currencies or
organizations issuing them, a cryptocurrency has very different
characteristics.
 Bitcoin was created in 2009. Since then, numerous cryptocurrencies
have been created. These are frequently called altcoins, as a blend of
bitcoin alternatives.
 Bitcoin was created by an anonymous person, or persons, called Satoshi
Nakamoto.
 Bitcoins can be obtained by accepting them as a payment for goods and
services, and by buying from other people or directly from an exchange
or vending machines.
 Bitcoins can be transacted via software, apps and various online
platforms that provide bitcoin wallets. Another way to obtain bitcoin is
through mining.
What are the risks involved in bitcoin?
 Due to the lack of government control, terrorists and extortionists are

also utilising the cryptocurrency space to their advantage. Bitcoins users
on either end of a transaction can remain relatively anonymous and
cybercriminals have found ways to mask their addresses, so it can be
difficult for government authorities and companies to trace such illegal
activities.
 They don’t have any intrinsic value
 They are not backed by any kind of assets

 Extreme volatility - The price of bitcoin is entirely a matter of mere
speculation resulting in spurt and volatility in their prices.
 Neither commodity nor currency
 Ponzi schemes abound
Aside from the operational issues of trading in cryptocurrencies,
there is also a high risk of fraud. There is still a good deal of
misinformation and lack of clarity regarding bitcoin trading, and
fraudsters have taken advantage of this to launch Ponzi schemes, which
promise ‘guaranteed high returns’. Some companies claim to double the
initial investment within a very short period of time. “The growing use of
virtual currencies in the global market.
E-way bill
Context:
The mandatory implementation of the e-way bill system from February 1 for all
inter-State movement of non-exempted goods will help boost compliance
under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, according to Finance Secretary
Hasmukh Adhia.
What is e-way bill system?
 The e-way bill can be electronically generated (on the government

portal) either by the supplier or recipient of the consignment, before the
movement of goods.

 The transporter needs to carry an electronically generated way bill, with
every consignment having value exceeding INR 50,000.
 It may possibly subject to few exemptions such as agricultural
commodities
 Till its introduction, the states have been allowed to follow their own
way bill/road permit system, including the ones used prior to GST.
Objectives of its implementation:
 The e-way bill provisions aim to remove the ills of the erstwhile way bill
system prevailing under VAT in different states, which was a major
contributor to the bottlenecks at the check posts.
 Moreover different states prescribed different e-way bill rules which
made compliance difficult. The e-way bill provisions under GST aims to
bring in a uniform e-way bill rule which will be
applicable throughout the country.
 The E-way bill mechanism will ensure that goods being transported
comply with the GST Law and is an effective tool to track movement of
goods and check tax evasion.
Lok Sabha amends bankruptcy law
In news:
The Lok Sabha amended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code law to prevent
wilful defaulters and existing promoters from taking part in insolvency
proceedings of stressed assets of companies unless they make their bad loans
operational by paying up interests. The Bill will replace an ordinance that was
brought in November to prevent unscrupulous promoters from misusing the
provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
What is bankruptcy? What is the IBC’s intent?
A company is bankrupt if it is unable to repay debts to its creditors (banks,

suppliers etc). The inability to repay debts by some Indian firms has resulted in
a huge pile of non-performing assets for the banking system.

The Indian government had introduced the IBC as a method to tackle the issue.
Under the Code, a resolution has to be found for the indebted company within
270 days. Otherwise, a liquidator is appointed. The company can also opt for
voluntary liquidation by a special resolution in a general meeting.
What are the key elements of the amendment?
 The amendment has inserted two new sections in the insolvency code —
 Section 29A, which provides for persons ineligible to be a Resolution
Applicant; and
 Section 235A, which provides for punishment for contravention of
the provisions where no specific penalty or punishment is provided.
 Section 29A says those ineligible to be a Resolution Applicant include:

 Wilful defaulters (ie, those associated with non-performing assets,
or are habitually non-compliant and, therefore, are likely to be a
risk to successful resolution of insolvency of a company);

 Those whose accounts are classified as Non-Performing Assets
(NPAs) for one year or more and are unable to settle overdue
amounts including interest and charges relating to the account
before submission of the Resolution Plan;
 Those who have executed an enforceable guarantee in favour of a
creditor, in respect of a corporate debtor undergoing a Corporate
Insolvency Resolution Process or Liquidation Process under the
Code and others connected to the above, such as promoters or
those in management control of the Resolution Applicant, or
those who will be promoters or in management control of
corporate debtor during the implementation of the Plan, the
holding company, subsidiary company, associate company or
related party of the above persons.
 Section 235A provides for punishment for contravention of the provisions
where no specific penalty or punishment is provided. The punishment is
fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to
two crore rupees.
Marayur jaggery to get GI status
In news:
Marayur jaggery, a world famous delicacy, will soon get Geographical

Indication status. The documentation and scientific studies on this unique
jaggery are in the completion stage. Marayur and Kanthalloor Panchayaths in
Idukki district are famous for the unique product Marayur jaggery or
Marayoorsharkara.
What is Geographical Indication?
 A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific

geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to
that origin.
 In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a
given place.
 In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should
be essentially due to the place of origin. Since the qualities depend on the

geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product
and its original place of production.
How a it different from a trade mark?
A trade mark is a sign which is used in the course of trade and it distinguishes
goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Whereas a
geographical indication is an indication used to identify goods having special
characteristics originating from a definite geographical territory.
e-VIP to be extended to other districts
In news:
A paperless digital work flow for speedy and hassle-free submission of police
verification report (PVR) for passports is on the anvil in the State. A mobile
application, e-VIP (Electronic Verification of Indian Passport) developed by civil

