Why is it in news?

Recently three cities of India have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. Two cities Thrissur and Nilambur in Kerala and Warangal in Telangana have been included in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

Introduction      

Learning City promotes continuous and lifelong learning for all. UNESCO defines a learning city as a city that:

• Effectively mobilizes its resources in every sector to promote inclusive education from basic to higher education.

• Inspires learning in all families and communities.

• Facilitates learning in and for the workplace.

• Expands the use of modern teaching technologies.

• Have data fostering quality and excellence in learning.

• Develops a lifelong learning culture.

Highlights

• 77 cities from 44 countries of the world including India have been included in this list in the year 2022.

• Inclusion of these cities will promote exchange of ideas with other cities and share among themselves the methods of the systems already implemented in these cities.

• These cities of India have joined with developed cities of the world like Bristol, Dublin, Beijing, Shanghai, Hamburg, Athens, Incheon.

• This time in this list of UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, Ukraine's capital Kyiv, South African city Durban, and UAE city Sharjah have been included.

• Significantly, the Indian cities of Nilambur and Thrissur and Warangal are the first three cities in the country to be included in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

This is the second UNESCO recognition for Telangana in recent times. Earlier, the Ramappa temple in Mulugu district was included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

1.     Nilambur: Nilambur is a famous eco-tourism destination of Kerala. A mixed form of rural and urban living can be seen in this city. Majority of the population here depends on agriculture and allied industries. After Nilambur's inclusion in this list, sustainable development through community ownership, gender equality, inclusivity will be further promoted. Also, with the help of this in the city, employment opportunities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goals are to be achieved.

2.      Thrissur: Thrissur is the cultural capital of Kerala. Which is an important center of educational and research institutions. It is also specially known as gold art and jewelery industry. By being included in this UNESCO list, Thrissur will benefit the world world with its intellectual, educational and jewelery arts and itself will benefit from cultural inclusion. It will also help in developing a digital learning ecosystem for all.

3.      Warangal: Warangal is a city with a rich cultural heritage of Telangana. It is a major tourist destination of the state. More than 32 lakh tourists come here every year. The economy of Warangal mainly depends on agricultural and industrial centres. The development of this city will accelerate further after it is included in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities:

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) is an international policy based network which was started in 2013. It aims to ensure the development of learning cities at all stages of development by sharing ideas and arts with other cities. It also aims to support and improve policy dialogue and cooperation between cities. So far, 294 cities from 76 countries are included in this list.

The network supports the achievements of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically supports SDG 4 ('Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all) and SDG 11 ('Cities). and making human habitats sustainable, inclusive, safe).

Why is it in news?

• Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi.

• Both the leaders have signed various bilateral agreements including on bilateral issues.

• Bangladesh Prime Minister Hasina is on a four-day visit to India. He was accorded a traditional welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning.

• He went to Rajghat and paid homage at the Samadhi of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Yesterday Ms Hasina External Affairs Minister S. Bilateral issues were also discussed with Jaishankar.

• Regarding the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that this will further strengthen India-Bangladesh relations. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the relationship, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Railway Minister Mohammad Islam Sujan are also on this important visit.

• Significantly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have jointly unveiled Unit-1 of Maitri Super Thermal Power Project. The project is under India's concessional financing scheme, it will add 1320 MW to Bangladesh's national grid.

Highlights

• During India-Bangladesh bilateral talks, seven agreements related to water resources, railways, science and technology and space technology etc. have been signed.

• These agreements also include a Memorandum of Understanding between Prasar Bharati and Bangladesh Television to enhance cooperation in the broadcasting sector.

• An important agreement has also been signed on the sharing of Kushiyara river water, which will benefit the Sylhet region of Bangladesh and the southern Assam region of India.

• Cooperation on rivers: On this occasion, Prime Minister Modi said that 54 rivers pass through the border of both the countries. A bilateral Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) has been in operation since June 1972 to further enhance the benefits from the shared river systems between the two countries.

• The 1600 MW Godda Power Project and the Bijoy Dibosh Project, a transmission line dedicated to Bangladesh, will be commissioned on 16 December 2022, this project is related to the Adani Group.

