• 01 Oct 2021

Atmanirbhar Kisan Integrated Development Scheme

Why in News

On September 30, 2021, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the 'Atmanirbhar Kisan Integrated Development Scheme' under the mission of empowering the farmers of Uttar Pradesh. Under this scheme, 2,725 FPOs will be formed, which will directly benefit 27.25 lakh shareholder farmers.

Key Points

• The state government has decided to set up at least one FPO in every block to increase the income of farmers in the state. In the current financial year, the state government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for this scheme.
• Apart from central government institutions, Uttar Pradesh Diversified Agriculture Support Project (DASP), horticulture federations, qualified FPOs and voluntary organizations will work together for the formation of FPOs. An average investment of Rs 1.5 crore is planned from each FPO.
• This scheme of Rs 722.85 crore will significantly increase the income of more than 27 lakh farmers associated with Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in the next five years.
• At present, out of a total 824 blocks of the state, a total of 693 FPOs have been formed in 408 blocks. On an average around 500 to 1,000 farmers are associated with FPOs.
• Through FPO, farmers will be able to get the right price for their produce. Under the scheme, farmers associated with FPOs working in the state will get a subsidy of four percent on loans of Rs 5 lakh. In this way the institutions associated with agricultural development will be able to reduce the cost of farming and increase the income of the farmers by developing the infrastructure of agriculture.
• Under the scheme, a loan of Rs 5 lakh will be given to cluster based business organizations to form FPOs for five years and Rs 6 lakhs annually for three years to newly formed FPOs.
• Loans will be provided at the rate of three percent to FPOs for creation of post-harvest infrastructure facilities, which will benefit at least 500 to 1,000 farmers associated with the FPOs and also create 3,000 jobs every year.
• Till now, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) providing fertilizers, seeds and other facilities in the state were not able to take advantage of the scheme of Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) due to lack of margin money. Now 1,500 PS of the state will be able to benefit the farmers from this scheme.
• Also, with the availability of cheap loans, each PACS of the state will be able to start a project worth Rs 20 lakh. In such projects of PACS, the state government will give Rs 4 lakh as margin money, while AIF will give Rs 16 lakh. Its interest rate will be one percent.
• With this money, PACS will be able to build godowns, which will help farmers in storing their produce for a long time. In addition, a plan of Rs 140 crore has been prepared for the construction of post-harvest storage and management infrastructure in 27 mandis of Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad. Mandi Parishad will also be able to increase resources by taking a loan from AIF at an interest rate of just 3 per cent.

District Wise Ranking for SDGs

Why in News

Recently, Bihar's Planning and Development Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav has announced district wise ranking in the entire state to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal by 2030 on the lines of NITI Aayog.

Key Points

• This ranking will be released by evaluating the status of the districts of the state on the implementation of 17 key parameters set for the Sustainable Development Goal.
• In this regard, Additional Chief Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Amir Suvahani has written a letter to all the district magistrates of the state asking them to prepare a district index framework for the target.
• In this it will be observed that what has been the achievement of the district on various aspects of sustainable development goals like poverty alleviation, quality education, health facilities, supply of pure drinking water, women empowerment and environment security.
• The District Planning Officer has been made the nodal officer for the evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the district level. At the same time, the responsibility of monitoring its entire process has been given to the District Magistrate.
• It is worth mentioning that 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted in the United Nations General Assembly summit in September 2015 to fulfill the objective of sustainable development. This is the Global Agenda for 2016-30, which came into force on January 1, 2016.

Foundation Stone for New Medical Colleges

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On 30 September 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of 4 new medical colleges to be set up in Sirohi, Banswara, Hanumangarh and Dausa districts of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot urged the Prime Minister to give early approval to Government Medical Colleges in the remaining Jalore, Rajsamand and Pratapgarh districts as well.
• He said that medical colleges are either operational or in the process of construction in 30 out of 33 districts of the state and will be in operational stage by the year 2023.
• Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, 16 medical colleges are currently under process in Rajasthan. 40 percent of the total cost of these colleges being built at a cost of more than Rs. 5 thousand crore (about Rs. 2000 crore) is being borne by the state government.
• Apart from Sirohi, Banswara, Hanumangarh and Dausa, these colleges are also coming up in Alwar, Bundi, Tonk, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Sri Ganganagar, Jaisalmer, Chittorgarh, Baran, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Dholpur.
• At present there are 2830 MBBS seats in the state medical colleges in the state. The number of MBBS seats is likely to increase to more than 4 thousand after the commencement of all the state medical colleges under construction.

