Chhattisgarh

• 04 Feb 2022

In the presence of MP Rahul Gandhi, landless laborers of Chhattisgarh laid the foundation stone of Gandhi 'Sevagram' and Chhattisgarh 'Amar Jawan Jyoti'

Why in News

• On February 3, 2022, in the presence of former Congress National President Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the foundation stone of 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' was laid in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, in memory of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country.

Key Points

• The workers who laid the foundation stone of 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' along with MP Rahul Gandhi are Ramkumar Nishad (Durg), Khuji Maurya (Bastar), Sona Netam (Balodabazar-Bhatapara) and Masius Tirkey (Balrampur-Ramanujganj).
• Rahul Gandhi launched the state government's ambitious 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana' and 'Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club Scheme' in Raipur.
• On this occasion, Rahul Gandhi also released a coffee-table book 'Jo Kaha-So Kiya', published on the achievements of the Chhattisgarh government for three years.
• He transferred the amount of the first installment of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhoomiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana to the account of landless families of Rs 3.55 lakh online. Along with this, the amount of Rajiv Yuva Mitan Yojana was transferred online in the account of the beneficiaries.
• 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will be constructed at 4th Battalion of Chhattisgarh Armed Forces, Mana Raipur.
• 'Chhattisgarh Amar Jawan Jyoti' will become an effective medium to cherish the memories of the sacrifices of the brave sons of the country, to keep the spirit of respect and gratitude and patriotism alive in the hearts of the present generation as well as the future generations.
• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said in the context of 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhoomiless Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana' that this is the first example in the country of helping landless laborers.
• Through this scheme, the families of landless laborers, shepherds, barbers, washermen, priests, priests and pauni-pasari working in the fields will get an amount of six thousand rupees every year.
• The Chief Minister said that the 'Sevagram' to be built in Nava Raipur would be developed as a pilgrimage of modern India to understand, feel, learn and remember Gandhiji and Gandhism.
• Wardha's Sevagram Ashram has been an important milestone in Gandhi's thought, philosophy and center of Gandhism, similarly Nava Raipur Sevagram will become a Gandhian center of excellence.

Chhattisgarh Becomes 35th state/UT to Implement 'One Nation One Ration Card' Scheme

Why in News

• Recently, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has approved the inclusion of Chhattisgarh in the existing group of portability states/UTs under 'One Nation One Ration Card' (ONORC). With this, Chhattisgarh has become the 35th state/UT to implement the 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme.

Key Points

• It may be noted that the progress of the States/UTs towards the implementation of the ONORC scheme was reviewed by the Department. The department has approved the inclusion of Chhattisgarh after successful testing of portability transactions.
• Accordingly, ONORC scheme for nationwide portability of National Food Security Act (NFSA) ration cards has been implemented in Chhattisgarh from February 2, 2022.
• Under ONORC, migrant NFSA beneficiaries of Chhattisgarh will also now be able to purchase subsidized food grains at any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country.
• After the inclusion of Chhattisgarh, the ONORC scheme is being implemented in 35 states/UTs and is covering about 96.8 percent of the NFSA population of the country (about 77 crore NFSA beneficiaries).
• ONORC is a technology driven distribution system, which makes food security affordable across the country. This is very beneficial for migrant NFSA beneficiaries, who usually constantly change their place of residence in search of temporary employment etc. Migrant beneficiary family members, who have returned home, can purchase the rest of the ration without any difficulty.
• It provides an option to the beneficiaries to purchase their fixed quantity of food grains from any FPS of their choice anywhere in the country using their same/existing ration card.
• It may be mentioned that since the launch of the ONORC scheme in August, 2019, more than 56 crore portability transactions have been registered in the States/UTs under it. At the same time, 100 lakh metric tonnes of food grains worth Rs 31,000 crore have been distributed as food subsidy through inter-state and intra-state portability transactions.
• As a key indicator, on an average, around 2.5 crore portability transactions (including intra-state, intra-state and PM-GKAY foodgrain transactions) are being recorded per month across States/UTs under ONORC.