• 28 Feb 2023

7 National Highway Projects Inaugurated in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh

Why In News?

On February 27, 2023, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated 7 National Highway projects with an investment of Rs 6500 crore at Chitbada village in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.

Key points

• On this occasion, Nitin Gadkari also announced a new link road between Ballia-Ara through 28 kilometer greenfield spur road at a cost of Rs 1500 crore.
• The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said that with the construction of Ballia Link Expressway, now using the Purvanchal Expressway, Patna can be reached from Lucknow in just four and a half hours. Ballia to Buxar can be reached in half an hour, Ballia to Chhapra in one hour and Ballia to Patna in one and half hour.
• He said that with the construction of greenfield highway, eastern Uttar Pradesh will get better connectivity from Chhapra, Patna, Buxar in Bihar.
• With this expressway, the vegetables of the farmers of Ballia will be able to reach the mandis of Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna easily. Vegetable producing farmers will get direct benefit of three multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Ghazipur and Haldia.
• The Union Minister said that a greenfield road will be built from Chandauli to Mohania at a cost of Rs 130 crore. This road connects Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh and Kaimur district of Bihar to the Delhi-Kolkata GT Road. Will connect with road.
• Similarly, a road will be built from Saidpur to Mardah, through which there will be a direct connection from Mau to Varanasi via Saidpur.
• The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said that better connectivity with other cities of the state will improve the economic and social condition of the state. Also, backward areas of Azamgarh district will also get new connectivity.

Prayag Hindi Sahitya Sammelan will be held in Bihar in 2024

Why In News?

In the 74th National Convention of the conference held at Sevagram, Wardha on February 25-26, it was decided that Prayag Hindi Sahitya Sammelan will be organized in Bihar in 2024.

Key points

• Amrit Mahotsav (75th) National Convention of Prayag Hindi Sahitya Sammelan will be held in March 2024 in Bihar.
• The meeting was presided over by Bihar Hindi Sahitya Sammelan chairman Dr. Anil Sulabh had made the request.
• It may be noted that the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan was established in 1910 under the auspices of the Nagari Pracharini Sabha. Its headquarters is in Prayagraj, which has a printing press, library, museum and administrative buildings.

MoU Signed Between WRI and APCO for Climate Change and Forest Conservation

Why In News?

In a workshop on climate change organized on February 27, 2023, an MoU was signed between EPCO of Environment Department and International Research Institute WRI India for technical cooperation on work related to climate change and conservation of forests in the state.

Key points

• The main objective of the workshop was to present and deliberate on the main points of the Climate Change Conference COP-27 held in Egypt in November 2022.
• Executive Director APCO Mujibur Rahman Khan said that the MoU will focus on the work related to climate change and conservation of forests in Madhya Pradesh in the next 5 years. Useful and meaningful efforts will be made in these years, as a result of which we will take mutually concrete steps towards sustainable and green development.
• APCO will continue to provide all institutional and technical support to WRI India and related departments at the state and district levels.
• State Climate Change Center coordinator Lokendra Thakkar said that APCO M.P. It is a specialized organization of the government, which is committed to providing advice to the state government on issues related to the environment, research studies, planning work and training and capacity development.
• Highlighting the topic of Loss & Damage related to climate change, the chief speaker of the program, Harjit Singh, head of CAN International, said that Madhya Pradesh is ready to respond to the effects of climate change, which is posing a big challenge in the agriculture, water resources, tourism, and energy sectors. It is an extremely sensitive state. Technical and financial resources, along with appropriate policies, are needed to enhance local-level solutions, build resilience, and enhance human capacity by eliminating losses and damages.
• Ulka Kelkar, Director, Climate Program, WRI India, said that Madhya Pradesh is an especially important state in terms of climate action in India. It is one of the top 10 states in India in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
• The state is implementing measures such as protecting wetlands, reviving traditional water-harvesting structures, and promoting indigenous cattle breeds. There is also a lot of potential for communities to be a part of low carbon emissions in big and small cities of the state.

Eight Daughters of the State will Show their Strength in the Women's World Boxing Championship

Why In News?

On February 27, 2023, The Boxing Federation of India announced the Indian team for the Women's World Boxing Championships to be held in New Delhi, which includes 8 boxers from Haryana.

