• 17 Jun 2023

Open Jail will open in the State

Why in News?

On June 15, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a review of the Prisons Department, said that prisons should be set up as 'Penitentiary'. At the same time, he also directed to prepare a formal proposal for the establishment of open jail.

Key Points:

• The Chief Minister said that the establishment of open jail can be useful. At present, a semi-open jail is operational in Lucknow. Prepare a formal proposal for the establishment of an open jail.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed to make strict punishment rules for the use of mobile phones in jails. At the same time, he has instructed to set up high-security barracks for intensive monitoring of notorious terrorists and vicious criminals.
• The Chief Minister said that a new Prison Act should be prepared and implemented in the state. Presently the Prisons Act, 1894 and the Prisoners Act, 1900 are in vogue since pre-independence. There is a need to implement a new act in view of the future.
• He said that the Government of India has recently prepared the Model Prison Act, 2023. It is very useful from the point of view of reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners. According to this, a new Prison Act of the state should be prepared.
• The cabinet has recently approved the new jail manual. Arrangements like security assessment of prisoners, grievance redressal, Prison Development Board, change in behaviour towards prisoners and provision of separate accommodation for women prisoners & transgender etc. should be implemented.
• He said that in order to encourage good conduct in jail, the prisoners should get the benefit of legal aid, parole and premature release. There should be a provision for this in the new act.
• The Chief Minister said that the entry and exit of prisoners are being done through e-prison. Prisoners' Information Management System, Visitor Management System, E-custody Certificate, and Police Intelligence System are also implemented. There are more than 4200 CCTVs installed in the jails, which are monitored through video walls installed at the headquarters. He said that monitoring should be done by integrating drone cameras with video walls.

10 New Schemes of Smart City got Approval in Patna

Why in News?

On June 13, 2023, 10 new schemes of Patna Smart City were approved in the 26th Board of Directors meeting of Patna Smart City held under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary of Urban Development and Housing Department, Arunish Chawla, Chairman of Patna Smart City Limited.

Key Points:

• Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar said that the proposal for the development of the Gabion and Green belt of the area under the bridges and flyovers under the ABD area has been approved. This work will be done by the Forest Department.
• In the meeting, approval was given to publish the proposed RFP and NIT for making a revenue model of various components of ICCC to make Patna Smart City self-sustainable. Components of ICCC such as Variable Message Display (VMD), and PAS (Public Address System) have been approved to be given to OFC as per the revenue model.
• ​​The automation of the drainage pumping station was approved with the performance-based incentive received under the Ganga River Basin Project- Ⅱ and the proposal to integrate the pumping station with the ICCC was approved.​
• These 10 new smart city schemes have been approved-
  • Development of common facility in the Mithapur area
  • Integration with ICCC by doing 3D mapping of the ABD area of Patna Smart City through drone technology
  • Facilitating the smooth flow of urban traffic near Patna Junction through traffic engineering
  • Purchase of 30 e-buses/CNG buses for the multi-modal hub being built near Patna Junction
  • Purchase of CNG vehicles as per requirement for door-to-door garbage collection
  • Integration with ICCC for automation of street lights in Patna city
  • Installation of 3D LED display for Multi-Modal Hub, Maurya Lok and other places
  • Beautification and illumination of the upcoming flyover in ABD of Patna Smart City
  • Redevelopment of Mauryalok Complex on the lines of Public Happening Place
  • Development of a Street Vending Zone and related facilities on the Ganga Path

Rajasthan Awarded First Prize in the Field of Wind Energy by the Central Government

Why in News?

On June 15, 2023, Rajasthan was awarded the first prize by the Central Government's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for its exemplary work in the field of wind energy compared to other states.

Key Points:

• The award was given at a function organized in New Delhi on the occasion of 'Global Wind Day' (June 15) under the aegis of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• Bhaskar A. Sawant, Chief Government Secretary, Energy Department, received the award on behalf of the State Government from BS Bhalla, Secretary, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
• State Energy Minister Bhanwar Singh Bhati said that due to the investment-oriented renewable energy policies issued by the Rajasthan government, Rajasthan is on top in solar energy, along with this, in the year 2022-23, by setting up the maximum number of wind power projects in the country, it has achieved the first position in the field of wind energy.
• On this occasion, Chief Government Secretary Bhaskar A. Sawant informed that in the year 2022-23, new wind power projects of 867 MW capacity were set up in the state, which is the highest in comparison to other states.
• In the year 2022, 4337 MW wind power capacity was set up in the state, which will increase to 5204 MW by March 2023.

