• 05 Sep 2022

Uttar Pradesh Government will use Drain Water for Irrigation

Why In News?

On September 3, 2022, Uttar Pradesh Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh directed officials to prepare a plan to use drain water for irrigation of crops in the state.

Key Points

• The Jal Shakti Minister stressed on ensuring that drain water does not flow into the rivers and is used for irrigation.
• He said that this will not increase pollution in the rivers and at the same time the cost of irrigation will also be reduced significantly. This will also help in conserving water used in irrigation.
• Directing officials to monitor 848 drains flowing in the state, the minister said a five-member committee should be formed to monitor the drains. People living around the drains and associated with the society should be made members of the committee.
• He said that the Namami Gange department would also look after the ongoing Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) works across the state.
• Anurag Srivastava, Principal Secretary, Namami Gange and Rural Water Supply Department, while directing the engineers said that they should implement CCTV surveillance on the Ganga land from this month and monitor every STP 24 hours from the control room.

MNREGA Mate Wages Now Rs 240 Per Day

Why In News?

On September 4, 2022, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved the proposal of the Rural Development Department to increase met wages in MNREGA. The workers working in the state will now get Rs 240 per day.

Key Points

• The per day wage of mate employed in Rajasthan has been increased under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
• With the approval of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the wage rate of employed mates under MNREGA scheme has been increased from Rs 235 per day to Rs 240 per day for the year 2022-23 .
• It is noteworthy that according to the instructions of the Central Government in MNREGA, the expenditure incurred on semi-skilled workers (MAT) is considered in the category of material. 75 percent of the material expenditure is borne by the central government and 25 percent by the Rajasthan government.
• The wage rate of unskilled labour is notified by the Central Government every year for each State. The entire amount of payment of unskilled labour is borne by the Central Government under the labour head.
• The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is being operated by the Rajasthan Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005.
• Linked to rural households who do not have adequate means of employment in their own village and promotes inclusive growth, the programme is more popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Scheme in common parlance.
• The Mahatma Gandhi NREGA Act came into force from 2nd February, 2006 and was implemented in a phased manner. In the first phase, it was implemented in six districts of the state namely Banswara, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Karauli, Sirohi and Udaipur.
• In the second phase, from the year 2007-08, it was implemented in 6 other districts of the state namely Barmer, Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Tonk and Sawai Madhopur. As a third and final phase, it was implemented in all the remaining districts of the state.

Rajasthan Export Promotion Council Constituted

Why In News?

On September 3, 2022, the Rajasthan Export Promotion Council was formed to monitor the export related issues of the industries of Rajasthan and to remove the problems related to them.

Key Points

• Rajiv Arora, chairman of Rajasthan Export Promotion Council (RAJSICO), was elected as the first unopposed chairman of the council. Mahavir Prasad Sharma has been made vice-chairman and Anil Kumar Bakshi, Sanjeev Agarwal, Anil Agarwal, Ravi Poddar and SN Modani as directors. The council has 21 founding members, seven directors, a vice-chairman and a chairman.
• Chairman Rajiv Arora said in the first meeting of the council that the basic objective of the council is to increase exports in the state. Due to the smooth industrial policies of the state government, exports have seen an increase of about 37 percent in the last 4 years and there has been a quantum jump in exports. The first goal is to add more members to the Council, so that from the smallest producer to the largest exporter can benefit from it.
• He said that every problem of exporters will be removed through the council. All types of cases will be handled by the council at its level and will talk to whichever affected company is there and dispose of the cases. The intention of the council is to promote the products of all the industries of the state for export, so that no area remains incomplete.
• Industries Commissioner Mahendra Kumar Parakh said that a council has been formed for industrial and export development in the state. Handicrafts, gems and jewellery, textiles, agro products and engineering products will be promoted in the initial stages in the council.

Auto Cutoff Distribution Transformer

Why In News?

On September 4, 2022, it was informed by the Central Region Power Distribution Company that now auto cutoff distribution transformers based on latest technology will be installed to prevent overloading and use of unauthorized electricity.

Key Points

• With the installation of auto cutoff distribution transformers, these distribution transformers will automatically stop and the power supply will also be stopped if the consumers use more than the sanctioned load or unauthorized electricity.
• Auto cutoff distribution transformers of fixed capacity will be installed by the company based on the number of consumers recorded in its records in the concerned area and their valid sanctioned load, making it not possible to use unauthorized power in the concerned area.
• The company said that an auto cutoff distribution transformer of 100 KVA has been installed in Chola zone of Bhopal. Also, auto cutoff distribution transformers have been installed in the moong growing areas at Narmadapuram. This has prevented the failure of distribution transformers. Also, the number of valid connections has increased, and the revenue of the company has also increased.
• The company has informed that auto cutoff distribution transformers are being installed in all areas at a distribution centre in Sehore circle, where the transformer failure rate was high.
• Distribution transformers are being changed by implementing it as a pilot project in rural areas. After reviewing the results of auto cutoff distribution transformer in these areas, it will also be implemented in the rural areas of bhind, Morena and Gwalior, other districts of the company.
• The installation of auto cutoff distribution transformers will ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply to legitimate consumers, while on the one hand, unauthorized power use will be prevented, on the other hand, the company's revenue will also increase.

