• 15 Jul 2022

National Conference of Agriculture Ministers

Why in News?

On July 14, 2022, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria addressed the National Conference of State Agriculture Ministers held under the chairmanship of Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Bengaluru.

Key Points

• Speaking at the National Conference, Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria said that a separate budget for agriculture was presented by the Chief Minister with the vision of 'Prosperous Farmers Happy Rajasthan', in which the amount of Farmers Welfare Fund has been increased from Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore.
• Insurance claims worth Rs.16,000 crore have been distributed to 1.50 lac eligible crop insurance policyholder farmers in the last three and a half years.
• Rajasthan is the first state in the country to distribute crop insurance policies from Kharif 2021. The Government of India has also directed all the States to follow suit.
• In the conference, the Agriculture Minister informed that 'Raj Kisan Saathi Portal' has been created by the department, which is working as a single window for farmers and agribusinessmen. In this, information about schemes run by all departments related to agriculture, grant-in-aid, license and registration etc. is available. So far, about Rs 700 crore has been transferred by DBT to the farmers through this portal.
• A provision of Rs 600 crore has been made in the agriculture budget for 'Rajasthan Organic Farming Mission', under which 3 lac 80 thousand hectare area will be increased. 120 Farmer Producer Organizations working in the state will be strengthened to promote agricultural marketing, processing and exports.
• He informed that all the agricultural produce markets of the state are being modernised. Equipment like Oil Testing Machine, Grain Physical Analyzer Machine and Weighing Scale Machine etc. have been installed in 136 market committees.
• To promote the use of Nano Urea (liquid) fertilizer, wide publicity is being done through district level workshops and farmer meetings. So far 17 lakh nano urea bottles have been distributed in the state.
• The Agriculture Minister informed that 'Rajasthan Millet Promotion Mission' has been started to promote value addition of Bajra, Jowar and other small millets. With a view to encourage this and to provide latest technical information, a Center of Excellence for Millets will be established under Jodhpur Agricultural University at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
• To encourage the use of organic fertilizers, free organic fertilizers were distributed to 1 lakh farmers during the year 2021-22. The use of single super phosphate as an alternative to DAP was encouraged by the government, as a result of which 4.50 lakh metric tonnes of SSP was used earlier in the state, while this year a record 7.10 lakh metric tonnes of SSP was distributed.
• Presenting his suggestions in the conference, Agriculture Minister Kataria said that due to mistakes on the portal by the banks under the Prime Minister's Fasal Bima Yojana, in the last years, 1 lakh 10 thousand cases were reported to the committee constituted by the Center, which should be disposed of quickly and provide relief to the farmers.
• He also suggested for the early implementation of Natural Farming and Indian Natural Farming System Scheme.
• He also told about the need for detailed study and research by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research regarding the cultivation of olives in the state and to make available fertilizers according to the demand in the state during the Rabi season.

Madhya Pradesh Tourism Quiz Competition, 2022

Why in News?

On July 14, 2022 Principal Secretary, Tourism and Managing Director Tourism Board Shiv Shekhar Shukla informed that Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board has been set up 'Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board' with the objective of acquainting the school students with the tourism of the state and developing the process of learning through tourism. State Tourism Quiz Competition, 2022' is being organized.

Key Points

• This competition is being organized by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board in association with School Education Tourism Development Corporation, District Administration and District Archaeological Tourism and Culture Council.
• Through this competition, students will get acquainted with the rich history, traditions, historical heritage, cultural colors, local art, natural richness, great personalities and possibilities of tourism importance etc.
• The competition will enhance tourism related information among the children along with the attraction of different regions of Madhya Pradesh for tourism.
• Students studying in classes 9th to12th from Government, Non-Government, CBSE and Central Schools will be able to participate in the competition.
• The winners and runner-up teams of the competition will be given certificates and medals along with tour packages of the hotels of Tourism Corporation. This competition is being organized every year by the Tourism Board except during the Covid period.
• The tourism quiz competition will be held at two levels. The first phase of the district level competition will be held on August 24. The 3-member team participating in the district level competition will be selected by the principals of the school concerned at the school level.
• The first three winning teams from each district will be given a coupon for a free stay of 2 nights and 3 days and the three runner-up teams for one night and 2 days at the Tourism Development Corporation hotel. This will include the cost of travel, food, local excursions etc. to the tourist place. The team that comes first at the district level will participate in the competition at the state level in the second phase.
• The district level competition will be held in two phases. The first stage will consist of a written quiz and the second stage will consist of audio-visual questions. The 6 teams securing the highest marks in the written quiz will be admitted to the audio-visual stage.
• In both the phases, there will be questions related to the tourism and tourism sector of the state, art, promotion, spirituality, historical heritage, natural, cultural environment and films filmed in the state etc. In the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', questions related to places related to the freedom struggle of Madhya Pradesh and freedom fighters will also be included.

