Pib

Pib

1. Independent survey shows a family saves Rs 50,000 a year by investing in a toilet; Return on investment in a toilet for a family 430% (Very Important)
Swachhata Hi Seva campaign is seeing large scale mobilization of people from all walks of life to undertake shramdaan for cleanliness and construction of toilets, and cleaning up of public and tourist places. He particularly appreciated the tremendous efforts being made by school children, central police services and defence personnel.
5 States, nearly 200 districts and nearly 2.4 lakh villages across the country have already declared themselves as Open Defecation Free. 1.5 lakh villages have ranked themselves on the Village Swachhta Index based on the solid and liquid waste management in the villages. He also quoted an independent survey conducted across 140,000 households by the Quality Council of India, which found household toilet usage to be 91%.
He also shared with the media present, the results of an independent survey conducted by UNICEF across 10000 households in 12 States of the country, to measure the economic impact of sanitation at a household level. He said the survey found that, in fully ODF communities, considering the medical costs averted, value of mortality averted, and the value of time savings, an average family that invests in a toilet will save Rs 50,000 per year.
The cost-benefit ratio of a household found in the study was 430% in fully ODF communities. This meant that a single rupee invested in sanitation, allows a family to save Rs 4.30. He added that these benefits are the highest for the poorest quintile of the population in a community, which was encouraging as it established that improved sanitation helps the poorest of the poor the most.

2. Union Home Minister operationalises the New Intelligence Set-up of SSB
Guarding country’s open borders more challenging: Shri Rajnath Singh
SSB has been declared as the Lead Intelligence Agency (LIA) for both the Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan borders
This was quite essential as the operations of SSB have to be Intelligence based so as to prevent criminals and smugglers from taking advantage of the friendly borders with Nepal and Bhutan.
Job of SSB is much more demanding and challenging since it is vested the responsibility of guarding open borders unlike other borders. This makes the task much more challenging and demands highest alertness to check illegal activities like smuggling of arms, Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), drugs and human-trafficking.
Commending the leadership shown by Smt. Archana Ramasundaram, who is the first woman to head any CAPF, the Union Home Minister said she has proved her mettle by leading a paramilitary force with exemplary skills.
Later Shri Rajnath Singh released the book “Pride of India”, a compilation on SSB martyrs and awardees. He also distributed scholarships to children of SSB martyrs.

3. Training programme for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) emergencies at Chennai Airport
The programme consists of lectures as well as field training, including live demonstrations of detection and decontamination, including use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Even a small CBRN related event can cause panic among people at the airports. It is, therefore, important that airport emergency handlers are able to respond appropriately till the arrival of highly trained and better equipped response teams.

4. 11.0% growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals in August, 2017 over August, 2016 71.3% growth in Foreign Tourist Arrivals on e-Tourist Visa in August, 2017 over August, 2016
• The number of FTAs in August, 2017 were 7.24 lakh as compared to FTAs of 6.52 lakh in August, 2016 and 5.99 lakh in August, 2015.
• The percentage share of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during August 2017 among the top few source countries was highest from Bangladesh (21.26%) followed by USA (11.60%), UK (9.46%), Sri Lanka (6.41%).

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) on e-Tourist Visa:
• During the month of August, 2017 total of 1.13 lakh tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 0.66 lakh during the month of August 2016 registering a growth of 71.3%.
• The percentage shares of top few source countries availing e- Tourist Visa facilities during August, 2017 were as follows:
UK (12.6%), USA (9.6%), UAE (6.7%), Spain (6.3%),

5. First ever National Conference on “Mission Mode to address Under-Nutrition” to be held in New Delhi tomorrow with The goal “Malnutrition Free India-2022”.
Ministry of Women and Child Development has identified 113 districts across the States/UTs based on the composite index of NITI Ayog and prevelance of stunting from NFHS-4 data.
These awarded States are Chattisgarh, Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat for reducing prevalence of stunting in population.
The problem of malnutrition is inter-generational and is dependent on multiple factors which inter-alia, include proper Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, Immunization, Institutional Delivery, Early Childhood Development, Food Fortification, Deworming, access to safe drinking water & proper sanitation (WASH), Dietary diversification, full ANC checkup, early initiation of breast feeding.