National Mahatma Gandhi Award

Why in News

On September 30, 2021, Shivshekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary (Culture and Tourism), Madhya Pradesh informed that All World Gayatri Pariwar for the year 2019 and Bhatke Vimukt Vikas Pratishthan for the year 2020 have been selected for 'National Mahatma Gandhi Award'.

Key Points

• These awards will be presented to both the organizations at the National Mahatma Gandhi Award ceremony to be held at Rabindra Bhavan on October 2, 2021, the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.
• In the ceremony, all World Gayatri Parivar located in Haridwar and Bhatke Vimukta Vikas Pratishthan located in Yamgarwadi (Osmanabad) will be given income tax free Samman Rashi, Samman Patika, Shawl and Shriphal worth Rs.10 lakh.
• It is noteworthy that in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, the Government of Madhya Pradesh established this honor in the year 1995 with the aim of encouraging constructive initiative, communal harmony and social harmony in the society in line with Gandhi's philosophy of thought.
• The National Mahatma Gandhi Award is the biggest honor of Madhya Pradesh given to any institution.

Bhoj (Open) University Center

Why in News

On September 30, 2021, the Vice Chancellor of Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, Professor Jayant Sonwalkar informed that the student facilitation centers of Bhoj (Open) University will now open in all government colleges of the state.

Key Points

• Vice Chancellor Sonwalkar said that with 11 regional centers located at Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, Satna, Sagar, Ujjain, Chhindwara, Hoshangabad and Barwani, the university has set a target of admitting 2 lakh students this year.
• He said that Diploma in Social Development has been started from Ramcharitmanas to make students aware of scientific approach towards Indian culture and values. Audio-Video lectures Sewa Bhoj Vani and Bhoj Darshan are also being organized for the students.
• The university's e-content and self-learning materials are also available on the website, which are also available in open source for distance learning college and traditional university students.

Bhoomi Pujan of Science Center in Planetarium Complex in Ujjain

Why in News

On 30 September 2021, the Governor of Karnataka, Thaawar Chand Gehlot performed the Bhumi Pujan of the Science Center at the Planetarium Complex in Ujjain and also released the brochure of the exhibition.

Key Points

• This science center is being established under the scheme of National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. This center will be set up in an area of five acres at a cost of about Rs.16.70 crore.
• With the establishment of this center, people associated with education will be benefited and the interest of the public in science will increase. Students will be able to know about the unsolved mysteries of science. Modern equipment will be installed in the science center. It will also be developed as a major centre for time duration calculators in the future. The main features of this science center are as follows-
  
  • It will be made an innovation hub and will have many hi-tech equipment and gadgets.
  • Students will be able to research the tools in the Innovation Hub.
  • Students will also be taught to test soil, water and food samples in the lab.
  • A 3D studio will also be built in the science center for 14 crores, in which the most advanced equipment from the point of view of science will be installed.
  • The state government will give Rs 8.65 crore for the establishment of this center and the remaining amount of Rs 6.55 crore will be given by the National Council of Science Museums, Kolkata and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Haryana Sahitya Akademi announces various awards for the year 2020

Why in News

On September 30, 2021, Haryana Sahitya Akademi announced Shrestha Kriti Awards, Hindi Story Awards and Manuscript Grants for the year 2020 in Hindi and Haryanvi languages.

