current affairs 08 September 2021 (In English)

Shailendra Singh won the global award in turtle conservation.

Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Bahler Turtle Conservation Award
for bringing back three critically endangered turtle conservation species from the brink of extinction.
It was announced by the Turtle Survival Alliance, IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Conservancy, and Turtle Conservation Fund.
He led the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)/ Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India turtle programme.
Three critically endangered turtles are being protected in different parts of the country as a part of TSA India's research, conservation breeding and education programme.
The Northern River Terrapin (Batagur Baska) is being protected in the Sundarbans;
Red-crowned roof turtle (Batagur kachuga) in Chambal;
Black softshell turtle (Nilsonia nigricans) at various temples in Assam.

The Tamil Nadu government announced its plan to set up India's 1st Dugong Conservation Reserve in the Palk Bay on the southeast coast.
The dugong or sea cow is an endangered marine mammal. It is facing extinction due to habitat loss, marine pollution and loss of sea grass.
Dugong is found in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay in Tamil Nadu.
The Gulf of Mannar is a shallow gulf area between the southeast end of Tamil Nadu and western Sri Lanka.
With the help of community participation, the government will also create a Dugong Marine Conservation Reserve in the Gulf of Mannar and the Pak Bay region to protect the species.
Marine Conservation Reserve will be established in an area of 500 km in the Palk Bay.
It is believed that an estimated 200 individuals live in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar, which will benefit substantially from the Tamil Nadu government's recent decision to set up a conservation reserve.

Under the Watan Prem Yojana, Gujaratis living anywhere in India and abroad will be able to take up projects,
villages and agencies of their choice by making a monetary contribution of 60%,
while the remaining 40% will be contributed by the state government.
The projects will be under the state government’s Vatan Prem Yojana.

Olympic bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain has been chosen as the brand ambassador for the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) of Assam.
She will help in promoting various activities of SSA, Assam across the state.

The Legislative Assembly of Odisha has recently passed the University of Health Sciences Bill 2021.
The bill seeks to bring all the medical and paramedical institutions of the state under a single health science university.
At present, various medical and paramedical institutes of the state are affiliated to various universities.
The bill has been passed amid strong protests from various fronts.