• 28 Feb 2024

Jharkhand Government Tables Budget for FY’25

Why in News?

Recently, the Jharkhand Government tabled a ₹1.28 lakh crore budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year in the Assembly.

Key Points

• The budgetary estimates for FY’25 were up by over 10% from the FY’24 annual financial statement.
  • The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led coalition government had presented a budget of ₹1.16 lakh crore for the current financial year 2023-24.
• This was the first Budget of the newly formed Champai Soren Government.
• The Budget will meet the aspirations of every section of the society, including poor people, farmers, tribals and women, and will bolster the overall development of the State.

President on Four-Day Visit to Jharkhand and Odisha

Why in News?

President Droupadi Murmu is on a four-day visit to Jharkhand and Odisha.

Key Points

• The President will grace the third convocation of Central University of Jharkhand in Ranchi and 25th convocation of Berhampur University in Bhanja Bihar.
• She will be laying the foundation stone for:
  • the Central Government Holiday Home at Rairangpur, Odisha.
  • various road projects and a sports complex at Rairangpur.
• She will interact with the members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups of Kadalibadi village at Gonasika, Keonjhar.
• She will inaugurate:
  • Eklavya Model Residential School in Barsahi.
  • A national seminar on ‘Tribes of Keonjhar: people, culture and heritage’ and address the students of Dharanidhar University at its North Campus.
• She will grace the golden jubilee celebration of Brahma Kumaris, Odisha and witness a presentation of PM JANMAN by the Government of Odisha at Raj Bhavan, Bhubaneswar.
• She will visit various places related to Santha Kabi Bhima Bhoi in Sambalpur district of Odisha and also meet the followers of Mahima Cult at Mini Stadium, Sambalpur.

Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)

• A PVTG is a sub-classification of a Scheduled Tribe or section of a Scheduled Tribe that is considered more vulnerable than a regular Scheduled Tribe. The Indian Government created the PVTG list to improve their living.
  • There are 75 PVTGs in India, the maximum 13 are in Odisha, followed by 12 in Andhra Pradesh.
• Article 342(1): The President with respect to any State/UT (after consultation with the Governor in case of state) may specify the tribes/tribal communities/part of or groups within tribes/ tribal communities as a Scheduled Tribe in that State/UT.
  • Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of STs specified in a notification issued under article 342(1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community, but save as aforesaid a notification issued under the said clause shall not be varied by any subsequent notification.

Pradhan Mantri-Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) Scheme

• PM JANMAN is a government scheme that aims to bring tribal communities into the mainstream.
• The scheme (comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) will be implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with the State governments and the PVTG communities.
• The scheme will concentrate on 11 critical interventions overseen by 9 line Ministries, ensuring the implementation of existing schemes in villages inhabited by PVTGs.
  • It encompasses various sectors, including safe housing under the PM-AWAS Scheme, access to clean drinking water, improved healthcare, education, nutrition, road and telecommunications connectivity, as well as opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
• The plan also includes the establishment of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras for trading in forest produce, off-grid solar power systems for 1 lakh households, and solar street lights.
• The scheme is expected to enhance the quality of life and well-being of the PVTGs, by addressing their multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and exclusion, and by recognizing and valuing their unique and valuable contribution to national and global development.

Santha Kavi Bhima Bhoi

• Bhima Bhoi was a 19^th-century saint, poet and social reformer from the state of Odisha.
• He was a follower of Mahima Swami, the founder of Mahima Cult.
• He is known for his spiritual teachings and literary contributions in the form of Odia Bhajans and Chautisa (devotional song).
• Stuti Chintamani is considered the most important poetical work of Bhima Bhoi.
  • Other important works include Brahma Nirupana Gita, Astaka Bihari Gita, Chautisa Madhu Chakra, and Bhajanamala. Two collections, Atha Bhajan and Bangala Atha Bhajan are written in the Bengali language.

Uttarakhand Unveils Rs 89,000 Crore Budget

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand government unveiled its budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the Assembly.

• Uttarakhand’s economic growth rate stood at 7.63% in 2022-23, surpassing the national average.

Key Points

• Allocating Rs 89,000 crore for a range of initiatives with significant emphasis on addressing poverty, disaster management, infrastructure development, and improving air connectivity.
• The budget emphasised a dedication to the “four pillars” of a developed India– welfare of the poor, youth empowerment, agricultural initiatives, and women’s empowerment.
• Provisions made for each pillar are:
  • Rs 5,658 crore has been earmarked for the welfare of the poor, encompassing housing initiatives, food grain distribution, and free gas refill schemes.
  • The budget allocates Rs 1,679 crore towards youth welfare, technical and higher education, and organising national games.
    • Provisions have also been made for schemes promoting the merit of minority girls and fostering employment opportunities.
  • Rs 2,415 crore has been allocated for various farmer-centric schemes, including cooperative initiatives, apple cultivation, farmer pensions, and fisheries development.
  • The budget sets aside approximately Rs 14,538 crore for gender-specific initiatives.
    • These encompass schemes aimed at maternal and child welfare, and enhancing women’s economic participation.

