• 21 Mar 2022

Polio Campaign Launched from Gorakhpur

Why in News

• On March 20, 2022, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh launched the Pulse Polio campaign from Gorakhpur to save children up to five years of age from polio in the state.

Key Points

• Under this week-long campaign, 3.80 crore children up to the age of five years will be administered pulse polio drops. For this 1.10 lakh booths have been made. Along with this, 76,000 mobile teams have been formed.
• The Chief Minister said that not a single case of polio has been found in Uttar Pradesh since 2012 and in India since 2011.
• It is worth mentioning that by adopting the 'Four T' (Trace, Test, Treat and Vaccine) formula on the strength of collectivism, Uttar Pradesh is leading the entire country in the management of the global pandemic Corona.
• India introduced polio vaccination in Delhi on October 2, 1994 as a result of the World Health Assembly's (WHA) global polio eradication initiative and in 1995 the Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) program was launched across the country.
• Under this program all the children under the age of 5 are given two doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) every year until polio is eradicated.

Best State Award for Promotion of Sports

Why in News

• On March 19, 2022 Haryana was awarded 'Best State Award for Promotion of Sports'. Haryana received this award after beating Odisha and other states for three consecutive years.

Key Points

• Haryana Sports Minister Sardar Sandeep Singh received the 'Best State Award for Promotion of Sports' on behalf of the state at the annual Sports Awards function organized by the ACES Sports Star Awards Hindu Group.
• Apart from this, the players of Haryana brought laurels to the state by getting awards in eight other categories as well.
• Neeraj Chopra of Haryana was awarded the 'Sport Star of the Year' and 'Best Player in Track and Field' award at the ACES Sports Star Awards ceremony.
• Similarly, 'Best Para Male Sportsperson' to Sumit Antil; Ravi Dahiya named 'Best player in the individual game'; Savita Punia named 'Best player in the team'; The Indian Hockey Team (Men) was awarded the 'Best Movement in the Olympics (Team)' and 'National Team of the Year' and the Indian Hockey Team (Women) with the 'Best Team Award'. It is noteworthy that nine players in the Indian Hockey Team (Women) were from Haryana.
• This year, a jury headed by former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar selected Haryana as the winner of the award for its role in promoting grassroots sports and the Olympic movement.
• The Haryana government has been making continuous efforts to promote sports for years. The skill shown by the players of Haryana in national and international sports competitions and the large number of awards received have proved the significance of the sports policy implemented in the state.

35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela

Why in News

• On March 19, 2022 Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar officially inaugurated the world famous Surajkund Crafts Mela after a long gap of two years.

Key Points

• This is the 35th edition of the Surajkund Mela to be held from March 19 to April 4, 2022. The fair was not organized for 2 years due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• Since 1987, Surajkund Crafts Mela has been continuously showcasing the richness and diversity of handicrafts, handlooms and cultural heritage of India.
• Organized jointly by Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, External Affairs and Government of Haryana, this handicraft festival has earned a prominent place on the international tourism calendar for showcasing its crafts, culture and cuisines of India. has been established.
• J&K is the 'Theme State' of 35th Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2022, hence Vaishno Devi Temple, Amarnath Cave, Apna Ghar representing architecture from Kashmir, live performance of House Boat and replicas of Memorial Gate 'Mubarak Mandi-Jammu' are the main attractions.
• Also, hundreds of artists from Jammu and Kashmir will perform various folk arts and dances. From traditional dance art forms to exquisite crafts, a bouquet of heritage and culture of Jammu and Kashmir will be the main attraction of this fair showcasing the unique culture and rich heritage through various art forms and handicrafts.
• Through this fair, thousands of artisans of the country get a platform to display their art and products widely. Along with this, this fair also plays an important role in reviving the heritage craft of India.
• In this fair, traditional and cultural artists performed Kachhi Ghodi, Stick Walker, Kalbelia, Beharupia of Rajasthan, Kangri Nati of Himachal, Bihu of Assam, Bhangra, Jindua, Jhumer of Punjab, Choupal of Uttarakhand, Holi of Barsana of Uttar Pradesh, of Meghalaya. Wangiya, Sambalpuri Odisha, Badhaai of Madhya Pradesh, Lavani of Maharashtra will be performed.
• Surajkund Crafts Mela was upgraded to International level in the year 2013. In 2020, more than 30 countries from Europe, Africa and Asia participated in this fair, while this year also more than 30 countries will be part of this fair.
• These include partner countries of Latin American countries including Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Namibia, Sudan, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Angola, Ghana, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran, Maldives and other countries.

Dr. Khubchand Baghel

Why in News

• On March 20, 2022, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel unveiled a seven-feet high statue of Dr. Khubchand Baghel, the first visionary of Chhattisgarh state formation, prepared from Ashtadhatu in Balodabazar.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel unveiled the statue of Dr. Khubchand Baghel in Gaurav Path Garden of the district headquarters during his stay at Balodabazar.
• Appreciating the life-size statue, he said that through this statue the new generation of Chhattisgarh would be familiar with the contribution of the dreamer in building the state of Chhattisgarh.
• Along with this, the Chief Minister announced to name Balodabazar Polytechnic College after former MP Late Karuna Shukla at the oath-taking ceremony of Sarva Brahmin Samaj organized at Vipra Vatika.
• It is noteworthy that Dr. Khubchand Baghel was born on July 19, 1900 in Pathri village of Raipur district. Dr. Baghel was greatly influenced by the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and left the government job and joined Gandhiji's movement in 1930.
• Dr. Baghel strongly opposed the evil practice. He did a satyagraha to stop the kissbin dance performed during Holi. Apart from this, he started the Pankti Todo i.e.'Break the Row' movement. The purpose of this movement was any person can have food with anyone sitting in a row, there should not be a separate row on the basis of caste'.

Phagun Madai Fair

Why in News

• On March 19, 2022, the historic and world-famous Phagun Madai Fair of Dantewada, South Bastar, was duly concluded after 10 days of various religious events.

Key Points

• The ten-day Phagun Madai fair was started on 9th March with the installation of Kalash at Mendhka Dobra Maidan situated at the entrance of Maa Danteshwari.
• In this fair, along with the worship of nine forms of Goddess Durga, the palanquin of the mother is taken out for nine days. The rituals performed in the Phagun fair are seen only in Dantewada.
• More than 700 village deities participate in this fair. In this, all the deities of Bastar division and Navrangpur district of Odisha are invited and made participants.
• In Dantewada, the Phagun fair is organized under the umbrella of the famous historical and archaeological ancient Shakti Peeth of Goddess Danteshwari Devi, who resides at the confluence of Shankani-Dankani rivers.
• The famous Phagun Madai of Dantewada is organized every year from Phagun Shukla Shashti (sixth day) to Poornima (The full moon day). It is believed that during this time Maa Danteshwari celebrates Holi festival with all her deities.
• The entire organization and arrangement of Phagun Madai is done by the Temple State Committee, Dantewada. This committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Collector Dantewada, consists of temple priests, manjhi and local public representatives.