police officers Sreerag and Binu Gopinath of Thrissur and found successful
during introduction on a pilot basis in Malappuram district will be rolled out by
the Kerala Police.
Benefits of this project:
 This will expedite the police verification process and to make it hassle-
free.
 The police verification process is going to be faster and efficient. While
at present, it takes on an average 20 days to complete the PVR, the app
will reduce it to five to seven days.
 The public can view the status of the application by typing the 15 digit
file number in the online portal. They can also download the app and
convey remarks to the District Police Chief.
 Free SMS service is also available.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
NGT rejects plea to stop IOC terminal work
Context:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai Bench, on Friday rejected the
pleas to restrain Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) from going ahead with the works
for the proposed LPG terminal at Puthuvype in Kochi.
Concerns of natives and counter-arguments against the concerns:
Those opposing the terminal say that their concerns are on grounds of both
environmental and safety considerations.
a) The proposed IOCL LPG plant will have the capacity to store 15.47 TMT
(thousand metric tonnes) of LPG, and residents question the wisdom of
storing such large quantities of combustible material within an inhabited
area, populated by almost 65,000 people.If leaks, ruptures or accidents
occur in the plant, they argue, it could lead to a disaster in such a

populated area. Even small leaks would cause a lot of inconvenience for
residents in the area, they point out.
b) The residents and activists are also worried about the presence of large
quantities of mercaptans, the odourisers used to give LPG its
characteristic smell that can be toxic in large quantities.
Counter-arguments: IOCL dismissed these concerns and stated

that international safety standards would be followed in the plant.
The LPG storage tanks will be in the form of 'Mounded Bullets'
which is the safest method of storage of LPG worldwide. The tanks
are covered by reinforced cement concrete walls on all the sides.
IOCL adopts global standards of safety across all its projects,
c) The project was being planned in the intertidal zone and within 200
metres of the high tide line in the Puthuvype Special Economic Zone.
Counter-arguments: The National Green tribunal said, The

contention of the applicants could have been accepted if the area
falls under CRZ I (i). As it is not the case and the land is in CRZ I (ii),
it is definitely a permissible activity.
Benefits of the proposed project:
 The state government is expected to earn an additional tax revenue of

around Rs 150 crore per annum.
 The entire project construction work will provide employment to over
300 people.
 The project will also bring in livelihood opportunities to scores of local
residents
CRZ 2011
 Special provisions for Goa, Kerala, greater Mumbai and Critically

vulnerable coastal area (CVCAs) like Sunderbans, Chilka etc.

4 categories of coastal regulation zones:
 Category I-The areas that are ecologically sensitive and important

such as national parks, sanctuaries, reserve forest, wildlife
habitats, mangroves, coral reef area close to breeding spawning
ground of fish and marine life, Historical heritage area, and areas
likely to be inundated
 Category II (CRZ-II)-The areas that have already been developed
up to and close to the shoreline, come under municipals.
 Category III (CRZIII)-The area that is relatively undisturbed and
those which do not belong to either category –I or ii. These will
include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and
undeveloped) and also area within municipal limits or in order
legally designated urban areas, which are not substantially built
up.
 Category IV (CRZIV)- Coastal stretches in the Andaman and
Nicobar, Lakshadweep and small islands except those designated
as CRZ-I, CRZ-II and CRZ-III.
 No development zone definition has been changed. It is reduced from

200 meters from the high-tide line to 100 meters only. This has been
done to meet increased demands of housing of fishing and other coastal
communities
 Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), will be prepared with the
participation of local communities.
 Prohibits the mining of sand, rocks and other substrate material
including limestone except for rare minerals like monazite, rutile, oil and
natural gas.
Permissible activities:
 Projects of Department of Atomic Energy; generating power by non-

conventional energy sources and desalination plants according to the
EIA; reconstruction, repair works of dwelling units of local communities

 Permissible activities under these Notifications are required to obtain
clearance from MoEFCC in consultation with central and state
governments
Challenges:
 Habitat Destruction in Coastal zones: reduction of the no-development

zone will further push the sensitive marine ecosystem off the brink.
 CRZ-I criteria prevent new constructions, but there should be harsher
provision for already existing illegal/harmful constructions.
 The vulnerability of coastal areas and communities to disaster and
severe weather events will further increase if constraints are laxed more
and more.
 Cumulative and uncontrolled pollution due to growing urban and rural
demands
 A coastal management plan needs many and relevant stakeholders, for
successful and efficient coastal management and not just result in the
exploitation of resources or communities
 A knowledge base or a platform to share national and international best
practices for coastal management is the need of the hour
Centre rules out boundary changes
Context:
 The Union government has ruled out the possibility of altering the
boundaries of the Kurinji sanctuary.
 In reply to a question by Mullappally Ramachandran in the Lok Sabha,
Union Minister for Forest and Environment Harsh Vardhan said that it
required the permission of the Forest and Wildlife Board.
 The move to limit the boundaries is seen as a move to protect the
encroachments.
Background:
The controversy on the boundaries of the sanctuary started with media reports
on encroachment of revenue land at Kottakambur by Joice George, MP, and
his family by forging documents. The documents were cancelled by the

Devikulam Sub-Collector on November 9. A few other encroachments also
came to light at the Kottakambur and Vattavada villages where the Kurinji
sanctuary was announced by the then Forest Minister Binoy Viswom at the
Kurinji Fest on October 7, 2006, when there was massive flowering of
Neelakurinji.
Kurinji sanctuary
 Kurinjimala Sanctuary protects the approximately 32 hectare core

habitat of the endangered Neelakurinji plantin Kottakamboor and
Vattavada villages in Devikulam Taluk, Idukki district of Kerala State in
South India.
 The sanctuary is home to elephants, gaur, Neelgiri tahr, and deer,
besides several species of birds, snakes, and butterflies.

