EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge

• 16 Apr 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4 All Challenge.

• The challenges aim at creating an environment of right food practices and habits and to make public transport safe, affordable, comfortable, and reliable.

Key Points

• EatSmart Cities Challenge:
  
  • About:
    
    • The EatSmart Cities Challenge is envisioned as a competition among cities to recognize their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India.
    • The challenge is open to all Smart Cities, capital cities of States /UTs, and cities with a population of more than 5 lakh.
  • Objective:
    
    • It aims to motivate Smart Cities to develop a plan that supports a healthy, safe and sustainable food environment supported by institutional, physical, social, and economic infrastructure along with the application of ‘smart’ solutions to combat food related issues.
  • Significance
    
    • The challenge has a potential to create social and behavioural change towards food safety, hygiene and nutrition.
• Other Related initiatives:
  
  • Limit TFA:Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has capped the amount of trans fatty acids (TFA) in oils and fats to 3% for 2021 and 2% by 2022 from the current permissible limit of 5% through an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011.
  • ‘Raman 1.0’: A new-age, hand-held battery operated device to perform rapid detection (in less than 1 minute) of economically driven adulteration in edible oils, fats and ghee.
  • Food Safety Magic Box: This do-it-yourself food testing kit comprises a manual and equipment to check for food adulterants, which school children can use in their classroom laboratories.
  • Food Safety Mitra scheme: It aims to support small and medium-scale food businesses so as to comply with the food safety laws and will facilitate them with the licensing and registration process, hygiene ratings and training programme.
  • Eat Right Mela: It is an outreach activity for citizens to nudge them towards eating right. It is organised to make citizens aware of the health and nutrition benefits of different types of food.
• Transport 4 All Challenge:
  
  • About:
    
    • The initiative has been launched in collaboration with The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and aims to bring together cities, citizen groups, and start-ups to develop solutions that improve public transport.
    • ITDP is a non-governmental non-profit organization that focuses on developing bus rapid transit systems, promoting biking, walking, and non-motorized transport, and improving private bus operators margins.
• Objective:
  
  • The Transport 4 All Digital Innovation Challenge Aims to develop digital solutions that will make public transport safe, affordable, comfortable, and reliable for all.
• Significance
  
  • COVID-19 has brought the entire world to a halt with transport being one of the worst-hit sectors. Transport 4 All Digital Innovation Challenge has the potential to support cities to recover from this mobility crisis.
  • It will support the cities and start-ups all over the country to move towards digital transformation in urban mobility.
• Initiatives to Address Urban Transport Issues:
  
  • National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP): The plan aims to achieve national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country
  • Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric vehicles in India (FAME India): This scheme supports hybrid/electric vehicles market development and manufacturing ecosystem.
  • Mass Rapid Transit/ Transport Systems (MRTS): In 2017, the government introduced the new Metro Policy which aims to improve collaborations, standardising norms, financing and creating a procurement mechanism so that the projects can be implemented effectively.
  • Personal Rapid Transit System (PRT): It is a transport mode combining small automated vehicles, known as pods, operating on a network of specially built guideways.
  • Green Urban Mobility Initiative: The Indian government launched the Green Urban Mobility Initiative (GUMI) to boost green and sustainable alternatives under the Smart Cities Mission.

SOURCE: PIB