ODISHA

A national seminar on Sustainable Environment 2023: Solution to Plastic Pollution was inaugurated by Minister, Department of Forest, Environment & https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Paradeep Kumar Amat.

The programme was organised by the Institute of Quality and Environment Management Services (IQEMS) in association with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board and the State Productivity Council.

Revenue & Disaster Management Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi reviewed the programme which aims to reduce the physical interface between citizens and Government offices and to deliver service in online mode.

Dematerialisation of e-Stamp certificate for execution of lending agreements is one initiative to achieve this objective.

The e-Stamping system is in operational in the State since June 2016 wherein the e-Stamp Certificate is physically printed on a paper in token of payment of stamp duty for all types of instruments.

Government data has revealed that family planning is gaining pace in the state.

According to the data, while total sterilisation cases were 55,072 in 2020-21, but it increased to 83,143 in 2021-22 and 85,219 in 2022-23 (till February 2023). Intake ofcontraception pillsand use ofcondomshave also increased in the state.

According to government data, both male and female sterilisation cases have increased since 2020-21. Of seven contraception methods propagated by the , intake of contraceptionpillshas sharply increased over the years.

Only 1,587 Women were taking these pills in 2018-19. The number doubled the next year. In 2020-21, as many as 17,260 women had taken these pills. The number increased to 1,38,663 in 2021-22 and more than two lakh in 2022-23 (till February).

Besides, it was also supposed to reduce the adverse socio-economic impact resulting from HIV infection and to coordinate and strengthen STD, HIV, AIDS surveillance. But unfortunately, the functioning of OSACS is virtually in a shambles. Prevention is the best strategy of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and NACP-IV focuses on early detection and continued care and support to the high-risk vulnerable communities to prevent further infection in the Society.

These high risk populations includes Women sex workers, intravenous drug users, trans-sexual and transgender (TSTG), men having sex with men (MSM) and bridge Population like migrants and truckers.

In Odisha, high-risk prevalent districts such as Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Jharsuguda and Cuttack where targeted intervention project has failed because of closure of project owing to non-selection of implementation partners since 2015. The Central Government is providing nearly 1 crore annually for these seven districts which are unspent besides crores of other grants. The OSACS sought expression of interest many times but could not materialise it. In 2020 OSACS again invited expression of interest from various NGOs, but no proactive steps have been taken, which has put the fate of vulnerable community in jeopardy.

Come March 20 every year, Odias across the globe celebrate the popular traditional Odia dish pakhala the fermented water rice. Started as an online campaign,Pakhala Divasemerged as a mass festival with a series ofpakhalaparties and feasts being planned.
The quintessential Odia dish of pakhala is savoured with a platter of vegetarian and non-veg side dishes. Hotels and restaurants across the state geared up for the day, notwithstanding the cloudy weather this year.

According to Health experts, pakhala is probiotic rich due to the presence of lactic acid and helps in digestion, gut-friendly and improves body immunity. After Fermentation the rice becomes rich in nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Odisha was awarded the Best State for the Promotion of Sports at the 2023 Sportstar Aces 2023 Awards here on Monday. The State won this prestigious award for the fourth time.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik received the award from Hindu editor Suresh Nambath and legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar. He dedicated the award to the people of Odisha. He lauded the hard work and commitment of the States athletes.

To promote sports and fitness in the Society, Odisha is developing 90 multipurpose indoor halls across all urban areas.

After reporting more than 10,000 Covid cases for over a week now, the state on Friday saw a drop in the single-day infection count (9,833), prompting medical experts to predict an early decline. At 13.20%, the positivity was 3% less than last week. The government confirmed six more fatalities, taking the total Covid deaths to 8,507.

The decline in both the infection count and the test positivity rate (TPR) indicate that the state has either already hit the peak or its just days away from doing so.

The state has been testing around 70,000 swab samples every day. In thecapitalcity alone, close to 10,000 samples are being put to mostly rapid antigen test at healthcare institutions and in mobile vans. In villages, the testing facility is available even at the primary healthcare-centre level.