The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, famously known as World Tribal Day, is a globally recognized event celebrated each year on August 9. This day was chosen by the United Nations General Assembly through a resolution passed in December 1994 to honor the first meeting of the UN Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Working Group on Indigenous Populations which took place in 1982. With its focus firmly set on championing the rights of indigenous populations worldwide, the theme for World Tribal Day in 2023 is “Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination”.
World Tribal Day: A Beacon for Underprivileged Indigenous Groups
Indigenous peoples often inhabit the lowest socioeconomic rungs of society, a fact recognized and addressed by this special day. The United Nations estimates that despite making up less than 5% of the global population, indigenous people account for 15% of the world’s poorest individuals.
Quit India Movement Day 2023: Remembering the Call for Independence
Another significant date in August is the 8th, marked as the Quit India Movement Day. Originated by Mahatma Gandhi and backed by the Indian National Congress, this movement known also as the August Movement or Bharat Chodo Andolan started on August 8, 1942, aiming to end British colonial rule in India. The year 2023 marks the 81st anniversary of the Quit India movement. The slogan ‘Quit India’ was popularized by Yusuf Meherally, a prominent socialist and trade unionist who had previously coined the catchphrase “Simon Go Back”.
Enhanced Transparency in Mahatma Gandhi NREGS via E-Attendance
In the quest for increased transparency, the Union Ministry of State for Rural Development recently detailed the implementation of E-attendance within the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Using the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App, supervisors can capture geo-tagged, time-stamped photographs for attendance purposes. This mechanism, functional even in offline mode, was made mandatory from January 1, 2023, allowing swift payment processing and promoting citizen oversight of the scheme.
India’s Defence Ministry: Adopting ‘Maya’ OS for Robust Cybersecurity
In response to the rising tide of cyberattacks, India’s Defence Ministry has adopted a new Operating System (OS) named Maya. Replacing the Microsoft Operating System on internet-connected computers, Maya is an locally developed OS based on open-source Ubuntu. Designed to improve security without impacting user experience, Maya offers a Windows-like interface and functionality. Along with it, the comprehensive ‘end point detection and protection system,’ known as Chakravyuh, will be implemented to further strengthen the cybersecurity framework.