Wetlands City Accreditation: Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted three nominations from India for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) of Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) & Udaipur (Rajasthan) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Ramsar Convention during COP12 held in the year 2015 approved a voluntary Wetland City Accreditation system. It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands. This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts. This scheme aims to further promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations. To be formally accredited, a candidate for WCA should satisfy the standards used to implement each of the six international criteria mentioned in Operational Guidance for WCA of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Since Ramsar COP13, 43 cities from 17 countries have been officially recognized as “Wetland Cities”.
PRERANA program: It is a week-long residential program for selected students of class IX to XII.A batch of 20 selected students (10 boys and 10 girls) will attend the program, every week from various parts of the country. It will run from a Vernacular School, established in 1888, in one of the oldest living cities of India, Vadnagar, district Mehsana, Gujarat. The curriculum of Prerana School prepared by IIT Gandhi Nagar is rooted in nine value-based themes: Swabhiman and Vinay, Shaurya and Sahas, Parishram and Samarpan, Karuna and Sewa, Vividhta and Ekta, Satyanishtha and Shuchita, Navachar and Jigyasa, Shraddha aur Vishwas, and Swatantrata and Kartavya. The day-wise program schedule will feature yoga, mindfulness, and meditation sessions, followed by experiential learning, thematic sessions, and hands-on interesting learning activities. Evening activities will include visits to ancient and heritage sites, inspirational film screenings, mission life creative activities, talent shows etc. ensuring a holistic learning approach. Students can register through the portal, wherein applicants can fill the requisite details. The registered applicants will go through a selection process, as prescribed on the portal. Applicants can also join the selection procedure conducted at the School/block level, on designated ‘Prerana Utsav’ day, through various activities.
‘Workation’ Visa: South Korea recently introduced a new visa for foreigners allowing them to visit the country on a working holiday or workation. The “workation” or “digital nomad” visa allows foreign nationals to visit South Korea on a working holiday. Foreign nationals with an annual income twice as much as South Korea’s per capita gross national income will be eligible to apply for the visa. It will be given to those having a work experience of over a year in one industry and are eligible for remote work. Moreover, the applicants must also have medical insurance of over 100 million won and must cover medical treatment and repatriation fees. The visa will also be allowed to the families of these employees. The visa, which is valid for a year and renewable for up to two years, can be issued at South Korean embassies, and those currently residing in the country under a temporary visa can also apply for it if they meet the requirements. (Currently, foreign nationals interested in working and travelling in Korea need atourist visa, which is limited to stays of less than 90 days).The people who are awarded this visa cannot be hired by any company in South Korea to work or undertake any profit-making activity.
