Madhya Pradesh State PCS

• 15 Apr 2023

Chief Minister will inaugurate UNESCO's Sub-Regional Conference

Why in News?

On 13 April 2023, Principal Secretary Tourism and Culture and Managing Director Tourism Board Shiv Shekhar Shukla said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, UNESCO, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Department of Archaeological Conservation and Tourism of Madhya Pradesh will jointly inaugurate the Sub-Regional Conference on World Heritage in Bhopal on 17th April.

Key Points

• Shiv Shekhar Shukla informed that the delegates reaching Bhopal for the two-day conference will visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Sanchi on 16th April. Several sessions will be organized on 17th and 18th April.
• Representatives from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and various states of the country will deliberate on topics such as achievements, challenges and future strategy in the field of conservation of World Heritage Sites.
• In the conference, there will be a brainstorm regarding the achievements of the last 50 years and the next 50 years towards the conservation of World Heritage at the international and regional level whose focus will be on themes such as World Heritage and Sustainable Development, World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism, World Heritage and Global Strategy, Historic Urban Landscapes.
• The conference will discuss an integrated approach to safeguard cultural heritage and promote sustainable tourism.
• It is noteworthy that in November 2022, the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention was celebrated. In the last 50 years, the meaning of cultural heritage has changed from 'monument centric' to 'people centric' and 'holistic approach'. New dimensions have been added such as historical towns, industrial heritage, historical routes, historical landscape etc.
• Madhya Pradesh has made several efforts in this direction in association with UNESCO, in which HUL (Gwalior and Orchha) project, selection of 4 historical/tourist places in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage sites, etc. are the main ones. UNESCO recommended Gwalior and Orchha for the first time among South Asian countries for the HUL project.

The Governor inaugurated the Mobile Health Service Vehicle of Red Cross

Why in News?

On 13 April 2023, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel flagged off the Indian Red Cross Society's mobile medical health service vehicle at Raj Bhavan.

Key Points

• It is noteworthy that on Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Jayanti, the health service vehicle is being operated by Red Cross MP State Branch in Bhopal.
• Red Cross State Branch Chairman Dr. Gagan Kolhe said that regular health camps will be organized in remote areas of Bhopal metropolis with the use of mobile health service vehicles.
• Along with the health check-up by the service vehicle, a public awareness campaign will also be launched for the diseases spread by infection.
• Necessary material for health protection will also be distributed from the vehicle.

State's first Hi-tech Floriculture Nursery and Aeroponics Lab will be established in Gwalior

Why in News?

On 13 April 2023, Minister of State for Horticulture and Food Processing (Independent Charge) Bharat Singh Kushwaha said that the state's first hi-tech floriculture nursery and aeroponics lab would be established in Gwalior.

Key Points

• This decision was taken in a high-level meeting held in the ministry regarding establishment of hi-tech floriculture nursery and aeroponics lab included in the joint action plan of Farmers' Welfare & Agriculture Development Department, State Agricultural Marketing Board & Horticulture and Food Processing Department.
• Minister of State Kushwaha said that on the proposal of the Horticulture Department, the construction of Flower Dome in Bhopal will also be started soon. An action plan has been prepared for this.
• State Minister Kushwaha said that the work of the lab would be started in the first week of next month. He asked to speed up the implementation of the schemes in coordination with the Agriculture, Mandi Board & Horticulture and Food Processing Department. Along with this, instructions were also given to start the chain fencing scheme soon.