Key points

• The Women's World Boxing Championships will be held 15 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Sports Complex, New Delhi from March to 26.
• The Boxing Federation of India has selected a total of 12 women boxers in the Indian team for the championship, in which eight are from Haryana. Five of the eight boxers are from Bhiwani district, which has happened for the first time in its history.
• More than 350 boxers from more than 74 countries will participate in this biennial global competition, while 310 boxers from 73 countries participated in the previous event.
• It is noteworthy that so far 10 countries have announced boycott of the Women's World Boxing Championships 2023 to be held in New Delhi from March 15 to 26 due to the presence of boxers from Russia and Belarus. This includes USA, UK, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Ukraine.
• It is noteworthy that India will be hosting the Women's World Boxing Championship for the third time. Earlier in the year 2006 the championship was held at Tal Katora Stadium Delhi and in 2018 at IG Stadium New Delhi.
• The total prize money in the Women's World Boxing Championship is Rs 20 crore. In the championship, there is 9.95 crores for the gold medal, 4.96 crores for the silver medal and 4.96 crores for the bronze medal.
• India's national team for Women's World Boxing Championships:
  • Neetu Ghanghas (48kg), Bhiwani.
  • Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Telangana.
  • Sakshi Dhanda (52kg), Bhiwani.
  • Preeti Panwar (54kg), Bhiwani.
  • Manisha Maun (57kg), Kaithal.
  • Jasmine Lamboria (60kg), Bhiwani.
  • Shashi Chopra (63kg), Hisar.
  • Manju Bomboriya (66kg), Madhya Pradesh.
  • Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), Manipur.
  • Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Assam.
  • Sweety Bura (81kg) Hisar.
  • Nupur Sheoran (More than 81kg), Bhiwani.

21st All India Inter Agricultural University Sports Competition

Why In News?

According to the information provided by the Public Relations Department of Chhattisgarh on February 27, 2023, the players of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University have achieved the sixth position in the 21st All India Inter Agricultural University Sports Competition organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Hisar (Haryana).

Key points

• In this competition, the players of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal under various events.
• Representing Indira Gandhi Agricultural University in this competition, Vijay Kumar, a student of MSc Agronomy from Agriculture College, Raipur, won the gold medal in the long jump event and Sameer Camaron, a student of the Department of MSc Agricultural Meteorology, won the gold medal in the javelin throw event.
• Similarly, Nilavati Nag, a student at Agriculture College, Bemetara, won a silver medal in the long jump women's event and Rajesh Kumar Sori, a student at Agriculture College, Rajnandgaon, won a bronze medal in the 1500-meter race.
• It may be recalled that the (Haryana) this year in Hisar 20 to 24 by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute from February 21st All India Inter-Agricultural University Sports Competition was organized, in which teams from 66 agricultural universities from all over the country participated.

Mahila Madai

Why In News?

On February 27, 2023, on the occasion of International Women's Day, Chhattisgarh's Women and Child Development Minister Anila Bhendia inaugurated a 6-day Mahila Madai at BTI Ground in Shankar Nagar, capital Raipur.

Key points

• Minister Anila Bhendia also honored 100 sanitation sisters of the Municipal Corporation by giving them caps and T-shirts on the occasion.
• The Mahila Madai organized by the Women and Child Development Department at BTI Ground will continue till March 4. There is an exhibition of 66 stalls of self-made materials by women self-help groups and women entrepreneurs from 33 districts of the state.
• Women and Child Development Minister Anila Bhendia said that this madai will give a clear glimpse of the empowering steps and self-reliant life of the women of Chhattisgarh. With this, women's groups and entrepreneurs will get a platform and new identity.

Country's First Government Mother Milk Bank will be Made for Orphan Children in the State

Why In News?

On February 27, 2023, Uttarakhand Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat announced the creation of the country's first government mother milk bank for Orphan children in the state at Amar Ujala's Emerging Leaders of Garhwal program.

Key points

• The health minister said that under the scheme, lactating women will be able to donate milk in this bank. Initially, such a bank will be created in the state. He said that this will be the first and separate milk bank of its kind in the country.
• Through this milk bank, milk will be made available to those new-borns whose mother dies during delivery.
• Dr. Rawat said that to reduce infant mortality rate in the state, the government is focusing on institutional delivery of pregnant women. Due to the efforts of the government, where Uttarakhand was ranked 32nd in the country in infant mortality rate, it has come down to 26th position today. Efforts are on to reduce it further.
• The government has decided for free transportation of pregnant women to hospitals. Eja Boi Shagun scheme is also being run, under which Rs 2,000 is given to pregnant women. Rs 1500 is being given to the mothers for food and Rs 500 for the naming ceremony of the child.
• He said that another plan is being prepared by the government to reduce infant mortality rate. Under this, pregnant women will be kept in home stay 15 days in advance. For this, arrangements will be made in hotels, hospitals etc.