• 07 Jan 2023

Grand Events will be Held Across the State of Uttar Pradesh Day

Why In News?

On January 6, 2023, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra issued guidelines regarding grand events to be organized in all districts of the state including Lucknow from January 24 to 26 on the occasion of Uttar Pradesh Day.

Key Points

• According to the Chief Secretary, the state-level function will be held at Avash Shilp Gram in Lucknow. He has instructed to ensure the participation of all departments in this event.
• A budget of Rs 3 lakh will be given to each district by the Culture Department for the event. On the occasion of Uttar Pradesh Day, khadi and village industries, MSMEs and self-help groups will set up ODOP stalls and sell and promote products.
• A three-day central program will be organized at the district level. An exhibition of development schemes and achievements of the government will be held. Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Shooting Ball, Volleyball, Cricket, Tennis, Race, Obstacle Race competitions will be organized by the Sports Department.

Web Series will Get Huge Subsidy in Uttar Pradesh

Why In News?

On January 5, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in a meeting with Bollywood film directors and artists in Mumbai that the UP government is going to work towards a subsidy of up to 50 percent on web series to be produced in the state and up to 25 percent discount on the cost of web films.

Key Points

• Uttar Pradesh was promoted as the 'Most Film Friendly State in India' during chief minister Yogi Adityanath's meeting with Bollywood celebrities during his visit to Mumbai.
• During this, the Chief Minister said that work will be done to provide subsidy of up to 25 percent for web series and web films as well as studios and labs.
• In the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Uttar Pradesh has got the status of 'Most Film Friendly State' in the 64^th and 68^th National Film Awards.
• Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar said the chief minister has talked about subsidy, which will help new filmmakers.
• In the meeting, actor Sunil Shetty asked Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to remove the 'Bollywood Boycott' tag, so that the deteriorating image of Bollywood can be corrected. He also urged to convey this message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bihar's Arwal Women's Police Station Included in the Top Three Police Stations of the Country

Why In News?

On January 5, 2023, the Union Home Ministry has selected Arwal Women Police Station of Bihar among the top three police stations in the country for the year 2022.

Key Points

• Arwal Women Police Station has been selected on the basis of best performance in research and execution of cases, prevention of crime initiatives, fast pace of filing of charge sheets in cases etc.
• The top three police stations in the country include Aska police station in Odisha's Ganjam district and Banbasa police station in Champawat district of Uttarakhand .
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will felicitate the station house officers of all these police stations at the Conference of Directors General of Police to be held in New Delhi on January 20, 2023. Who will get which ranking in the first three will also be announced on the same day.
• In September 2022, a team of the Union Home Ministry inspected the Arwal women's police station. During this time, the Home Ministry team examined the number of pending cases in the register of the police station, the facilities available and also took feedback from the local citizens.
• Arwal Mahila Police Station has all kinds of facilities for women to sit and play with women. This police station also has a ramp for the disabled and the elderly and there are separate women and men lock-ups.
• It is noteworthy that the Union Home Ministry defines the top police stations of the country on parameters such as crime control and treatment of common citizens.

Rajasthan Tops in the Country in Service Delivery and Redressal of Public Grievances

Why In News?

On January 6, 2023, Dr. Subhash Garg, Minister of State for Public Grievances, Department of Public Grievances of Rajasthan said that under the campaign 'Good Governance Week - Administration Towards Villages - 2022' run by the Government of India, Rajasthan has secured the first place in the entire country in two categories - service delivery and public grievance redressal.

