State PCS

• 02 Sep 2023

Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Day to be celebrated every year on 31st August

Why in News?

On August 31, 2023, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, while addressing the 72nd Liberation Day of Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes at the Chief Minister's residence, announced to celebrate August 31 every year as Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes Day.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that continuous steps are being taken by the state government for the upliftment of the denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribal community. A fund of Rs 50 crore has been set up for the development of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes (DNTs).
• DNT Research and Preservation Centre is being set up at a cost of Rs 5 crore for traditional arts and enterprises of DNT society. Along with this, work is also being done to provide interest-free loans to the people of the society and to provide employment and economic incentives to artists.
• Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the scheme has been brought to provide housing and education to the students of the society. A DNT policy will be introduced soon for the upliftment of the denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities.
• The Chief Minister said that the denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribal community (DNT) made a significant contribution to the freedom struggle. For this reason, the British tortured this community by making a tyrannical law like the Criminal Tribes Act-1871. After independence, the first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru abolished this oppressive law in 1952 and ended the injustice being done to denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes.
• It was Pandit Nehru who gave entry to the Gadia Lohar community in Chittorgarh fort in 1955. Due to the decisions taken by former Prime Minister Late Rajiv Gandhi, all the deprived sections including DNT society got political representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Urmila Yogi, chairperson of the State Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Board, said that the state government has allocated leases of up to 150 square yards in villages and 50 square yards in cities for the DNT community free of cost.     

Haryana Govt. approves Research Initiative in line with National Education Policy, 2020

Why in News?

According to the information given by the Directorate of Information, Public Relations and Languages of Haryana on August 30, 2023, the Haryana Government has approved the proposal to encourage research for self-reliant India in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020.

Key Points:

• The Haryana State Council of Higher Education has written to the vice-chancellors of state-funded and private universities in Haryana asking them to follow the proposed guidelines. The offer includes CM fellowships in science, technology, social sciences, humanities and problem-solving research.
• The spokesperson of the department said in this regard that its objective is to comprehensively cover 4 spectrums. The first is to find solutions to contemporary problems faced by various systems including agriculture, industry, social system, economy and technology etc.
• Second, it is important to create an authentic database for policy-making and implementation, in addition to this, it is important to find out the areas of development to create more options for livelihood. Under this, the youth of Haryana will conduct research in emerging areas of science, technology and applications of science & technology.
• The spokesperson said that efforts have been made to identify specific research topics from forty-seven consultative meetings. Funds ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1,00,000 have been earmarked for each project, depending on the size and scope of the project, after recommendations from experts. Additionally, sponsoring organizations will be able to seek 25 percent contribution through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
• He said that to ensure transparency of the project and detailed guidelines on the format of research submission, interested parties can get information from the Council's website https://hshec.org/.
• This initiative reflects Haryana's commitment to promote self-reliance, innovation and holistic development in line with the educational vision of the country.

State Government took a big decision in the Interest of Pensioners

Why in News?

As per information provided by the Department of Public Relations, Madhya Pradesh on August 31, 2023, the State Government has taken a major decision in the interest of pensioners and has sanctioned dearness relief at the rate of 221% on basic pension/family pension and 42% in the seventh pay scale w.e.f. July 1, 2023 The enhanced amount will be payable from August, 2023

Key Points:

• According to the information, the increase rate of dearness relief in the sixth pay scale has increased by 9% and the rate of dearness relief in the seventh pay scale has increased by 4%. Earlier, they were getting dearness relief at the rate of 212% on basic pension/family pension in the sixth pay scale and 38% in the seventh pay scale from July 1, 2023.
• According to the order, dearness relief will also be payable on additional pension payable to pensioners aged 80 years or more. Dearness relief will be payable on superannuation, retirement, disability and compensation pension.
• Employees dismissed or removed from service will also be eligible for dearness relief on the compassionate allowance accepted. Dearness relief will also be payable to pensioners receiving family pension and extraordinary pension as per the relevant orders of the Finance Department.
• If a person has been kept in service on compassionate grounds due to the death of his spouse, then in such cases dearness relief on family pension will not be eligible.
• If he/she is in service at the time of death of the spouse, he/she will be eligible for dearness relief on family pension payable on account of death of the spouse. Such pensioners, who have commuted a part of their pension, will be paid dearness relief on their basic pension.
• This order will also be applicable to such retired employees of the State Government, who have drawn lump sum amount on merger in Undertakings/Autonomous Institutions/Boards/Corporations etc. and who have become eligible for repatriation of one-third of the pension.
• The fraction of rupee due on payment of dearness relief shall be rounded off to the next rupee. Director Pension has been instructed to conduct sample checking in bank branches and in case of discrepancy, to adjust it in the next month's payments.
• All pension disbursing officers have been directed to ensure payment of approved dearness relief to pensioners keeping in mind the provisions of Madhya Pradesh Treasury Code 2020.