Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme to contonue

Ministry of Textiles has approved continuation of Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 160 crore. The scheme will continue up to March 2026. Infrastructural support, market access, design and technology up-gradation support etc will be provided to handicrafts artisans under this scheme.Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme aims to create world-class infrastructure that caters to the business needs of the local artisans and small and medium-sized enterprises to boost production and export. The main objective of setting up these clusters is to assist the artisans and entrepreneurs to set up world-class units with modern infrastructure, latest technology, and adequate training and human resource development inputs, coupled with market linkages and production diversification. Under Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme, soft interventions like Baseline Survey and Activity Mapping, Skill Training, Improved Tool Kits, Marketing events, Seminars, Publicity, Design workshops, Capacity Building, etc will be provided.

-Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday released UNICEF’s global flagship publication - “The State of the World’s Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health in New Delhi. The report details the significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.Describing significance of the report which focuses on mental health, Mandaviya  said that Mental Health is both an old issue and an emerging issue.He highlighted that “COVID-19 was a test of mental stress for the entire society.He recounted his personal experience as the Pharmaceuticals Minister during the second surge of COVID19. He added that Yoga, deep breathing and cycling helped him to overcome the stress.The Minister acknowledged that it is very vital to address mental health as an important aspect for creating a healthy society. He noted that teachers are very important stakeholders for addressing mental health issues along with parents and family. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan noted that Mental Health and Physical Health are two sides of the same coin. He underscored the prevalence of societal stigma associated with mental health issues. He also highlighted the lack of full-time student-counsellors in several reputed schools. UNICEF India Representative Dr. Yasmin Ali Haque  presented some key findings of the report. As per the report, around 14 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds in India, or 1 in 7 of them , reported often feeling depressed or having little interest in doing things

-Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas is taking steps to effectively tackle dust pollution emanating from roads, right of way and open areas spread across the National Capital Region, NCR.The approach is to strategically strengthen the dust mitigation measures with innovative solutions to curb the dust pollution sources. To this end, directions have been issued by CAQM to all road owning or maintaining or road construction agencies of the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi GNCTD to set up Dust Control and Management Cells in their states.The Cell will regularly monitor the compliance of road dust control measures by the authorities concerned and will also keep track of the progress of measures undertaken. Apart from this, exhaustive reports prepared on a monthly basis by the cell will help in the fight against dust pollution more systematically.CAQM has formulated a 10-point dust monitoring parameter in this regard. This parameter involves a variety of measures that needs to be strictly adopted by the Dust Control and Management Cells. 

-In West Bengal, the government has issued guidelines for the upcoming Durga Puja, keeping in view the safety measures due to the pandemic. In compliance with the order of the Calcutta High Court, the Puja committees have been asked to keep the pandals spacious and open from all sides.Separate entry and exit gates with prominent floor marking to be there to ensure physical distancing norms. Puja organizers have been asked to make masks and hand sanitizers available for the visitors.Cultural programmes in and around puja pandals will not be allowed and the immersion carnival, usually organised by the state government, has also been cancelled for this year.-