23rd March 2021, Corona vaccines, polluted rivers, social security, farmers protests

23 March 2021

• 4 to 8 weeks gap must between doses of COVISHIELD

  COVISHIELD, one of the vaccines prepared to tackle Corona, works best if there is a gap of 4 to 8 weeks between the two doses. Thus the government has passed instructions on the use of these vaccines. This suggestion was made by advisory and expert groups. Different vaccines react in different way on patients.

• Every effort made to meet the challenge of polluted rivers

  A number of plans and programmes have been launched by the government to tackle pollution in rivers. Rivers in India particularly in northern states are heavily polluted by waste pumped into them by factories and individuals. Government has invested over 700 Crores in 14 cities in Punjab alone, but what will the results of these plans and investment on cleaning up these rivers will be, is yet to be seen.

• Social security for agricultural workers

  Government is planning to provide social security cover to the unorganized  sector workers which includes the agricultural workers. This cover includes life or disability insurance, pensions, health benefits and other benefits as covered by a number of schemes introduced by the government.

• Bhagat Singh remembered in farmers protests

  Bhagat Singh who received martyrdom on this very date, is being remembered by the farmers protestors so as to inspire themselves and others. His means were violent while the protestors are protesting through peaceful ways although blocking roadways and apart from some rowdy incidents.

• Drones to kill insects

  Flying drones can be used to spray insecticides or pesticides to control the insects or pests in the farm and to treat the diseased plants. A number of precautionary measures  have to be followed while spraying these manually while drone will do it safely and quickly. These spraying drones have been developed by researchers of a top university.

• Agro-AWS to be installed at 200 locations in India

  Agro Automatic Weather Stations are to be installed at 200 District Agromet Units of the Krishi Vigyan Kendras. These 200 stations will assist in prediction of local, state wise and national weather conditions.

• Nitin Gadkari promotes bamboos

  Nitin Gadkari, Minister in the Central Government in an online address emphasized the importance of Bamboo cultivation. He said bamboos have multiple uses and can grow into multi thousand crores of business. Bamboo use must be promote, so as to increase it's demand which in turn will lead to increase in production which is  his final aim. Bamboo can be processed to be used as fuel.

• Century old olive trees chopped up in Spain

  Due to decrease in demand and low productivity century old Olive trees have been chopped up in Spain. US government has increased the import duties on Olive oils and new varieties of more productive olive trees varieties are available. Hence these old trees are being chopped off for use as firewood and if they are lucky as a decoration piece.

• Disastrous floods in Australia's east

  Disastrous floods in Australia have caused those living near the rivers to take shelter, as their property and everything they own is washed away. There is nothing they or the government can do which can reverse the situation. Some have worked on recovery but all their efforts have gone in vain.

• All above 45 can be vaccinated

  Indian government has scheduled the vaccinations in such a way so as to vaccinate those in need or those with most chances of getting infected were to be vaccinated  first. Government had thus restricted vaccination to those above 45 years, who were suffering or had some disability. Government has changed this policy and announced that from 1st of April all above 45 can register for vaccinations.