POLITY
Forest Conservation Act, 1980
In news:
A protest is mounting against the move of the Thirunelly grama panchayat to

launch tarring work on a forest path passing through forestland in the Begur
forest range under the North Wayanad forest division. The construction work
was against the norms of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and guidelines of
the MoEF in 2005.
How will the corridor adversely affect wildlife?
 This critical corridor is frequented by tigers and leopards.

 Panavally is an agrarian village and a check-dam beside the forest path
across the Papanasini River serves as drinking water source for the
elephant population in the region.
Thus, the move to develop the forest path would be a perfect recipe for
instigating man-animal conflicts in that region
Counter-argument:
The road development work through a teak plantation of the Forest

Department would not hamper free movement of wildlife through the
proposed Kudrakode-Thirunelly elephant corridor as the proposed project
underway was nearly 2 km away from the site.The path has been used by
villagers for the past many decades.
Need for such a corridor:
Now it takes a 15-km journey through the forest of the North Wayanad forest
division and the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary to reach Kutta in Karnataka from
Mananthavady. But when the new road opens it would reduce to 1.7-km the
journey through the forest area and it would help to reduce the wildlife stress
and man-animal conflict.

About Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980:
 The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 governs diversion or use of forest

land for non-forest purposes such as industrial or developmental
projects.
 Since forests are an important natural resource and provide us with a
variety of ecological services, the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980
mandates that non-forest land, equal to the size of the forest being
diverted be afforested.
 Since afforested land cannot become a forest overnight, loss of goods
and services like timber, bamboo, fuelwood, carbon sequestration, soil
conservation, water recharge, and seed dispersal are still experienced.
Moreover, the newly afforested land will take around 50 years to start
delivering the comparable goods and services which the diverted land
gave just before diversion.
 To compensate the losses suffered in the interim, the Net Present Value
(NPV) of the diverted forest are computed for a period of 50 years and
recovered from the “user agency” that is diverting the forests.
 The NPV for every patch of forest is computed by an expert committee.
At present, the NPV value varies depending upon the quality (low-quality
forests, very dense forests) of forests.
 Subsequently, the state government needs to transfer this new forest to
the forest department for maintenance and management.
 Thus, any user agency which wishes to divert forest land for non-forest
purposes has to deposit money for NPV as well as for the
compensatory afforestation by the state government.
Kerala Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2017
Contex:
The Kerala High Court on Friday upheld the Kerala Cooperative Societies
(Amendment) Act, 2017, which has brought about certain changes in the
provisions of the Act, especially relating to the voting rights of primary
cooperative credit societies and urban cooperative banks.

What does the amendment say?
 As per the amendments, the voting rights in the district cooperative

bank management boards have been limited to representatives from the
primary agricultural credit societies and urban cooperative banks.
 It has restrained members from holding the office of the president or
vice president of banks for more than two consecutive terms.
Role of the court:
Dismissing the petitions of former presidents and former office-bearers of the

dissolved district cooperative banks challenging the amendments, the court
observed that the attempt of the legislature by bringing in amendments to
the Act was to uphold the principle of democracy. Therefore, the
amendments could not be characterised as interference with the
independence and the autonomy of the societies. The endeavour of the
government could be viewed as a protection of the interest of societies and its
members.
Transgender Persons (Protection Of Rights) Bill 2016
In news:
The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Intersex (LGBTQI) community

activists held a protest march to the Raj Bhavan. The march was against the
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016 which is likely to be tabled
in the winter session of the Parliament.
Highlights of the Bill
 The Bill defines a transgender person as one who is partly female or

male; or a combination of female and male; or neither female nor
male. In addition, the person’s gender must not match the gender
assigned at birth and includes trans-men, trans-women, persons with
intersex variations and gender-queers.
 A transgender person must obtain a certificate of identity as proof of
recognition of identity as a transgender person and invoke rights under
the Bill.

 Such a certificate would be granted by the District Magistrate on the
recommendation of a Screening Committee. The Committee would
comprise a medical officer, a psychologist or psychiatrist, a district
welfare officer, a government official, and a transgender person.
 The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person in areas
such as education, employment, and healthcare. It directs the central
and state governments to provide welfare schemes in these areas.
 Offences like compelling a transgender person to beg, denial of access to
a public place, physical and sexual abuse, etc. would attract up to two
years’ imprisonment and a fine.
Key Issues and Analysis
 The Supreme Court has held that the right to self-identification of

gender is part of the right to dignity and autonomy under Article 21 of
the Constitution. However, objective criteria may be required to
determine one’s gender in order to be eligible for entitlements.
 The Bill states that a person recognised as ‘transgender’ would have the
right to ‘self-perceived’ gender identity. However, it does not provide
for the enforcement of such a right. A District Screening Committee
would issue a certificate of identity to recognise transgender persons.
 The definition of ‘transgender persons’ in the Bill is at variance with the
definitions recognised by international bodies and experts in India.
 The Bill includes terms like ‘trans-men’, ‘trans-women’, persons with
‘intersex variations’ and ‘gender-queers’ in its definition of transgender
persons. However, these terms have not been defined.
 Certain criminal and personal laws that are currently in force only
recognise the genders of ‘man’ and ‘woman’. It is unclear how such laws
would apply to transgender persons who may not identify with either of
the two genders.

Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetlands Act 2008
Contex:
The proposed waste-to-energy plant of the Kochi Corporation at Brahmapuram

has run into fresh trouble with the State-level monitoring committee on Kerala
Conservation of Paddy and Wetlands Act 2008 rejecting the application for
reclamation of the paddy field in Puthenkurishu village for setting up the unit.
Waste-To-Energy Plant Of The Kochi Corporation At Brahmapuram:
 The Project aims to construct a solid waste treatment plant at

Brahmapuram capable of processing 500 tonnes of waste material daily
will adopt the waste-to-energy technology model based on the
incineration method.
 Highlights of the project:
 The project will be an integrated solid waste management plant
with minimum landfill, producing electrical energy output capacity
to cater to the treatment of 500 tonnes of municipal solid waste
per day.
 The operation of the plant will be bound under an agreement by
which the energy generated will be added to the Kerala State
Electricity Board (KSEB) pool.
 Benefits:
 Provide help in converting the non-recyclable and
combustible portion of the waste to electricity.
 It will also reduce the amount of material sent to landfills
besides preventing contamination of air and water.
 Concerned Issue:
1. The local-level monitoring committee (LLMC), which inspected the
proposed site for the construction of the waste-to-energy plant at
Brahmapuram recently, is learnt to have found that at least one-
fourth of the site is paddy land.

What is a Wetland?
Wetland is transitional land between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems where

the water table is usually at or near the surface or it may be land covered by
shallow water. It supports rich biodiversity and provides a wide range of
ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification, flood mitigation,
erosion control, aquifer recharge etc.
There are 115 wetlands officially identified by Central Government and of

those 26 are identified as wetlands of international importance under Ramsar
Convention (an international intergovernmental treaty for the conservation of
wetlands to which India is a party).
Wetlands are threatened by reclamation and degradation due to activities like

drainage and landfills, pollution, hydrological alternation(water withdrawal and
changes in inflow and outflow), over-exploitation resulting in loss of
biodiversity and disruptive in ecosystem services provided by them.
Safeguarding Wetlands:
1. Article 51A of the Constitution stipulates that it shall be the duty of

every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment
including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for
living creatures;
2. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is a comprehensive legislation
to provide protection and improvement of the environment, including
inter-alia, wetlands, and for matters connected therewith;
3. National Environment Policy, 2006 recognises the ecosystem services
provided by wetlands and emphasizes the need to set up a regulatory
mechanism for all wetlands so as to maintain their ecological character,
and ultimately support their integrated management;
4. India is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and is
committed to conservation and wise use of all wetlands within its
territory;

About Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetlands Act 2008:
 An Act to conserve the paddy land and wetland and to restrict the
conversion or reclamation thereof, in order to promote growth in the
agriculture sector and to sustain the ecological system, in the State of
Kerala.
 The Act was enacted in the year 2008.
 The Kerala conservation paddy wetland Act is a progressive step and is
taken in order to prohibit the conversion of paddy and wetland.
Objectives:
o To conserve paddy land and wetland.

o To restrict the conversion or reclamation of such land.
What does the Act prescribe?
 Kerala conservation paddy wetland Act specifically prohibits the owner,

occupier or the person in custody of any paddy land from any activity for
conversion or reclamation of such paddy land and further provides that
suitable incentives would be provided from time to time for paddy
cultivation. To monitor the implementation of the Act local level
committees would be formed. The monitoring committees would be at
the following levels:
 Local Level Monitoring Committee
 District Level Monitoring Committee
 State Level Monitoring Committee
 From the date of commencement of the Act, there is a complete
prohibition on reclamation of wetland and of removal of sand
therefrom. Authorized officers would be further appointed to inspect if
any of the provisions of the Act have been violated.
 The District Collector is further empowered by the Act to take measures
and steps which it deems fit for the purpose of conservation of paddy
lands and wetlands.
 Local authorities shall further not grant a license to any person who
intends to carry out any construction activities on paddy land and if such
a license is granted then the same would be in violation of the Act. The

committees are further empowered to issue directions to the holder of
the paddy land to start cultivation on such land if there has been no
cultivation.
 Any person who converts or reclaims any paddy land or wetland is liable
to be punished by way of fine or imprisonment.
Confusing fact: Similar act and its details are given below
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
 The Centre on September 26 notified a new set of rules under the head
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 replacing the
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
 One of the outstanding rules of the notification is that encroachments
on wetlands stand banned. The rules prohibit solid waste dumping,
discharge of untreated waste and effluents from industries, cities,
towns, villages, and other human settlements into wetlands.
 The new notification is expected to appreciably benefit the State
government’s Haritha Keralam Mission to conserve and protect
wetlands.
 There is considerable scope for the new rules to complement the Kerala
Irrigation and Water Conservation Act, 2003.
 The draft rules had largely sought to dilute the Centre’s onus for wetland
conservation and pass that responsibility to the State governments.
Highlights of Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
State Wetlands Authority (SWA):

It stipulates setting up of SWA in each State/UTs headed by State’s
environment minister and include a range of government officials. The state
government will also nominate one expert each in fields of wetland ecology,
hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and socioeconomics.
Functions of SWA:
It will develop a comprehensive list of activities to be regulated and
permitted within notified wetlands and their zone of influence. It will also
recommend additional prohibited activities for specific wetlands define

strategies wise use of wetlands and its conservation and undertake measures
to enhance awareness within stakeholders and local communities on values
and functions of wetlands. In this case, wise use has been defined as the
principle of sustainable uses that are compatible with conservation.
Prohibited Activities:
The rules prohibit activities like the conversion of wetland for non-
wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, setting up and expansion of
industries, waste dumping and discharge of untreated wastes and effluents
from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements.
Digital inventory of all wetlands:

It is mandatory for state authorities to prepare a list of all wetlands and
list of wetlands to be notified within six months. Based on it, a comprehensive
digital inventory of all wetlands will be created and will be updated every ten
years.
National Wetlands Committee (NWC):

The rules stipulate for setting up of NWC, headed by MoEFCC Secretary,
to monitor implementation of these rules and oversee work carried out by
States. NCW will also advise Central Government on appropriate policies and
action programmes for conservation and wise use of wetlands, recommend
designation of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar
Convention, advise on collaboration with international agencies on issues
related to wetlands etc.
POCSO Act
In news:
A media seminar on POCSO Act, jointly organised by Information and Public

Relations Department, Kollam Press Club and Kerala State Commission for
Protection of Child Rights, aims to strengthen media attention in the area as
part of efforts from government to successfully implement the Act in Kerala.

