• 19 Oct 2023

Digital Doctor Clinic will be Started in Villages of Uttar Pradesh

Why In News?

On October 18, 2023, a spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh government said that the Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoU of Rs 350 crore with Obdu Group for Digital Doctor Clinic, a team of doctors, in the context of starting digital doctor clinic service in villages.

Key Points:

• The government spokesperson said that the state government is going to take this initiative through private investment, the main objective of which is to provide medical consultation as well as medicines and pathology test facilities to the people for the most serious diseases at concessional rates.
• Under this, treatment will be started from the clinic by setting up 'Digital Doctor Clinic' in rural areas. Through this, patients in rural areas will be able to easily talk to doctors through video conferencing and will also be able to get treatment.
• These clinics to be established in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh will be like primary health centers.
• Initially, these will be opened in a total of 20 centers in Lucknow and Bulandshahr under the pilot project, after which they will be started in the entire Uttar Pradesh.

President Draupadi Murmu launched the Fourth Agricultural Roadmap of Bihar

Why In News?

On October 18, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the Fourth Agriculture Roadmap of Bihar (2023-28) by unveiling the stone slab through remote at the Bapu Auditorium of the Samrat Ashoka Convention Centre.

Key Points:

• Addressing the program organized on this occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the first agricultural roadmap of the state was started in the year 2008. The second agricultural roadmap was launched by the then President Pranab Mukherjee and the third agricultural road map was launched by President Ramnath Kovind.
• Farmers have benefited a lot from the agricultural roadmap in Bihar. The production and productivity of paddy, maize, wheat and potatoes has increased. From 2008 to 2012, work was done under the first agricultural roadmap. In the year 2011-12, a farmer from Nalanda left China behind by producing the highest amount of paddy per hectare. Earlier the record per hectare was in the name of China. A village in Nalanda district also made a world record in the production of potatoes.
• From 2012 to 2017, work was done under the second agricultural roadmap, as a result of which the production of fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and fish has increased significantly. Farmers have benefited greatly from increased productivity.
• Work was scheduled under the third agricultural roadmap from 2017 to 2022, but its tenure was extended by one year to 2023. Fourth agricultural roadmap has been started for the remaining work and further work and expansion. Under this, work will be done quickly, so that farmers can get more benefits.
• Fish production in Bihar has increased two and a half times. Now Bihar has become self-sufficient in fish production. Bihar has received Krishi Karman Awards for the production of rice, wheat and maize. The production of potato, cabbage, brinjal and tomato has also increased significantly. The production of Makhana has also increased significantly in Bihar.
• The Chief Minister said that in the Fourth Agricultural Roadmap, along with agriculture, arrangements have also been made for proper care of animals. Animal hospitals are being opened in every 8 to 10 panchayats, so that animals can be properly cared for and treated. A large part of North Bihar is the Chaur region. There is water there for 9 months in a year. There is 9 lakh hectare land area. Under the agricultural roadmap, a scheme has been started for 6 such districts.
• To meet the goals of the Fourth Agriculture Roadmap, the Cabinet approved Rs 1 lakh 62 thousand crore. Agriculture is the basis of the livelihood of 75 percent people in the state. The Fourth Agriculture Roadmap has taken all things into consideration and has been made very comprehensive. This will not only increase production and productivity, but will also increase the income of farmers. The state will also benefit from this.

Home Minister laid the Foundation Stone of the Foot Escalator Overbridge in the Civil Hospital Complex along Ambala-Saha Road.

Why In News?

On October 17, 2023, Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij laid the foundation stone for the construction work of foot escalator overbridge in the Civil Hospital complex along Ambala-Saha Road. This foot escalator overbridge will be built at a cost of Rs 2 crore.

Key Points:

• After laying the foundation stone, Home and Health Minister Anil Vij said that the foot escalator overbridge in the Civil Hospital complex of Ambala along Ambala-Saha Road will probably be the first escalator to be installed on any road in Haryana.        
• He said that the Civil Hospital has an OPD of more than three thousand every day and in view of the increasing traffic on Ambala-Saha Road, a foot escalator overbridge has been sanctioned here.
• He said that people will be able to reach Civil Hospital by climbing the bridge directly from Hill Road without going on the road. Escalators will be installed here to climb the bridge, which will benefit the people coming to the hospital.
  
  

Sainik Schools will be opened in other Districts of Haryana also in PPP Mode .

Why In News?

On October 17, 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal said in the closing ceremony of All India Sainik School National Games-2023 organized at Sainik School, Kunjpura in Karnal that Sainik Schools will be opened in PPP mode in other districts of Haryana also.

Key Points:

• Chief Minister Manohar Lal said that this will increase the participation of Haryana's youth in the army and a large number of fire warriors will be prepared. He announced a grant of Rs 10 crore for infrastructure to Sainik School, Kunjpura.
• It may be noted that for the first time, All India Sainik School National Sports Competitions were organized in Haryana, in which 650 players from various Sainik Schools of the country participated.
• By organizing this competition, many of the participating players will get a chance to be selected for national and international competitions.
• The Chief Minister said that for the first time, girls cadets also participated in these competitions, which is synonymous with women empowerment. It also embodies the spirit of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao'. In 2015, the Prime Minister had given the slogan of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' from Haryana itself.
• The Chief Minister said that the government has developed sports culture to make Haryana a sports powerhouse. Excellent sports infrastructure has been created from village to state level. Recently, in the 19th Asian Games held in China, players from Haryana have won 30 out of 107 medals.
• He said that Sainik Schools in the country were established in 1961, since then they have been making commendable contributions in inducting cadets into NDA, IMA, OTA, IANA, AFA and other prestigious defense institutes. Students educated from these schools have earned names in Indian Administrative Services, Judiciary, Medical, Engineering Services as well as in Politics.
• The Chief Minister honored the teams standing first and second in basketball, volleyball and hockey of the All India Sainik School National Sports Competition by giving them trophies.
• Apart from this, Ikhlaq Hasan of Nagrota Sainik School was honored as the best player in volleyball, Aman Malik of Kunjpura in basketball, Shubham Kumar of Tilaiya was honored as the best player in hockey and Sachin from Tilaiya was honored as the best goalkeeper.
• He also awarded the trophy to Sainik School Tilaiya as Overall School and D Group in Overall Group.
• Trophy was awarded to the team of Kunjpura Sainik School for the cultural program. Around 650 players from more than 30 Sainik Schools participated in the games. Before this, the participants marched past.