SAAMAR Campaign

Why in News?

On July 13, 2022, Rajeshwari B, Director General, Jharkhand State Nutrition Mission, wrote a letter to the Deputy Commissioners of 5 districts of the state, from July 15 to July 31, 2022, under the SAAMAR campaign for the investigation of children and women with suspected malnutrition and anemia, panchayat and block wise. Instructions were given to run a special campaign.

Key Points

• The special drive will be carried out in five districts of the state- Latehar, Chatra, West Singhbhum, Simdega and Sahibganj.
• Rajeshwari B said that in the review done on the progress of Samar Abhiyan on July 5, 2022, it was found that there are about 20,492 suspected cases of malnutrition and anemia in the state, out of which only 641 have been tested at Anganwadi centres.
• A total of 19,851 suspected cases of malnutrition and anemia are to be investigated. For this, wide publicity should be ensured to check malnutrition and anemia by running a special campaign from July 15 to 31, 2022.
• The list of all the cases of malnutrition and anemia is available in the SAAMAR App on the investigation done at the Anganwadi center. The Anganwadi Sevika will ensure that the information of the severely malnourished child already identified in the nutrition tracker is compiled in the SAAMAR APP. Anganwadi camp will be organized every day at the village level to ensure that all suspected cases of malnutrition (weight, height, height, medical examination, hunger test) and anemia will be checked in the presence of ANM.
• He has clearly directed that the daily progress report should be compiled on the SAAMAR Dash Board and a meeting under the Chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner should be held every week to review the situation.
• Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) from 6 months to 5 years, who do not have any medical illness and are qualified to check for hunger, will be treated for at least 4 months by adopting 11 stages at the Community Based Management Anganwadi Centre (SAM).
  • Step-1: Community Mobility
  • Step-2: Screening of suspected cases and physical measurement
  • Step-3: Medical assessment of severely malnourished children
  • Step 4: Check the hunger of severely malnourished children
  • Step-5: Keep it in STC or refer to MTC
  • Step 6: Nutritional Treatment
  • Step 7: SAM KIT (Medicines)
  • Phase-8: Nutrition and Health Education
  • Step 9: Follow-up of the Children
  • Step-10 : Criteria for discharging
  • Step-11: Follow-up after getting discharge
• Children suffering from severe malnutrition (SAM) from birth to 6 months will be treated at the Malnutrition Treatment Centre.
• Children suffering from severe malnutrition (SAM) from birth to 5 years, who have any medical illness and fail to check for hunger, will be treated at the Malnutrition Treatment Centre.
• Children/adolescents/young women and pregnant women suffering from anemia will be treated under the Anemia Free India Programme.

Important Decisions of the Council of Ministers Meeting

Why in News?

In the meeting of the Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on July 14, 2022, many important decisions were taken along with the approval of the draft Bill, 2022 in the Chhattisgarh Ministers (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1972.