India-Bangladesh Relations

• It was only after the independence of Bangladesh in December 1971 that India recognized Bangladesh and announced the establishment of diplomatic relations.

• Economic Relations: Bangladesh is one of the largest trading partners of India, which is also a major partner in South Asia. In the year 2011, India strengthened relations with the South.

• Bangladeshi exports were made duty-free under the Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA). In view of this visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there is a possibility of agreeing on various economic issues.

• Defense Cooperation: In order to enhance defense cooperation between India and Bangladesh, the armies of both the countries organize Exercise Sampriti and Naval Exercise Exercise Milan etc.

• India shares the longest terrestrial land border with Bangladesh and both countries have developed a balanced mechanism for border management.

• Five states of India Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal share borders with Bangladesh. In relation to which the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) was implemented in the year 2015.

• Cooperation in connectivity: Both the countries are also cooperating well in connectivity with the help of Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) protocol.

 • India shares the longest terrestrial land border with Bangladesh and both countries have developed a balanced mechanism for border management.

• Five states of India Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal share borders with Bangladesh. In relation to which the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) was implemented in the year 2015.

• With regard to connectivity, both the countries have jointly established connectivity between Haldibari (India) and Chilati (Bangladesh).

Why is it in news?

• Recently the country's first Bio-Villages have been recognized in Tripura. Sharing this achievement, Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma has congratulated the Directorate of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology for designing and setting up the first bio villages in the country. Bio villages have been recognized by an international group.

• This village is the first modified bio-village in the country where eco-friendly technology is being used. In these villages only organic fertilizers are being used for agriculture and agriculture related works. The people of these villages have completely stopped the use of chemical fertilizers.

Highlights

• The objective of the Bio-Village initiative is focused on the socio-economic development of the area, which is a necessary step for the sustainable development of the people of the rural area.

• Directorate of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology started this initiative in the year 2018.

• This initiative will benefit more than 500 families from each village in rural areas of Tripura.

• Standard components of Bio-Village 2.0 have already been implemented in 10 villages in Tripura.

Each family will get a benefit of about Rs 5500 per month from this project.

• The Deputy Chief Minister further said that Tripura is taking forward the Prime Minister's climate change mitigation, and in this series, five villages of the state have adopted organic-farming by completely eliminating chemical farming.

• Such efforts are eco-friendly and also healthy for the residents here. Such initiatives will also inspire other states of the country.

• Under this initiative, components such as biogas, improved livestock breeds and energy-efficient agricultural equipment and energy-saving electrical appliances are being promoted. So that these areas can be made climate-smart.

• Daspara village of Charilam constituency of Sipahijala district has been established as the first bio-village.

Help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• On this occasion Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Verma said that such efforts will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in remote areas. The people of Daspara village are growing fruits, vegetables and other crops naturally in their farming. And are taking this effort forward.

Why is it in news?

Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the 30th Southern Zonal Council meeting of South Indian States and Union Territories in Thiruvananthapuram.

Highlights

• In this meeting a total of 26 issues were discussed, 9 issues were resolved, 17 issues were put up for further consideration, out of which 9 issues related to the reorganization of Andhra Pradesh.

• The meeting was attended by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, chief ministers and ministers from other southern states – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana – and lieutenant governors of Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The main objectives of the meeting of the Regional Council are:

• To encourage regional cooperation between states, to resolve disputes and issues between the Center and the states by consensus

• To provide a platform to all the states of the country to discuss issues of common national importance.

• Establishing a strong collaboration mechanism among all stakeholders

Regional Councils

• Zonal councils were set up under the States Reorganization Act, 1956 (hence it is not a constitutional body) to promote inter-state cooperation and coordination among states.

• At present, there are a total of five Zonal Councils. Northern, Western, Eastern, Central and Southern.

• They have been mandated to discuss and make recommendations on matters of general interest in the field of economic and social planning, linguistic minorities, border disputes and inter-state transport etc.

Why is it in news?

Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed environmental compensation of Rs 3,500 crore on West Bengal for failing to manage solid and liquid waste.

