• 15 Dec 2022

Multi Modal Transport Hub

Why In News?

• According to the information received from the media on December 14, 2022, the work of building an ambitious plan of Smart City Multi Modal Transport Hub has started near Patna Junction. About 67 crores will be spent on this under the scheme.

Key Points

• According to the information, the process of making a transport hub on about 3.38 acres has started at the place of goat market near Patna Junction. There will be a capacity to accommodate about 296 vehicles in a total of four floors including underground, ground, first and second floors.
• The work of making this smart city project has been started by the Building Construction Corporation. A company named Govinda Construction will prepare this project. The company has to complete this project in June 2023 .
• It is worth mentioning that instructions have been given by the Central Government to complete all the smart city schemes by June next year, so efforts are being made to complete the work on all the projects expeditiously.
• A 440-meter subway is being constructed to reach Patna Junction from the multi-modal transport hub. It will have 340 meters underground. The subway will have escalators, travelators and walkways, fire extinguishers, lights, LED screens and drainage systems. With this, people will go straight to the junction premises (old milk market).

Bihar in the Most Polluted Cities of the Country

Why In News?

• According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board on December 14, 2022, five of the top five most polluted cities in the country are from Bihar. Purnea is the most polluted city across the country with an AQI of 450.

Key Points

• Darbhanga is the second most polluted city in the country after Purnea with an AQI of 446. Bettiah is in third place with an AQI of 439. Begusarai with 421 AQI and Katihar with 420 AQI have been the fifth most polluted city in the country.
• According to the data, Patna's AQI is 347 . Here pollution has come down from dangerous levels to very poor levels.
• Araria, Bhagalpur, Biharsharif, Chhapra, Kishanganj, Motihari, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea, Samastipur and Siwan have an AQI of more than 300. In this way, the air of these cities has reached very poor levels.
• Significantly, an AQI of more than 400 is considered to be an alarming level of pollution. It is very dangerous for human health.

'National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) 2022'

Why In News?

• On December 14, 2022 Rajasthan was awarded a 'Certificate of Merit' by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry of Power) under the 'National Energy Conservation Award 2022' for efficient use of available resources for energy conservation and energy saving.

Key Points

• Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy R.K. Singh presented the award to Anil Dhaka, Managing Director, Rajasthan Akshay Urja Nigam at a national level function at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
• On this occasion, Ashutosh A.T. Pednekar, Chairman, Rajasthan Akshay Urja Nigam, said that this award has been given by the Ministry of Power, Government of India every year for excellence in energy conservation in industry, building, municipal, traffic, agriculture, power transmission and cross-sector sectors. The work is provided to the State Designated Agency/ Agencies of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
• Anil Dhaka, Managing Director of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation, said that due to the efficient leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the special compassion of Minister of State for Energy Bhanwar Singh Bhati towards energy conservation, the state has been awarded the 'National Energy Conservation Award (NECA) 2022' this year as well as last year.

Industries Minister Inaugurated the Handloom Exhibition

Why in discussion

• On December 14, 2022 Rajasthan Industries and Commerce Minister Shakuntala Rawat inaugurated a five-day handloom exhibition at the premises of Rajasthan State Handloom Development Corporation Limited at Handloom Bhawan, Chomu House, C-Scheme.

Key Points

• CMD of Rajasthan State Handloom Development Corporation Manisha Arora said that this five-day handloom exhibition--sale is being organized from December 14 to 18 to give proper marketing incentives to the handicrafts and handicraft textile industry of the state.
• In the exhibition, various types of garments prepared by state's national awardees and excellent weavers and artisans such as designer Kota Doria, Zari, hand block printed and silk sarees, dress material, Sanganeri, Bagru printed bedsheets, Barmeri Ajrak bedsheets, artistic Dohar, Jaipuri Products like quilts, rugs, fashionable kurtas, palazzo, shirts etc. will be kept for sale and display.
• Along with this, attractive handicraft products of Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (Rajsthali) are also being kept for display and sale. Live demonstration of Doria saree weaving on manual loom by Weavers Service Center.
• Speaking on the occasion, Rajasthan Industries and Commerce Minister Shakuntala Rawat called upon the common people to adopt handloom products and garments. He said that the use of products made by their own (local artisans) for their loved ones (people of the state) will save traditional handicrafts.
• He said that the handicraft policy has been implemented recently by the state government for the upliftment of handicrafts, which will benefit the artisans. Textiles are being made by artisans using pure natural colors and threads, which are also beneficial from the point of view of health.
• RAJSICO President Rajiv Arora said that Rajasthani costumes are the identity of the people of the state. A pavilion of handloom and textile products will be built in the International Expo to be held in Jodhpur.
• He said that GI tagging of more and more products of handloom is also being done, so that art can be promoted and preserved. He said that the One District-One Product Mission will give special boost to exports in the coming days.
• Additional Chief Secretary Veenu Gupta said that the state government has always strived for the upliftment of traditional arts. In view of this, handicraft policy has been brought by the government. Under this, directorates of handicrafts and handlooms are being set up. Its purpose is to encourage artisans associated with the arts and preserve art.

