• 19 Apr 2022

Varanasi received awards in 4 categories at the India Smart City Award ceremony

Why In News?

Varanasi Smart City was awarded in four different categories at the prize distribution function of India Smart City Award competition organized by the Ministry of Urban and Housing Affairs, Government of India at Surat, Gujarat on April 18, 2022.

Key Points

• The details of the 4 categories in which Varanasi has received awards are as follows-
  
  • 'Covid Innovation Award'
  • 'Smart City Leadership Award'
  • "City Award"
  • "Water Conservation Award"
• The Covid Innovation Award has been given for remarkable initiatives during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and strict lockdown. During this period, Kashi Integrated Command and Control Center acting as 'Integrated War Room' provided facilities related to District Administration, Emergency Services, Health Department, Telemedicine and Municipal Corporation etc. under one roof in an integrated manner. .
• Similarly the city has been awarded 'Smart City Leadership Award' for its efficient functioning and proper implementation of projects.

Free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh in Bihar

Why In News?

On April 18, 2022, in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, it was decided that on the lines of the Ayushman scheme of the Central Government, free treatment up to five lakh rupees would be provided annually by the Bihar government to all the ration card holder families.

Key Points

• It was also decided in the meeting that about six crore people in the age group of 18 to 59 years would be given a free booster dose of Covid vaccine in the state. For this the cabinet has approved Rs.1314.15 crore.
• It is noteworthy that 55% of the families of the state are the beneficiaries of Ayushman Yojana, in which free treatment facility is available up to 5 lakhs.
• There are about 29% of the families in the state who do not get the benefit of Ayushman Yojana, while considering their economic condition, they should also get this facility. Keeping them in mind, the Bihar government has decided to provide free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh.

143 heritage properties have been issued certificates

Why In News?

On the occasion of World Heritage Day on April 18, 2022, Dr. Rashmi Sharma, Director, Tourism Department of Rajasthan informed that so far 143 heritage properties have been issued certificates by the tourism department.

Key Points

• These heritage properties are very popular with domestic and foreign tourists as destination wedding and film shooting locations, as well as publicity of these properties will be done through the departmental website.
• For the operation of these heritage hotels, many types of benefits, such as conversion fee, excise bar license fee, stamp duty and urban development tax exemption, etc. are being provided by the state government.
• Forts, palaces, havelis, etc. are available in abundance in the form of architectural heritage in the state, most of these antiquities are in private ownership, whose conservation is an urgent need of the present time.
• In order to protect the privately owned heritage properties and promote the use of these properties as heritage hotels and other tourism units, the scheme for grant of heritage certificates was implemented, which was simplified in July 2021 according to the investors.
• More than two-thirds of the heritage hotels operating across the country are in the state of Rajasthan. Heritage certificates are also given to the state properties by the tourism department.
• It is worth mentioning that every year on 18th April, World Heritage Day is celebrated to promote culture and heritage, as well as this day to protect, promote and preserve the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the country and the state. It is celebrated to make people aware, so that people can understand their culture and tradition closely.

Indore got 6 awards in Smart City Conference

Why In News?

Indore received 6 awards in different categories in the India Smart Cities Awards contest organized by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs at Surat, Gujarat on 18th April, 2022.

Key Points

• Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri distributed awards to the smart cities doing remarkable work in various themes in the 'India Smart Cities Awards Contest, 2020'.
• Madhya Pradesh has secured the second position in the state award in this contest. Apart from this, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur and Sagar have also won awards.
• Surat has been chosen along with Indore as the overall winner in all the competitions of India Smart Cities Award Contest (ISAC), 2020, while Jabalpur has been ranked third.
• Indore and Chandigarh were jointly declared winners in the culture theme. Gwalior has got the third place for building a digital museum on the same theme. Indore has received this award for better conservation of heritage.
• Also Indore was declared the winner jointly with Tirupati for Municipal Waste Management System on the theme of cleanliness.
• Indore was awarded for Carbon Credit Financing Mechanism on Economy Theme, Chappan Dukan on Built Environment Theme, Carbon Credit Financing Mechanism in Innovation Award and Indore and Surat were jointly awarded overall winners in City Award.
• Bhopal and Chennai were jointly declared winners in the Urban Environment theme. Bhopal has received this award for doing remarkable work in clean energy. In the City Award, Jabalpur got third place in Round-1 and Sagar got second position in Round-3.

Jehangir Gandhi Medal for Industrial Peace to Dr. Reddy

Why In News?

Recently, Paul Fernandes S.J., Director of XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur. It was informed that Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice President, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. would be awarded the Sir Jehangir Gandhi Medal for Industrial and Social Peace.

Key Points

• Dr. Reddy is widely known for his contribution to making high quality healthcare accessible to millions of people and his support to various organizations and industry bodies working for the betterment of India.
• She is the Managing Trustee of the Apollo Hospitals Educational Trust, a premier organization that drives the Apollo Group's educational efforts.
• It is worth noting that the Chairman and MD of Hindustan Unilever Limited Sanjiv Mehta has been awarded this medal in 2020 and Sandeep Kataria, Global CEO of Bata Corporation, in 2021.

Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojna

Why In News?

On April 18, 2022, the list of beneficiaries of Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojna was published in the concerned Gram Panchayat.

Key Points

• With the publication, the process of verification of the list has also started, so that such beneficiaries whose names are listed in the eligible list, but have died at present, in such cases, after receiving applications from their legal heirs, their names can be added to the eligible list after examination as per rules.
• Those who are currently included in the list of eligible beneficiaries, but have become ineligible under the scheme due to the acquisition of agricultural land by them or any member of their family, can be deleted from the list of eligible beneficiaries after receiving the objection/report from Patwari regarding such beneficiaries.
• It is worth noting that Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojna was started in the financial year 2021-22.
• The main objective of this scheme is to identify the landless agricultural labor families in the rural areas and to provide financial grants to the landless agricultural families on an annual basis. Under this, financial assistance of Rs 6,000 will be given annually to each family.
• The implementation of this scheme is being done under the supervision of the Revenue Department. The District Monitoring Committee has also been constituted for its successful operation.

Vyasi Hydroelectric Project

Why In News?

Recently, the M.D. of Uttarakhand Hydro-Electric Corporation Limited. Sandeep Singhal informed that all the trials of Vyasi hydro-electric project have been completed and Uttarakhand will start getting electricity from April 19.

Key Points

• The Vyasi Hydro-electric Project has been established on the Yamuna River at Lohari near Vikas Nagar.
• With this 120 MW project, Uttarakhand will get 353 million units of electricity annually, while 0.72 million units of daily electricity will be available during the routine time and 60 MW in the morning and evening peak hours.
• It is worth noting that at present, UPCL is getting about 31 million units of electricity, while the demand is reaching 44 million units. In such a situation, UPCL will get some relief from the electricity received from this project.