Key Points

• Minister of State for Public Grievances Dr. Subhash Garg said that during the 'Good Governance Week - Administration Towards Villages' campaign run by the Government of India during the year 2022, 53 lakh 80 thousand cases of public grievances were resolved all over the country, out of which Rajasthan got the first place by disposing of 23 lakh 36 thousand cases.
• In the year 2022, 310 lakh cases of service delivery were resolved in the entire country, out of which Rajasthan got the first place by disposing of 149 lakh applications for service delivery.
• He said that in service delivery, Alwar district stood first with 16 lakh 45 thousand cases, Jaipur second with 14 lakh 53 thousand cases and Sikar district third with 12 lakh 92 thousand cases.
• Similarly, in public grievance redressal, District Jaipur was first with 2 lakh 62 thousand cases, Jodhpur second by solving one lakh 19 thousand cases and Alwar district was third with 1 lakh 17 thousand cases.
• It is noteworthy that the divisional level review conducted by The Minister of State for Public Grievances Redressal Department Dr. Subhash Garg through video conferencing every month played a major role in making the state a leader. This increased the sensitivity of field officers to the grievances of the common man.
• State Level Public Grievance Redressal Committee Chairman Pukhraj Parashar said that for the redressal of public grievances, the facility of registering 24×7 complaints has been provided on the Rajasthan Sampark Portal and in mission mode, three-tier public hearings are being held at village level, subdivision level and district level every month.
• Director Public Services and Joint Government Secretary Dr. Om Prakash Bairwa said that Rajasthan is among the leading states to enact the Guarantee of Delivery of Public Services in the year 2011 and the Right to Hearing Act in 2012 along with the Rajasthan Guarantee of Delivery of Public Services Act in the year 2011.
• He said that at present, 624 services are being provided online under a quick and transparent system along with time-bound delivery of 308 services notified under the Rajasthan Guarantee of Delivery of Public Services Act to the common man in the state, so that the common man does not have to visit remote offices repeatedly.

Western Rajasthan Industries Handicrafts Festival

Why In News?

On January 6, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated the 'Western Rajasthan Udyog Handicraft Festival' at Ravana Ka Chabutra Ground in Jodhpur. The 33rd festival, focusing on the main theme of 'Developing Rajasthan - Entrepreneurial Rajasthan', will continue till January 15.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot visited the central pandal, industrial exhibition, development exhibition, sea-world, statue of Adidev Mahadev etc. in the festival. He encouraged the people by taking information about the products and models displayed.
• The event is being organized under the joint aegis of Jodhpur District Administration, District Industries Centre Enterprise Promotion Institute, Jaipur and nodal agency Marudhara Industries Associations, Jodhpur.
• There are about 750 stalls set up in it. More than 700 handicraftsmen from 18 states of the country are participating in it. Apart from this, marketing support is being provided by various departments of the Central and State Government to their stakeholders in the festival.
• The main theme of the festival this time is 'Developing Rajasthan – Entrepreneurial Rajasthan'. In reflecting this, the Central Pandal is showcasing the infrastructure developed in the industrial area and the models of industrial projects guiding the overall industrial development of the area. Along with this, the vibrant panorama will be the center of attraction to showcase the development and Gandhian ideology of Rajasthan.
• The festival started 33 years ago as a small industrial exhibition at jodhpur information centre. The next year, in the old stadium, it got the look of an industry fair. Started in the year 1991 with only 80 stalls, the festival continued to grow.
• This time, small-cottage industrial and handicraft units of various states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, West Bengal and Uttarakhand etc. will get the benefit of displaying and selling their products at the festival venue.

Reward will be Given for Reporting illegal Use of Electricity

Why In News?

According to information received from the Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department on January 6, 2023, the Central Zone Electricity Distribution Company has announced a reward scheme to prevent power theft.

Key Points

• There is a provision for payment of compensation subject to prescribed conditions for reporting illegal use. On receipt of the information, 10 percent of the amount will be paid to the successful informant. There is no maximum limit for this amount.
• In addition to the company headquarters and regional headquarters, information about illegal use/theft of electricity can be given by the Central Zone Power Distribution Company to the Regional General Managers in writing or telephone. It will be the responsibility of the concerned officer to keep the information of the informant confidential.
• The officers and employees of the company will not be considered as informers. The incentive amount will be paid to the informant from the company headquarters. The incentive amount will be credited directly to the bank account of the informant.
• Departmental officers and employees who make cases and collect money will also be given two and a half percent amount as incentive.
• A Vigilance Cell has been set up at the company headquarters for the implementation of this scheme. Information can also be sent to this vigilance cell.

Special Achievements Achieved by the Water Resources Department in Irrigation

Why In News?

On January 6, 2023, The Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Department released the details of several achievements achieved in the field of irrigation over the years.

