• 28 Dec 2022

Gorakhpur Festival will be Organized on Eco-Tourism Theme for the First Time

Why In News?

• On December 27, 2022 Vikas Yadav, DFO, Gorakhpur, said that the Forest Department will for the first time organize Gorakhpur Mahotsav on the theme of eco-tourism to make people understand the importance of forest and environment in the state. The festival will be held from January 11 to 13, 2023.

Key Points

• DFO Vikas Yadav said that under the Jungle Marathon, children and social organizations, ordinary citizens will be paraded in the middle of the forest for five kilometers. During this time people will be given information about the forest and its environment. The marathon will start from Subba Bazar in Deoria bypass and end at Vinod Van.
• He said that through marathons, photo exhibitions, cinemas and stalls, people will be told and explained about the specialty and natural beauty of the forest. In this, information about the action plans of the Forest Department will be given.
• In addition, five different films directed by Mike H. Pandey, world-renowned environmentalist, awarded with the Green Oscar, will be screened. Efforts will be made to explain the specialty of eco-tourism to the people through the film at Gambhir Nath Auditorium.
• An exhibition of bamboo products prepared by the Forest Department and Bamboo Mission will be organized. Eco-tourism photography stalls will also be set up at the venue. It will have pictures of different beautiful natural sites of the city.
• There will be two days programs in the zoo. On one day there will be a nature walk and on the other day there will be a birdwatch program in the zoo wetland. So far, children of five schools have been connected to the programs.
• Eco-tourism means getting closer to and enjoying natural beauty. Under this, tourists are taken to natural areas, so that they can enjoy the beauty of nature. Also, be aware of the protection of the environment.

Gorakhpur's Mundera Bazar Nagar Panchayat Will Now be Known as Chauri Choura

Why In News?

• On December 27, 2022 Gorakhpur SDM Shivam Singh informed that the name of Mundera Bazar Nagar Panchayat of Gorakhpur will soon be changed to Chauri Chaura. Taking a decision on the government's proposal, the Union Home Ministry has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) regarding the name change.

Key Points

• SDM Shivam Singh said that Chauri Chaura's name is indelible in the history of Jang-e-Azadi. During the centenary year of retaliation against the excesses of the British rule in Chauri Chaura, a campaign has been launched to correct the facts related to this historical site.
• He said that the name of tehsil and police station is already Chauri Chaura. Earlier the name of the assembly constituency was Mundera Bazar. Before the 2012 elections, the name of this assembly constituency was also changed to Chauri Chaura. Since the main market is Mundera Bazar, the name of Nagar Panchayat has remained Mundera Bazar till now.
• Significantly, the then DM Vijayendra Pandian had sent a proposal to the government to change the name of Mundera Bazar Nagar Panchayat to Chauri Chaura Nagar Panchayat. On the proposal of the administration, the government had sent a proposal for NOC to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• SDM Shivam Singh said that Mundera Bazar is a market which is situated in Chauri Chaura. Earlier, there were voters only in Mundera Bazar and there were a total of 11 wards. Before the election, Bhopa Bazar, Raghopur, Chaura, Bhagwanpur, Bal Bujurg were also included in the extended area, taking the total number of voters to 26 wards and the total number of voters.

Effective Government Communication Award to Rajasthan DIPR

Why In News?

• On 27 December 2022, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel presented the Effective Government Communication Award by the Government of Rajasthan for bringing public welfare schemes in the field of digital media to the common man and beneficiaries.

Key Points

• Arun Joshi, Additional Director, Information and Public Relations Department of the state received the award at the 44^th annual convention organized by PRSI in Bhopal.
• It is noteworthy that the Information and Public Relations Department has created WhatsApp groups in all 33 districts and has connected about 20 lakh people by creating WhatsApp groups at all Gram Panchayats and ward levels of the state, who are being sent publicity material on mobile phones every day.
• In order to reach out to the public about government schemes, the department has introduced innovations like Information e-Bulletin, Sujas Video Bulletin and Sujas Awaaz (Podcast), through which daily news, interviews of beneficiaries and information about important government decisions are being made available.
• Apart from this, the Department has also launched the Sujas Mobile App in which all press notes, special articles, success stories, important photographs, e-bulletins, video bulletins, Sujas Awaaz and live programs of welfare scheme are displayed on mobile, which are being well liked by the general public, especially the youth.

'Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence' Scheme

Why In News?

• On December 27, 2022 Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot approved an additional budget provision of Rs 65crore for the financial year 2022-23in the 'Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence' scheme in order to fulfill the dream of the youth of the state to pursue higher education abroad.

Key Points

• It is notable that the Chief Minister has given the former Prime Minister late for free study in prestigious institutions abroad. The 'Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence' scheme was launched on Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary (August 20, 2021). In this, every year there is a provision to provide free education to 200 students abroad.
• Under this scheme, the opportunity to study in the top 150 universities/ institutes of the world including Oxford University, Stanford University, Harvard University, California Institute of Technology, Cambridge University, Princeton University, Toronto University is being given.
• Under the 'Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship for Academic Excellence' scheme, priority is being given to students with a family income of less than Rs 8 lakh. Students with family income up to Rs 25 lakh can also apply. In this, 30 percent seats are reserved for girl students. For this, the student must be a native of Rajasthan.

Vikramotsav-2023

Why In News?

• On December 27, 2022 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informed in a meeting related to Vikramotsav at The Chief Minister's residence Samtva Bhawan in Bhopal that Vikramotsav will be organized in Ujjain from February 18to March 22, 2023.

Key Points

• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that efforts should be made to make the program of lighting lamps on the first day of Vikramotsav of the year 2023large and dignified, so that the program is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
• From Mahashivaratri to Pratipada, devotional singing, exhibition, handicraft trade fair, theatrical presentation, book fair, competition of bhajan troupes, film festival, National Ved Samagam, National Youth Science Conference, Kavi Sammelan, Publication Launch, Apart from presentations of episodes of Ramayana and Mahabharata by teams from different countries, there will be a national seminar on 'Culture, Literature and Archeology in Greater India'.
• During Vikramotsav, the launch programs of Vikram Panchangam and Vikramaditya Vedic Clock will also be held. Various departments of the government, Maharaj Vikramaditya Shodhpeeth, Swaraj Sansthan Directorate, Vikram University, Maharishi Panini Sanskrit University, Sandipani Ved Vidyalaya, Avantika University, Acharya Varahamihir Observatory and other social organizations will cooperate in the activities.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients will get Rs 2500 Pension

Why In News?

• On December 27, 2022, Haryana's Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij announced a pension of Rs 2500 per month to patients suffering from rare diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the state.

Key Points

• Health and Family Welfare Minister Anil Vij said that the number of patients of this disease in the state is 400 to 500.
• It is noteworthy that some states including Himachal Pradesh are giving monthly pension to the Duchenne muscular dystrophy victims.
• He informed that under the National Policy on Rare Diseases 2021, financial assistance up to Rs. 50 lakh is being provided to patients suffering from rare diseases including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for treatment in centers of excellence.
• The central government has set up 10 centres of excellence for this. PGI Chandigarh is also among them.

Surya Namaskar Campaign

Why In News?

• On December 26, 2022, under the chairmanship of Dr. Jaideep Arya, Chairman of the Haryana Yoga Commission, in the joint aegis of the District AYUSH Department and the Haryana Yoga Commission in the state's Murthal, it was told that on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of independence, from January 11 to February 12 across the state Surya Namaskar campaign will be launched till 2016, for which a target of 75 lakh Surya Namaskar has been set.

