• 07 Apr 2023

'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Powerloom Electricity Flat Rate Scheme'

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, in the cabinet meeting chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state's 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Powerloom Electricity Flat Rate Scheme' was approved. 400 crore will be spent on this scheme.

Key Points

• Under the 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee Powerloom Electricity Flat Rate Scheme', the government has given a big relief to the power-loom weavers of the state and provided a flat rate facility on the electricity bill. Powerloom connection holders with five-kilowatt connections in cities will have to pay Rs 400 for half horsepower and Rs 800 for one horsepower. In rural areas, it will be Rs.300 and Rs.600 respectively.
• The benefit of this scheme will be given from 1 April 2023. At the same time, up to 80 per cent subsidy will be given on handloom and 60 per cent on the installation of power-loom.
• Powerloom connection holders with a load of more than five kilowatts will be given a subsidy of Rs 700 per horsepower, a maximum of Rs 9100 per month. This grant will be reduced in the bill.
• At the same time, the cabinet approved the proposal brought by the Micro, Small Enterprises Export Promotion and Khadi Village Industries Handloom and Textiles Department. The 'Jhalkari Bai Kori Handloom and Powerloom Development Scheme' has been launched to link the unemployed with employment opportunities. Weavers will be given a grant of Rs 50,000 and Rs 80,000 on two estimated prices of handlooms.
• Employers who do not give bonuses to employees in the private sector will no longer be jailed. Under this proposal, while approving the amendment in the Payment of Bonus Act-1965, the provision of punishment for six months has been abolished.
• Under the new provision, the amount of the fine which was one thousand rupees has been increased to ten thousand rupees. In this too, a system of mitigation has been given.
• It is known that till now there was a provision of imposing six months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1000 or both punishment and fine on the employer for not giving a bonus to the employees.

Mulayam Singh Yadav Posthumously awarded Padma Vibhushan

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, President Draupadi Murmu posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan to Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav of Uttar Pradesh at the Padma Awards (second edition) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. This honour was received by his son Akhilesh Yadav on his behalf.

Key Points

• It is known that Mulayam Singh Yadav died in October last year after a long illness. Mulayam Singh was the Lok Sabha MP from the Mainpuri seat at that time. His daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav has reached the Lok Sabha after getting elected in the election held after this seat was vacant.
• Notably, Mulayam Singh Yadav's political career was very long. He was CM of Uttar Pradesh thrice and MLA nine times. In his political career, he also got important responsibilities in the Defense Ministry.
• In 2023, apart from Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Karnataka CM SM Krishna, Manipur BJP President Thounaojam Chouba Singh and deceased leader of Tripura Narendra Chandra Debbarma were also given Padma Vibhushan.
• It is known that the names of the Padma awardees were announced on the eve of Republic Day. One of them was the name of Late. Mulayam Singh Yadav, former CM of Uttar Pradesh.
• Significantly, the Padma Vibhushan honour is the second highest civilian honour given by the Government of India. A total of 106 people have been awarded the Padma Awards this year, including 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri Samman.

Super-30 Director Anand Kumar Receives Padma Shri Award

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, at the Padma Awards (second edition) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, President Draupadi Murmu awarded the Padma Award to Anand Kumar, director of Bihar's famous institute Super-30.

Key Points

• Notably, Anand Kumar is the director of Super-30, a well-known institute for the preparation of competitive exams. He has been given this award for doing incomparable work in the field of education.
• The Padma Award is one of the highest honours in the country. A total of 106 people have been awarded the Padma Awards this year, including 6 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri Samman.
• On this occasion, Anand Kumar said that after receiving the Padma Award, his responsibility has increased. Want to further expand the Super 30 program for students from other states and also want to start online education by the end of this year.

