Chhattisgarh

• 24 Feb 2023

Dr. Mamta Chandrakar honored with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Why In News?

On February 23, 2023, at a function held in New Delhi, President Draupadi Murmu, renowned folk singer of Chhattisgarh, honored with Padma Shri and Dr. Mokshada (Mamta) Chandrakar, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, honored with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Key points

• President Draupadi Murmu presented Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 in New Delhi.
• It is known that the General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi, in its meeting held in New Delhi on 6-8 November 2022, has unanimously nominated ten (10) eminent personalities in the field of performing arts as Academy Awards. Elected as Fellow.
• Fellowship of the Academy is a most prestigious and rare honour, limited to 40 at any given time. With the selection of these ten (10) Fellows, the Sangeet Natak Akademi now has 39 Fellows.
• The General Council has recommended Academy Awards for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 for overall contribution/scholarship in music, dance, theatre, traditional/folk/tribal music/dance/theatre, puppetry and performing arts for musical drama. One hundred and twenty-eight (128) artists were selected. These one hundred and twenty-eight (128) artists include three joint awards.
• Mamta Chandrakar Khairagarh, who has performed her art in the country and abroad, has been awarded the 2019 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Mamta Chandrakar has been awarded the honorary degree of D.Litt by Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya. She was decorated with the Padma Shri in the field of arts by the Government of India in 2016 and the Chhattisgarh Ratna in 2013.
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi is India's national academy for music, dance and drama. In 1952, by a resolution of the (then) Ministry of Education, Government of India, Dr. P.V. Rajamannar was appointed as its first chairman.
• It is currently an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and is fully funded by the Government for the implementation of its schemes and programmes.
• The Academy establishes institutions and projects of national importance in the field of performing arts. Some important institutions are:
• National School of Drama, New Delhi in 1959.
• Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal- 1954.
• Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance), New Delhi- 1964.
• National projects in support of Kutiyathem (Sanskrit theater of Kerala), Chhau dance of Eastern India, Sattriya tradition of Assam etc.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna):
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship is the highest honor conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi without distinction of nationality, race, caste, religion, creed or gender.
  • Fellowship of the Academy is the most prestigious and rarest honour, which can be awarded to a maximum of 40 people at a time.
  • The honor of Akademi Fellow carries a cash award of Rs.3,00,000/- along with a copper plate and angavastram.
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Academy Awards):
  • Awards are given to artists in the field of music, dance, theatre, traditional/folk/tribal music/dance/theatre, puppetry and performing arts etc. for overall contribution/scholarship.
  • The Akademi Award consists of a Tamrapatra and Angavastram along with a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000/-.

Biswabhusan Harichandan takes Oath as the Governor of Chhattisgarh

Why In News?

On February 23, 2023, Biswabhusan Harichandan took oath of office as the ninth Governor of Chhattisgarh at a ceremony held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan. He was administered the oath by Justice Arup Kumar Goswami, Chief Justice of the High Court, Bilaspur.

Key points

• Biswabhushan Harichandan has served as the governor of the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh before being appointed as the governor of Chhattisgarh. He succeeds Anusuiya Uikey, who was recently appointed as the Governor of Manipur.
• Hailing from Odisha, 84-year-old Harichandan has been a five-time MLA and four-time minister from Bhubaneswar and Chilka assembly constituencies of Odisha. He started his political journey in 1971 with Jansangh. After this, he remained the Andhra General Secretary of the Jana Sangh till the Janata Party was formed in 1977.
• Harichandan was also a national executive member of the Jana Sangh. He was also the state president of BJP from 1980 to 1988. He was also the leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the Odisha Legislative Assembly for 13 years between 1996 and 2009. He also served as a cabinet minister in the BJP and BJD governments of Andhra Pradesh in 2004.

State's Second Millet Cafe Started in Korba

Why In News?

On February 23, 2023, Korba District Collector Sanjeev Jha and Mayor Raj Kishore Prasad inaugurated the district's first and state's second millet cafe in front of Smriti Udyan in Niharika, Korba city in the presence of public representatives and citizens.

Key points

• On this occasion, Mayor Rajkishore Prasad said that the year 2023 is being celebrated as International Millets Year all over the world. In this episode, the first millets cafe of the district has also started in Korba. In this cafe, people will be able to relish the health-rich dishes of millets.
• Collector Sanjeev Jha said that as per the intention of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the first Millets Cafe has been inaugurated in Korba district. This cafe is the second millet cafe in the state after Raigad district.
• In this millet's cafe, traditional dishes of Chhattisgarh along with kodo, kutki, ragi and other small grain crops like idli, dosa, poha, upma, bhajiya kheer, halwa, cookies, mold will be available to the people.
• Korba's first Millets Cafe has been started with the initiative and cooperation of the district administration. It will be run by Nav Jagriti Mahila Self Help Group. This will promote women self-employment and entrepreneurship. This will also benefit the farmers.
• It is noteworthy that the year 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets to promote the production of millets and to create public awareness about the nutrients obtained from them. Kodo, Kutki and Ragi are mainly cultivated under millets. Due to the encouragement being given to its production, the enthusiasm of the farmers has also increased.

State's First Ethanol Plant is taking Shape at Kokodi in Kondagaon

Why In News?

According to the information given by the Chhattisgarh Public Relations Department on February 23, 2023, the state's first ethanol plant based on maize processing at Kokodi in Kondagaon district is now taking concrete shape. The maize processing plant has been targeted to be completed by June 2023.