About the POSCO Act:
What is POCSO?
 The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012
was formed to protect children from offences of sexual abuse, sexual
harassment and pornography and to provide a child-friendly system for
the trial of these offences.
The protection of children from sexual offences act 2012 provides:
 Process definition for different types of child abuse crimes

 Stringent punishments
 Mandatory reporting
 Child-friendly procedures
 Under section 45 of the act, the power to make rules rest with the
central government
 Qualification and experience in interpreters
 Arrangements for care and protection
 Criteria for award of compensation by the special court
Punishment
 The POCSO act also provides provisions for punishment for false
complaint or false information.
 The Act prescribes stringent punishment according to the gravity of the
offence and prescribes rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not

be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life
and also fine as punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault.
 The Act also prescribes imprisonment of either description which may
extend to three years or with fine or with both as punishment for
storage of pornographic material involving the child.
 It also prescribes punishment to the people who traffic children for
sexual purposes.
Positives of the Act
 The Act is a welcome piece of legislation, in that it recognises almost

every known form of sexual abuse against children as punishable
offences, leaving little room for ambiguity in its interpretation.
 Further, by providing for a child-friendly judicial process, the Act
encourages children who have been victims of sexual abuse to bring
their offender to book and seek redress for their suffering, as well as to
obtain assistance in overcoming their trauma.
 It makes the different agencies of the State, such as the police, judiciary
and child protection machinery, collaborators in securing justice for a
sexually abused child.
Criticism
 The POCSO Act, 2012 does not recognize consensual sexual acts among
children or between a child and an adult. And this is where the problem
lies – especially in societies where legal literacy is poor.
Lok Sabha passes triple talaq Bill
Context:
Amidst protests from a few political parties, including those close to the BJP,
the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed by voice vote the Bill that makes instant
triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offence, with a jail term of up to three
years.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Bill — The Muslim Women
(Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 — will act as a deterrent since

there have been 100 cases of triple talaq even after the landmark judgment of
the Supreme Court delivered in August this year.
Background:
Shayara Bano case

 After her husband gave her triple talaq in October 2015, Shayara Bano
approached the Supreme Court in 2016, challenging the validity of the
divorce practices against women followed by Muslims.
 In her petition, Shayara asked the apex Court to declare talaq-e-bidat,
polygamy and nikah halala illegal and unconstitutional on the grounds
that they violate the rights guaranteed by the Constitution under Articles
14, 15, 21 and 25.
 However, her husband opposed Shayara’s plea on the ground that they
were governed by Muslim Personal Law and all the three practices are
sanctified provisions under the very same law.
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017
 Definition- The Bill defines talaq as talaq-e-biddat (instant triple talaq) or

any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a Muslim man resulting in
instant and irrevocable divorce. It makes all forms of declaration of talaq
to be void i.e. not enforceable in law.
 Offence and penalty - The Bill makes a declaration of talaq a cognizable
and non-bailable offence. A husband declaring talaq can be imprisoned
for up to 3 years along with a fine.
 Allowance - A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared is
entitled to seek subsistence allowance from her husband. This applies to
the woman and her dependent children. The amount of the allowance
will be decided by the Magistrate.
 Custody - A Muslim woman against whom such talaq has been declared,
is entitled to seek custody of her minor children. The determination of
custody will be made by the Magistrate.

Terms:
 Talaq
The word Talaq originally meant “rejection” or “repudiation”. In Muslim
law, it means divorce initiated by the husband. Only the husband has a
right to pronounce Talaq. Talaq can be effected in writing (Talaqnama)
or orally.
 Talaq Ul Sunnat
Under this form of Talaq, once the husband initiates Talaq, there has to
be a three-month waiting period (iddat) to factor in three menstrual
cycles of the woman. This time is meant for reconciliation.
 Talaq-e-bidat
It means instantaneous Triple Talaq. Under this form of Talaq, once the
husband pronounces Talaq thrice in one sitting, the divorce occurs
immediately irrespective of iddat. Once pronounced, it cannot be
revoked.
It has no origin in Quran. According to Muslim scholar Tahir Mahmood,
this form traces its origin to the time when the first caliph (Abu
Bakr) used it once so as to grant an instant divorce to a few women who
were no longer willing to stay with their husbands.
 Nikah halala
Under this, if a female divorcee wants to remarry her previous husband
then she has to follow the following

Why should triple talaq be abolished?
 In spite of protests by Muslim women and activists, world-wide the

procedure is still prevalent in most countries.
 There are several instances where ‘triple talaq’ has enabled husbands to
divorce their wives arbitrarily, devoid of any substantiation.
 According to a study, 92% of Muslim women in India want oral triple
talaq to go.
 Oral talaq or ‘triple talaq’ delivered through new media platforms like
Skype, text messages, email and WhatsApp have become an increasing
cause of worry for the community.
 The ‘triple talaq’ has been abolished in 21 countries including Pakistan
but is still prevalent in India.
 The Centre reasons that these practices are against constitutional
principles such as gender equality, secularism, international laws etc.
 The government also argues that when these practices are banned in
Islamic theocratic countries, the practices could have absolutely no base
in religion and are only prevalent to permit the dominance of men over
women.
Criticisms against the bill:
 SC judgement - The Supreme Court, earlier, invalidated the triple talaq

practice by calling it arbitrary and unconstitutional.
 Logically, the pronouncement of talaq-e-biddat does not dissolve the
marriage, and this is the law of the land under Article 141.
 Contradictorily, the Bill presumes that the “pronouncement” of talaq can
instantaneously and irrevocably dissolve the marriage.The bill thus
seems to be misreading the SC’s judgment on talaq.
 Offence - After rendering talaq-e-biddat inoperative, considering it a
cognisable and non-bailable offence seems illogical.
 It raises questions about the validity of the law that criminalises an act
after conceding that it does not result in a crime.

