Hindu Notes from General Studies-01

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Andhra Pradesh’s Savara tribal art gasps for survival

News

• The Savara tribal art Edisinge that once flourished in the Eastern Ghats, is on the verge of extinction owing to the change in the religious profile and lifestyle of the community.

Beyond News

• Until 2011, the number of Edisinge artists was below 15 in Srikakulam district, home to the Savara tribe in Andhra Pradesh, with a population of above 1.05 lakh.
• Theye started the Savara Art Society in 2011 to revive our art as some of the surviving artists are too old to practise it, Savara Raju of Addakulaguda hamlet told.
• Raju, inherited the art from his father China Sumburu, trained a batch of 30 youths of their tribe through the SAS, but barely three are now actively practising it.
• The tribe’s association with nature and wildlife is vividly depicted through drawings on mud walls by using vermillion, rice powder and charcoal. The lifestyle, modes of agriculture, hunting, festivals and life in the forest are the prime themes. The art works are replaced by new ones once in two or five years.
• Kothuru-based NGO Sanjeevani on Savara tribal issues in Srikakulam district. The Seetampeta Integrated Tribal Development Authority has also been striving to revive it in many ways. The Edisinge artists have been given projects by the Indian Railways and the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority with the twin objectives of promoting the art and giving youth of the tribe a chance to earn their livelihood.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Instant triple talaq Bill: Cabinet approves inclusion of provision of bail

News

• The Union Cabinet on approved the inclusion of provision of granting bail to men found guilty of giving instant triple talaq to their wives in the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill, sources in the government said.

Beyond News

• Giving instant triple talaq will continue to be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.
• The Bill was cleared by Lok Sabhaand is pending in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers.
• Provision of bail had been one of the demands of the Opposition.
• Under the amendments cleared, the magistrate would have powers to grant bail, the sources said.
• The proposed law would only be applicable to instant triple talaq or ‘talaq-e-biddat’ and it would give power to the victim to approach a magistrate seeking “subsistence allowance” for herself and minor children.
• A woman can also seek the custody of her minor children from the magistrate, who will take a final call on the issue.

SC asks TN to seal 11 resorts on Nilgiris elephant corridor within 48 hrs

News

• The Supreme Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to seal or close down within 48 hours 11 resorts and hotels constructed on the elephant corridor of Nilgiris in violation of law.

Beyond News

• A Bench directed the owners of the other resorts and hotels located in the area to place their documents of approval before the Collector within 24 hours.
• The apex court said the Collector will verify the documents and if he arrives at the conclusion that a resort or hotel has been constructed without prior approval, the same should also be closed down within 48 hours.
• The Bench, said elephants were our “national heritage” and expressed displeasure as to how constructions had come up on the elephant corridor of Nilgiris.
• The counsel had also told the court that around 18,000 elephants came to Tamil Nadu during the monsoon season and the court should direct that the power connection to these resorts and hotels be snapped.
• The apex court had earlier said it was “extremely unfortunate” that several states had not responded to two communications sent by the Centre on the issue of elephant corridors to curb incidents of human-animal conflict and reduce animal fatalities.
• The Centre had told the court that a committee was formed to consider the suggestions, including making corridors across the country for the safe passage of elephants and other endangered animals.
• The apex court had stressed on the need to have elephant corridors across the country to reduce animal fatalities due to accidents and other reasons and asked the Centre to come up with some “workable solution” in this regard.
• The Centre had told the court that there were 27 “critical” elephant corridors in 22 states, but despite the top court’s directions, 13 of those states had not responded to the government on the matter.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Kerala rains, Shutter of Cheruthoni dam opened after 26 years; death toll rises to 22

News

• Unrelenting rains in Kerala have caused rising water levels, landslips and flooding across the Kerala State in the last few days.