4 Celebrities of the State Honored with Padma Shri

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, President Draupadi Murmu honoured 4 personalities from Rajasthan with Padma Shri at the Padma Awards (second edition) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Key Points

• In the second edition of the Padma Awards, eminent personalities for their outstanding work in the field of social work, Public Life, Science, Engineering, Business, Industry, Medicine, Literature, Education, Sports, Civil Services and arts were honoured with the country's best civilian awards Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
• It is noteworthy that the names of the winners of these awards were announced on 25 January 2023. Those winners were awarded at the first edition of the Padma Awards ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 22. The remaining awardees are now conferred with the Padma Awards by the President.
• The awardees of the state include Ahmed Hussain & Mohammad Hussain for their excellent work in the field of ghazal singing & classical music, social worker Moolchand Lodha of Dungarpur for social work and Laxman Singh Lapodia of Jaipur for excellent work in the social sector itself.
• Moolchand Lodha, who belongs to the tribal-dominated Bangar area of the Dungarpur district, runs an organization called Jagran Jan Seva Mandal for the upliftment of tribals. Moolchand Lodha has been working continuously for the last 5 decades for the medical, education and welfare of tribals in the tribal and backward areas of this region. He has been given Padma Shri for the year 2023 for his excellent work.
• The first album Guldasta of Ghazal singers Ahmed Hussain and Mohammad Hussain brothers was released in 1980 and till now they have released more than 50 albums. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 2000.
• Hussain brothers have also contributed a lot in social service by giving charity shows of Ghazals and classical music all over the world.
• Laxman Singh Lapodia was also awarded the Padma Shri by the President on March 22 during the first edition of the Padma Awards ceremony.
• He has done excellent work in the field of water conservation in the Jaipur district. For water conservation, 5 lakh square meters of land have been irrigated and made fertile by the traditional Chowka method. He has done remarkable work for water conservation in about 100 villages in the area.

An agreement was signed between the State Government and the French Development Agency

Why in News?

In a meeting held at the Government Secretariat in Jaipur on 5 April 2023, State Chief Secretary Usha Sharma told that an agreement has been reached between the state government and the French Development Agency, in which, the plantation will be done on a large scale under the 'Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project' to be implemented in collaboration with the French Development Agency, which will increase the green area of the state.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. D.N. Pandey and Bosle Bruno, Country Director of the French Development Agency in India, signed the agreement.  
• The 'Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Development Project' will start a new era in the forestry and biodiversity sector of the state. For this, the French Development Agency was assured that the state government would achieve all the targets in the stipulated time while ensuring the quality of the project.
• Under this ambitious project of the Forest Department, Rs 1693.91 crore will be spent in 13 districts in the next 8 years, of which 70 percent (Rs 1185.28 crore) will be borne by the French Development Agency and 30 percent (Rs 508.62 crore) by the state government.
• Project Director Munish Kumar Garg told that various works will be done under the project in Bharatpur, Kota, and Tonk along with Alwar, Baran, Bhilwara, Bundi, Dausa, Dhaulpur, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur districts of the state. Along with plantation in a 55000-hectare area, apart from the authorized areas of the Forest Department, 55 lakh saplings will also be distributed in the outer areas.
• Extensive development works will be done in Bharatpur's Kevaladeo National Park, Bisalpur, Tonk and Kota Conservation Reserves, Kota's Bhainsrodgarh Sanctuary, Bundi's Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve to create an environment conducive to uninterrupted life of animals. About 610 kilometres of borders in forest areas will be protected by concrete walls.

President confers Padma Shri award on 3 Personalities of Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, at the Padma Awards (2nd edition) held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, President Draupadi Murmu awarded the Padma Shri for the year 2023 to 3 personalities from Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• It is known that 3 Padma Vibhushan, 5 Padma Bhushan and 47 Padma Shri awards were given for the year 2023 in the second phase of the Civil Investiture Ceremony at the Durbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Ramesh Parmar and Mrs Shanti Parmar in the field of arts and Dr. Munishwar Chandra Davar in the field of medicine were honoured with Padma Shri.
• Jhabua's artist couple Ramesh Parmar and Mrs Shanti Parmar are engaged in manufacturing Jhabua's well-known tribal dolls and traditional tribal wear for the last 3 decades.
• Jabalpur's Dr. Davar is serving the weaker sections of society with affordable treatment.

