Today's Brief 31/07/2024

1. E-SeHAT: The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has launched the Electronic Services e-Health Assistance and Tele-consultation (E-SeHAT) module on 30th July 2024.

The E-SeHAT Tele-consultancy would enable ECHS beneficiaries in obtaining online Tele-consultation for medical treatment from their homes without visiting the ECHS Polyclinic. The module aims to provide health care services through safe and structured video based clinical consultations.

The pilot project has been launched today at 12 ECHS Polyclinics including remote locations of Baramulla, Imphal, Churachandpur, Dimapur and Aizawal. The 12 ECHS Polyclinics tele-consulted remotely located ECHS beneficiary ex-servicemen before its pan India Roll Out planned in November 2024.

2. International Tiger Day 2024: celebrated on July 29 each year, aims to raise awareness about tiger conservation. In 2024, this day continues to highlight the plight of tigers and the urgent need to protect these magnificent creatures and their habitats.

Significance of the Day

1. Awareness and Advocacy: International Tiger Day serves as a platform to spread awareness about the critical issues facing tigers, such as habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. It encourages global advocacy for the protection and preservation of tiger populations.

2. Conservation Efforts: The day underscores the importance of conservation efforts and initiatives aimed at increasing tiger populations in the wild. This includes habitat restoration, anti-poaching measures, and community engagement programs.

3. Global Cooperation: International Tiger Day promotes collaboration among governments, NGOs, and local communities to implement effective conservation strategies and policies. It emphasizes the need for a unified approach to saving tigers from extinction.

Current Status of Tigers

1. Population: As of 2024, the global tiger population remains endangered, with around 3,900 tigers left in the wild. Conservation efforts have seen some success in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Russia, where tiger numbers have shown a positive trend.

2. Threats: Tigers continue to face significant threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation, human encroachment, and infrastructure development. Poaching for tiger parts used in traditional medicine and the illegal wildlife trade remains a severe problem.

3. Protected Areas: Establishing and maintaining protected areas and wildlife corridors is crucial for providing tigers with safe habitats. Efforts to create tiger reserves and sanctuaries have been instrumental in stabilizing and increasing tiger populations in some regions.

Celebrating International Tiger Day 2024

1. Events and Campaigns: Various events, campaigns, and educational programs are organized worldwide to mark International Tiger Day. These include wildlife documentaries, social media campaigns, fundraising events, and public lectures on tiger conservation.

2. Community Involvement: Engaging local communities living near tiger habitats is vital for successful conservation. Community-based conservation projects empower locals to take an active role in protecting tigers and their ecosystems.

3. Educational Initiatives: Schools, universities, and conservation organizations run educational programs to teach the younger generation about the importance of tigers and biodiversity. These initiatives aim to inspire future conservationists and advocates.

Key Messages

1. Protect Habitats: Safeguarding and restoring tiger habitats is essential for their survival. Efforts must focus on reducing deforestation, promoting sustainable land-use practices, and preserving natural ecosystems.

2. Combat Poaching: Strengthening anti-poaching measures and law enforcement is critical to protecting tigers. International cooperation is needed to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks and ensure strict penalties for poachers.

3. Support Conservation Organizations: Supporting organizations dedicated to tiger conservation through donations, volunteering, and advocacy can make a significant impact. Public support and involvement are crucial for the success of conservation efforts.

International Tiger Day 2024 is a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by tigers and the collective responsibility to ensure their survival.

NTCA( National Tiger Conservation Authority)

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it under the said Act.

NTCA has been fulfilling its mandate within the ambit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for strengthening tiger conservation in the country by retaining an oversight through advisories/normative guidelines, based on appraisal of tiger status, ongoing conservation initiatives and recommendations of specially constituted Committees.

The ‘Project Tiger’ is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, providing funding support to tiger range States for in-situ conservation of tigers in designated tiger reserves, and has put the endangered tiger on an assured path of recovery by saving it from extinction, as revealed by the recent findings of the All India tiger estimation using the refined methodology.

Project Tiger

The Government of India has taken a pioneering initiative for conserving its national animal, the tiger, by launching the “Project Tiger” in 1973. From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 51 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range states.

This amounts to around 2.23% of the geographical area of our country.

The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy. The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area.

The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger reserves, with an inclusive people oriented agenda in the buffer.

Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change providing central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body of the Ministry, with an overarching supervisory / coordination role, performing functions as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The ADG (Project Tiger) and his officers also service the NTCA. The Regional Offices of the NTCA have been recently established at Bengaluru, Guwahati and Nagpur, each headed by an IGF and assisted by an AIG.

3.Anti Collision System (Kavach):

Kavach is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system that has been developed in India by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with three Indian companies.

Functionality

Kavach not only controls train speeds but also assists locomotive drivers in avoiding missed danger signals, ensuring safe train operations, particularly in conditions of low visibility.

How It Works

1. Automatic Braking: Kavach automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to do so in a timely manner, thereby controlling the speed of the train.

2. RFID Tags: RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags are strategically placed on tracks, at station yards, and at signals. These tags help in identifying the tracks, locating the train, and determining its direction.

3. Safety Mechanism Activation: When activated, the system stops all trains within a 5-kilometer radius to allow a train on an adjacent track to pass safely.

4. On Board Display of Signal Aspect (OBDSA): This feature allows loco pilots to view signals even in poor visibility conditions caused by adverse weather, eliminating the need for them to look out of the window to spot signals.

5. Red Signal Warning: The safety system sends a warning to the loco pilot when approaching a 'red signal' and, if necessary, automatically applies the brakes to prevent the train from overshooting the signal.

Thanks For Visiting!!