• 06 Jan 2024

Drop in Sex Ratio in Haryana

Why in News?

9 out of 22 districts of Haryana recorded a drop in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB).Though the state’s overall SRB remained consistent at 916 (the national SRB is 933).

• Gurgaon, on the other hand, recorded a rise from 925 in 2022 to 928 in 2023.

Key Points

• Northern and central districts such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, Sonipat, Yamunanagar, Hisar, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jind and Charkhi Dadri saw a fall in the number of girls born.
• Since the 2011 Census, the gap between boys and girls in Haryana has been a cause for concern. The state's sex ratio at birth of 834 is the lowest in the country, which led to the state launching a stringent crackdow against female foeticide.
• In 2015, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ was launched with the Centre’s support to bring about social change.
  • In 2015, from 876, the state’s sex ratio at birth climbed to 900 in 2016, followed by 914 in 2017.
  • It remained the same in 2018 but improved to 923 in 2019.
  • After that, it saw a dip again from 922 in 2020 to 914 in 2021.
  • At 916, the SRB showed a slight improvement in 2022 and continued to stay in the same mark 2023 as well.
• According to the officials, a total of 17 cases were filed under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994.
  • Around 2,387 raids were conducted on clinics carrying out sex determination tests in the last five years across the state. Out of these, 487 raids were in other states.
  • A total of 1,376 First Information Reports (FIR) were also registered for sex determination and use of medical termination of pregnancy kits across Haryana.
• The government needs to further strengthen the PCPNDT Act and should take strong legal action against illegal abortions.
• It is essential to organize awareness campaigns. The key is to conduct these initiatives and regularly monitor the progress.

Haryana to Tackle Waste Management in Gurugram and Faridabad

Why in News?

According to Haryana chief secretary, the state government has awarded contracts worth ₹126 crore to process 15 lakh metric tonne legacy waste at Bandhwari in Gurugram.

• An action plan has been prepared to achieve this target by June 2024.

Key Points

• The officers of the pollution control board are directed to take strict action against agencies and officials failing to address issues related to waste management.
  • Penalties will be imposed against those responsible for delay in waste management and disposal tasks in landfills at Gurugram and Faridabad.
• Faridabad Municipal Corporation (MC) commissioner is also directed to complete development at Mujheri and install trammels by January end and to commence operations at Pratapgarh site by mid-February 2024.
• Regular awareness programs on waste segregation and daily monitoring of compliance will be conducted by Gurugram MC and Faridabad MC.

86% Crimes Under IPC in 2023 Solved

Why in News?

According to the state Director General of Police (DGP), Uttarakhand reported a total of 15,797 crimes under the Indian Penal Code in 2023, which is 752 cases less as compared to 2022 in which 16,549 cases were reported.

Note

• Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India drafted in 1860 in the wake of the first law commission established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833.

Key Points

• In 2023, police solved 86% of the total cases, while taking action against 61% of the total accused involved in the crimes.
• A total of 432 wanted criminals on the run were arrested in 2023.
• The state police took action against 30 criminals under the Gangster Act, 1986 and seized their illegally accumulated properties worth Rs 186 crore.
• Apart from this, appropriate legal action was also taken against 262 criminals under the Goondas Act, 1982 in 2022.
• In 2023, a total 1,649 people were arrested for drug trafficking and drugs worth Rs 27 crore were seized.
• The fire unit of the Uttarakhand police addressed a total 1,381 accidents in which 318 human lives and properties worth Rs 121 crore were saved.
• Police collected Rs 37 crore as fines imposed after issuing a total 6.7 lakh challans on vehicles for various violations.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential School

Why in News?

On 1st January 2024, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the building of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Residential Hostel in Kaulagarh, Dehradun.

Key Points

• The foundation stone of this building was laid by CM Dhami last year, which was built at a cost of Rs 4,09,40,000.
  • The residential hostel and stock of the facilities being provided to the children in the hostel were inspected.
  • The officials of the Education Department were instructed to provide better-quality resources to the children in the hostels.
  • Residential arrangements have been made for 100 children in the hostel.
• On this occasion, CM announced that the hostels opened in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, built for the education of daughters of weaker, deprived, and resourceless sections and 11 schools adjacent to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose hostel will be upgraded to the intermediate level.
• 13 such hostels are running in the state for the education of weak, backward, orphan, and resource-less children, in which free arrangements have been made for 1000 children.
• 40 Kasturba Gandhi Residential Girls Hostels are being run separately for girls, in all facilities are being provided free of cost.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

• He was a fierce nationalist, whose defiant patriotism made him one of the greatest freedom fighters in Indian history.
• He was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province.
  • His Jayanti is celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas'.
• He was credited with setting up the Indian Army as a separate entity from the British Indian Army - which helped to propel the freedom struggle.