Uttar Pradesh

• 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.