• 14 Sep 2022

Letter of Award Distributed for Solar City and Kusum Yojana

Why In News?

• On September 13, 2022, Madhya Pradesh's New and Renewable Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Dang distributed letters of award to selected developers and farmers for setting up Sanchi Solar City solar projects along with 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Mahaabhiyan' (Kusum 'A' and 'C).'

Key Points

• Power Minister Hardeep Singh Dang and Chairman of Urja Vikas Nigam Girraj Dandotia distributed letters of award of 14 MW to 9 farmers and developers selected under Kusum 'A' scheme.
• For the installation of the 8 MW solar plant on the land of the hilly area of Sanchi, the developer is the managing director of the National Hydro Power Development Corporation, V. K. Sinha received the Letter of Award.
• It is worth mentioning that power purchase contracts of 71 MW have been signed by Urja Vikas Nigam with the Power Management Company of selected solar power producers for setting up of solar power plants in 4 phases for power generation from solar energy at more than 900 identified sub-stations in the state.
• Minister Hardeep Singh Dang said that Kusum 'C' scheme is a very good scheme for farmers, government, public and environment. The farmer earns income by selling electricity. Instructions have been issued to energize the pumps solar of about 1000 farmers. Farmers will not only get irrigation facility but also electricity during the day.
• Under the scheme, 30 percent central assistance is provided for the installation of solar plants. The selected developers were given project allotment letters for setting up a solar plant of 4 MW capacity.

'E-books scheme' And 'Sushma Swaraj Smriti Samman' will start in Haryana

Why In News?

• On September 13, 2022, Director, Haryana Sahitya Akademi, Dr. Chandra Trikha said that the 'e-books scheme' will be launched by the end of this year to promote Hindi in Haryana. The Academy is conducting online recording of five well-known books in the first phase.

Key Points

• Director Dr. Chandra Trikha informed that first e-books of Munshi Premchand's 'Godan', Ramdhari Singh Dinkar's 'Rashmi Thi', 'Kurukshetra', Dharamvir Bharti's 'Kanupriya' and 'Andha Yug' would be made available. Along with this, the work of recording some mythological texts is also going on.
• Writing workshops are proposed at the district level to encourage new creators. 'Sushma Swaraj Smriti Samman' is being launched to encourage special writing in speech and Hindi. The writers will get a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
• He said that books on Hindi literature of Haryana are being prepared on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi. The YouTube channel of the Academy was started last year, which has received a very good response. Four new schemes have also been launched during the last one year. These include Sahityakar Samman Yojana, Best work award, publication of Harigandha pamphlet and literary events.

Jharkhand Sports Policy-2022

Why In News?

• On September 13, 2022, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren released the state's new sports policy 'Jharkhand Sports Policy-2022'. In this sports policy, provision has been made to prepare sports and players according to participation in national and international level by giving better training.

Key Points

• The Jharkhand Sports Policy-2022 was released with the aim of ensuring that the sports and sportspersons played in the state of Jharkhand get priority, so that their talent can be identified and the talents can be prepared according to participating in the national and international level by giving better training.

Highlights of Jharkhand Sports Policy-2022:

• To make sports an integral part of their lives for all boys, girls, youth and citizens of all age groups of the state and to provide ample opportunities to participate actively in all activities.
• To pave the way for talented players to reach national and international level in selected sports discipline.
• To identify talent and give it a chance. To work towards their all-round development by training and making them champions going forward.

Objectives of Jharkhand Sports Policy-2022-

• Capacity building and development of sportspersons in sports in the state.
• To prepare sports as an attractive and viable career option.
• Making sports a catalyst for social change and development from panchayat level to state level.
• To create an environment for sports and physical activities for citizens of all ages.
• To prepare a database of players and provide resources with international standards, to promote indigenous and traditional sports.
• To promote sports tourism and also provide equal opportunities to differently abled sportspersons.

