Current Affairs 18th July 2024 for UPSC Prelims Exam

U-WIN Portal

Context: The U-WIN portal is set for a pan-India likely on 15th August.

About U-Win Portal

• It is a replication of the Covid-19 vaccine management system Co-WIN.
• Objective: U-WIN is designed to maintain an electronic registry for routine immunizations, focusing on pregnant women and children under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
• Current Status: The portal is currently being piloted across all states and Union Territories, with the exception of West Bengal.
• Functionality: It meticulously logs each vaccination event for pregnant women and children aged 0-5 years, ensuring vaccines are administered on schedule.

Features

• Accessibility: Citizens can access a QR-based, digitally verifiable e-vaccination certificate similar to the COVID vaccination certificate, available with a single click.
• Comprehensive Record Keeping: U-WIN serves as a central repository for immunisation services, capturing pregnancy details and outcomes, newborn registrations, and immunizations at birth, updating vaccination status and delivery outcomes in real time.
• User Interaction: Through the U-WIN web portal or Android mobile app, citizens can self-register for vaccinations, choose their preferred vaccination centres, and schedule appointments.
• Communication: Automated SMS alerts keep citizens informed about registration confirmations, administered doses, and reminders for upcoming doses.
• Health Record Integration: The platform facilitates the creation of Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) IDs for comprehensive health record maintenance.
• Support for Healthcare Workers: It aids frontline healthcare workers in digitally recording all vaccination events, ensuring complete, accurate, and easy record maintenance.

Post Harvest Losses

Context: The post-harvest losses of India significantly affected the agricultural production supply.

Current Situation

• Global Rank: India ranks 2nd in global agriculture production.
• Export Share: India’s share in global agricultural exports is only 2.4%, ranking 8th worldwide.
• Post-Harvest Losses in India
  • Annual Losses: Approximately ₹1,52,790 crore annually (Ministry of Food Processing Industries 2022 study).
  • Perishable Commodities: Largest losses from livestock produce (22%), fruits (19%), and vegetables (18%).
  • Export Losses: Around 19% of food is lost during export, especially at the import-country stage.
• Indian Railways Role:
  • Accounts for 75% of total earnings from freight, including agricultural produce.
  • Food Corporation of India moves 90% of its food grains by rail.
  • 97% of fruits and vegetables are transported by road.

What are the Challenges?

• Low Productivity: Affects overall agricultural output and export quality.
• Quality Standards: Inability to meet international quality standards.
• Logistics and Supply Chain Issues:
  • Inadequate transportation network and infrastructure.
  • Significant post-harvest losses, especially for perishable commodities.
• Small and Marginal Farmers (SMF) Limitations:
  • Struggle to achieve economies of scale.
  • Lack of assured market connectivity.
• Food Price Volatility: Supply constraints affecting perishable produce.
• Logistical Challenges:
  • Multiple touchpoints during transport: farmgate to mandi, long haul transportation (rail, road, water, air), and last mile delivery to consumers..
  • Lack of specialised wagons for temperature-controlled transport.
• Awareness and Accessibility: Farmers lack awareness and accessibility to Railway schemes and initiatives.

Indian Railways Initiatives

• Truck-on-Train Service: Carries loaded trucks on railway wagons, with plans for expansion.
• Parcel Special Trains: Introduced during COVID-19 for transporting perishables and seeds.
• Kisan Rail: Connects surplus production regions to consumption regions. For example, grape growers in Nashik earned a net profit of ₹5,000 per quintal using Kisan Rail to transport 22,000 quintals of grapes

Way Forward

• Improve Supply Chain Infrastructure: Invest in transportation networks and rail-side facilities for safe cargo handling.
  • Develop specialised wagons for temperature-controlled transport.
• Increase Farmer Awareness and Accessibility:
  • Ensure farmers are aware of and have access to Railway schemes.
  • Provide training and support for efficient use of transportation services.
• Focus on Efficiency: As per the recommendations of Doubling of Farmers Income (DFI) committee:
  • Streamline loading and unloading processes to minimise transit times.
  • Address staffing shortages through recruitment and training initiatives.
  • Prioritise railways over roadways for the transportation of fruits and vegetables.
• Support Small and Marginal Farmers:
  • Provide market connectivity and support to achieve economies of scale.
  • Enhance access to infrastructure and logistical support.
• Promote Sustainable Practices:
  • Leverage rail transport to reduce carbon emissions and promote environmental sustainability.
  • Implement a systems-based approach that integrates various modes of transport and geographies.
• Public-Private Partnerships: Enhance operational efficiency and strengthen rail infrastructure.
• Budgetary Allocation for Agriculture 2024: Aims to bridge the farm-to-market gap with modern infrastructure and value-addition support.

Examples Case Studies and Data

• Social Justice and Welfare Measures (GS 2): Under ‘Operation Nanhe Farishtey,’ 84,119 children were rescued.
  • This mission is focused on saving children who require care and protection across different zones of the Indian Railways.

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