Cooperative Minister Inaugurated Rajsahakar Website

Why In News?

• On December 14, 2022 Rajasthan Cooperation Minister Udailal Anjana launched the website of the Cooperation Department https:@rajsahakar.rajasthan.gov.in at Sahakar Bhawan . Information related to cooperatives has been broadened by creating the Raj Sahakar website in a new way for the convenience of the general public.

Key Points

• Departmental information can be obtained in a simple way through the new website of the cooperative. Registration of complaints related to various societies/ institution registration, credit societies can also be done in an easy manner.
• Principal Secretary, Cooperation, Shreya Guha said that common citizens will be able to get information about the schemes in a simple way. He said that schemes of top institutions, database of departmental officers, information of public information officers, rules, acts and circulars issued from time to time have also been made available on the website.
• Registrar, Cooperatives Meghraj Singh Ratan said that the achievements and information of the department will also be easily available on this website and any citizen will be able to get information by sending his questions related to cooperatives through e-mail.

'The Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards 2022- Rajasthan'

Why In News?

• On December 14, 2022 'The Indian Responsible Tourism State Awards 2022-Rajasthan' was organized by the Tourism Department at Clarks Amer Hotel to reward the entrepreneurs who promote responsible tourism in the state.

Key Points

• In this programme, prizes were given in various categories to the participants who promoted responsible tourism in the state's tourism sector. Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Dr Rashmi Sharma, Director, Tourism, Anil Orwa, Regional Director, Northern Region, Ministry of Tourism, Apoorva Kumar, Managing Director, Hotel Clarke Amer and K Indranil Rai, CEO, Outlook presented the awards.
• Speaking on the occasion, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Gayatri Rathore said that this award ceremony is an important step taken in the direction of becoming extraordinary from ordinary.
• The Principal Secretary said that 'The Indian Tourism State Award 2022' has been given to those who are connected to the ground in the tourism sector. He said that this award ceremony will become a role model for the people associated with the tourism sector in the coming time.
• He said that the Tourism Department is trying to increase the movement of tourists in tribal and tribal areas like Dungarpur and Banswara through the tourism policy of the state government and local products there should be recognized at the national and international level.
• The Principal Secretary informed that the Rajasthan Tourism Department contributes 13% to the state's economy and efforts are being made to increase it further through the new tourism policy.
• Indranil Roy of Outlook said that this award is being given by his organization for the last 8 years. The first such event was organized in Rajasthan.
• Awards were given in the categories of Sustainable Leadership - Hotels, Sustainable Leadership - Homestay, Sustainable Enterprises in Eco Fragile Landscape, Sustainability Champion in Pathfinder & Grassroots Heroes, Heritage Conservation and Wildlife Conservation.
• Winners of different categories are-
  • Sustainable Leadership - Homestay
    • Gold : Raptor Inn
    • Silver : Rawla Bisalpur
    • Special Mention : Country Retreat
  • Sustainable Leadership: Hotels
    • Gold : Taj Aravali
    • Special Mention: Aman-e-Khas
  • Sustainable Enterprises in Eco-French Landscapes
    • Gold : Vedic Walk
    • Silver : Heritage Experience
  • Heritage Conservation
    • Overall + Gold Winner : Kankarwa Haveli, Udaipur
    • Silver Award : Indra Vilas, Alsisar
    • Special Mention : Ram Krishna Mission, Khetri
  • Wildlife Conservation
    • Silver: Jagnath Wildlife Safari, Jalore- Ravindra Singh - Asiatic Wild Cat
  • Sustainability Champions in Grassroots Heroes
    • Silver : Aniruddha Shukla - Vedic Speech
    • Silver: Dr. Rao Ajit Singh
    • Special Mention : Brigadier Nandlal Verma
  • Sustainability Champion in Pathfinder
    • Gold : Manvendra Singh Shekhawat
    • Silver : Sanjay Kaushik
    • Special Mention: Daulat Singh Shaktawat

Chhattisgarh Ranks Second in the Country in Implementing Extended Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan

Why In News?

• On December 14, 2022, Union Minister of State for Health Dr. Bharti Praveen Pawar honored Chhattisgarh for being second in the country in implementing the Extended Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (ePMSMA) at the National Maternal Health Workshop held in New Delhi.

