Prelim Bits 29-01-2019

Folk Arts

The Vice President witnessed folk and classical dances presented by Tableaux Artists in Republic Day Parade.

State	Dance	Description
Arunachal Pradesh	By Monpa Tribes	Yak Dance commemorating discovery of Yak & Aji Lhamu Dance depicting Tibetan version of the Hindu Epic Ramayana
Assam	Sattriya Nritya	Classical dance centered in Vaishnavism
Sikkim	Tamang Selo	Danced to the tune of Damphu instrument
Tripura	Mamita	Performed on the occasion of Mamita, the harvest festival
Tamil Nadu	Karakkatam	Water pot is balanced on the heads during performance
Maharashtra	Koli	Koli fisher folk incorporates elements of sea and fishing by holding oars
Jammu & Kashmir	Mentoq Stanmo from Ladakh	Flower dance originated in Kargil
	Rouf from Kashmir	Performed by women and known for the artistic footwork
	Kud from Jammu	Performed by young as well as old people and known for its spontaneity

National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP)

ICAR has recently launched Rs.1100 crore worth NAHEP.
It is to attract talent and strengthen higher agricultural education in the country.
This project will be funded by the World Bank and the Indian Government on 50:50 basis.
Student Rural Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana (READY) scheme is being run in order to promote the participation of students in agricultural business.
Under the scheme practical experience of agriculture and entrepreneurship is provided to undergraduate students.

Sarus Crane

According to 2018 Census, the population of Sarus Crane in UP has steadily grown since 2013.
The habitat is outside protected areas, in natural wetlands with low water depth, marshy and fallow areas and agricultural fields.
So the population was threatened by habitat degradation and human callousness.
The main reason attributed for their revival was the awareness created among the public.
As a result farmers and fisherfolk involved in the protection of Sarus nests in wetlands as well as rice paddies.
Sarus Crane is the world’s tallest flying bird.
As per the Wildlife Trust of India it is also India’s only resident breeding crane.
It is omnivorous, feeding on fish and insects, as well as roots and plants.
They play a vital role in ecological balance by controlling the population of harmful insects and have significant cultural importance, while also being sociable.
It is also the official State bird of Uttar Pradesh.
It has marked been marked as ‘vulnerable’ by IUCN.

Global Syndemic

A syndemic is defined as “the presence of two or more disease states that adversely interact with each other”.
A Lancet Report states that the pandemics of obesity, under nutrition, and climate change are interlinked.
It terms it as “global syndemic”.
They represent as the paramount challenge for humans, the environment and our planet that presses the need for urgent action.
Until now, undernutrition and obesity have been seen as polar opposites.
But the report states that they are both driven by the same unhealthy, inequitable food systems, underpinned by the same political economy that is focused on economic growth.
Few instances are-

Climate change > extreme weather events > increased food insecurity >under nutrition
Climate change > increased prices of fruit and vegetables > increasing consumption of processed foods > obesity
Foetal and infant under nutrition > risk of adult obesity.

Consultative Committee

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs chaired an Inter-Session Consultative Committee Meeting.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs constitutes Consultative Committees of Members of both the Houses of Parliament for different ministries.
The Minister in-charge of the Ministry concerned acts as the chairman of the Committee.
The main purpose of these Committees is to provide a forum for informal discussions between the Government and Members of Parliament on policies and programs of the Government and the manner of their implementation.
Meetings of these Committees are held both during the session and inter-session period of Parliament.

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express