Introduction

NGT was established on October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010. It was established for effective and expeditious disposal of matters relating to the protection of forests, environmental protection and conservation of other natural resources besides enforcement of any legal rights related to the environment. This Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the "Code of Civil Procedure, 1908". It is guided by the principles of natural justice.

Highlights

• In the budget of the financial year 2022-23, the West Bengal government had made a provision to spend about Rs 12818 crore on matters related to urban development and municipalities. But the state government did not do any special work in this direction.

• According to NGT, urban areas of West Bengal generate 2758 million sewage per day while the treatment capacity through 44 sewage treatment plants is only 1505.85 MLD. Therefore, only 1268 MLD of sewage is treated and 1490 MLD of sewage remains untreated.

• West Bengal government will have to deposit this 3500 crore fine within two months. At the same time, the National Green Tribunal said that if such violations of environmental matters continue, then more fines will be imposed.

भारत के तीन शहर यूनेस्को ग्लोबल नेटवर्क ऑफ लर्निंग सिटीज में शामिल

चर्चा में क्यों

हाल  ही में भारत के तीन शहर यूनेस्को ग्लोबल नेटवर्क ऑफ लर्निंग सिटीज में शामिल हो गए हैं. केरल के दो शहर त्रिशूर और नीलांबुर और तेलंगाना का शहर वारंगल को यूनेस्को ग्लोबल नेटवर्क ऑफ लर्निंग सिटीज में शामिल किया गया है.

परिचय        

लर्निंग सिटी सभी के लिए निरंतर और आजीवन सीखने को बढ़ावा देता है. यूनेस्को लर्निंग सिटी (learning city) को एक ऐसे शहर के रूप में परिभाषित करता है जो:

·         बुनियादी से उच्च शिक्षा तक समावेशी शिक्षा को बढ़ावा देने के लिए हर क्षेत्र में अपने संसाधनों को प्रभावी ढंग से एकत्र करता है.

·         सभी परिवारों और समुदायों में सीखने के लिए प्रेरित करता है.

·         कार्यस्थल में और उसके लिए सीखने की सुविधा प्रदान करता है.

·         आधुनिक शिक्षण प्रौद्योगिकियों के उपयोग का विस्तार करता है.

·         सीखने में गुणवत्ता और उत्कृष्टता को बढ़ावा डेटा है.

·         जीवन भर सीखने की संस्कृति का विकास करता है.

महत्वपूर्ण बिन्दु

·         भारत सहित विश्व के 44 देशों के 77 शहरों को वर्ष 2022 में इस सूची में शामिल किया गया है.

·         इन शहरों का समावेशन अन्य शहरों के साथ विचारों के आदान-प्रदान को बढ़ावा देगा और इन शहरों में पहले से लागू  व्यवस्थाओं के तरीकों को आपस में साझा करेंगे.

·         भारत के ये शहर विश्व के विकसित शहर जैसे ब्रिस्टल,डबलिन, बीजिंग, शंघाई, हैम्बर्ग, एथेंस, इंचियोन के साथ शामिल हो गया है.

·         यूनेस्को ग्लोबल नेटवर्क ऑफ लर्निंग सिटीज की इस सूची में इस बार यूक्रेन की राजधानी कीव, दक्षिण अफ्रीका का शहर डर्बन, और यूएई के शहर शारजाह को शामिल किया गया है.

·         गौरतलब है कि भारतीय शहर नीलांबुर और त्रिशूर और वारंगल, यूनेस्को ग्लोबल नेटवर्क ऑफ़ लर्निंग सिटीज़ में शामिल होने वाले देश के पहले तीन शहर है.

हाल के समय में तेलंगाना के लिए यह यूनेस्को की दूसरी मान्यता है. इससे पहले मुलुगु जिले का रामप्पा मंदिर, विश्व धरोहर स्थलों की यूनेस्को सूची में शामिल हुआ था.

1. नीलांबुर (Nilambur): नीलांबुर केरल का एक प्रसिद्ध इको-टूरिज्म डेस्टिनेशन है. इस शहर में ग्रामीण और शहरी रहन-सहन Read More