• 27 Sep 2024

Heavy Rain Alert in Uttar Pradesh

Why in News?

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an important weather warning for Uttar Pradesh, placing various districts under Yellow and Orange alerts.

• This alert is primarily due to a low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal, which has intensified into a cyclonic circulation currently affecting Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

• Districts Under Heavy Rain Alert: A total of 24 districts are under a heavy rain alert. These include: Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Ayodhya, Ambedkar Nagar, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur,
  • In these districts, the IMD has issued a yellow alert, indicating the possibility of heavy rainfall.
• Districts Under Very Heavy Rain Alert: Eight districts are under an orange alert for very heavy rainfall. These districts are Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Shravasti.
  • Residents in these areas should be prepared for extremely heavy rainfall and potential disruptions.

Colour- Coded Weather Warning

• It is issued by the IMD whose objective is to alert people ahead of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause damage, widespread disruption or danger to life.
• The IMD uses 4 color codes are:
  • Green (All is well): No advisory is issued.
  • Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.
  • Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.
  • Red (Take Action): When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.
• These alerts are universal in nature and are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall.
  • For instance, when the water in a river is ‘above normal’ level, or between the ‘warning’ and ‘danger’ levels, a yellow alert is issued.

Jharkhand Government Waives Farm Loans

Why in News?

Recently, the Jharkhand government has announced the waiver of agricultural loans worth Rs. 400.66 crore.

• This decision, which benefits 1,76,977 farmers, was implemented through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on September 26, 2024.

Key Points

• Addressing Farmers’ Challenges:
  • The loan waiver aims to alleviate these burdens by canceling debts up to Rs. 2 lakh per farmer.
  • The waiver is a response to the significant difficulties experienced by farmers in Jharkhand, where 80% of the population relies on agriculture for their livelihood.
• Promoting Self-Reliance and Alternative Farming:
  • Government urged farmers to adopt alternative farming techniques alongside traditional methods to cope with the changing climate.
  • The government of Jharkhand stressed the importance of self-reliance for the state’s development, despite Jharkhand’s rich mineral and forest resources.

Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme

• Aim: It has been visioned as an aid for simpler/faster flow of information and funds to the beneficiaries and to reduce the fraud in the delivery system.
• Implementation: It is a mission or an initiative by the government of India started on 1^st January 2013 as a way to reform the government delivery system.
  • Central Plan Scheme Monitoring System (CPSMS), the earlier version of the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), of the Office of Controller General of Accounts, was chosen to act as the common platform for routing of the Direct Benefit Transfer.
• Components of DBT: Primary components in the implementation of DBT schemes include Beneficiary Account Validation System, a robust payment and reconciliation platform integrated with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Public & Private Sector Banks, Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks (core banking solutions of banks, settlement systems of RBI, Aadhaar Payment Bridge of NPCI) etc.

Madhya Pradesh Hosts 4th Regional Industry Conclave

Why in News?

The fourth edition of the Regional Industry Conclave is taking place today, September 27, 2024, in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh.

• This significant event aims to attract investments and foster equitable growth in the Bundelkhand region.

Key Highlights:

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will engage in sectoral sessions and hold one-on-one discussions with industrialists.
• The conclave will feature various sectoral sessions focusing on petrochemicals, plastics, agriculture, food processing, dairy, MSMEs, startups, and the local cottage industry, particularly the bidi industry. These sessions aim to address industry-specific challenges and opportunities.
• The Chief Minister will virtually inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several new and proposed projects.
  • These include the proposed land allotment for regional offices, the Bhoomi Pujan of the MP Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC), and the inauguration of District Investment Promotion Centres in multiple districts.
• A detailed action plan for the bidi industry will be discussed, along with strategies for marketing and processing local products under the ‘One District-One Product’ initiative.
• This conclave is a pre-event for the “Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investor Summit-2025,” scheduled to be held in Bhopal on 7-8 February, 2025.
  • The summit aims to position Madhya Pradesh as a favorable investment destination.

One District One Product (ODOP)

• ODOP is an initiative to boost economic growth at the district level by promoting and branding one product from each district of the country.
  • The idea is to leverage the local potential, resources, skills, and culture of each district and create a unique identity for them in the domestic and international markets.
• Over 1000 products have been selected from all 761 districts in the country. The initiative covers a wide range of sectors, including textiles, agriculture, processed goods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial items.
• Also, multiple ODOP products were displayed at the World Economic Forum in January 2023 in the Indian Pavilion at Davos in Switzerland.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Home Stay Development Scheme in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

In celebration of World Tourism Day (27^th September 2024), the Uttarakhand Government is taking significant steps to enhance its tourism infrastructure.

Key Points

• The state government has announced plans to increase the number of rooms available under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Home Stay Yojana, a scheme aimed at promoting affordable and authentic lodging options for tourists.
• Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Home Stay Development Scheme:
  • This scheme is designed to attract tourists to both popular and remote tourist destinations, enhance local accommodation facilities, create employment opportunities for local residents, and provide an additional source of income for homeowners.
  • Main Objectives:
    • The primary goal of the scheme is to offer clean and affordable home stay facilities to both national and international tourists.
    • This facility also provides travelers with a unique opportunity to learn about Uttarakhand’s culture and enjoy the state’s delicious cuisine.
  • Subsidies and Support:
    • For Hilly Areas: The government provides a capital subsidy of 33% or Rs.10 lakh, whichever is lower, and an interest subsidy of 50% of the interest or Rs. 1.50 lakh per year, whichever is lower, for the first five years of loan repayment.
    • For Plains Areas: The capital subsidy is 25% or Rs. 7.50 lakh, whichever is lower, and the interest subsidy is 50% of the interest or Rs. 1 lakh per year, whichever is lower, for the first five years of loan repayment.
  • This scheme aims to make Uttarakhand a more attractive destination by enhancing the quality and availability of lodging while supporting the local economy.