As India gears up for the 2024 elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stands out for addressing the most political rallies after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, with the focus on Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, the government has ramped up efforts for better solid waste management and behavior change campaigns. The 'Swachhata Hi seva Abhiyan 2024' serves as a reminder for the importance of cleanliness in urban areas, with local residents urged to visit the swachhatahiseva.com website for a list of designated spots. The state's efforts for regular campaigns and public participation highlight the commitment towards sustainable cleanliness.
Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0: A Renewed Focus on Cleanliness
The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), launched in 2014, has been instrumental in transforming India's sanitation landscape. The subsequent introduction of SBM Urban 2.0 has further accelerated efforts towards solid waste management and behavioral change campaigns in urban areas.
Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0
SBM Urban 2.0 focuses on three main objectives:
Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan 2024
The 'Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan 2024' campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of cleanliness in urban areas and promote public participation in waste management. Residents are encouraged to visit the swachhatahiseva.com website to find designated spots for waste disposal and participate in cleanliness drives.
FAQs
1. What is the goal of SBM Urban 2.0?
SBM Urban 2.0 aims to create sustainable waste management systems in urban areas that ensure safe and hygienic living environments.
2. How does source segregation of waste help?
Segregation enables efficient waste processing, reduces landfill waste, and promotes recycling and composting.
3. What are the key challenges in implementing SBM Urban 2.0?
Challenges include public awareness, infrastructure limitations, and funding constraints.
4. What is the role of public participation in SBM?
Public participation is crucial for sustainable waste management. Residents can contribute by segregating waste, participating in cleanup drives, and advocating for clean surroundings.
5. What is the significance of the 'Swachhata Hi Seva Abhiyan 2024'?
The campaign serves as a reminder of the importance of cleanliness and encourages a sense of responsibility among citizens to maintain a clean and healthy urban environment.
Thousands of citizens in Pune are rallying together through an online petition to demand the protection of their city's hills and hill slopes from any construction. The petition is addressed to the former Pune Municipal Commissioner and Chairman of the state-appointed Committee on Bio-Diversity Park and Hill Top Hill Slopes. The citizens are concerned that the committee's review may result in allowing construction on the hills, while strict measures have already been mandated by the government to prevent it. The citizens stress the importance of preserving these natural areas for the city's ecological balance and urge the government to uphold its promise to future generations.
After the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. This decision was made during a key meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, with discussions on potential actions being taken against Pakistan. As tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, Indian leaders have condemned Pakistan for their involvement in the attack and have vowed to take strong measures in response.
The Indian Army made its first major move since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, as they killed top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Altaf Lalli in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district. The security forces are on the hunt for the terrorists responsible for the brutal killing of 26 civilians and have launched a massive anti-terror operation. In other developments, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi visited Srinagar for a security review meeting and the authorities demolished the houses of two suspected terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack.
In a hearing at the Supreme Court, the bench rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his "irresponsible" comments about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The judges highlighted the need to show respect for India's freedom fighters and questioned whether Gandhi was aware of his grandmother and Mahatma Gandhi praising Savarkar. The court also stayed an Allahabad High Court order that refused to dismiss a lower court's summons against Gandhi over his alleged remarks about Savarkar.
The Supreme Court has stepped in to warn Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his comments about India's independence activist Veer Savarkar, staying a trial court's summons to the politician. The top court emphasized that Savarkar is a highly respected figure in Maharashtra and stated that no one would be allowed to make derogatory remarks about freedom fighters. The court also pointed out that Gandhi's family has had a history of praising Savarkar and Gandhi himself has been warned that the court will take suo motu cognizance of any such remarks. Additionally, the article also mentions an attack in Jammu and Kashmir that has led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
In a successful operation by the security forces, a Lashkar-e-Taliba (LeT) terrorist associate, identified as Altaf Lalli, was killed in an ongoing encounter in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir. The encounter began after the security forces received intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area. Two security personnel have also been injured in the exchange of fire and are currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. The clash highlights the continued efforts of the security forces to combat terrorism in the region.
The Telangana-Chhattisgarh border is a hotbed of tension as security forces step up their efforts to root out Maoist activity from the region. Top Maoist leader Hidma is the target of current high-security operations, with forces strategically advancing through previously inaccessible areas. With mounting pressure, sources indicate that the hold of the Maoists in the region is gradually weakening, making for a tense and critical situation.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of a terror attack in Pahalgam, security forces are undertaking a massive operation in the dense Karregutta hills forest to eliminate the heart of Naxal command. This operation, involving 7,000 personnel and cutting-edge technology, aims to strike a blow at Naxalism by targeting top leaders of the PLGA Battalion No. 1. This bold move by the CRPF, with the Director General personally overseeing the operation, marks a turning point in the fight against Maoist insurgency. With five Naxals already killed and more likely to come, the operation is being hailed as a decisive victory and could potentially spell the end of Naxalism in India.
The US Government has publicly criticized The New York Times for its reporting on the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, calling attention to the difference between the newspaper's use of "militant" instead of "terrorist." This choice of words is not only misleading but also minimizes the severity of the attack, which was claimed by a Pakistan-based group with links to Lashkar-e-Taiba. The US House Foreign Affairs Committee took to social media to point out the error and highlight the real nature of the attack, noting that it has significant implications for regional security.
Right-wing Hindu groups VHP and Bajrang Dal have given an ultimatum to a housing complex in Mumbai to remove their Kashmiri Muslim security guards within 48 hours, citing them as a potential threat to the residents. If they are not removed, the groups have threatened to take matters into their own hands. The police are investigating the situation while the security company handling the complex's security is considering its response to the threat. The letter from the Hindu groups also cites recent incidents of Hindu killings in Jammu and Kashmir as a reason for demanding the removal of the security guards.