The Department of Post, a subdivision of the Ministry of Communications, has initiated an e-commerce portal. Its primary function is to offer an online marketplace for sellers who haven’t had the chance to engage in the e-commerce race. These include rural artisans, self-help groups, female entrepreneurs, and state and central public sector units (PSUs) and autonomous bodies. The initiative enables them to sell their products to consumers across India, while leveraging India Post’s vast postal network for doorstep delivery.
Government Initiative: Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana
The Ministry of Communications, via the Department of Posts, offers annual scholarships to students under the Deen Dayal SPARSH programme (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby). This programme, aimed at encouraging philately, awards scholarships to students from Standard VI to IX who maintain good academic records along with philatelic pursuits.
Recognition of Postal Workers: Meghdoot Award
The Department of Post, under the Ministry of Communications, honours Grameen Dak Sevaks and department employees with the Meghdoot Award. The award system was established in 1984 to boost postal workers’ morale through performance recognition. Eight categories cover diverse areas of outstanding contributions in official work.
Mahila Kisan Awards: Empowering Women Farmers
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, DD Kisan introduced a unique reality show, ‘Mahila Kisan Awards’. The programme features women farmers from all over India, and serves as an inspiration for millions of Indian women viewers.
Award-Winning Writer: Amitav Ghosh
Amitav Ghosh, a renowned English language writer, was conferred the 54th Jnanpith Award for his outstanding contribution to literature. Significant works by Ghosh include “Circle of Reason”, “In An Antique Land”, and “The Shadow Lines”. The latter fetched him the Sahitya Akademi award. The author’s most recent book, “The Great Derangement; Climate Change and the Unthinkable”, was released in 2016.
Award-Winning Books by Amitav Ghosh
| Title | Year of Publication |
|---|---|
| Circle of Reason | 1986 |
| In An Antique Land | 1992 |
| The Shadow Lines | 1988 |
| The Great Derangement | 2016 |
Oxytocin Ban Overturned by Delhi High Court
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s decision to prohibit the manufacture and sale of Oxytocin was declared void by the Delhi High Court. The court labelled the ban as arbitrary, unjust, and lacking scientific basis. The important observation made was that Oxytocin is a life-saving drug and its scarcity could increase maternal fatalities. Previously, the government had authorised only the state-run Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd (KAPL) to produce the drug.