State Scholarship will be given to 34 Lakh Backward Class Students in the State

Why in News?

According to the information given by the Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department on June 15, 2023, this year, 34 lakh backward-classes students studying in class 6 to 10 in the state will be provided scholarships.

Key Points:

• It is known that the State Scholarship is being provided by the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department for the educational improvement of backward-class students studying in class 6 to 10 in the state. This year the benefit of this scheme will be given to 34 lakh students.
• The department has made a provision of Rs 250 crore in this year's budget for the scheme. The department had spent an amount of Rs 222 crore in this scheme in the last year 2022-23 as a state scholarship.
• Under the scheme, the benefit of state scholarship is given to those students of these classes, whose parents' income does not come under the limit of income tax.
• It may be noted that the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department is running an award scheme in the name of three great personalities for doing excellent work in the development of minorities.
  • Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan, Captain Hameed Khan and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad awards are given to selected social workers under the scheme.
  • For the implementation of the scheme, the department has made a budget provision of Rs 47 lakh in the year 2023-24.
  • An amount of one lakh rupees is presented to the selected person as a mark of respect along with the symbol.
  • The state government has started this award scheme from the year 2011-12.

Eighth Phase of 'Malaria-Free Chhattisgarh Campaign' begins

Why in News?

On June 15, 2023, the eighth phase of the 'Malaria-free Chhattisgarh campaign' started in the state. Along with this, 'Intensive Leprosy Campaign' and 'National Netra Jyoti Abhiyan' also started in the state.

Key Points:

• It may be noted that this campaign is being run continuously in the state to achieve the goal of a complete malaria-free state by reducing the cases of malaria to the lowest level.
• This campaign will be conducted from June 15 to July 10 (25 days) in a total 23 districts of the state including all the seven districts of Bastar division. During this, about 22 lakh people will be tested for malaria by the teams of the health department.
• 'National Eye Jyoti Abhiyan' and 'Intensive Leprosy Search Campaign' will also be run jointly in 146 development blocks of all 33 districts of the state. During this, patients suspected of leprosy will be identified, examined and treated. During the campaign, availability of proper treatment will be ensured by identifying eye patients.
• In the eighth phase of malaria-free Chhattisgarh campaign, a target has been set for malaria screening of about 22 lakh people of the state. For this, 2854 teams have been formed across the state. 1539 teams have been formed in the Malaria-affected Bastar division and 1315 in other 16 districts.
• During the campaign, teams will be active for the investigation and treatment of malaria under 274 primary health centers & 904 sub-health centers. During the campaign, the health department team and Mitanins will go door-to-door to check malaria.
• People will be motivated for regular use of mosquito nets by making survey teams aware to prevent malaria. During this time BTI and burnt oil will also be sprinkled in the accumulated water & drains around the houses in the villages. The Health Department team will also inquire about potential patients of leprosy and eye diseases in all the houses.
• It is worth mentioning that in the first seven phases of malaria-free Chhattisgarh campaign, a total of one crore 41 lakh malaria tests have been done. During this, one lakh 49 thousand patients found positive were provided immediate treatment.
• The team of the Health Department has carried out malaria screening of 14 lakh six thousand people in the first phase, 23 lakh 75 thousand in the second phase, 15 lakh 70 thousand in the third phase, 19 lakh 98 thousand in the fourth phase, 14 lakh 36 thousand in the fifth phase, 43 lakh 61 thousand in the sixth phase and 9 lakh 34 thousand in the seventh phase.
• During this period, 64 thousand 646 people were found positive in the first phase, 30 thousand 76 in the second phase, 16 thousand 148 in the third phase, 11 thousand 363 in the fourth phase, 11 thousand 321 in the fifth phase, 7479 in the sixth phase and 7974 malaria victims in the seventh phase were treated immediately.