Key Points

• Hisar's Dr. Sharmila's work 'Teen Tukde Suraj' in Hindi poetry category for best work awards. In the story category, Vijay Vibhor of Rohtak's story collection 'Phir Wahi Pehli Raat'. In the novel category, 'Pal Jo Yun Gujrein' by Lajpat Rai of Panchkula. In the essay section, Pankaj Sharma's satire collection 'Muft Baaton Ke Mafatlal' of Ambala city. In the biography section, 'Haryana Shikhar mahilaye' by Dr. Ashok Kumar of Charkhi Dadri. The work of Baljit Singh of Hisar in the travelogue section 'kale pani ka safed sach'. And in the children's literature category, Mahendra Singh Sagar's work 'Bal Udaan' of Bhiwani has been selected.
• Similarly, poetry collection 'Yadan Ka Jharokha' of Dr. Jai Bhagwan Sharma of Jhajjar in Haryanvi language and 'Lok kala Sirmaur: Nihalchand Shivcharan' by Rambir Singh of Sonipat have been selected for the best work award. The prize money of Rs 31 thousand each will be given to these award winners.
• Similarly, in the Hindi story competition of the year 2020, Suresh Barnwal's story 'Gile Panne' from Sirsa got first place, Bhavna Saxena's story 'Naubat' from Faridabad got second and Vinita Malik's story 'Naveen' from Bhiwani got third place. These awardees will be given prize money of Rs.5,000, Rs.4,000 and Rs.3,000 respectively.
• Out of the manuscripts received for the year 2020, a total of 20 manuscripts in Hindi and Haryanvi languages have been selected for grant. Under this scheme, a grant amount up to Rs 20,000 is provided to the author after the publication of the book.
• The authors whose manuscripts have been selected are Kartar Singh Jakhar (Bhiwani), Sharada Mittal (Panchkula), Sunita Devi (Sangrur), Dr. Hemlata Sharma (Panchkula), Shyam Vashist (Bhiwani), Seema Gupta (Panchkula), Dr. Suresh Kumar (Ambala Cantonment), Dr. Satyawan Saurabh (Bhiwani), Neelam Narang (Hisar), Vijay Vibhor (Rohtak), Bani Singh Jangra (Hisar), Ashok Bairagi (Sonipat), B. Madan Mohan (Jagadhri), Vipin Choudhary (Hisar) ), Rajbir Verma (Karnal), Trilok Chand (Mahendragarh), Dalbir Singh (Rewari), Shikha Kumari (Hisar), Sewa Singh (Chandigarh) and Dr. Bahadur Singh (Yamunanagar).

'First-Aid Box' in 14,386 Government Schools

Why in News

The Haryana government has started preparations to set up 'First-Aid Boxes' containing first aid medicines in 14,386 government schools in the state.

Key Points

• Through the Haryana School Education Project Council, the government has earmarked a budget for purchasing 'First-Aid Box' kits in 11,049 primary schools and 3,337 secondary schools in the state.
• For this, the council has also released a total amount of about Rs 3 crore for the financial year 2021-22. Rs 2,000 has been earmarked for each school.
• Under this, the teacher of science will be made in charge by giving training of 'First Aid'.
• In order to provide immediate first aid to school children, the government has released Rs. 2,87,72,000 for all government schools in the state under the scheme 'Fund for Protection and Security at School Level'.

Kayakalp Award

Why in News

Recently, 67 Public Health Care Facility Centers were given Kayakalp Awards for the years 2019-20 and 2020-21 by Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta.

Key Points

• Among the awards presented by the Health Minister, the award was given to Pakur district hospital for the year 2019-20 and to Ramgarh and Khunti district hospitals for 2020-21. Apart from these, 32 Primary Health Centers (PHCs), 4 Community Health Centers (CHCs) and 28 Health and Care Centers were also given Kayakalp Awards.
• It is noteworthy that the Kayakalp Award is given to health care facility centers since 2015 for maintaining cleanliness in the campus.

Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU)

Why in News

On September 30, 2021, Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation (CGMSC) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) signed an MoU for setting up a Model Rural Health Research Unit (MRHRU) at Jheet Community Health Center in Durg district of Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• The MoU was signed by Kartikeya Goel, Managing Director, CGMSC on behalf of the State Government and Dr. Arup Das, Director, National Tribal Health Research Institute (NTHRI), Jabalpur on behalf of ICMR.
• Under this, MRHRU will assist medical staff in diagnosis, monitoring, research and training of diseases.
• This model rural health research unit will be set up in 11,000 square feet with an investment of Rs 2 crore.
• Chhattisgarh Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo said that till now samples of vector-borne diseases were sent to Jabalpur and other states for testing. Now this facility will be available in the state itself.