Key points

• According to the information, this first plant is being set up in the field of cooperatives in Kondagaon district with the help of the state government at a cost of Rs 140 crore. Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh state has the highest production of maize.
• This plant will prove beneficial not only in Kondagaon but also for the farmers of Chhattisgarh. The maize processing plant being built on 14 acres of government land in village Kokodi will be operated by Maa Danteshwari Maize Processing and Marketing Cooperative Society.
• The plant will process 200 metric tons of maize per day, which will produce 80 thousand liters of ethanol. With the installation of this plant, a new environment will be created for private investors to set up other ancillary industries.
• Ethanol produced at the plant will be sold to Indian Oil Corporation, which will be sold mixed with petrol. This will also save foreign exchange as well as farmers will get a fair price for maize.
• The maize processing plant will open the door to economic prosperity of the maize producing farmers of the district. This will directly benefit more than 45 thousand farmers. Along with this, maize of maize producing farmers of other nearby districts will be processed. More than 200 people of the area will get direct employment in the maize processing plant.
• Maize production in Kondagaon district has received a major boost in both kharif and rabi seasons in the last three-four years. Encouraged by the establishment of the plant, farmers are increasing the area of maize year after year. At present, 3 lakh 48 thousand 127 metric tonnes of maize are produced every year in Kondagaon district.
• The processing plant for ethanol production from maize was found to be fizzy by the State Project Finance Committee. Farmers of about Rs 140 crore in the construction of this plant being built at a cost have contributed a share capital of Rs 7.06 crore. Similarly, Rs 21.19 crore has been given by the Mandi Board, Rs by the state government 35.32 crore from the cooperative society's own fund and Rs 2.10 crore. The remaining Rs 75 crore has been raised through bank loans.
• In Kondagaon district, 47 procurement centres have been set up for procurement of maize at support price. Maize is produced on a large scale in Kondagaon Makdi, Farasgaon, Baderajpur development block of the district. The work of maize procurement is being done by Chhattisgarh Civil Supplies Corporation.
• Maize producing farmers are also being given input subsidy at the rate of Rs 9000 per acre by the state government under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana.
• One lakh 24 thousand 188 tonnes of maize are produced in Kharif season and 2 lakh 23 thousand 929 tonnes in Rabi season in Kondagaon district. About 65 thousand farmers of the district are associated with maize production.
• It is worth mentioning that in the industry policy of Chhattisgarh government, establishment of agriculture and forest produce based industries has been kept in special priority category.

Two Hospitals of Chhattisgarh got NQAS Certificate under 'Muskan' Program

Why In News?

On February 23, 2023, the National Quality Assurance Standard (NQAS) by the Union Ministry of Health to Durg District Hospital and Patan Community Health Center for providing excellent health care and better treatment to children and new-borns under the 'Smile' program. Certificate has been provided.

Key points

• The Union Health Ministry team had inspected the District Hospital Durg in December last year and the Community Health Center Patan in January this year and examined the quality of services available for children and new-borns in these two hospitals. The team had also taken feedback from those undergoing treatment there in this regard.
• District Hospital Durg scored 97 per cent and Community Health Centre Patan scored 84 percent in the evaluation of the Union Health Ministry team.
• The team conducted tests of paediatric OPD, paediatric ward, SNCU and NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre) at Durg District Hospital. At the same time, he inspected the paediatric OPD and NBSU (Newborn Stabilization Unit) at Patan Community Health Center and evaluated it.
• It is noteworthy that national quality assurance standard certification of hospitals is done on the basis of 12 standards. Hospital services and satisfaction levels are tested on several parameters by a team of experts before providing national quality assurance standard certificates.
• For this, the organization evaluates the quality of parameters like service delivery, patient satisfaction, clinical services, inputs, infection control, support services, quality management, outputs. Only those hospitals which pass the evaluation are issued a quality certificate by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

CREDA Signed MoU with International Organization NRDC.

Why In News?

On February 23, 2023, the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA) signed an agreement (MoU) between the Global Head of US-based NRDC and Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) in Delhi.

Key points

• CREDA has entered into an MoU with ASCI to share technology related to energy efficiency and cool roof in the buildings constructed in the state and to build efficiency in this field of the concerned departments, institutes, technical persons, real estate companies etc. of the state.
• Chief Executive Officer Alok Katiyar has signed the agreement on behalf of the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA). Under this, technical assistance and advice will be given to improve and increase the speed of energy efficiency in the buildings of Chhattisgarh, for which no funds will have to be provided.
• For this purpose, activities like workshop, seminar, training, visit of subject experts, etc. will be organized by NRDC. NRDC will work to implement Energy Efficiency Building Code (ECBC) and Cool Roof Program in Chhattisgarh and provide technical facilities and demonstrations.
• Energy efficient commercial buildings will be constructed in the state under Chhattisgarh ECBC (CGECBC). For this purpose, for the design and construction of energy efficient buildings complying with the CGECBC code and the approval process for building construction, as well as third party verification of the compliance of the Chhattisgarh ECBC during construction and after construction. By imparting training to assessor units, this capacity can be created in the state itself.
• Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) located in Hyderabad, which has done a great job of capacity building in the field of energy efficient buildings in Telangana and other states of the country. With their cooperation, this capacity building will be possible in Chhattisgarh as well. With this, the technical staff available in the state itself can be trained. In the coming time, this will create new possibilities of employment in the state.
• The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a United States-based non-profit international environmental advocacy group headquartered in New York. The organization, founded in 1970, has more than three million members, including nationwide online activities and nearly 700 lawyers, scientists and other policy experts.
• NRDC is an international organization engaged in the field of climate change on the issues of environment, natural resources and energy conservation.