Madhya Pradesh Tops Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yyojana for Fourth Time in the Country

Why In News?

On September 3, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while reviewing the schemes of the Women and Child Development Department, informed that Madhya Pradesh has been ranked first in the national position for the year 2021-22 in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana for the fourth consecutive year.

Key Points

• Under this scheme, Madhya Pradesh has topped the country by registering more than 30 lakh beneficiaries, distributing an amount of Rs 1294 crore and benefiting 2 lakh 26 thousand 306 beneficiaries till August in the current financial year.
• During the review of 'Adopt an Anganwadi' in the meeting, it was informed that public support of Rs 25 crore including toys, other materials has been received in the state for Anganwadi centers . Outdoor sports material swing and slippery etc. have been supplied for anganwadi centers. More than one and a half thousand centers have been upgraded as model anganwadi centers. Shoes and slippers and hygiene kits have also been provided for children.
• The Chief Minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, the work of providing an amount of Rs 5,000 to the pregnant woman and lactating mother eligible for the first delivery and Rs 6,000 to the infant mother on the birth of a girl child in the second delivery has been done on priority. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh is also at the forefront of efforts to remove malnutrition of underweight children in the country.
• In Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, 30 lakh children in the age group of 6 months to three years have taken advantage of supplementary nutritional food in the state. Similarly, 10 lakh 81 thousand pregnant and lactating mothers have also been benefitted.
• More than 38 lakh beneficiaries have taken advantage of take home ration in Madhya Pradesh. At present, Aadhaar verification of 71 lakh 20 thousand beneficiaries has also been completed on nutrition tracker. Take home ration production is being done from 13 plants in the state. Breakfast and hot cooked food are being supplied by more than 50 thousand common hearth groups in rural areas.
• More than 2,000 groups are also doing this work in urban areas. Nutrition corners have been established in more than 85 thousand Anganwadi centers of the state. Nutrition gardens have also been constructed.
• In the case of removing malnutrition of underweight children in Madhya Pradesh, the state is at number two in the national ranking, third in the solution of the problem of low weight due to leanness and sixth in the national ranking in terms of solving the health problems caused by the negligence.
• While the number of underweight children has declined by 3.7 percent in the country, the state has recorded the highest decline of 9.8 percent. Similarly, the problem of malnutrition due to leanness has been reduced by 1.7 percent in the country, while in Madhya Pradesh it has been successful in reducing 6.8 percent. Cases of stunting have also been reduced by 6.3 percent in Madhya Pradesh as against a reduction of 3 percent in the country.
• Giving information about the implementation of Ladli Laxmi Yojana in the review meeting, it was informed that so far 43 lakh girls have benefited from the scheme. In Ladli Laxmi Yojana 2.0, four lakh 87 thousand 731 girls of class 6, 9, 11 and 12 have received scholarship amount.

Chief Minister Inaugurated 2 Newly Formed Districts

Why In News?

On September 3, 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the 30th district of the state 'Sarangarh-Bilaigarh' and the 31st district 'Khairagarh-Chuikhadan-Gandai' in a huge ceremony held at Khel Bhantha Ground in Sarangarh.

