• 24 Dec 2021

Foundation Stone of Amul Project in Varanasi

Why in News

• On December 23, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Amul's Banas-Kashi Sankul project costing Rs 475 crore in Varanasi.

Key Points

• To ensure the quality and safety of dairy products, the Prime Minister also launched a certification mark, Dairy Mark, and digitally transferred a bonus amount of Rs 35 crore to the accounts of 1,70,000 farmers associated with Banas Dairy.
• A documentary based on the White Revolution was also presented on the occasion, in which the project and the concept of the ongoing state have been drawn.
• Under the Swamitva scheme, the Prime Minister distributed houses to 6 new landowners of the state with his own tax-lotus and distributed the house to 20 lakh families of the state.
• The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 27 projects worth a total of 2095 crores on the occasion. He also inaugurated the country's largest cow dung biogas plant at Ramnagar.
• It is to be known that India produces about 22 percent of the world's milk. Uttar Pradesh is the largest milk producing state in the country.

Social Reform Campaign

Why in News

• On 22 December 2021, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar started the social reform campaign in Bihar by lighting the lamp at Gandhi Maidan in Motihari.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that along with development, social reform is also necessary. Liquor prohibition has been implemented in the state for this purpose.
• A human chain was formed on January 21, 2017 under the prohibition campaign, in which more than 40 million people took part.
• It may be noted that from April 5, 2016, complete prohibition has been implemented in Bihar. Earlier on April 1, 2016, country and foreign liquor was banned only in rural areas.
• On this occasion, the Chief Minister called upon the people to come out from the evils like child marriage, dowry system.
• On this occasion, under the Mukhyamantri Jeevika Parjan Yojana, an amount of Rs 4.5 crore was given to the Jeevika Didis in the form of dummy cheques by the Chief Minister. In addition, dummy cheques of Rs 95 crore 50 lakh given by banks to 7252 self-help groups were also given by the Chief Minister.

Release of Book 'Revolution of 1857 aur Neemuch'

Why in News

• On December 23, 2021, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan released the book '1857 Ki Kranti Aur Neemuch' written by Dr. Surendra Shaktawat in the Chief Minister's room located in the Vidhan Sabha.

Key Points

• The author of the book, Dr. Surendra Shaktawat, is the convener of the Itihas Sankalp Samiti, Neemuch and a member of the Neemuch District Archeological Association. Shaktawat Balkavi is the principal of Bairagi College, Kanavati.
• Dr. Shaktawat has written books like Village Gatha Pipliya Raoji, freedom fighters of Neemuch district in the eyes of history, Lok Natya Manch of Malwa and other genres, painting of Malwa etc.
• In the present book, the fire of Bhumiya Khedi, a symbol of the cruelty of the British, the murder of innocent Patel Tarachand of Nimbahera and the hanging of Tatya, the author has proved that Neemuch's revolution is not only a military rebellion, but a self-evident pole of English justice. There was a mass revolution, in which the participation of the local population was also there.
• According to Dr. Vikas Dave, director of Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Akademi, the book written by Dr. Surendra Shaktawat is an important document of regional history. The revolutionaries of Neemuch played a special role in the first freedom struggle of 1857.
• The first revolution in Madhya Pradesh was initiated by Mohammad Ali Beg on June 3, 1857 from the red soil of Neemuch. Krantiveer Alibeg reached Agra via Chittoor, Banera, Nasirabad, Deoli with a victory flag from Neemuch, where he conquered the British.

Free Online Doctor Service 'Saath' Launched in Haryana

Why in News

• Recently, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar through a webinar launched the free online doctor service 'Saath' of an NGO named 'Seva International' in Haryana. Through this service, any person in the state can call the mobile number 079690700500 and get free consultation from doctors related to the disease.

Key Points

• On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Haryana Government had provided online doctors consultation to the patients during Covid-19. Not only this, even after Covid, help was given to the patients.
• He said that due to the efforts of the State Government, medical equipment worth Rs 150 crore was made available to the needy from abroad as well. Along with this, the state government employees also gave a voluntary contribution of about Rs 300 crore.
• The Chief Minister informed that the State Government has constituted CSR Trust in the State so that the funds coming under CSR can be properly utilized.
• It is worth noting that the work of social service is being done by 'Seva International' in 26 countries of the world. The said free online doctor service 'Saath' is being run in four states in India.

