NeVA Digital House project of Guj legislative assembly (GS Paper 2, Governance)
Why in news?
- Recently, the President of India launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) Digital House project of the Gujarat legislative assembly in Gandhinagar.
Details:
- The NeVA project, inspired by Prime Minister’s visionary concept of 'One Nation, One Application,' is a significant step towards making the Assembly proceedings entirely paperless.
About NeVA:
- The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a Unicode-compliant software developed to make all legislative body work and data available online for usage by both citizens and Assembly members. NeVA also includes a website and a mobile app.
- This software allows for simple access to many documents such as the list of questions, list of businesses, and reports, among others.
- NeVA also embodies the concept of 'One Nation, One Application' with the objective of Cloud First and Mobile First to serve Members FIRST.
Background:
- Prime Minister proposed a 'One Nation, One Legislative Platform' in November 2021.
- Till now, 21 State legislatures have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the NeVA and the project has been sanctioned for 17 Legislatures and funds have been released to them for implementation of the project.
- Among them, 9 Legislatures have already become fully digital and are live on the NeVA platform. They are conducting all their business end to end in a digital and paperless manner.
NABARD partners with UNDP India for data-driven innovations in agriculture
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- Recently, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-create data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems to support smallholder farmers.
- Under the MoU, the organisations will work to improve lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by sharing open-source data for product development, transfer of technology and supporting the framing of agrarian policies.
DiCRA:
- The partnership aims at enhancing and disseminating collaborative digital public goods like DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture).
- DiCRA provides open access to key geospatial datasets pertinent to climate resilient agriculture.
- DiCRA, which is curated by UNDP and partner organisations to inform public about investments in agriculture, already provides intelligence on climate resilience for 50 million hectares of farmland across the country.
- NABARD will host and maintain the DiCRA platform and use its key geospatial datasets for policy making, research and development activities, with UNDP's technical support.
Way Forward:
- Such open data innovations can highlight best practices, optimise agriculture investments and shelter populations from various risks.
- The collaboration will strengthen support to build sustainable agricultural practices and secure livelihoods, reducing the vulnerability of small farm holders, especially women.
India urges Sri Lanka government to keep its promises on the Tamil issue
(GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- India said the progress made by Sri Lanka, on its commitment to fulfill the Tamils’ aspirations, was “inadequate” and urged the island nation to “work meaningfully” to keep its promises.
Details:
- The remark was made by India at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva at its ongoing 54th session.
- The position was consistent with India’s remarks in 2022 that voiced concern over the “lack of measurable progress”.
- India’s intervention at the ‘Interactive Dialogue’, comes in the wake of the latest report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka’.
Economic challenges:
- If the country’s past is troubled, its present is marred by recent devastating financial meltdown that has left over half its population vulnerable.
- With soaring poverty levels and the enduring impact of the crisis, it has an estimated 37% of households faced acute food insecurity.
- Further, there are limits placed on citizen’s political participation and free expression, owing to the delays in holding local government elections, and in reconstituting Provincial Councils under the 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution.
- There are escalating tensions in the island’s north and east, due to land acquisition “for expansion of military installations, Buddhist heritage conservation at Hindu or Muslim sites, and forestry protection.
India’s stand:
- India reiterated its position on power devolution, citing its “two guiding principles” of support for the aspirations of Tamils for equality, justice, dignity, and peace; and for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
- India hoped that the Government of Sri Lanka will fulfil the aspirations of Tamils for equality, justice and peace and its commitment to implement the 13th Amendment and conduct Provincial Council elections to ensure a life of respect and dignity for Tamils in Sri Lanka.