Beyond News

• Heavy rain and landslips in the eastern hill areas of the district bordering Karnataka forced many families to move to nearby safer places as they are in danger of being inundated by flooding in the Iritty river and its tributary that form the upstream of the Valapattanam and Kuppam rivers.
• At least 22 people have died in Kerala due to heavy rains and landslides, the Home Ministry said.
• Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), comprising 45 personnel each, have left Chennai for Kerala to assist the rescue and relief operations.
• An Inter-Ministerial Central Team of the Central government is also visiting flood-affected areas in Kerala, while Army troops are being mobilised from Bengaluru for deployment in the rain-battered southern State.
• Water levels rise in various dams and reach almost their maximum capacity.
• One shutter of the Cheruthoni dam in Idukki has been opened to ease the pressure of water on the Idukki hydel reservoir. This has been done after a gap of 26 years.

Mouse deer reintroduction into wild successful: zoo

News

• The first batch of mouse deer released by the Nehru Zoological Park into the wild habitat are adapting well as evidenced through the camera traps, and more animals will be released shortly, a press statement from the zoo said.
• Nehru Zoological Park is a zoo located near Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the most visited destinations in Hyderabad.

Beyond News

• The zoo had released eight mouse deer from the soft release site inside Amrabad forest area, into the wild, in first phase of the project. Buoyed by the response, the authorities are hopeful of successful reintroduction of all the 300 deer bred in zoo, into the wild.
• The conservation breeding in the zoo began in 2010 with two males and four females. Funded and monitored by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi. the number has grown to 300. The guidelines and protocol of CZA have been strictly followed while taking up the conservation breeding.
• Genetic profiling of these animals was done by LaCONES, whereby suitable animals were identified for release into natural forest.
• Once the conservation breeding is successful, it was decided to enter into the second phase of conservation, which was introduction into the natural habitats. For this, a total of 28 animals were first released phase-wise into the two-acre mouse deer rehabilitation and soft release facility at Pichakuntla Cheruvu, Amrabad forest area, Achampet, Nagarkurnool district, before eight among them were released into wild, the note said.
• The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) guidelines for reintroduction of the wild animals are being followed while taking up the release into the soft release facility and further release into the wild, it said.

NGT directs closure of UP industrial units polluting rivers

News

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT)directed closure and registration of cases against 124 industrial units in western Uttar Pradesh that have been found polluting the Kali, the Krishna and the Hindon.

Beyond News

• A Bench directed the District Magistrates of six districts to submit an action plan for providing potable water to the villagers.
• Observing that people have a fundamental right to clean air and water, the green panel, further, directed the State government to seal handpumps that are discharging contaminated water.
• Authorities have also been asked to formulate health benefit schemes for residents who are suffering from ailments caused after using the polluted water.
• The directions came while the tribunal was hearing a plea filed by non-government organisation Doaba Paryavaran Samiti, which alleged the consumption of polluted water had led to serious health hazards among children as well.
• Earlier, the green panel had directed inspection of 316 industries that were allegedly polluting the rivers.
• The tribunal had also rapped the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam for non-compliance with orders passed in 2015, that had directed sealing of handpumps releasing contaminated groundwater.

Flood alert issued along Cauvery; boating suspended at Ranganathittu

News

• A flood alert has been sounded along the Cauvery in the district as the river is swelling with around 20,000 cusecs of water, subsequent to the discharge from the upstream Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir.

      Krishnaraja Sagar

• The dam was built across river Cauveryin 1924. It is the main source of water for the districts of Mysore. The water is used for irrigation in Mysore and Mandya and it is the main source of drinking water for all of Mysore, Mandya and almost the whole of Bengaluru city, the capital of the state of Karnataka.

Beyond News

• The inflow into the KRS has significantly increased as heavy-to-heavy rains have been lashing the catchments in Kodagu district since past two days.
• The KRS is at maximum storage capacity and the department has increased the outflow quantum.
• The Irrigation Department has asked the residents of low-lying areas to move to safer places with their cattle.
• The Forest Department has been instructed to suspend boating rides at Ranganathittu bird sanctuary in Karnataka, while the Police/Revenue departments will be alerting people in low-lying areas along the river, said senior officials.
• But entry to the sanctuary is open to the public. Visitors can enjoy the scenic bird sanctuary and swollen Cauvery from the watch tower and walkways, Forest officials said.

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