Global Peter Drucker Challenge

Why in News

• Recently the students of business school "XLRI" Jamshedpur have won the "Global Peter Drucker Challenge" award.

Key Points

• Significantly, the Drucker Forum in Vienna invited students, managers and entrepreneurs from around the world to share insights that will enable the global workforce to tackle the dynamic challenges of today's VUCA world.
• A total of 49 countries took part in this competition. The total three winners in the student category were Dr. Nadeem Ahmed and Prabhat Kuzhikkat, two students of XLRI.
• Prabhat said, “XLRI emphasizes sustainability, ethics and human empathy”, which helped it connect with the plenaries participating in the Drucker Forum.
• Healthcare Technology Consultant Dr Nadeem Ahmed has established a cross-functional pro-bono initiative named 'Corona Consult' with an aim to empower startups striving to overcome health barriers.
• The XLRI Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, India's oldest B-School, was established in 1949 by some visionary Jesuit fathers to bring about a change in the economy and society at large.

Selection of Gariaband District Under Prime Minister's Micro Food Upgradation Scheme

Why in News

• Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh has been selected under the Prime Minister's Micro Food Upgradation Scheme (PMFME) of the Government of India. The district has been selected considering the production, collection and quality of minor forest produce.

Key Points

• In the workshop organized in this regard, Divisional Forest Officer Mayank Agarwal said that 26,000 quintals of minor forest produce had been collected in the district last year. The collectors have got a profit of Rs 15 crore due to this.
• He said that after collection, a system of processing has been made in Van Dhan Kendras. It is being sold through Sanjeevani Kendras in the district. About 3 thousand quintals of chironji have been collected this year.
• Collector Nilesh Kshirsagar said in the workshop that lac, chironji, sarai seeds are produced in abundance in the district. The Sarai seeds here are in great demand in foreign countries. Preparations are being made to open a mini food park and processing center in the district.
• Zilla Panchayat CEO Sandeep Agrawal informed that 8 thousand 500 groups have been formed in the district under Bihan, which are earning income through different activities. He informed that 241 women members have been selected under this scheme, for which Rs 60 lakh will be released by the Industries Department.
• Under this scheme, the individual investor will get a maximum capital grant of Rs 10 lakh at the rate of 35 percent of the project cost. A maximum capital of Rs 40,000 will be provided to the members of the Self Help Groups. Apart from this, capital grant at the rate of 35 percent will be given to the Farmer Producer Organization.

Kanda Festival

Why in News

• On December 23, 2021, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the 'Kanda Mahotsav' organized at Kanda in Bageshwar district by lighting the lamp and offering prayers.

Key Points

• In the Kanda Mahotsav, the Chief Minister announced Rs. 2 lakh to the Mela Committee and Rs. 25 lakh for the community building in Kanda. Apart from this, it was also announced to sanction funds for Sanction ANM Center in Sasola and to arrange ultrasound and dialysis to improve health facilities at Government Community Health Center Kanda.
• Thereafter, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 89 schemes costing Rs 27,331.13 lakh for the Kapkot and Bageshwar areas of the Assembly, in a program organized at Kedareshwar Maidan of Kapkot, Bageshwar.
• 33 schemes costing Rs 6843.03 lakh were inaugurated and foundation stone of 36 schemes worth Rs 15632.94 lakh was laid. Apart from this, 4 schemes worth Rs 531.40 lakh were inaugurated and the foundation stone of 16 schemes worth Rs 4323.76 lakh was laid.
• After this, the Chief Minister inaugurated a 500 MPL capacity oxygen generation plant at Community Health Center Kapkot and laid the foundation stone of a 20 bed hospital building and meeting hall.
• The Chief Minister said on the occasion that a young state like Uttarakhand would be India's number one state in the coming times in all fields like education, health, tourism, business, industry.
• He said that there is immense potential for tourism in the district, for which work is being done. The Kapkot region has immense potential for herbs, so this area will be developed as a herbal center. Estimates for the construction of the building of the Polytechnic and the CSD canteen in Kapkot will be done.