• 21 Jan 2022

Patna-Kolkata Expressway

Why in News

• Recently, Bihar Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen told that a plan is being started for the construction of Patna-Kolkata Expressway for better connectivity between Bihar and Bengal. Patna to Kolkata Expressway will be the first road in Bihar to be edge restricted.

Key Points

• Minister Nitin Naveen said that with the construction of Patna-Kolkata Expressway, the total journey of 550 kms from Bihar to Bengal will become easy. This road will be similar to Purvanchal Expressway of Uttar Pradesh. The government is going to start work for this very soon.
• With its construction, connectivity of Northeast India with the rest of India will be strengthened. Five districts of Bihar are involved in this project with an estimated cost of more than 18 thousand crore rupees.
• The Patna-Kolkata Expressway will proceed from Dhalkuni via Patna (Bakhtiarpur), Nalanda (Biharsharif), Sheikhpura, Jamui (Sikandra and Chakai), Katoria of Banka, Madhupur, Durgapur and Panagarh. Bihar Sharif will directly enter Devipur of Deoghar district in Jharkhand from Sikdara, Chakai.
• At Devipur, this expressway will proceed towards Madhupur connecting the proposed four-lane road connecting AIIMS. This will increase the connectivity of Deoghar with Bihar and Bengal.
• Under Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-II, this greenfield expressway will serve as an alternative to the old congested National Highway NH-2. With its completion, the doors of development will also open.

Jail Department Employees will get Posting on Higher Vacant Post

Why in News

• On January 20, 2022, Madhya Pradesh Jail and Home Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra said that like the Police Department, the Jail Department would also be posted as caretaker on the higher vacant post on the basis of eligibility and seniority. Notification in this regard has been published in the Gazette of Madhya Pradesh.

Key Points

• On getting the charge of a higher post, the caretaker officer will be able to exercise the rights by wearing a uniform, but he will get the salary and allowances of the original post only.
• In the Jail Department, orders will be issued to post the sentinel as the in-charge Chief Sentinel, the Chief Sentinel as the in-charge Chief Chief Sentinel, the Chief Chief Sentinel as the in-charge Assistant Superintendent Jail. Apart from this, orders will be issued to post Assistant Superintendent Jail as in-charge Deputy Superintendent Jail and Deputy Superintendent Jail as in-charge Superintendent District Jail.
• In this, orders of gazetted officers will be issued at the state government level and orders of non-gazetted officers and employees will be issued from the level of Director General Jail.
• A Government servant acting as in-charge on a higher post shall not have any claim on seniority or on the pay of such higher post grade. Can exercise ex-officio powers and wear uniform according to the post.

Important Decisions of Jharkhand Cabinet

Why in News

• On January 19, 2022, the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren approved the proposal of giving mobile tabs to 21 thousand students of classes 1 to 12 of 136 residential schools of the state, besides approved 51 proposals.

Key Points

• In the financial year 2021-22, the Jharkhand cabinet has decided to give mobile tabs to the students of classes 1 to 12 in a total of 136 residential schools under the Welfare Department of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, Minorities and Backward Classes. In this sequence, 21 thousand students will be given this facility.
• These mobile tabs will come in handy to continue studying at home due to the closure of residential schools in the wake of Kovid-19. The cabinet has approved this proposal with a cost of about Rs 26.25 crore.
• For the dissemination of information about the schemes of the state government, information about the schemes of the government will also be printed on the first page of the notebooks of the students of government schools from class I to XII.
• Taking another important decision, the cabinet also approved the Jharkhand Assistant Teacher Teacher Service Manual related to para teachers. Para teachers will now be called assistant teachers. Under this rule, the service of 62878 para teachers has been fixed for 60 years. On the basis of merit, honorarium increase, compassionate and other benefits will be given by conducting examinations at regular intervals.
• The cabinet has decided that under the take home scheme, now fortified rice will be distributed instead of normal rice to 6 to 36 months old children, pregnant women, malnourished children under the Centrally Sponsored Nutrition Scheme.
• Changes have also been approved in the rules regarding restoration of services of many departments. At the same time, one lakh will be given to the dependent in case of silicosis disease while working in factories and four lakh rupees to the dependent in case of death.
• The retirement age of Ayurvedic Medical Officers has been increased from 60 to 65 years.
• Aadhar Permanent Enrollment Center will open in all panchayat buildings, municipal bodies, wards of the state. The Information Technology and e-Governance Department of the State Government has approved MoU with CSCSPV for this.
• An agency named NISG has been selected on the basis of nomination under IT Advisory Service for the protection of land records across the state.
• To increase the revenue of liquor in the state, the state government will sign an MoU with the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited. Chhattisgarh government agency has been selected as consultant to the state's Beverages Corporation.
• Other major schemes got approval-
  
  • 29 crore 23 lakh 37 thousand rupees sanctioned for the revival of Kanchi irrigation project.
  • Approval of Rs 185 crore loan from NABARD for 17 rural water supply schemes under ITIF 27.
  • Nikki Pradhan, Salima Tete, who are playing in the Indian Hockey team from Jharkhand in Tokyo Olympics, post-facto approval of prize money given to archers Deepika Kumari, Komolika Bari, Ankita Bhagat and coach Purnima Mahto.
  • Nominated by Care India for Foundation Literacy Program for children in the age group of 1 to 3 years.
  • Approval for construction of residential colony for policemen in Godan by spending Rs.58 crore 1 lakh 80 thousand.
  • Under the MLA scheme, an expenditure of Rs 50 lakh has been made optional for water supply schemes on the recommendation of the MLAs.
  • Under the Masaliya-Rajeshwar Irrigation Project in Dumka, a plan of Rs 1204 crore has been approved for the installation of underground irrigation pipelines.

Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee Constituted

Why in News

• On January 20, 2022, a notification for the formation of Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee was issued by the Tribal and Scheduled Caste Development Department of the State Government. According to the notification, the tenure of the members other than the ex-officio members of the committee will be three years from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Key Points

• According to the notification issued, Forest and Climate Change, Housing and Environment Minister Mohammad Akbar has been nominated as a member of Chhattisgarh State Haj Committee.
• Similarly, Maulana Qari Syed Ashfaq Ahmed of Raipur, Maulana Dr. Qari Imran Ashrafi, Maulana Asghar Mehndi have been made members of the State Haj Committee as Muslim religious knowledge and Muslim law expert.
• Imtiaz Ahmed (Surajpur), Dr Rubina Alvi (Rajnandgaon), Shamim Akhtar (Raipur) having experience in the educational, cultural and social field of Muslim community have been appointed as members.
• Along with this, the Chairman of the State Waqf Board and the Executive Officer-Secretary of the State Haj Committee have been nominated as ex-officio members.

Road Safety and Traffic Awareness Campaign of Raipur Police Registered in Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records

Why in News

• Recently the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records recorded as a record 1,02,468 citizens taking pledge for road safety in a single day in a week-wide campaign on road safety and traffic awareness by Raipur Police.

Key Points

• These citizens of Raipur, during this innovative campaign organized by Raipur Police on the theme 'Suno Raipur' for a week from December 26, 2021-1 January, 2022, signed the road safety resolution letter on January 1, signing road safety in the new year.
• In this campaign run by Raipur Police with the help of active volunteers, many children came forward to support Raipur Police by giving a message to their elders to follow the safety rules.
• 'Suno Raipur' was launched by SSP Raipur Prashant Agarwal as an awareness program on 26th December at Magneto Mall Raipur. He appealed to the citizens to follow road safety rules while driving and not to put their lives and others' lives at risk by reckless driving or bypassing basic safety rules.
• He requested people to think about their family and friends while attempting any kind of bike stunts or speed driving. There should be no need to have traffic policemen at intersections to ensure people obey traffic signals.
• During the 'Suno Raipur' campaign, teams of Raipur Police and 300 active volunteers sensitized people about traffic rules in various public places, market areas, main squares, schools, educational institutions and commercial areas.
• Pamphlets, placards, handouts, video screens with interesting and educational messages were used during the campaign. Social media platforms of Raipur Police were also extensively used to create awareness among the people during this awareness campaign.
• It is worth noting that every year around 1.5 lakh people die in road accidents in India. About 450 people die every year in Raipur district alone.
• The main reasons behind these deaths are speeding, not wearing seat belt and not wearing helmets. Accidental deaths can be reduced by following basic road safety rules.
• The campaign is supported by Raipur Auto Dealers Association, Young Indians, Surakshit Bhava Foundation, Sikh Care India, Abha Foundation, Awaaz Foundation, Sparsh Ek Prayas, Helping Hand Foundation, Kopal Vani, Mission Sambhav, Vaakak Manch and Saubhagya Foundation, Maruti Suzuki Driving School, Supported and supported by volunteers of many NGOs and associations like Pranjal Seva Samiti.

Anganwadi Worker Amita Climbs Snowy UT Kangri Peak

Why in News

• On January 19, 2022, Anganwadi worker Amita Srivas, a mountaineer from Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh, climbed the 6070 meters high snowy UT Kangri peak in the Ladakh range of the ancient Himalayas. She started climbing on 14 January and reached the summit of UT Kangri on 19 January.

Key Points

• This was Amita's fourth major climb to the top of the mountain. After taking training in rock climbing from Vivekananda Mountaineering Institute Mount Abu in the year 2018, he first conquered the big peaks of North Sikkim and West Sikkim in 2019.
• After this, on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8, 2021, she set a record for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of the continent of Africa, taking the mission of women empowerment. After reaching the 5895 meter high peak of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, he also gave the message of 'Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh'.
• Amita told that the success at UT Kangri is a step in the initial preparation for her Everest mission. He had 11 members from the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka including Delhi in this mission. Two of these people have already climbed Everest.
• He told that his base camp, situated at an altitude of 4700 meters, had a temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius. At the time of the last ascent it was reduced to minus 31.4 degrees. During the ascent to the summit, there was a sudden avalanche (fall of a large piece of ice) 50 steps earlier.
• Seeing the achievements of Amita Shrivas, 80 thousand rupees were provided by the district administration for mountaineering in UT Kangri. Earlier, to encourage their mountaineering, Rs 2 lakh 70 thousand was provided for mountaineering from CSR head.

Governor Signs Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Act (Amendment) Bill

Why in News

• On January 20, 2022, the Governor of Chhattisgarh, Anusuiya Uikey, signed the bill introduced to amend the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Act, 1965 (No. 19 of 1956).

Key Points

• Section 12 of this Act has been amended that in the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 12-A of the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya Act 1956 (No. 19 of 1956), for the figure '65', the figure '70' be replaced. That is, the age limit of the Vice-Chancellor of Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya will be 70 years instead of 65 years.
  
  • This Act will be called the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya (Amendment) Act, 2021. It will extend to the entire state of Chhattisgarh. It shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.