Chief Minister inaugurated 'Hirwar Micro Irrigation Project'

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the 'Hirwar Micro Irrigation Project' costing Rs 116 crore 78 lakhs in village Baheria of Shahdol district.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the ‘Hirwar Micro Irrigation Project’ of Shahdol district would expand irrigation facilities to 7481 hectares of farmers' land in 37 villages, which would change the lives of the farmers by making their fields prosperous.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 327.51 crore Bhanni Mega Micro-pressure Irrigation Project at Beohari in Shahdol district.
• The Chief Minister said that several schemes are being run by the Central and State Governments in the interest of the farmers. Work is being done on a large scale to make water available to the farmers' fields. The area under irrigation is continuously increasing in the state.

Approval of Haryana Skill Development & Industrial Training Department, Group (B) Directorate and Regional Office, Service Rules, 2023

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, Haryana Skill Development and Industrial Training Department, Group (B) Directorate and Regional Office, Service Rules, 2023 were approved in the cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal.

Key Points

• In the new rules, the educational qualification for the post of Assistant Director (Technical), Senior Apprenticeship Supervisor, Principal, and Vice-Principal has been set as a degree in engineering.
• It is known that according to the existing rules, a diploma/degree in engineering was the prescribed qualification for the above posts.
• Provision has been made in the rules to fill the newly created posts of Finance and Planning Officer, Principal (Footwear), Training Officer (BTC) Apprenticeship and Placement Officer and the posts which have expired or have been upgraded, those posts have been removed from the rules.
• Provision has been made to pass State Eligibility Test (SETC) in Computer Appreciation and Application to bring proficiency in working on computers.

Rural and Cottage Industries Policy-2022

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023 According to the information given by the Public Relations Department of Chhattisgarh, the state government implemented the Rural and Cottage Industries Policy-2022 to provide employment to the villagers through small cottage industries in rural areas and increase their income.

Key Points

• It is known that as a result of the new industrial policy implemented in Chhattisgarh, the single window system, and adequate availability of raw materials, industrial development has gained momentum in the state. Taking a step further in this direction, the State Government has implemented the Rural and Cottage Industries Policy-2022.
• Chhattisgarh's New Industrial Policy 2019-24 prepared on the initiative of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been successful in attracting investors. In the last four years, 2218 new industries were established in which more than 21 thousand 457 crore rupees have been invested and more than 40 thousand people have got employment.
• Under the promotion of rural and cottage industries in the state, approval has been given to establish 300 Rural Industrial Parks at Rs 600 crore. Along with this, a target has been set to set up a rural industrial park in every gram panchayat within 5 years.
• In this policy, small investors are being encouraged to venture into the service sector. Such development blocks, which traditionally have village and cottage industries are being classified as high-priority development blocks and are being given more grants than usual.
• To get subsidies under this policy, the unit doesn't need to be established in rural areas only. Like rural areas, the work of setting up Urban Industrial Parks is also being done in urban areas.
• To promote the traditional arts of the state like handloom weaving, beekeeping, lac, herbal collection, bell metal, Dhokra craft, bamboo craft, products made from cow dung and cow urine, products made from forest produce, agarbatti, candle making, tailoring, weaving etc. special incentives are being provided by setting high priority and priority.
• Under this policy, there is a provision to give a 10 per cent additional incentive to women, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes. Arrangements will be made to impart training in appropriate technology for rural and cottage industries and appropriate technology for the future in ITIs, polytechnics etc.

AYUSH Medical Reimbursement Policy Drafted

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, in the cabinet meeting held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal, the draft AYUSH Medical Reimbursement Policy was approved giving great relief to government employees, pensioners and their dependents.

