International Day of the Girl Child

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The United Nations celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child 2024 on 11th October.

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• The 2024 International Day of the Girl Child theme is ‘Girls’ vision for the future’.
• On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child.
• The day celebrated annually focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Indian Government Initiatives to Promote Gender Equality:

• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
• Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) 
• Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene
• National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education (NSIGSE)
• Child Marriage Act, 2006
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 

National Girl Child Day is observed every year on 24th January with the aim of engaging the nation in creating a positive environment that values the girl child.

SARAS Ajeevika Mela 2024

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The Ministry of Rural Development & National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj are organizing SARAS Ajeevika Mela 2024. 

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• The Mela is organized for the third consecutive year in Gurugram from 13th October to 29th October. 
• More than 900 rural women artisans from around 30 states are participating in the SARAS Mela.
• This Mela is part of Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

The fair will showcase products from different states: 

• Tussar sarees, Bagh prints, Patola sarees from Gujarat
• Katha sarees from West Bengal 
• Rajasthani prints, Chanderi sarees from Madhya Pradesh 
• Woolen products and natural food products from Himachal-Uttarakhand 
• Wooden products from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh 
• Various dry fruits and handloom products from Jammu and Kashmir
• Palash products and natural food from Jharkhand 

SARAS Melas are being organized continuously since the year 1999.

World Migratory Bird Day

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Recently, the World Migratory Bird Day was celebrated on 12th October.

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• World Migratory Bird Day is observed twice a year during the second Saturday in May and again on the second Saturday in October, reflecting the cyclical nature of seasonal bird migrations in different hemispheres.
• It is a global awareness raising campaign for international cooperation to conserve migratory birds.
• In 2024, World Migratory Bird Day was celebrated on 11th May (second Saturday of May) and 12th October (second Saturday of October).
• This year’s theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds”, highlighting for the first time the importance of insects for migratory birds, and calling for more action to protect decreasing populations of insects. 
• The Day was initiated in 2006 by the Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).

5th National Water Awards

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The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti announced the 5th National Water Awards (NWAs).

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• Ministry of Jal Shakti announced 38 winners in 9 categories, including joint winners for the 5th National Water Awards, 2023.
• Each award winner will be conferred with a citation and a trophy as well as cash prizes in certain categories.
• The 1st National Water Awards were launched in 2018 by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR).
• The awards were not given in the year 2021 due to COVID pandemic.
• NWAs focus on the good work and efforts made by individuals and organisations across the country in attaining the government’s vision of a ‘Jal Samridh Bharat’.