Key Points

• Speaking on the occasion, Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulshiram Silawat said that irrigation potential has increased by 3 lakh 48 thousand hectare area in the last two years.
• At present, 37 lakh 7 thousand hectare irrigation potential has been developed by the department. Under the command of Tawa project, farmers are getting irrigation facility in 89 thousand hectare area for Zaid crop
• In the year 2020-21 and 2021-22, revenue of Rs 840.3 crore has been recovered. In 2022-23 till September, Rs 266.11 crore revenue has been collected.
• The department has developed one lakh 16 thousand hectare irrigation potential against the target of developing one lakh 15 thousand hectare irrigation potential in the year 2020-21. At the same time, new irrigation potential has been developed in one lakh 71 thousand hectare area against the target of one lakh 70 thousand hectares in 2021-22. The target of increasing the total irrigation potential to 40 lakh hectares will be completed by December 31, 2023.
• A total of 126 new major, medium and minor irrigation projects have been started by the department in Madhya Pradesh in the last two years. These include four major, 10 medium and 112 small projects. The cost of all these 126 irrigation projects is Rs 6,700 crore. These new irrigation projects will develop irrigation potential of 3 lakh 34 thousand hectares.
• In Madhya Pradesh, work on the much-awaited Ken-Betwa Link National Project will be started soon. The Rs 44,605-crore national project will provide irrigation facilities in 8.11 lakh hectare area of drought-hit Bundelkhand region of the state. Also, there will be easy supply of drinking water to about 41 lakh population.
• The project will generate 103 MW of power, which will be fully utilized by Madhya Pradesh. The Ken-Betwa link project will benefit 2040 villages of 28 tehsils of 10 districts of the state.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal) has been launched with the objective of increasing the ground water level, removing the drinking water crisis and providing irrigation facilities in Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. In this project costing about Rs 314.54 crore, works are being done for water conservation and improvement of ground water level in 678 villages of 9 development blocks of 6 districts of the state with public participation.
• The Rs 6,601 crore 'Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia New Multi-Purpose Irrigation Project' is being launched for irrigation and drinking water supply in Gwalior and Chambal regions of Madhya Pradesh. With this project, irrigation facility will be provided in 2 lakh hectare area in Guna, Shivpuri and Sheopur districts of the state and 6 reservoirs will be constructed. Also, irrigation, drinking water, fisheries, tourism and employment opportunities will increase. The ground water level of the area will also increase.
• Significantly, Madhya Pradesh is the leading state in the country to formulate schemes based on micro irrigation system. Modern pressurized pipe based micro irrigation system is being used in 55 large and medium irrigation projects currently under construction of the department.
• Madhya Pradesh is the leading state in the country to constitute an expert committee to implement the provisions of the Dam Safety Act-2021 by the Water Resources Department. A 'Dam Safety Review Panel' has been formed in Madhya Pradesh. In the last 5 years, 25 dams have been repaired at a cost of Rs 148 crore. In the next five years, 27 dams will be protected and repaired. For this, Rs 551 crore has been approved in collaboration with the World Bank.

Jamshedpur Police Adopts QR Code Based Beat System

Why In News?

On January 6, 2023, Prabhat Kumar, SSP of East Singhbhum district, launched smart policing through QR code scanning system at Composite Control Room (CCR) at Sakchi, Jamshedpur.

Key Points

• More than 1500 beat points spread across Jamshedpur cit y and rural areas have adopted the QR code-based e-beat system. Under the new system, patrolling teams of Jamshedpur Police will have scan-through QR codes across the district.
• The officers in charge of the respective police stations will have to maintain the data with scanning of QR codes as well as strict surveillance by senior officers so that patrolling teams do not evade their duty.
• Under the previous traditional logbook system, beat police had to manually record their movements through swiping machines installed with their beats. Police officials said there was scope for manipulation in the old system as there was no proper monitoring.
• With the new system, beat police will have to scan QR codes placed on their routes from their mobile phones. The app-based QR code uses facial recognition and allows police officers to download photos and write comments for better and faster response. The system can also be monitored on a real-time basis from the control room.
• As soon as the beat policeman scans the code, the officer in charge will not only get confirmation, but his activity can also be tracked through GPS. Comments recorded in the app can be stored and analyzed for future policing and planning.
• During the launch of the new system, SSP Prabhat Kumar said that initially 27 QR codes have been installed in Sakchi and 30 QR codes in Bistupur.
• These QR codes have been installed in major jewellery shops, banks and hotels where patrolling parties have to keep a regular watch. The number of such QR codes will soon be increased to 1,500 across the district to protect businessmen, banks, schools and other educational institutions from innocent police patrolling.

Shri Sammed Shikharji Removed from Eco-tourism Zone and Tourism

Why In News?