Key Points

• This policy aims to uplift the AYUSH system through its outreach to all the beneficiaries of the state government.
• As most of these beneficiaries are getting their treatment under the AYUSH system of medicine but due to the non-availability of empanelled AYUSH hospitals, they were facing difficulty in getting their bills reimbursed. Given these difficulties, the draft AYUSH Medical Reimbursement Policy has been prepared.
• As per this policy, all Government AYUSH Institutes, Private AYUSH Hospitals having NABH certificates and entry-level NABH certificates will be empanelled under this policy. This will give a boost to AYUSH private practitioners as they can get their hospitals empanelled.
• Haryana government employees, pensioners and their dependents can get treatment for their ailments by getting admitted as patients in AYUSH-empanelled hospitals under the state government.
• Certain yoga and naturopathy practices will also be reimbursed during the outpatient treatment of chronic disease patients as no medicines are prescribed for outpatient treatment in yoga and naturopathy hospitals.
• Fixed package rates have been defined in all streams of AYUSH viz. Ayurveda (96 packages), Yoga (27 packages) Naturopathy (30 packages), Unani (85 packages), and Siddha (49 packages).
• The empanelled private hospitals under this policy will charge fixed package rates from the employees which will be reimbursed later after submitting the bill to the concerned department. The room rent will also be fixed as per the basic pay of the employee, which will be charged by the concerned hospital as per eligibility and will be fully reimbursable.
• Even in case of non-package treatment during indoor admission through Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy in empanelled private hospitals of the State, room rent will be reimbursed to the extent of eligibility, laboratory rates and cost of medicines given at the time of admission.
• A reimbursable list of medicines will also be prepared under this policy, which will be fully reimbursable during indoor admission in private AYUSH-empaneled hospitals.

Writers of Folk Languages will get 'Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman' every year

Why in News?

On 5 April 2023, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced in the meeting of Uttarakhand Bhasha Sansthan held in Dehradun that this year, 'Uttarakhand Sahitya Gaurav Samman' will be given for Kumaoni, Garhwali, dialects and dialects of the state, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu in folk languages and folk literature, epic, block poetry composition, poetry composition and literature and other prose genres.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that for the first time after the year 2014, the meeting of the Management Executive Committee of the Institute was held in the secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Dhami, in which it was told that folk languages and dialects are the identity and pride of the state and a grand ceremony will be organized in the coming May to honour outstanding litterateurs.
• The Chief Minister said that the creators of the state, who are unable to publish their books due to lack of funds, will be given partial grants in the form of financial assistance from the Bhasha Sansthan.
• This will be a multi-faceted plan of the Bhasha Sansthan, in which reading of research papers, exchange of ideas related to language, literary procession, folk language conference etc. will be organized.
• He also directed the organizing of national and international language conferences in every district of the state and established digital and e-library in a primary school of each district.
• During the meeting, approval was also given to organizing literary seminars in the book fair in association with the National Book Trust in the state.
• In the meeting, an agreement was also reached on the publication of literary and research journals by Uttarakhand Bhasha Sansthan. Along with this, approval was given to organize workshops and training programs for the standardization of folk languages.
• There are different speakers and writers of Garhwali, Kumaoni and Jaunsari dialects in different areas of the state, in whose writing there is a difference of words. There is a need for standardization of Garhwali and Kumaoni language spellings. District and state-level linguistic competitions will be organized by the institute in Uttarakhand.

Dimmer Village was selected as the model Sanskrit village

Why in News?

On April 5, 2023, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Dr. Chandi Prasad Ghildiyal, Assistant Director of Education and Sanskrit Education Department, told that the Sanskrit Directorate of the state has set a target of making 13 model Sanskrit villages in 13 districts of the state, under which Chamoli district's Dimmer village has been selected.

