The Ministry of Jal Shakti has declared the start of the 5th National Water Awards (NWA) for 2023. This program seeks to acknowledge and foster excellent contributions in the sphere of water conservation and management. Having been launched in 2018, with the first award-giving ceremony taking place in 2019, these awards have become a prestigious event in the environmental calendar.
Details about the National Water Awards
The award categories consist of ‘Best State,’ ‘Best District,’ ‘Best Village Panchayat,’ ‘Best Urban Local Body,’ ‘Best School/College,’ ‘Best Institution (other than school/college),’ ‘Best Industry,’ ‘Best Civil Society,’ ‘Best Water User Association,’ and ‘Best Individual for excellence.’ The winners for the ‘Best State’ and ‘Best District’ are rewarded with a trophy and a citation.
The Prestige of Navratna Status
In other news, the Ministry of Finance has bestowed the esteemed ‘Navratna’ status on two Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) under the Ministry of Railways – Ircon International Limited (IRCON) and RITES Ltd (RITES). Navratna Companies in India, established in 1997, are a select group of CPSEs that enjoy enhanced financial autonomy and flexibility to compete at the international level. They are entitled to privileges like being able to invest up to Rs 1,000 crore without explicit government approval. There are currently 16 such companies in India. To achieve the Navratna status, companies must initially hold the Miniratna tag and score 60 or more (on a scale of 100) on six performance criteria such as Net Profit to Net Worth, Earnings per Share, and Inter-Sectoral Performance.
World Spine Day 2023: Promoting Spine Health
Each year on October 16th, the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) initiates the World Spine Day (WSD), with various global organizations participating. The theme for this year’s WSD is “Move Your Spine,” underlining the importance of physical activity in preventing and managing spinal disorders. Founded in 2008, WSD’s main objective is to educate people about the causes, prevention, and treatment methods for spinal disorders, while encouraging them to care for their spines.
World White Cane Day: Celebrating Inclusion and Accessibility
The day of the 15th October marks the observation of the World White Cane Day globally, intending to promote accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities, particularly those visually impaired. Also called White Cane Safety Day, it was first recognized in 1964 by US President Lyndon B Johnson. The white cane is a navigation or identification tool for people living with sight loss, symbolizing independence, mobility, freedom, and confidence, and so, the celebration of this day underlines its significance to visually impaired people around the world.