On January 5, 2023, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has imposed an immediate ban on the implementation of the provisions of Section 3 of the notification and all other tourism and eco-tourism activities to the environmentally sensitive area associated with shri Sammed Shikharji mountain range located in Giridih district of Jharkhand.

Key Points

• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren had written a letter to Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupesh Yadav in this regard. The Chief Minister had said through the letter that Parasnath Sammed Shikhar has been a world famous holy and revered pilgrimage site of the Jain community since ancient times. According to the belief, out of the total 24 Tirthankaras of Jainism, 20 Tirthankaras have attained Nirvana at this place.
• It may be mentioned that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has received several representations from various organization's representing the Jain community regarding some activities taking place in the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary in the last few days, which has adversely affected the sentiments of followers of Jainism.
• The complaints mention faulty implementation of the provisions of the notification of environment sensitive zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary by the Jharkhand government and said that such negligence of the state government has hurt their sentiments.
• In this regard, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav had invited various representatives of the Jain community to discuss the entire issue and a possible solution. Delegates came in large numbers and talked about the present status of Sammed Shikharji and the demands of the community to maintain the sanctity of the place.
• The representatives were apprised that the Parasnath WL Sanctuary was established by the then Bihar Government in 1984 under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, while the Environment Sensitive Area (ESZ) was notified by the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Jharkhand in 2019 under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• Environmentally sensitive areas act as a kind of 'shock absorber' for protected areas by restricting, controlling and promoting activities around protected areas.
• The ESZ notification is not intended to promote uncontrolled tourism, and certainly not to promote every kind of development activities within the limits of the sanctuary. The announcement of ESZ is actually meant to restrict activities around the sanctuary and, therefore, outside its limits.
• There are adequate provisions in the management plan of Parasnath WL Sanctuary which prohibit activities that adversely affect the sentiments of the Jain community, the Government of India may issue guidelines to the Monitoring Committee as a whole to address any problem, keeping in view the sentiments of the Jain community.
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav specifically mentioned that the Ministry accepts the established fact that the Sammed Shikharji Mountain area is a sacred Jain religious place not only for the Jain community but for the entire country and the Ministry is committed to maintain its sanctity.
• It was decided in the meeting that the Government of Jharkhand should be directed to strictly implement the important provisions of the management plan of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary, which are especially harmful to flora or fauna, coming with pets, playing loud music or using loudspeakers, sites or places of religious and cultural importance. such as dirtying sacred monuments, lakes, rocks, caves and temples; and the sale of alcohol, drugs and other narcotics; Parasnath prohibits unauthorized camping and trekking etc. on the hill.
• The Jharkhand government has been directed to strictly comply with these provisions. The state government has been directed to strictly enforce the ban on sale and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food items on Parasnath Hill.
• Further, for effective monitoring of the provisions of the aforesaid Environmentally Sensitive Area Notification under sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Central Government has constituted a Monitoring Committee under Section 5 of this Notification.
• The state government has been directed to keep two members from the Jain community and one member from the local tribal community as permanent invitees to this monitoring committee, so that proper participation and oversight can be done by important stakeholders.

Famous Litterateur of Uttarakhand Dr. Arun Kuksal will Get the Prestigious Rahul Sankrityayan Tourism Award

Why In News?

On January 6, 2023, Dr. Arun Kuksal, a famous litterateur from Uttarakhand, has been selected for the first prize under the 'Rahul Sankrityayan Tourism Award, 2020-21', conferred by the 'Ministry of Tourism, Government of India' for his famous book 'Chale Saath Pahar'.

Key Points

• Dr. Arun Kuksal was born on 8 October 1959 in Chami village of Pauri Garhwal. Presently he lives in Shrikot-Srinagar. Dr. Arun Kuksal is working on the post of Ombudsman in MNREGA Department of Pauri. Arun Kuksal has written seven books so far.
• Dr. Arun Kuksal is associated with regular writing in published journals and social media on social, economic, educational, cultural and literary issues of Himalayan society. Seven books on his entrepreneurship development, travel literature and socio-cultural issues have been published.
• It is worth mentioning that in the past, Dr. Arun Kuksal has received the 'National Entrepreneur Induction Trainer Award' for his remarkable contribution in the field of entrepreneurship education.
• Presently Dr. Arun Kuksal is active in the work of library operation, computer training and career guidance for children, youth and women in his native village Chami. Also, rendering his expert services on the post of Lokpal (MNREGA), Pauri (Garhwal).