SAFAIMITRA SURAKSHA CHALLENGE

Subject : Current Events

Context : Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the “Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge”.

Concept :

• The challenge aims to ensure that no life of septic tank or sewer cleaner is lost during cleaning. The challenge stresses on the fact that safety and dignity of sanitation workers is the core of Swachh Bharat Mission.
• The Challenge was launched on the occasion of World Toilet Day. The results of the challenge are to be announced on independence day. The challenge aims to promote mechanized cleaning.
• The prizes to the participating cities are to be awarded in three sub categories as follows:
• Cities with population more than 10 lakhs.
• Cities with population 3-10 lakhs.
• Cities with population less than 3 lakhs

Additional Information :

• The Government of India has legislated The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Rehabilitation Act, 2013 to protect manual sewer cleaners. The act aims to prohibit manual entry into a sewer without protective gears. The Key Features of the Act are as follows
• To prohibit construction or maintenance of insanitary toilets
• To prohibit persons employed in hazardous cleaning
• To prohibit employment of an individual as a manual scavenger.

Additional Facts :

• The SARS-CoV-2 vaccine developed by teams at the University of Oxford has been shown to trigger a robust immune response in healthy adults aged 56 to 69 and those over 70.The findings published in the medical journal Lancet .
• Vaccine maker Serum Institute of India’s CEO said the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine should be available for healthcare workers and elderly people by around February 2021 and by April for the general public, and will be priced at a maximum of ₹1,000 for two necessary doses for the public.
• Expressing confidence that a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready in three or four months, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said the government had drawn up a meticulous priority plan with healthcare workers and those above 65 years on top of the list.
• President Xi Jinping hailed China as the pivot point for global free trade on APEC Meeting, vowing to keep its “super-sized” economy open for business and warning against protectionism as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Data Protection Bill questioned representatives of Twitter on the “selective removal and suspension of accounts”.
• The panel had asked Twitter to explain its policy regarding suspension of accounts and removing “offensive” tweets.