Rajasthan State PCS

• 07 Mar 2024

500 Electric Buses to be Introduced in Seven Rajasthan Cities

Why in News?

According to the sources, 500 electric buses will be introduced shortly for public transport in seven cities of Rajasthan, with an emphasis on reducing air pollution, creating convenience for commuters, and reducing fuel consumption.

Key Points

• The buses will be operated and maintained by the Local Self Government Department through Convergence Energy Services Limited.
• The buses would ply in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Bharatpur, and Udaipur.
  • The maximum number of 300 buses will be operated in Jaipur, followed by 70 in Jodhpur.
• The promotion of public transport through electric buses would strengthen the network in the cities and improve the standard of urban life.
• The budgetary announcement would be implemented through the initiative for the benefit of the public at large.

Convergence Energy Services Limited

• Convergence is a green energy focused venture of the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) Group owned by central public sector undertakings under the Ministry of Power, New and Renewable Energy.
• It offers interventions that solve multiple gap areas in the energy ecosystem by amalgamating seemingly independent sectors such as electricity, transport, home appliances and introducing models for adaptation at scale through government partnerships and innovative financing such as carbon markets.

Energy Efficiency Services Ltd

• It is a joint venture of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID, It was set up under the Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.
• EESL is a Super Energy Service Company (ESCO) that seeks to unlock the energy efficiency market in India, estimated at Rs. 74,000 crore that can potentially result in energy savings of up to 20% of current consumption, by way of innovative business and implementation models.
• It also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of State DISCOMs, financial institutions, etc.

ESIC to Establish Sub-Regional Office in Rajasthan

Why in News?

Recently in the 231^st Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), a decision was taken to establish a Sub-Regional Office at Alwar, Rajasthan.

Key Points

• Around 12 Lakh Insured Workers and beneficiaries of ESI Scheme residing in the districts of Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara, Kothputilli-Behror, Bharatpur and Deeg will be benefited with establishment of a new ESIC Sub-Regional Office at Alwar.
• At total estimated cost of Rs.1128.21 crore is approved for the construction of 7 new ESI Hospitals at Harohalli, Narsapura, Bommasandra (Karnataka), Meerut, Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) and Duburi (Odisha) was also accorded during the meeting.

Employees’ State Insurance Corporation

• Employees’ state Insurance Corporation of India is a multidimensional social system which provides socio-economic protection to the worker population and immediate dependent or family covered under the Employees' State Insurance Scheme (ESI) scheme.
• The ESI is an integrated measure of social Insurance embodied in the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948.
• ESI is designed to accomplish the task of protecting employees against the impact of incidences of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to insured persons and their families.
• Coverage of the Scheme:
  • The ESI Scheme applies to factories and other establishment's viz. Road Transport, Hotels, Restaurants, Cinemas, Newspaper, Shops, and Educational/Medical Institutions wherein 10 or more persons are employed.
    • However, in some States the threshold limit for coverage of establishments is still 20.
  • Employees of the aforesaid categories of factories and establishments, drawing wages upto Rs. 15,000/- a month, are entitled to social security cover under the ESI Act.
    • However, ESI Corporation has also decided to enhance the wage ceiling for coverage of employees under the ESI Act from Rs. 15,000/- to Rs. 21,000/-.
  • ESI Corporation has extended the benefits of the ESI Scheme to the workers deployed on the construction sites located in the implemented areas under ESI Scheme from 1st August, 2015.
    • The ESI Scheme is implemented district wise.
    • It is now notified in 526 Districts in 34 States and Union Territories.