Keeping Asia-Pacific afloat
By, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is Executive Secretary of ESCAP
Thriving marine environment
For generations, the Asia-Pacific region has thrived on our seas.
The seas provide food, livelihoods and a sense of identity, especially for coastal communities in the Pacific island states.
Escalating strains on the marine environment are threatening to drown progress and our way of life.
Threats to Marine Environment
While the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily reduced pollution, this should not be a moment of reprieve. Rather, recovery efforts need to build a new reality, embedded in sustainability.
Lack of data
Insights from ‘Changing Sails: Accelerating Regional Actions for Sustainable Oceans in Asia and the Pacific’, the theme study of this year’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), reveal that without data, we are swimming in the dark.
Data are available for only two out of ten targets for the Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Life Below Water’.
Due to limitations in methodology and national statistical systems, information gaps have persisted at uneven levels across countries.
Solutions
Way Ahead
Through the Ocean Accounts Partnership, ESCAP is working with countries to harmonise ocean data and provide a space for regular dialogue.Translating international agreements and standards into national action.
Our oceans keep our economy and our lives above the waves. In the post-COVID-19 era, we must use the years ahead to steer our collective fleets toward sustainable oceans.
Source: TH
Post-lockdown guidelines | Work from home may stay for government staff
In a post-lockdown scenario, Centre will continue with staggered and variable work hours and the Personnel Ministry has floated a draft consultation paper to adopt best work from home practices for Central government employees.
Draft guidelines
Source: TH
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) Programme launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA), in Mission mode envisions provision of Housing for All by 2022, when the Nation completes 75 years of its Independence. The Mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers through following programme verticals:
Beneficiaries:
The mission seeks to address the housing requirement of urban poor including slum dwellers.
Note: A slum is defined as a compact area of at least 300 people or about 60 - 70 households of poorly built congested tenements in unhygienic environment usually with inadequate infrastructure and lacking in proper sanitary and drinking water facilities.
At the slum decadal growth rate of 34%, the slum households are projected to go upto 18 million. 2 million non-slum urban poor households are proposed to be covered under the Mission. Hence, total housing shortage envisaged to be addressed through the new mission is 20 million.
Scope
“Housing for All” Mission for urban area is being implemented during 2015-2022 .
Mission will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) except for the component of credit linked subsidy which will be implemented as a Central Sector Scheme.
Mission with all its component has become effective from the date 17.06.2015 and will be implemented upto 31.03.2022.
Source: VIKASPEDIA
Chitra GeneLAMP-N
N gene test
Source: TH
Poumai Naga Tribe
Source: TH
6.5-km two-lane tunnel road to Wayanad gets the nod
Source: TH
Perumon bridge and Naluchira bridge
Source: TH
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