Key Points

• The Sanskrit language will be taught to women, children and elders in Dimmer village. For this, a Sanskrit-trained person will be selected in the village, who will teach the villagers to speak the Sanskrit language. For this, he will also be given an honorarium of Rs 12,000 per month.
• It is known that Dimmer village is located at a distance of 7 kilometres from Karnaprayag on the Karanprayag-Simli motorway. About 250 Brahmins, 150 Rajputs and 100 Scheduled Caste families live in this village of 500 families. Dimri Brahmins of Dimmar village take care of the worship in Badrinath Dham. Along with this, he also takes care of the worship from Mata Murti to Joshimath Narasimha Temple.
• The Gadu Ghada of Badrinath Dham is also operated from Dimmer Village. Apart from this, after the completion of the pilgrimage to Badrinath Dham, the Rawals of Badrinath also reach the Lakshmi Narayan Temple of Dimmer village for worship. Sanskrit is used more and more in all these religious programs. That's why Dimmer Village has been selected under this scheme.
• Under this, now people from all sections of the village will be taught to speak the Sanskrit language. Along with this, Sanskrit Gram Shiksha Samiti will also be formed in the village. The Sanskrit language will be discussed every month by the committee. Its monitoring will be done by the Sanskrit Education Department.
• It is noteworthy that Sanskrit College has been running in Dimmer Village since 1918. Earlier, the college was run by Dimri Brahmins only. Presently the college is run by Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.
• Classes from six to Acharya are conducted here. The Dimri families also donated their 30 Nali lands for the operation of the college and there is also a hostel here.
• Significantly, Sanskrit is the second official language of the country. Everyone needs to come forward for its promotion.

Re-development plan for Haridwar-Rishikesh, Capital City to be built in Doon

Why in News?

According to information received from media sources on 5 April 2023, the state government is bringing a re-development plan while preserving the historical heritage of Dharmanagar Haridwar and Yoga City Rishikesh. At the same time, the process of construction of Aerocity in Capital City and Jolly Grant in Raipur has also started moving forward.

Key Points

• McKenzie Global has also recently given a presentation on this change. Under this, there is also a plan to acquire agricultural land and develop a greenfield township on it.
• In Haridwar four areas from Devpura to Bhupatwala (Dudha Dhari Chowk), Har Ki Pauri and the surrounding area are 1.5 km. Daksh Mandir and Sanyas Road in the Kankhal area and the Heritage Master Plan are being prepared from Bhupatwala to Bharat Mata Mandir in Saptarishi Ashram.
• Under this, Bharat Mata Temple, Har Ki Pauri, Mansa Devi, Maya Temple, Narayani Shila Temple, Sati Kund, Daksh Temple, Hanuman Temple and Chandi Devi Temple will be included. While three areas have been identified for this in Rishikesh.
• According to information, the state government is going to build a capital city on 85 hectares of land in Raipur. For this, the Forest Department has also given 60 hectares of land.
• With the making of the capital city in Raipur, the government buildings built on about 200 acres of government land will be vacant. McKenzie Global estimates that this property will be worth 5000 to 6000 crores. With this, a blueprint for large-scale development will be prepared in the cities. At the same time, external development charges will have to be paid for construction in these areas.
• This capital city will be built from Raipur to Thano Road in the north, till Haridwar Road in the south, leaving the Ordnance Factory border in the west till the east of the drain and in the east till the limits of Bhopalpani, Badasi Grant and Kalimati village.
• The Secretariat, Assembly, Directorate, and Project Office will be built on 60 hectares of land. While residential and commercial projects will be constructed on 25 hectares of land near Maharana Pratap Sports College. Private investors will get an exemption here for 30 years.
• The state government is going to build an atrocity near Jolly Grant Airport. Information technology, medical, hospitality and commercial complexes will be built in this. Here airport related instrument landing, heliport, and night landing facilities can also be found.
• Five to six thousand youths will get employment through this. Every year there will be a business of five to six thousand crores. The residents of the state will be able to get high-quality health facilities.
• It will be built on 100 acres of land. In this, IT City will be built on 50 acres, Medi City on 20 acres, Commercial on 15 acres and the Hospitality project on 15 acres.
• A park will be established here on the lines of foreign countries. Jogging, a cycling track and a hut for meditation will be arranged in the park. Along with this, the idea of landscaping and planting Australian grass is going on. At the same time, flowers and greenery will be seen in the parks in every season.