Key Points

• Joint Director of Maternity Health Programme representing Chhattisgarh in National Maternity Health Workshop. Dr Alka Gupta, Chief Medical and Health Officer, Raipur; Mithlesh Chaudhary, State Programme Officer Shailendra Agarwal and State Advisor Abhilasha Sharma received the award on behalf of the state in New Delhi.
• It is known that during the current financial year, 1 lakh 48 thousand 851 pregnant women have been tested for ANC between The month of April and November.
• It is noteworthy that under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, ANC check-up of pregnant women is done on the 9th of every month in the state. Under the Extended Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, ANC checks are now being conducted on the 24th of every month in addition to the 9th.
• State Programme Officer of Maternity Health Program Shailendra Agarwal said that in the workshop, a poster on high risk pregnancy tracking guidelines was presented by the team of Chhattisgarh. Through the poster, it was told how to identify and treat high-risk pregnancy as soon as possible.

The Work of the Right to Education Act is Now being Carried Out by Samagra Shiksha.

Why In News?

• According to information received from the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on December 14, 2022, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (Right to Education) scheme operated in the state will now be operated by the Samagra Shiksha Office. So far this scheme was being operated by the Directorate of Public Education.

Key Points

• According to the information, the School Education Department of the State Government has entrusted the responsibility of managing the managing director Samagra education state project office in place of the Director of Public Education Directorate of Public Education to settle the claims of the beneficiaries through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) portal.
• It may be mentioned that under the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), the Scheme of Children to Free and Compulsory Education 2009 is prescribed by the Government of India, government of India, through a letter from the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, to monitor the funds of the centrally sponsored scheme and monitoring their utilization.
• Under the centrally sponsored scheme by departmental order, the single nodal agency and nodal officer of the scheme have been declared as Samagra Shiksha State Project Office Chhattisgarh.
• Holistic education is prescribed for all the responsibilities, discharge and responsibilities of the scheme. At present, this work is being executed by the Directorate of Public Education.

Chhattisgarh Pride Day

Why In News?

• According to information received from the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on December 14, 2022, December 17 will be celebrated as Pride Day to commemorate the completion of four years of the Chhattisgarh government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. On this day, the Chief Minister will also give a message to the public.

Key Points

• According to the information, Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain took a meeting of all the Divisional Commissioners, Collectors, District Panchayat Chief Executive Officers, Forest Divisional Officers and senior officials associated with these events through video conferencing at the Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan and informed them about the Pride Day events. Gave necessary instructions in this regard.
• On the day of Pride Day, programs will be organized in Gauthans, cooperative society complexes, paddy procurement centers, tendupatta collection centers, forest produce management committees, haat-bazaars, wards of urban bodies in all the districts. In these programmes, people will be informed about the achievements, decisions made by the Chhattisgarh government in the last four years, as well as public welfare schemes and programmes.
• Programs will be organized on Pride Day from 11 am in all Gauthans, Tendupatta collection centers, each ward of urban areas and from 3 pm in Primary Cooperative Society premises and paddy purchase centers of the state.
• In the program organized in Gauthan, the chairman and members of the Gauthan committee, cattle rearers, farmers of the village, landless laborers, people's representatives, members of local bodies, members of Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club and residents will participate.
• Public representatives and local citizens will participate in the program organized at ward level in urban areas.
• Pride Day will also be organized in tendu leaf collection centers and haat markets in forest areas. On the day of Pride Day in Tendupatta collection centers, information about the achievements of the government will be given along with giving information about the schemes run for the farmers and laborers.
• Similarly, by inviting farmers to primary cooperative societies and paddy procurement centers, information will be given to them about major agricultural schemes of the government such as interest-free loan scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, etc.

Geo Fencing System

Why In News?

• On December 14, 2022, Uttarakhand's Higher Education and Information Technology Secretary Shailesh Bagoli said that geo-fencing attendance system will be implemented to ensure access of teachers and students to degree colleges in remote mountainous areas of the state. In future, this system will be implemented in the entire state.

Key Points

• Secretary Shailesh Bagoli said that it is being started as a pilot project in some colleges of the state. Monitoring will be easier with geo-fencing attendance. If the pilot is successful, it will be implemented across the state.
• It is known that earlier the Transport Corporation has implemented it at all its bus stands, under which geo-fencing of the bus stand has been done.
• In fact, there are degree colleges in all the inaccessible areas of the state, where the attendance figures of teachers and students are very low. A few days a month, teachers complete their attendance. To solve this problem, preparations have been started to implement geo-fencing attendance system.
• The Department of Higher Education is going to work in this direction in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology. Under this, any teacher or student who enters the college campus will be present from his mobile. For this, it is necessary to come under the purview of mobile geo-fencing.
• When a student or teacher enters the campus with their mobile, they will have to open the attendance app downloaded in it. This app will work only within the college i.e. within the geo-fencing scope. After opening this app, an OTP will come on their registered mobile number. Attendance will be available only when it is fed and as soon as students, teachers leave that campus, their records will be automatically updated.
• It is noteworthy that geo-fencing is a satellite-based system, in which geo-fencing of a particular area is made. Whichever device comes in this scope, it will come on record. Only when it comes under geo-fencing will the mobile app that is related to it work.