Key Points

• It is to be noted that the 29thdistrict Mohla-Manpur-Chowki was inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on September 2.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister also gifted development works worth Rs 540 crore for the development of basic facilities in the new district 'Sarangarh-Bilaigarh', while in the inaugural program of Khairagarh-Chuikhadan-Gandai district, development works worth Rs 364 crore 56 lakh as well as 213 He provided material and grant-in-aid amount of Rs 37 lakh 48 thousand to the beneficiaries under various schemes of the government.
• Sarangarh is the district headquarters of the newly formed district Of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh. The airstrip has been located here since the time of the princely period. District Headquarters Sarangarh is tehsil headquarters and sub-divisional officer revenue headquarters since before the formation of Chhattisgarh.
• It is to be noted that a new district has been formed comprising sub-divisions Sarangarh, Tehsil Sarangarh and Baramkela of District Raigarh under Bilaspur division and Sub-Division-Bilaigarh and Tehsil Bilaigarh of District Balodabazar-Bhatapara under Raipur Division, which will include three tehsils Sarangarh, Baramkela and Bilaigarh and Sub Tehsils Kosir and Bhatgaon.
• The newly formed district consists of three Janpad Panchayats Sarangarh, Baramkela and Bilaigarh. The newly formed district is bordered by Rayagada district to the north, Mahasamund district to the south, Bargarh district of Odisha to the east, Baloda Bazar to the west and Janjgir-Champa district to the northwest.
• A large number of people of the Ramnami community live in the newly formed district. Mahanadi is the main river of Sarangarh-Bilaigarh district. At the same time, Gomarda Sanctuary located in Sarangarh tehsil of the district easily attracts tourists. The Dussehra festival of Sarangarh is very famous like Bastar-Dussehra.
• According to the 2011 census, the total population here is 6 lakh 17 thousand 252. There are 759 villages, 349 gram panchayats, 5 urban bodies, under which 20 revenue inspector boards are included, including Sarangarh, Hardi, Salar, Kosir, Chhind, Godam, Ulkhar, Baramkela, Gobarsingha These include Devgaon, Dongripali, Saria, Bilaigarh, Pavani, Govindvan, Jamgahan, Bhatgaon, Girsa, Bilaspur and Sarsiva.
• Its total revenue area is 1 lakh 65 thousand 14 hectares and the number of 2518 revenue cases. At present, 1406 schools, 7 colleges, 33 banks, 3 projects, 141 health centers, 10 police stations and 2 outposts are established in the new district Sarangarh-Bilaigarh.
• Similarly, the newly formed 'Khairagarh-Chuikhadan-Gandai' district comes under Durg division. Its population is 3 lakh 68 thousand 444. The total number of villages is 494 and 3 are urban bodies. There will be two sub-divisions Khairagarh and Gandai-Chuikhadan. There will be three tehsils Gandai, Chuikhadan, Khairagarh, while two development blocks Will be Chhuikhadan and Khairagarh, 16 will be revenue inspector boards. There are 107 Patwari Halka, 221 Gram Panchayats in this new district.
• The new district is bordered by Kabirdham district to the north, Tehsil Dongargarh and Tehsil Rajnandgaon (Rajnandgaon district) to the south, Tehsil Saja (Bemetara district) and Tehsil Dhamdha (Durg district) to the east and Tehsil Lanji district-Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh) to the west. Prosperity from minerals and resources and the formation of a district will accelerate industrial development here.
• With the formation of the new district, the citizens will get a lot of relief and many important works will be done easily. The general public will get the benefit of administrative decentralization. Basic facilities education, health, drinking water, food grains will be easily available to the people and facilities will be expanded.
• At the same time, the implementation of public welfare schemes of the government will be easily done up to remote areas. Road connectivity, construction of bridges and culverts will increase the convenience of movement in remote forest areas.
• It is worth mentioning that On the occasion of Independence Day on August 15, 2021, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced the formation of four new districts in the state with the aim of tightening the administrative work and facilitating the general public.

Chhattisgarh's Biggest Art Gallery Inaugurated by Chief Minister in Khairagarh

Why In News?

On September 3, 2022, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the state's largest art gallery at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh.

Key Points

• In this grand and magnificent art gallery of Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, the artifacts prepared by the students of the university have been kept for exhibition. Excellent artworks made by the students of the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, Graphics, Craft and Design and Folk Music and Arts of the University have been kept for exhibition.
• It is noteworthy that according to the intention of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Vice-Chancellor Dr. On the instructions of Chandrakar, this art gallery was set up by the world famous folk painting artist of Surguja district. Dedicated to Sonabai Rajwar. The art gallery has been named Sona Bai Rajwar Art Gallery after him.
• This art exhibition has been completed under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Yogendra Choubey (Dean, Faculty of Folk Music and Arts), Venkat Gude, Dr. Ravi Narayan Gupta, Dr. Vikas Chandra, Dr. Chhagendra Usendi, Sandeep Kindo.
• The special feature of this art gallery is that the art, culture and tradition of the entire Chhattisgarh can be seen in a single overview.

Pindari Glacier to make Kumaon's Drying Rivers Sadaneera

Why In News?

On September 4, 2022, Chief Engineer of Drinking Water Corporation SC Pant informed that the major tributaries of Pindar river originating from Pindari glacier will be connected to the upper catchment area of Gomti river, Kosi, Lodh and Gagas rivers in Baijnath valley of Bageshwar district, which will meet water needs for the next 50 years.

Key Points

• The Pindar river originating from the Pindari glacier will help in making the drying rivers of Bageshwar and Almora districts Sadaneera. Apart from the population of seven big cities, about one thousand villages will also benefit.
• Along with saving the rivers, this scheme will also prove to be helpful in drinking water, irrigation, power generation, increasing greenery in the area. It will also help in preventing migration from villages.
• It is worth mentioning that in the 23rd meeting of the Central Zonal Council chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Bhopal, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had mentioned this scheme, so that the help of the Center can be taken in taking the scheme forward. The scheme is estimated to cost 250 to 300 crore rupees.
• Under the scheme, about 150 km from Pindar river and its tributaries Sundardhunga Gad and Shambhu Gad (located at an altitude of 22 hundred meters above sea level). Water will be supplied to the near Malla Paya village of Kumaon (height 18 hundred meters above sea level) by laying a 1.5 meter diameter pipeline.
• About 42 cumecs (cubic meters per second) of water from these rivers flows into the Alaknanda River, a tributary of the Ganges. Out of this, one and a half to two cumecs of water will be diverted towards Kumaon through pipeline.