 Post-divorce issues - Making provisions on post-divorce matters like
subsistence allowance and the custody, when the pronouncement
(instant talaq) itself does not dissolve the marriage appear baseless.

AGRICULTURE AND ANIMAL
HUSBANDRY
Kerala plays matchmaker to world’s smallest cattle
Background:
In yet another effort to conserve the smallest cattle breed in the world, the
Muhamma grama panchayat will set up a natural mating centre exclusively for
Vechur cattle on Pathiramanal Island.
About the project:
 The ‘super-speciality’ Vechur cow reproduction centre is touted as the

first of its kind in the State.
 This is an attempt to promote natural breeding of the Vechur cattle. The
panchayat has been offered a purebred Vechur bull by a farmer.
 According to officials, the bull and the cows will be allowed to roam free
and graze on the vast green pastures allowing natural breeding. Once a
cow is impregnated, the animal will be returned to its owner.
 Benefits: Compared to artificial insemination, the conception rate is high
in natural mating.
 The important thing is the selection of the bull and the technical
expertise available to the panchayat.
Vechur cow:
The Vechur cow, a rare breed

of Bos indicus cattle, has an
average length of 124 cm and
height of 87 cm. According to the
Guinness Book of Records, it is the
smallest cattle breed in the world.
It is a low-maintenance breed. In
2000, the Vechur cow was listed on
the FAO’s World Watch List of

Domestic Animal Diversity, in its ‘Critical-Maintained Breeds List’. Vechur cow
takes it nomenclature from a village of the same name.
It was on the brink of extinction until Kerala Agricultural University (KAU)

launched a conservation programme nearly two decades ago under the
leadership of Sosamma Iype, the then Professor of Animal Breeding and
Genetics.
The speciality of the breed:
 Vechur cow milk is considered good for health as it has got a higher
proportion of smaller fat globules and saturated fatty acids - it would be
therapeutically useful in malabsorption syndrome. Thus the Vechur cow
milk and its products are suitable for infants and the sick.
Conservation Movement:
 The Vechur Conservation Project was launched in the Veterinary College,

Thrissur in July 1989 with a small herd of 8 animals including one bull.
Subsequently, two dozen animals were added to the original stock. In
the beginning, the project was funded entirely by the KAU, but soon the
ICAR came to its support with a ‘Scheme on Conservation of Germplasm
of Vechur Cattle’. The ICAR allotted Rs.47 lakh during 1993-98 for the
scheme.
 A vigorous breeding programme was undertaken to produce as many
pure Vechur cattle as possible. Embryo-transfer technology was
employed to produce more progenies of females with good breed
characteristics within a short span of time. Now a nucleus stock of about
135 Vechur cows and bulls is maintained in two farms of the KAU. About
30 field units have also been established with animals supplied from this
stock in various parts of the State.
1.1 lakh animals to get anti-FMD shot
Context:
Arrangements are under way for vaccinating 1,10,000 cloven-footed animals,

including cattle, goat and pigs, in the district as part of the Animal Husbandry
Department’s Statewide intensive vaccination drive against foot-and-mouth

disease (FMD). Humans can be infected with foot-and-mouth disease through
contact with infected animals, but this is extremely rare.
What is Foot-and-mouth disease?
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease, would adversely affect milk

production. The virus responsible for the disease is a picornavirus. Infection
occurs when the virus particle is taken into a cell of the host. The cell is then
forced to manufacture thousands of copies of the virus, and eventually bursts,
releasing the new particles into the blood. The virus is genetically highly
variable, which limits the effectiveness of vaccination.
Clinical signs:
The incubation period for foot-and-mouth disease virus has a range between
one and 12 days. The disease is characterized by high fever that declines
rapidly after two or three days, blisters inside the mouth that lead to excessive
secretion of stringy or foamy saliva and to drooling, and blisters on the feet
that may rupture and cause lameness. Adult animals may suffer weight loss
from which they do not recover for several months, as well as swelling in the
testicles of mature males, and in cows, milk production can decline
significantly.
Transmission:
Transmitted in a number of ways, including close-contact animal-to-animal

spread, long-distance aerosol spread and fomites, or inanimate objects,
typically fodder and motor vehicles.
Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine
Composition:
The vaccine contains a mixture of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Serotype(s) O,
A, Asia 1, propagated in cell culture, inactivated by BEI, concentrated and
emulsified in a mineral oil adjuvant.
Indication:
FMD vaccination is mandatory in the State for getting government benefits and
licences.

 For active immunization of cloven-footed animals against Foot and
Mouth Disease.
 For disease control by routine vaccination in endemic areas.
 For limiting the spread of the disease during outbreaks.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Now, an easy-to-use kit to detect fish contamination
In news:
The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), under the Ministry of

Agriculture, has developed a rapid detection kit that can be used conveniently
by individual buyers to determine formalin and ammonia contents in fish.
There are separate kits for formalin and ammonia contamination detection,
and they comprise strips of paper and a small bottle of chemical solution that
works as a reagent.
How to use?
To detect contamination, one has to rub the strip over the fish and later apply
a drop of the solution on the strip. The result will be known in two minutes.
The kit comes with a colour code indicating the level of contamination.