Key Points

• In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, it was approved to implement the new fisheries policy in place of the prevailing fish policy in the state. In the new fisheries policy, a provision has been made to give productivity bonus to the fishermen.
• The proposal for sanction of creation of District Strike Force cadre by abolishing the sanctioned posts of Assistant Guards in the State was approved. This will remove the pay anomaly of the Assistant Guards of the Police Department and all the Assistant Guards of the State will get regular pay scales.
• In the context of the Transfer Policy, 2022, it was decided that a Cabinet Sub-Committee will be constituted in this regard, on the basis of whose suggestion/recommendation the approval of the Chief Minister will be obtained.
• The draft of Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill, 2022 was approved in the Legislative Assembly for the first supplementary estimate year 2022-2023.
• The draft of the Salary and Allowances Amendment Bill, 2022 of the Honorable Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition and Members of the Legislative Assembly was approved.
• The draft Bill, 2022, which was amended in the Chhattisgarh Ministers (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1972 was approved.
• The proposal to increase the annual amount provided in the Chief Minister's voluntary donation item from Rs.40 crore to Rs.70 crore was approved.
• The proposal for enhancement of 'Additional Excise Duty' for the year 2022-23 to reimburse the excise revenue target and requirement of additional amount for development of Gothan and other development activities was approved.
• Necessary amendments were made in the procedure for grant of compassionate appointment to the dependent family member in case of untimely death of the officers/employees of the Dissolved Transport Corporation.
• The proposal for the Chhattisgarh Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Bill, 2022 was approved.
• The proposal to extend the period of One Time Settlement Scheme-2020 from 1st April, 2022 to March, 2023 was approved before and after the formation of the State of Chhattisgarh.
• Due to the adverse effects of industrial and economic slowdown, a proposal for relaxation of energy charges under the Special Relief Package from 1st July, 2022 to 31st March, 2023 was approved by the State Government to keep the Stand Alone Rolling Mill under HHV-4 category of steel industry competitive.
• Further amendment to the Chhattisgarh Electricity Tariff Act, 1949 (No.C.,1949) was further approved.

New Fisheries Policy

Why in News?

In the meeting of the Council of Ministers held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on July 14, 2022, a new fish farming policy was approved in the state of Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• The aim of the new fisheries is to increase fish productivity by bringing the entire water area available in the state under fisheries, as well as to provide self-employment to the people by promoting quality fish seed production and fisheries.
• The new fisheries policy also provides for productivity bonus to the fishermen of the State. This amount of productivity bonus will be 25% of the amount to be received by the Chhattisgarh State Fisheries Federation from the auction of reservoirs and barrages.
• The major provisions of the new fisheries policy are as under:
  • Provision has been made in the new policy to encourage ornamental fisheries and gambusia fisheries in the state.
  • The state-based unusable mines will be developed and used for fisheries.
  • Under the right to lease ponds/reservoirs for fisheries under the Panchayat State system, ponds/reservoirs with an average area of 0 to 10 hectares of water area will be provided by the Gram Panchayat on a 10-year lease as per rules.
  • The ponds and reservoirs of an average water area of 10 to 100 hectares will be allotted by the District Panchayat, from 100 to 200 hectares by the Zilla Panchayat, 200-1000 hectares by the Department of Fisheries on lease.
  • The reservoirs/barrages of more than 1000 hectares will be leased out for a period of 10 years by inviting open tender by the Chhattisgarh State Fisheries Federation.
  • For the lease of reservoir and barrage by the Fisheries Federation, 50 percent of the income received from the open tender will be payable in the revenue account of the Fisheries Department. 25 percent of the remaining 50 percent will be given as productivity bonus to the fishermen engaged in fishing at the local level.
  • The system of free fishing in rivers and anicuts/deep pools having water area less than 20 hectares will remain the same.
  • The work of fish rearing in the ponds constructed for the Gothans will be done by the Gothan Committee or the group identified by them.
  • The increase in the lease amount by the panchayats will be determined by increasing the rate of 10% every two years, which will be used in the development works of public interest.
  • Provision has been made to reduce the percentage of non-tribal members from 33 to 30 percent in tribal fishermen cooperative society.
  • The post of the chairman of the tribal fishermen cooperative society in the scheduled area will be compulsorily reserved for the scheduled tribes. For the post of Vice-Chairman of the committee, preference will be given to the member of fisherman caste.
  • The allocation of reservoirs/ponds with an average water area of 0 to 10 hectares will be done on priority basis to fishermen group, fish cooperative society and local women's group formed under Livelihood Mission, fishermen and fish farmers.
  • Diploma in fisheries, graduate or post graduate persons and unemployed young fishermen and fish farmers will be considered.
  • For quality control and certification of fish seeds, the Fish Seed Certification Act will be enacted in the State, which will encourage the production of fish seeds and provide information on seed production techniques.
  • It will be mandatory for fish seed sellers and growers to register with the Fisheries Department and obtain a licence from the Department.
  • Unused and closed mines located in the State will be developed and leased out to the local unemployed for fisheries. The initiative for setting up of cages will be taken to promote fish farming in large mines.
  • The Department of Fisheries will be fully authorized for implementation of the Cage Culture Scheme in the irrigation reservoirs, for which the Irrigation Reservoir may be given to the Department on lease for a long period.