Other important points related to sports policy-

• Plan to work at Panchayat, Block, District and State level for talent enhancement among sportspersons.
• Scheme to give scholarships to sportspersons.
• Insurance facility for sportspersons.
• Benefits of pension scheme to former players.
• Development of high quality playgrounds in every block of the state.
• To develop day-boarding, sports school center, residential sports development center, Eklavya sports academy for the players of the state in a planned manner.
• To create the country's first sports digital database for all the players of the state.
• Establishing a Sports University.
• Reservation to sportspersons in job and educational institution.
• Direct recruitment to the players of Jharkhand in the second, third and fourth class jobs of the state level.
• Amount of honor for players and coaches.
• Provision has also been made in the Sports Policy 2022 in relation to rural sports centre, sports academy, sports university, sports science, sports talent search, sports infrastructure development, coach development, physical fitness program, sports branding and transparency.
• Awards for best PHE, PT teacher and ground level coach, creating state talent pool for PT teacher and ground level trainers.
• To attract related PPPs and sponsors of sports activities and communication skills.
• Organizing Jharkhand Premier League for football, hockey, etc., promoting rural level sports, traditional sports.
• Enacting laws like the National Sports Development Code of India in Jharkhand to ensure a world of doping-free sports.
• The Sports Department will work to make those organizations partners, which are interested in sports development of school children in Jharkhand.
• Special initiatives for roadmap in football, archery and athletics and state sports development fund will be created to promote sports environment in the state.

Second Meeting of Task force Set-up for Elimination of Single-Use Plastic

Why In News?

• On September 13, 2022, the second meeting of the task force constituted for the elimination of single-use plastic in the state was held at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan. The meeting had extensive discussions on the action plan for elimination of single-use plastic under the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board.

Key Points

• In the meeting, it was discussed to take action if found using single-use plastic and motivate the general public to use paper bags, plates, dona-pattal as an alternative.
• In the meeting, special emphasis was laid on the industrial institutions and departments of the state to explore alternatives to single-use plastic, to implement the best practical methods implemented in other states of the country in Chhattisgarh.
• The Chief Secretary directed the officers not to use single-use plastic in various marriage venues and as an alternative, people should be advised to take essential items, utensils from the utensil bank set up in urban areas. The use of dona-pattal should be encouraged.
• The Chief Secretary said that the organizing committees should be explained not to use single-use plastic in various public festivals to be held in the coming days.
• It is worth mentioning that in addition to plastic carrybags, the Department of Housing and Environment has decided to provide short life PVC chlorinated plastic, i.e. advertising and publicity material (P.V.C. The manufacture, storage, import, sale, transportation and use of plastic items cups, glasses, plates, bowls and spoons used for catering has been banned in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Paddy Procurement will Start in Uttarakhand from October 1

Why In News?

• On September 13, 2022, Uttarakhand Food Minister Rekha Arya said in a review meeting of kharif procurement crop 2022-23 that paddy procurement will start in the state from October 1. The Food Minister said that the target of paddy procurement this season has been kept at nine lakh metric tonnes.

Key Points

• The departmental minister instructed to purchase paddy from government departments from October 1 to 15 and then to purchase paddy from farmers through commission agents.
• He said four agencies — food department, cooperation department, NAFED and NCCF — have been nominated to procure paddy. Around 257 procurement centres have been opened in the kharif season.
• In the meeting, the Minister directed the officials to prepare an action plan for procurement of local products which have been declared support price by the Central Government, including Mandua, Maize, Urad, Groundnut, Soyabean, Sesame, Jowar etc.
• The Minister said that this initiative will prove to be a boon to strengthen the economy of the local cultivators of the hills. This will give a new identity to the local products of the mountain. Also, the farmers of the mountain will also benefit.
• This year, the price of paddy has been increased by Rs 100 per quintal. The price of normal paddy has been increased from Rs 1940 to Rs 2040 per quintal and the minimum support price of grade A paddy has been increased from Rs 1960 to Rs 2060.

All The Madrasas will be Surveyed in Uttarakhand

Why In News?

• On September 13, 2022, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that in view of the complaints coming about the functioning and activities of madrasas in Uttarakhand, a survey of all madrasas in the state will now be done on the lines of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• The state government is receiving all kinds of complaints regarding these madrasas operating in the state. To find out the truth of these complaints, the state government has decided to conduct a survey of all madrasas. At the same time, Social Welfare Minister Chandanram Das has already instructed to investigate the madrasas being operated with the help of the government, but the Chief Minister has said to conduct a survey of all madrasas.
• It is known that recently, Uttarakhand Waqf Board President Shadab Shams had talked about demolishing illegal constructions from the properties of Waqf Board. At the same time, he had demanded a probe into the unregistered madrasas of the state on the lines of Uttar Pradesh, after which the Chief Minister also supported his point.
• It is worth noting that there are 419 madrassas operating under the Madrasa Board in Uttarakhand. More than half of these are operating without recognition. Of these, only 192 madrasas are financed, which are taking help from the central and state governments. Waqf Board is running 103 madrasas, while more than 500 private madrasas are also reported to be operating.