What is the need for such a kit?
The kits had been developed over a period of six months in the wake of reports
(around 16% of fish samples brought in by Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India officials from local markets had been found contaminated)
of rampant use of chemical agents to preserve fish. Some of these chemicals
are extremely harmful to humans, while formalin is a cancer-causing aldehyde.
Though ammonia is not a cancer-causing chemical, its repeated ingestion can
lead to health problems including injury to the mucous membrane, throat,
oesophagus, and stomach.
Cheaper health care with free software
In news:
 An early warning system that could alert vulnerable communities to a

disease outbreak or verify the status of immunisation would be a boon
to health workers in low-income countries.
 From low-cost medical devices to community-based health and hospital
management systems, Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is opening
up the possibilities of affordable healthcare in regions across the world.
About Free and open-source software (FOSS):
Free and open-source software (FOSS) allows users and programmers to edit,
modify or reuse the software's source code. This gives developers the
opportunity to improve program functionality by modifying it.
The term “free” indicates that the software does not have constraints on
copyrights. The term “open source” indicates the software is in its project
form, enabling easy software development from expert developers
collaborating worldwide without any need for reverse engineering.
The free and open-source software may also be referred to as free/libre open-
source software (FLOSS) or free/open-source software (F/OSS).

EMINENT PERSONS IN NEWS
Kumaran Asan
In news:
Almost 94 years after his death, a memorial to poet Kumaran Asan is getting
ready at Kumarakodi, near Pallana. If things go as planned, the memorial will
be thrown open to the public on January 16, 2018.
About the memorial:
Asan, one of the highly acclaimed poets of Kerala, lost his life in a boat tragedy
at Kumarakodi in 1924.The memorial is being built in the form of a boat and an
ink pen, amalgamating the life and death of the poet. The memorial and
houseboat terminal will be managed by the Kumaranasan Smaraka Samithi.
About Kumaranasan:
 Birthplace: Kayyikkara
(Thiruvananthapuram)
 Born on: 12th April 1873
 The only poet in Malayalam to be
‘Mahakavi’ without writing a ‘Mahakavyam’
 The title ‘Mahakavi’ was given to Asan by
Madras University
 Also known as ‘Sneha Gayakan’
 First Malayalam poet appeared on Indian postal stamp
 First poet to become member of Travancore legislative assembly
 Kumaranasan undertook a studentship in poetry under
Manamboor Govindan Asan
 The work of Asan written in vanchipattu vritham is Karuna
 Vichitravijayam and Mrityumjayam are the plays written by
Kumaranasan
 Veenapoovu was published for the first time in Mithavadi
 Kumaranasan was honoured by the Prince of Wales in 1922
 Kumaru was the childhood name of Kumaranasan

Verghese Kurien
In news:
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
propose Verghese Kurien, the architect of White Revolution for Bharat Ratna,
the country’s highest civilian honour. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the
Chief Minister said that the country would be honouring millions of dairy
farmers by conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr Kurien, who had set an example
for the rest of the world by taking the country to the forefront of milk
producing nations and ensuring a contented life for millions of dairy farmers.
About Verghese Kurien:
 Dr Verghese Kurien was born on November

26, 1921, to an affluent Syrian Christian family
in Calicut (now Kozhikode), Kerala.
 He worked towards bringing a White
Revolution in India and executed the much-needed programme of
"Operation Flood".
 Dr Kurein was the man responsible for turning India from a milk-
deficient country to the largest producer of milk in the world today.
Under his able direction and guidance, around 30 cooperative
institutions like AMUL, IRMA, and NDDB thrived.
 He helped AMUL in pioneering the process of producing milk powder
from buffalo milk which was one of the factors that led to his
appointment as the founder-chairman of National Dairy Development
Board (NDDB).
 His enduring personality, spirit, undying charisma and conviction of
turning the impossible into possible won him many accolades such as
the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership (1963), Padma
Shri (1965), Padma Bhushan (1966), Krishi Ratna Award (1986), World
Food prize (1989), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Economic Times award for
Corporate Excellence (2001) and several other awards, but the best
award that the people of the country gave him was the title "Milkman of
India".

 His works are - I Too Had a Dream (2005), An Unfinished Dream (1997),
The Man Who Made the Elephant Dance.
Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon
In news:
The long-pending demand for a fitting memorial to legendary Pattikkamthodi

Ravunni Menon who redefined Kathakali during early 20th Century will be a
reality soon with his daughter donating 20 cents of land in the artists’ village
Vellinezhi, near here.
About Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon:
 Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon (1880-1948)

was a pivotal figure in the history of Kathakali,
having played a crucial role in remoulding and
refining its grammar in the
famed Kalluvazhi tradition of the classical
dance-drama from Kerala in south India.
 Menon, who was till then said to be focused
solely on the body movement aspect of Kathakali, acquired a major
asset in his profession when he imbibed the essence of emotive acting
(rasabhinaya) under Kunjunni Thampuran.
 It gave birth to a new chapter in the Kalluvazhi style, noted for its
economy of space while moving the body, well-defined hand gestures,
their clinical synchronisation with the musical beats and percussion
accompaniment.
K P Ramanunni
In news:
Noted Malayalam Writer K P

Ramanunni wins 2017 Kendra Sahitya
Akademi award for his novel ‘Daivathinte
Pusthakam’. The award comprises of a purse
of Rs. 1 lakh, a plaque and a citation.

