Government launches “Madhukranti portal” and “Honey Corners” of NAFED

Union Agriculture Minister has launched the “MadhuKranti portal” and “Honey Corners” of NAFED.

MadhuKranti portal:

• It is an initiative of the National Bee Board under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission.
• It is developed for online registration to achieve a traceability source of Honey and other beehive products on a digital platform.
• The portal will enable the consumers/public to know about the source of honey and assure the quality of the products.

Honey Corners

• They are special spaces for the sale of honey. They are operated by the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED).
• NAFED has developed 14-15 honey corners. NAFED will also develop more honey corners in future. This will promote market support for honey.

Tika Utsav to begin on Jyotirao Phule’s Birth Anniversary

• The 'Tika Utsav (vaccination festival)', started on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (11^th April) will continue till the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar on 14^th April 2021.
• The aim of the four day festival is to vaccinate as many people as possible for the priority groups and zero wastage of Covid-19 vaccine.
• Jyotirao Phule was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. He is also known as Jyotiba Phule.

Profile

• Phule was born on 11^th April 1827 in present-day Maharashtra and belonged to the Mali caste of gardeners and vegetable farmers.
• In 1841, Phule was enrolled at the Scottish Missionary High School (Pune), where he completed his education.

Ideology

• His Ideology was based on Liberty; Egalitarianism; Socialism.
• Phule was influenced by Thomas Paine’s book titled "The Rights of Man" and believed that the only solution to combat the social evils was the enlightenment of women and members of the lower castes.
• Major Publications: Tritiya Ratna (1855); Powada: Chatrapati Shivajiraje Bhosle Yancha (1869); Gulamgiri (1873), Shetkarayacha Aasud (1881).
• Related Association: Phule along with his followers formed Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 which meant ‘Seekers of Truth’ in order to attain equal social and economic benefits for the lower castes in Maharashtra.
• He was appointed commissioner to the Poona municipality and served in the position until 1883.
• He was bestowed with the title of Mahatma on 11^th May, 1888 by a Maharashtrian social activist Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar.

Social Reformer

• In 1848, he taught his wife (Savitribai) how to read and write, after which the couple opened the first indigenously run school for girls in Pune where they both taught.
• He was a believer in gender equality and he exemplified his beliefs by involving his wife in all his social reform activities.
• By 1852, the Phules had established three schools but all of them had shut by 1858 due to the shortage of funds after the Revolt of 1857.
• Jyotiba realised the pathetic conditions of widows and established an ashram for young widows and eventually became an advocate of the idea of Widow Remarriage.
• Jyotirao attacked the orthodox Brahmins and other upper castes and termed them as "hypocrites".
• In 1868, Jyotirao constructed a common bathing tank outside his house to exhibit his embracing attitude towards all human beings and wished to dine with everyone, regardless of their caste.
• He started awareness campaigns that ultimately inspired the likes of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, stalwarts who undertook major initiatives against caste discrimination later.
• It is believed by many that it was Phule who first used the term ‘Dalit’ for the depiction of oppressed masses often placed outside the ‘varna system’.
• He worked for the abolishment of untouchability and the caste system in Maharashtra.
• 28^th November 1890. His memorial is built in Phule Wada, Pune, Maharashtra.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021

IBC (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021

• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 promulgated on 4th April, 2021 provides for pre-packaged insolvency resolution process (PPIRP) for corporate debtors classified as micro, small and medium enterprises.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) notified the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process) Regulations, 2021 (PPIRP Regulations) today to enable operationalisation of PPIRP.
• The PPIRP Regulations detail the Forms that stakeholders are required to use, and the manner of carrying out various tasks by them as part of the PPIRP.

These provide details and manner relating to:

1. Eligibility to act as resolution professional, and his terms of appointment;
2. Eligibility of registered valuers and other professionals;
3. Identification and selection of authorised representative;
4. Public announcement and claims of stakeholders;
5. Information memorandum;
6. Meetings of the creditors and committee of creditors;
7. Invitation for resolution plans;
8. Competition between the base resolution plan and the best resolution plan;
9. Evaluation and consideration of resolution plans;
10. Vesting management of corporate debtor with resolution professional;
11. Termination of PPIRP.