Haryana Government Approves 13 New Projects under Rural Promotion and Mahagram Scheme

Why In News?

On October 17, 2023, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal gave administrative approval to 13 new projects to be implemented by the Public Health Engineering Department under the Rural Promotion Program and Mahagram Scheme.

Key Points:

• It may be noted that the Haryana Government has taken important steps towards bringing positive changes in the lives of the rural population of the state and has decided to implement 13 new projects worth more than Rs 284 crore.
• These projects will be implemented in 4 districts, namely Hisar, Jind, Sonipat and Rewari by the Public Health Engineering Department with loan assistance from NABARD under Rural Enhancement Program and Mahagram Scheme.
• The state government has approved canal based water supply projects for villages Pranapura and Mamaria Assampur of district Rewari under the Rural Promotion Programme. Apart from this, additional storage and sedimentation tanks will also be ensured for the water supply scheme in village Mamaria Thather.
• Apart from these, the existing water works of district Rewari include canal based water supply scheme, sedimentation tanks at 2 villages Makhariya and Chimnawas of Khori group, additional storage and sedimentation tanks for the existing water supply scheme of Jatuwas group of 8 villages at Bharwas of district Bhiwani, Renovation and additional storage for raw water in canal based water works in rural areas of Rewari district, Additional storage and sedimentation tank will be constructed for the existing water supply scheme of Bolni group of 4 villages at Khedi Motla in Rewari district.
• Projects approved under Mahagram Yojana-
  • District Hisar – Providing drinking water scheme (cost Rs 36.52 crore) and sewerage system in village Gangwa (cost Rs 36.21 crore), providing sewerage system in village Sadalpur (cost Rs 25.72 crore) and expansion of water supply scheme (cost Rs 22.72 crore). .
  • District Jind – Providing sewerage system in village Chattar (cost Rs 30.95 crore) and expansion of drinking water supply (cost Rs 18.36 crore).
  • District Sonipat - Providing sewerage system in village Khewra (cost Rs 19.86 crore) and expansion of drinking water supply (cost Rs 6.61 crore).
• Giving information in this regard, the government spokesperson said that after the renovation of these canal based water works, the construction of new works will directly benefit a potential population of 1.63 lakh in 15 years.
• The spokesperson further said that Haryana has already become the first state to ensure supply of Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every household under Jal Jeevan Mission. Under this mission, the Central Government had set a target of providing clean drinking water from tap to every rural family by 2024, whereas the State Government has achieved this target much earlier.

Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Raghuvar Das Becomes the New Governor of Odisha.

Why In News?

On October 18, 2023, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghuvar Das was appointed as the new Governor of Odisha by President Draupadi Murmu. Notification has been issued in this regard.

Key Points:

• The appointment of Raghuvar Das will be effective from the date he assumes charge of the post of Governor. Before his appointment, Raghuvar Das was holding the post of National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party.
• Raghuvar Das is the first non-tribal Chief Minister of Jharkhand. He was the Chief Minister of Jharkhand from 2014 to 2019.
• Raghuvar Das was the first CM to complete his tenure after the formation of Jharkhand in the year 2000.

State Government will Start Walnut Mission in High Himalayan Regions

Why In News?

On October 17, 2023, Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said that the Walnut Mission will be started in collaboration with the Horticulture Department in the higher Himalayan regions to promote walnut production.

Key Points:

• Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal said that several action plans are being worked on to increase the percentage of forestry sector's share in the state's income. Mission to promote walnut and non-timber forest products is part of this strategy. Possibilities of including the production of herbal products are also being considered.
• According to an estimate, the share of the forestry sector in the state's income ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 percent, while the forestry sector has been identified as the major growth driver of the state's economy.
• There are preparations to conduct many new experiments in the state by connecting the forest wealth with the livelihood of the people. Under this, work is being done on different schemes for the plains including the high Himalayan regions. Under this, species like walnut, bamboo, oak, teak, and poplar will be promoted.
• The Forest Minister said that preparations are also being made to change the rules of Lisa sale. In the state, auctions are conducted under the online system of Lisa sale, but the local people do not get any benefit from it. Keeping this in mind, instructions have been given from the Chief Minister's level to explore lease sale possibilities at the local level.
• Instructions have been given at the government level to include it in the action plan for cutting old trees of Eucalyptus species in the state. In their place, new species of plants can also be planted as per the need, which come under the category of non-timber forest products.
• It is noteworthy that Uttarakhand comes second in walnut production in the country after Jammu and Kashmir. There are favorable conditions for walnut production here. Despite this, its production in the state has decreased in the last few years. About 18 to 20 thousand metric tons of walnuts are produced every year in the state.
• There is immense potential for its production in the high altitude areas of Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Dehradun, Pauri Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi. This is the reason why the government is now going to start walnut production in mission mode.