About K P Ramanunni
K. P. Ramanunni is a novelist and short-story writer from Kerala, India. His first
novel Sufi Paranja Katha (What the Sufi Said) won Kerala Sahitya Akademi
award in 1995 and his latest novel daivathinte Pusthakam (God's Own Book).
"Jeevithathinte pusthakam" won 2011 Vayalar Award. Currently, he is
administrator of Thunjan Memorial Trust, Tirur, Kerala. He lives at
Poovattuparmbu, Calicut.
Mannath Padmanabhan
In news:
The 141st Jayanthi celebration of Mannath Padmanabhan,

social reformer and the founding father of the Nair Service
Society (NSS) will commence at Perunna. Mannathu
Padmanathan was born in Perunna village in
Changanacherry.
About Mannath Padmanabhan:
 Mannathu Padmanabhan is a social reformer and a freedom fighter from

Kerala.
 He is recognised as the founder of the Nair Service Society, which claims
to represent the Nair community that constituted almost 14.5% of the
population of the state.
 He is also the founder of Nair Samajam.
 Savarna Jatha was led under his leadership from Vaikkom to Trivandrum.
 In 1924 he took part in the Vaikom and Guruvayoor temple-entry and
anti-untouchability agitation.
 He was the President of Guruvayoor Satyagraha.
 Jeevasikha Yatra from Angamaly to Thiruvananthapuram was also led by
Mannath Padmanabhan.
 Sardar
 KM Panikker praised him as "Madan Mohan Malaviya of Kerala."
 Autobiography of Mannath Padmanabhan is Ente Jeevitha Smaranakal.
 Snehalatha is the novel written by Mannath Padmanabhan. Njangalude
FMS Yatra was the work of Mannath Padmanabhan.

Some factual questions based on news:
1. Which airport of Kerala will commence regional flights, under the central
government’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme?
Answer: Kannur International Airport.
2. Who is the newly appointed chief secretary of Kerala?

Answer: Paul Antony (44th chief secretary – succeeds K M Abraham)
3. Who has received this year's Kendra Sahitya Akademi award for
Malayalam novel?
Answer: K P Ramanunni for ‘Daivathinte Pusthakam’
4. Which movie won the Suvarna Chakoram (Golden Crow Pheasant) award
at the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
Answer: Palestinian film Wajib, directed by Annemarie Jacir (told the
story of the fragile relationship between an estranged father and son)
5. Who is the chairman of Kerala Lalitha kala academy?

Answer: Nemom Pushparaj (Ex- chaiman: T A Satyapal-resigned on
December 14)
6. Which city of kerala is among five places in the world that have been
recognised by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as
success stories in fighting the problem of solid waste.
Answer: Alappuzha (Besides Alappuzha, the other cities on the list
includes Osaka (Japan), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Penang (Malaysia) and
Cajicá (Colombia))
7. What is the decided strength of World Kerala Sabha (Loka Kerala Sabha),
a common discussion platform floated by the State government.
Answer: 351 (Non-Resident Keralites all over the world could nominate
their representatives to the World Kerala Sabha - It would comprise
MLAs and MPs from Kerala, NoRKs nominated by the government, and
also prominent NoRKs who have made a mark in different realms of life).

8. Who is the first Malayalam actress to win the silver peacock in the
International Film Festival of India (IFFI’s) 48-year history?
Answer: Parvathy (movie: Take off)
9. What is the minimum age of alcohol consumption in Kerala?

Answer: 23
10. What is the meaning of ‘Ockhi’?

Answer: Eyes (Bengladesh)

1.KAS Current Affairs Magazine - DeCEMBER 2017

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kastutor.blogspot.

com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 1

About the project:

 In the first phase, Hunger-free Kerala will be implemented in

About Hunger Free City Scheme in Kerala

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 3

 Benefits of Hunger Free City Project in Kerala

Kozhikode in Smart City race

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 4

 The city had strong international, national and intra-State transport

1. Smart City Mission

o The core infrastructure elements in a smart city would include:

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 5

o What are smart solutions?

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 6

o The category of cities that will be covered in the AMRUT is given

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 7

About Hridyam programme

 Hridayam is a unique initiative by the state government to support

Congenital Heart Defects

A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart. It is

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 8

Signs and symptoms of severe defects in newborns include

Aksharasagaram, the coastal literacy project of the Kerala State Literacy

 Aksharasagaram, the State government’s scheme for improving literacy

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 9

 Changathi, a Malayalam literacy programme for migrant workers was

Kerala Cancer Control Strategy (KCCS) 2017-30

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 10

About Kerala Cancer Care Grid (KCCG):

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 11

‘Kayyethum Doorathu’, the special adalats conducted by the Kozhikode district

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 12

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 13

Benefits of the GAIL Pipeline Project:

1. More Power: Building a natural gas infrastructure – which includes the

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 14

Why are people protesting against the GAIL project?

First-anniversary fete of Haritha Keralam inaugurated

Haritha Sangamam, the first anniversary celebrations of the State

About Haritha Keralam Mission:

 Haritha Keralam, an ambitious programme envisaged by the

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 15

Nine community skill parks to be set up in State

The Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) — an initiative of the

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 16

Throwing light on migrants’ issues

The International Migrants Day observance by the Self Employed Women’s

Welfare schemes for migrant workers:

1. Kerala Migrant Workers’ Welfare Programme

 It began in the year 2010

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 17

3. “Awaz Health Insurance Scheme”

 The objective of this scheme is to provide a health insurance

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 18

About Gender Park:

 India’s first Gender Equality convergence centre at Kozhikode was

kastutor.blogspot.com Kerala Current Affairs Magazine – Dec 2017 Page 19

The first instalment of funds was distributed to the beneficiaries of the

The funds will be provided in four instalments, with disbursals of 10 percent,

Important points regarding Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

 This scheme will be implemented during 2015 to 2022.

The features of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are as following:

 The government would provide an interest subsidy of 6.5% on housing