Prelims Focus- 9th October 2023

1.Ummeed

Recent news:

The Ministry of Education has recently published draft guidelines for schools to help prevent student suicides.

About:

• UMMEED is an acronym that stands for Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, and Develop.
• The Department of School Education, which is part of the Ministry of Education, has released this information.

Objectives  of the UMMEED:

• In order to decrease the number of suicides among school students, measures need to be taken.
• These guidelines aim to help schools improve their awareness, empathy, and assistance in situations involving self-harm.
• To reduce the negative perception of mental health issues by using storytelling, organising rallies, creating posters, holding exhibitions, and engaging in other related activities.
• These guidelines perfectly match the holistic education vision of the NEP.
• The plan is to establish School Wellness Teams, provide orientations, and respond promptly to students who are at risk.

Other initiatives:

• The SWT is made up of school counsellors, students, teachers, supporting staff, a representative from the school management committee, all led by the school principal.
• SWT carries out school initiatives to raise awareness about mental health.

2.Sammakka-sarakka

Recent news:

The recent establishment of the Sarakka Central Tribal University in Telangana is a noteworthy event that recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Sammakka-Sarakka festival in the area.

Details:

• • Sammakka and Sarakka were a famous pair of mother and daughter who lived in the Dandakaranya region, which is now a part of Telangana, many centuries ago.

• Sammakka, a woman married to a powerful ruler, along with her daughters, played important roles in fighting against oppressive rulers and taxation on the Koya tribal people. One of her daughters, Saralamma, gave up her life during a battle, and after Sammakka went missing, it was believed that she turned into a red casket.

• The story of Sammakka and Sarakka is very important to the local tribal community and their customs. The Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara, a tribal festival held every two years in Medaram, Telangana, is well-known for being one of the largest gatherings of tribal people in the world.
• The festival, which started with 2,000 attendees, has now become a major event with millions of devotees, and is known as a significant religious gathering in India. It is also called the “Kumbh Mela of the tribals” due to its cultural and spiritual importance.
• The festival has seen participation from various tribal and non-tribal communities, including devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Jharkhand.

Sarakka Central Tribal University:

• The Union cabinet has approved the establishment of the Sarakka Central Tribal University in Mulugu district, Telangana. 
• The university’s goal is to support tribal education and culture by highlighting the academic and cultural importance of the Sammakka-Sarakka legend.

3.2023 Nobel Peace Prize

In News: The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Iranian activist Narges Mohammad “for his fight against the oppression of women in Iran and for his struggle to promote human rights and freedom for all”.

• Mohammad has long fought for women’s rights and  the abolition of the death penalty.  
• She opposed  torture and sexual violence against female political prisoners in Iran. 
• She is currently in custody on charges of spreading anti-state propaganda and defamation and has been sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison. 
• Honors/Awards – She was included in the BBC’s list of 100 inspirational and influential women from around the world.  
• Inspired by her work, “Women’s Freedom of Life” was adopted as  the slogan of the protestors’ struggle. 
• The awards she received are e.g 
  • 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 
  • 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award

4.Caravan Park in Kerala

In News: It is the first Public Sector Caravan Park in Kerala to come up at Bekal in Kasaragod.

• Caravan park – This is where people with caravans can stay overnight or longer in areas reserved for them, known as “sites” or “campgrounds.” 
  • It is developed as part of the film tourism project, which aims to show the best places to attract tourists.  
• Location – in a natural environment that offers a stress-free environment. 
• Top priority – Safety, security and hygiene features.  
• Ownership – private sector, public sector or joint sector. 
• Tourism Facilitation Center (TFC) –  TFC will be constructed to provide adequate facilities and infrastructure for tourists/campers. 
  • Responsive tourism-friendly policy aims to promote sustainable economic growth that also benefits the local community and does not harm the local environment.

5.India’s 1st Solar City

In News: Sanchi, the historic home of the Stupa, became India’s first “solar city”.

• Features – 5,572 solar panels on an area of ​​4.98 hectares provide energy from 9:00 am until 4:00 p.m. 
• The total Sanchi solar project  will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 14,324 tons per year. 
• It currently includes a 3 MW solar power plant that covers the  energy needs of the city. 
• A 5 MW plant for agricultural needs is also under construction.  
• Another similar facility is coming up at Gulgaon village, which will have 5 MW solar power equipped with 11,722 solar panels. 
• Madhya Pradesh has also initiated the construction of a 600 MW  solar power plant on the waters of the Omkareshwar dam. 
• Once Sanchi is completed, this energy becomes surplus

6.Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL)

In News: The Union Ministry has decided that  Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) belongs to Telangana.

• Ownership: It is a state-owned coal mining company owned by the Government of Telangana and the Government of India on a 51:49 share basis. 
• Nomenclature: It is named after Singareni village  in Khammam district of Telangana where  coal mines were first noticed. 
  • Collieries means  coal mines and all associated infrastructure. 
• Area covered: Singaren coal deposits extend 350 km from Pranhita – Godavari valley in Telangana.  
  • The Pranahita River is the largest tributary of the Godavari River.  
  • The river originates from the confluence of two rivers (Wardha and  Wainganga) on the border  of Maharashtra and Telangana states.

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