Uttarakhand

• 12 Sep 2023

18 Products of Uttarakhand will get GI Tag

Why In News? 

On September 11, 2023, Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi informed in a meeting regarding the preparations for the GI Festival that for the first time, a Geographical Indication (GI) Festival will be organized in Uttarakhand from November 17 to 21 to get international recognition of local products. Soon, 18 products of the state will get a GI tag.

Key Points: 

• The agriculture minister said that the festival will be organized in collaboration with agriculture, horticulture, NABARD, industry, cultural department, cooperative, rural development, and tourism department. Certificates of products will be issued by the central government at the GI Festival.
• Agriculture Minister directed to include Agricultural University Pantnagar in the festival. Apart from this, competitions and rallies related to GI tag will be held to the students in the festival.
• The festival will be organized in Dehradun by the GI Registry Department of the Central Government.
• It is known that tejpat, basmati rice, bhotia dan, aipan kala, chura oil, munsiyari's rajma, ringal craft, copper products, and thulama have got GI tag.
• The 18 local products of the state which will get GI tag are: Manduwa, Jhangora, Gahat, Red Rice, Kala Bhatt, Malta, Chaulai, Ramdana, Lakhori Chilli of Almora, Pahari Tor Dal, Buransh Sharbat, Aadu, Litchi, Berinag Tea, Malta, Nettle Fiber, Candle of Nainital, Kumaoni Pichora, Chamoli Ka Mask and Wood Art.

Sanskrit will Also be Taught in 117 Madrasa of Uttarakhand, NCERT Curriculum will be Implemented

Why In News?

On September 11, 2023, Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams said that now NCERT curriculum will be implemented in 117 madrasa located in Uttarakhand. It also includes Sanskrit education along with other subjects.

Key Points:

• The Chairman of Waqf Board said that Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi. Now people of Muslim community also want change. They are also happy with the upgradation of madrasa.
• In this sequence, modern education is being started in four madrasa in four districts of Uttarakhand. The committee of Hifzul Quran Kunjagrant, a Madrasa registered with the Waqf Board, proposed to include itself in the Modern Madrasa, which has been approved by the Waqf Board.
• Similarly, all the madrassas registered with the Waqf Board will be linked to modern madrassa education in a phased manner.
• It is known that a Muslim girl Razia Sultana has done PhD in Sanskrit. Razia is translating the Quran into Sanskrit. Razia will be included as a member in the state level education committee of Waqf Board.
• Madrasa’s registered with the board are being modernized. In this, along with smart classes and modern education, children will also be provided tablets and computers.

'Hub and Spoke' Model will Start to Promote Professional Education

Why In News?

On September 10, 2023, Uttarakhand Deputy State Project Director Pradyuman Rawat said that to promote vocational education in the state, the 'Hub and Spoke' model will be started in 47 schools, which will make it easier for the students of these schools to study vocational subjects.

Key Points:

• Project Director Pradyuman Rawat said that this scheme has been approved by the Central Government. This model will start in the state from this month.
• Under the scheme, the government will give Rs 3,000 every year to the students of those schools which do not have a laboratory. Vocational trainers will get an additional Rs 6,000 per month in addition to the honorarium.
• According to education department officials, vocational education is currently being imparted in 200 schools in the state. Students of other schools within a distance of five to seven kilometers from these schools will also get the benefit of vocational education. Vocational trainers will train students in these schools.
• Eight different professional courses like Tourism, Agriculture, Plumber etc. are being run in all these schools.
• Hub schools are schools that have a laboratory of vocational education. These schools also have vocational trainers, while spoke schools are those schools located within a radius of five to seven kilometers of the hub school, which do not have vocational trainers, nor are there a laboratory of vocational education, this scheme will also benefit these schools.