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- The All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) has introduced the "Bank Clinic" initiative to aid bank customers in addressing their grievances effectively.
- An overview of the Bank Clinic initiative:
- Spearheaded by the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), the Bank Clinic aims to support bank customers amidst the evolving landscape of technology and the implementation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directives concerning retail banking.
- Acting as an advisory platform, the Bank Clinic advises customers on potential remedies available under RBI guidelines.
- It operates as a supplementary avenue alongside the conventional Banking Ombudsman mechanism.
- How does it function?
- Through the Bank Clinic website, customers can lodge their complaints, and within a span of five working days, they will receive comprehensive feedback detailing applicable remedies and pertinent RBI guidelines tailored to their specific concerns.
- The primary objective is to ensure prompt and efficient resolution of customer grievances.
- While it offers guidance on available remedies, the Bank Clinic does not directly resolve queries.
- Benefits:
- The Bank Clinic fosters positive relationships with customers, enhancing goodwill.
- It furnishes banks with invaluable feedback, shedding light on areas of service inadequacy.
- What is AIBEA?
- The All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) is a prominent national trade union representing bank employees across India.
- Established on April 20th, 1946, in Kolkata, with its headquarters situated in Chennai.
- AIBEA plays a pivotal role in advocating for the rights, welfare, and interests of bank workers.
- Recently, the opposition has called upon the Election Commission to give precedence to the counting of postal ballots over Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) counting, citing concerns stemming from a guideline alteration in 2019.
- About Postal Ballots:
- Postal ballots offer eligible voters the opportunity to cast their votes via mail, negating the need for physical presence at a polling station.
- This method proves particularly convenient for individuals unable to participate in person due to various circumstances.
- Eligibility Criteria for Postal Voting:
- Service voters, including members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and government employees assigned to election duties away from their home constituencies.
- Electors on election duty, such as government officials and polling staff operating at polling stations outside their native areas.
- Electors under preventive detention orders during the election period are also eligible.
- Individuals engaged in essential services on polling day, including authorized media personnel, railway staff, and healthcare workers, can utilize postal ballots in Lok Sabha and four state Assembly elections.
- Absentee voters, comprising those unable to vote in person due to work commitments, illness, or disability.
- Amendment in 2019:
- An amendment in October 2019 to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, reduced the eligible age for senior citizens from 85 to 80 and allowed Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to utilize postal ballots in the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections.
- Process of Postal Voting:
- The postal voting procedure involves receiving a ballot kit from the Returning Officer, marking the chosen candidate(s) on the ballot paper within a secrecy sleeve, completing a declaration form, sealing the marked ballot and declaration, inserting them into a pre-paid return envelope, affixing postage, and mailing it to the designated address before the deadline.
- Counting of Postal Ballots:
- Postal ballots are tallied separately. On the counting day, postal authorities transport them to the counting center.
- Election officials ascertain their validity and incorporate valid ballots into the candidates' overall vote counts.
- The completion of a river cleanup initiative targeting the Sunkoshi River marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the PLEASE (Plastic Free Rivers and Seas of South Asia) program. The campaign successfully removed a staggering 24,575 kilograms of waste from the riverbanks and identified waste hotspots.
- Understanding the Sunkoshi River:
- The Sunkoshi River, often referred to as the 'river of gold,' holds a special place in Nepal's waterways as part of the Koshi or Saptkoshi River system, formed by the convergence of seven (sapta) rivers in east-central Nepal.
- Originating from the Zhangzangbo Glacier in Tibet, the river merges with the Saptkoshi River, eventually joining the Ganga in Bihar's Katihar district, India, before ultimately emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.
- Renowned for its challenging rapids, the Sunkoshi River is one of Nepal's longest and most sought-after destinations for rafting enthusiasts.
- It serves as the primary watershed for much of eastern Nepal, playing a vital role in the region's ecological balance and livelihoods.
- Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra recently documented the first-ever photographic evidence of a spot-bellied eagle-owl, shedding light on the fascinating presence of this majestic bird within the reserve.
- Understanding the Spot-Bellied Eagle Owl:
- Also recognized as the forest eagle-owl, this bird of prey boasts an imposing stature and remarkable features.
- Scientifically classified as Ketupa nipalensis, it thrives in diverse habitats such as tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, and savannas.
- Its range spans across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and parts of Southeast Asia.
- Notable Features:
- This owl ranks among the larger species, measuring between 50 to 65 cm in length and weighing approximately 1500 to 1700 grams.
- With an impressive wingspan extending up to 1.7 meters, it commands attention in its environment.
- Its distinctive appearance includes rich chocolate brown upperparts speckled with white spots, complemented by wings and tail adorned with alternating shades of brown and white.
- The owl's namesake comes from its cream-colored belly and breast, adorned with bold black spots.
- As a primarily nocturnal predator, it preys on a diverse array of animals, including rodents, small mammals, reptiles, and insects.
- Solitary and territorial by nature, it establishes and defends its home range diligently.
- Conservation Status:
- The spot-bellied eagle-owl holds a status of Least Concern according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, it is listed under Schedule IV, providing some level of legal protection.
- Additionally, it is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), signifying the need for regulated trade and conservation efforts.