Legal Victory for Gender Equality

Why in News?

The Uttarakhand High Court (HC) ruled that women cannot be refused employment based on pregnancy. It overturned a regulation prohibiting pregnant women from being eligible for government positions.

Key Points

• This landmark ruling was inspired by the case of Misha Upadhyay, who was denied a nursing officer position due to her pregnancy.
• The High Court invalidated the state government's regulation labeling women pregnant for 12 weeks or more as "temporarily unfit" for employment.
  • It also mandated a medical examination by a registered practitioner six weeks post-delivery, along with a fitness certificate requirement.
• The court deemed the state's action "highly discriminatory against women" and emphasized on the violation of Articles 14, 16, and 21 of the Constitution.
  • Article 14 stipulates that within India's territory, the State cannot deprive any individual of equality before the law or equal protection under the laws based on religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
  • Article 16 forbids discrimination in employment within any government office.
  • Article 21 stipulates that no individual shall be deprived of their life or personal liberty except in accordance with procedures established by law.
• It underscores the importance of fostering workplaces that respect and accommodate women's reproductive choices, aligning with broader global efforts towards gender equality, including the Sustainable Development Goal 5.

Haryana Government Withdraws Bill on Disposal of Bodies

Why in News?

Recently, the Haryana government withdrew the Haryana Honourable Disposal of Dead Body Bill, 2024, after objections from opposition parties.

Key Points

• As per the Bill, the officer incharge of a police station had the power to take possession of the body if he or she had reason to believe from “personal knowledge or otherwise” that the body could be used by a family member or a group of persons for remonstration.
• The issue raised was that no remedy was available in the Bill to the affected party after the Executive Magistrate passed an order on the cremation of a body by an urban local body or gram panchayat if the family refused to conduct the same.
• The Bill did not have any appeal provision to the Executive Magistrate’s order.
• Earlier, the bill aimed to ensure decent and timely last rites of the dead.
• In consideration of the respect and dignity owed to a dead person, nobody should be allowed to raise any demand or bait for pursuing any demands by way of any protest or agitation by not performing the timely last rites of a dead body.
• It is essential to prevent any individual from using a body as a means of protest or demonstration in any form.
  • The proposed legislation also emphasizes the responsibility of public authorities in cases where family members disown a body, leading to denial of proper last rites.
• It is pertinent to note that the entitlement to dignity and fair treatment, in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution of India, extends beyond the living to include the body after death.

Article 21

• It declares that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law. This right is available to both citizens and non-citizens.
• The right to life is not merely confined to animal existence or survival but also includes the right to live with human dignity and all those aspects of life which go to make a man’s life meaningful, complete and worth living.

PM to Address ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ Programme

Why in News?

According to the sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ programme on 29th February, 2024 via video conferencing.

Key Points

• During the programme, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 17,500 crore across Madhya Pradesh.
  • The projects cater to a number of important sectors including irrigation, power, road, rail, water supply, coal, industry, among others.
  • The Prime Minister will also launch the Cyber Tehsil project in the state.
• He will lay the foundation stone of irrigation projects worth more than Rs 5500 crore in Madhya Pradesh.
  • These projects include Upper Narmada Project, Raghavpur Multipurpose Project, Basaniya Multipurpose Project.
  • The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation two micro irrigation projects worth more than 800 crore which includes Parasdoh Micro Irrigation project and Aulliya Micro irrigation project.
• He will also dedicate to the nation three railway projects constructed at a cost of more than Rs 2200 crores.
• Multiple industrial projects will be inaugurated which include Mega Leather, Footwear and Accessories Cluster at Sitapur in Morena district; Plug and Play Park for garment Industry in Indore; Industrial Park Mandsour (Jaggakhedi Phase-2); and upgradation of Industrial Park Pithampur in Dhar district.
• Foundation stone will be laid for various projects worth about Rs 880 crore under AMRUT 2.0 and other schemes for augmentation and strengthening of water Supply systems in several districts across the state.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0)

• It is the continuation of the AMRUT mission launched in June 2015 to ensure that every household has access to a tap with the assured supply of water and a sewerage connection.
• AMRUT 2.0 aims to provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in around 4,700 ULBs (Urban Local Bodies).
• It also seeks to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat through encouraging Startups and Entrepreneurs (Public Private Partnership).