• 11 Aug 2023

U.P. Govt. introduced 4 bills in the Assembly

Why in News?

On August 10, 2023, the Uttar Pradesh government passed the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Four bills, including the Criminal Law (Prevention of Offences and Abolition of Trials) Amendment Bill, 2023, were introduced, which were passed.

Key Points:

• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said in the House that by December 31, 2021, cases under Sections 107 and 109 of the CrPC will be abolished by paying a mitigation fee or ending automatically in the state.
• Significantly, in old cases, the accused do not appear on repeated summons. In such a situation, the number of pending promises increases. Now the time of the courts will be saved.
• Discussing the Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said it will facilitate small businesses to do business through E-Commerce operators. So far, traders with low turnover could not be registered. For this reason, its obligation under GST has been abolished.
• Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said in the Assembly that the way has been cleared for the establishment of a law university in the name of the country's first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. It will start with 60 students. The process of appointments is also going on.
• This will increase the level of education in the state and increase competition between government and private universities.
• Along with this, the Uttar Pradesh National Law University Prayagraj (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the UP Private Universities (Third Amendment) Bill, 2023 were also passed.

World Tribal Day celebration in Mangarh Dham

Why in News?

On August 9, 2023, World Tribal Day celebrations were organized at Mangarh Dham in Banswara district of Rajasthan, in which Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot made several announcements for the tribal area.

Key Points:

• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that it is the dream of the state government to ensure the all-round development of the tribal areas. The state government has ensured that every person is benefited by running public welfare schemes for a particular area while fulfilling the responsibility towards the tribals.
• He said that if Mangarh was not declared a national monument by the Central Government, now the state government would spend Rs 100 crore for the development of Dham.
• It is known that thousands of tribals sacrificed their lives under the leadership of Govind Guru for the independence of the country. A state holiday has been declared by the state government for his martyrdom.
• Also, works have started at a cost of Rs 135 crore for other works including a bridge at Beneshwar Dham in the area.
• The construction work of an additional high level canal worth Rs 2500 crore has started for the farmers and the common man.
• Scholarships worth Rs 200 crore have been distributed to students of tribal areas. Also, thousands of students are living in 219 hostels and shaping their future.
• Chief Minister's announcements for tribal areas:
  • A bridge will be built on Bhairavji temple located in Mangarh area. It will cost Rs 37 crore.
  • The state government has decided to transfer 2000 outstation teachers working in the TSP area. This will now give teachers in this field an opportunity to teach.
  • Along with the TSP area, Maa-Wadi centers will also be opened in other places of the state.
  • One lakh children of the state, including tribal areas, will be able to study in hostels. For this, the number of hostels will be increased.
• At the function, MP Rahul Gandhi unveiled the logo of Annapurna Food Packet & Smartphone Scheme and handed over packets & smartphones to a beneficiary.

Inauguration of 'Indira Gandhi Smartphone Yojana'

Why in News?

On August 10, 2023, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot launched the 'Indira Gandhi Smartphone Scheme' by pressing the remote button and providing smartphones to beneficiary women at Birla Auditorium auditorium in Jaipur.

Key Points:

• 'Indira Gandhi Smartphone Scheme' will become a major medium for empowerment of women with a revolution in the IT sector. Through the scheme, almost every woman of the state will have a mobile in her hand.
• The Chief Minister also released the Digital Sakhi Handbook 'Seekho Digital, Sikhaao Digital' at the event. All the information related to the use of mobile in the handbook has been included with color pictures.
• A short video film related to Indira Gandhi Smartphone Scheme was also screened on the occasion.
• Under the scheme, 1.35 crore women of Chiranjeevi families will be given smartphones with 3 years of internet connectivity. In the first phase, smartphones have been given to 40 lakh women and girl students.
• Under the scheme, DBT of Rs 6800 is being given to the beneficiaries for each smartphone and initially 20 GB data is being provided.
• Now smartphones will be provided to women in the camps without any problem. Also, they will get information about how to operate mobile phones in the camp.
• The Chief Minister said that in the second phase of the scheme, smartphones would be made available to 80 lakh women. Making smartphones available to women is not a cesspool but a means of women empowerment. There are many uses of mobile, which make life easier.
• He said that this scheme has been brought on the theme of 'Knowledge is Power'. Through smartphones, access and engagement of women will be ensured with welfare schemes. Along with benefiting themselves, they will also be able to do social service by making women aware.

Country's 1st Unity Mall to be built in Ujjain

Why in News?

On August 10, 2023, Madhya Pradesh's Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh said that the country's first Unity Mall will be built in Ujjain in the state. Rs 284 crore has been approved by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India for its construction.

Key Points:

• This approval has been given under the 'Scheme of Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24' of the Government of India.
• Urban Development and Housing Minister has given instructions to the concerned officials to get the construction of Unity Mall done within the time limit.
• Unity Mall will act as a one stop market place for promotion and sale of One District One Product, GI Product, Handicraft Product and other local products. There will be shops to display the products of all the districts in the state.
• Major products from other states will also be available at Unity Mall. There will also be an auditorium, food stall and garden.
• It is worth mentioning that a Unity Mall is to be constructed in each state. Madhya Pradesh has received the first approval from the Government of India.

A proposal to honour Home Guards

Why in News?

On August 8, 2023, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij while presiding over a review meeting with the top officials of the Home Guard and Civil Defence Department (Home Guard) in Chandigarh informed that a proposal would soon be sent to the state government to award medals for outstanding services to Home Guard volunteers.

Key Points:

• Apart from this, the Home Minister directed the officers that all the Home Guards of the state should get their duty allowance by the 7th of every month.
• In the meeting, he informed that a proposal will be prepared and sent to the government to give risk allowance to home guards on the lines of police personnel for policing duty.
• Also, a proposal for use of postal ballot by volunteers will be sent to the Election Commission.
• The Home Minister was apprised in the meeting that there is a strength of 14,000 Home Guards in the state and at present there are 12,000 Home Guards working in the state, out of which 9050 Home Guard volunteers are discharging the duties of law and order, traffic and driver etc. in the police department.
• The Home Minister directed the officials to make a provision to give EPF etc. to home guards.
• Officials informed in the meeting that the accidental death claim has been increased from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 50 lakh by HDFC Bank for home guard volunteers.
• Apart from this, a provision has also been made to give Rs 3.25 lakh by the bank to the dependents of the volunteers in case of natural death.
• In the meeting, the officials apprised that at present, various trainings (traffic, flood disaster, first aid etc.) are being given to Haryana Home Guard volunteers from time to time at the Joint Training Institute located in Panchkula.
• Apart from this, home guards will soon be trained at the training center to be set up in Karnal.
• At present, identity cards of home guard volunteers of 14 districts have been made and identity cards of the remaining districts are under process.