Uttarakhand State PCS

• 14 Sep 2022

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.