Key Points

• Dr. Jaideep Arya said that the Surya Namaskar campaign will be launched by state Home and Health Minister Anil Vij in Ambala, while it will conclude with a state-level program organized at Bhagat Phool Singh Women's University in Khanpur Kalan, Sonipat, in which Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will be the chief guest.
• Surya Namaskar will be started on the eve of Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary (January 12) and will conclude on Swami Dayanand Jayanti (February 12). Efforts will be made to organize Surya Namaskar in every gymnasium and every village. For this, yoga and naturopathy promotion committee will be formed.
• Dr. Jaideep Arya said that Haryana is the first state in the country where yoga has been compulsorily included in the curriculum. In the curriculum, not only book knowledge, but also experimental form has been given importance.
• He called upon Yoga Acharyas and yoga lovers to write books on yoga which can be included in the curriculum. A cash prize of Rs 50,000 will be given to the author of the selected book, while financial assistance of Rs 50,000 will also be given to those who do research work.
• He informed that an international center will be set up on 20 acres of land in Kurukshetra for yoga, in which arrangements will be made for 2000 people to practice yoga at a time. An international centre will also be set up at a cost of Rs 200 crore.
• A Foreign Language Centre will also be set up by the Haryana Yoga Commission, in which yoga assistants will be trained in foreign languages and sent abroad by making them culture ambassadors.

24 New Trauma Centers will be Set up in Jharkhand

Why In News?

• On December 26, 2022, Additional Chief Secretary of Jharkhand Health Department Arun Kumar Singh said that in the new year, the people of the state will get 24 new trauma centers. For this, the Health Department has started the process of operating 24 trauma centers set up on various national and state highways located in the state.

Key Points

• Additional Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh said that the proposed trauma centers will be set up as Level-3. The operation and management of trauma centres will be arranged on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis. Selection of experienced/reputed medical institutions/institutions on PPP mode will be done through open tender.
• He informed that 48 trauma centers are to be set up on various national and state highways of the state to ensure road safety under the STG (Sustainable Development Goal) prescribed by the United Nations Development Program, out of which 24 trauma centers are being set up in 21 districts in the first phase.
• Equipped with necessary life-saving arrangements, all these trauma centres will operate 24×7 a week. Here, after the necessary treatment of the injured persons, they can be transferred to a better medical institution as needed.
• Additional Chief Secretary informed that out of 48 trauma centers to be opened in the state, 24 trauma centers will be started in the financial year 2022-23. About Rs14.53 crore is expected to be spent on this, which has been approved.
• Sahibganj SDH, Garhwa Nagar Untari, Palamu Daltonganj, Lohardaga CHC, Kuru, Gumla CHC, Raidih, Dumka Medical, Shikaripara, Jarmundi, Deoghar Sadar Hospital, Pakur Sadar Hospital, Simdega Sadar Hospital, Kolebira CHC, Bokaro Sadar Hospital, East Singhbhum in the state Baharagora, Ranchi Bundu, Hazaribagh SBM Campus, Ramgarh Trauma Center building, Giridih CHC, Bagodar, Dhanbad CHC, Nirsa, Koderma building under construction, Khunti Sadar Hospital, West Singhbhum Chakradharpur, Chatra Sadar Hospital, Latehar Sadar Hospital will get trauma centres.
• Along with emergency medical facilities to road accident patients, the trauma centers will also provide primary health facilities to the residents of the surrounding areas. All trauma centres will have a 24-hour helpline number as well as ambulance facility. All the centres will be equipped with CCTVs so that live reports of the activities of the centres can be obtained.
• Through the 104 helplines set up by the Health Department, necessary medical facilities will be provided in coordination between all trauma centers and all other stakeholders and affected persons.

Clean Politician Award-2022

Why In News?

• On December 27, 2022, State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was honored with the 'Clean Politician Samman, 2022' by the Nityanand Swami Jan Seva Samiti in a program organized on the 94th birthday of the first Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Late Nityanand Swami.

Key Points

• On this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also honored persons associated with music, education, industry, medicine and cultural wealth.
• He told that as the first Chief Minister, Nityanand Swami proved the idea of Antyodaya through his works and did unprecedented work towards the all-round development of the state.
• In the program, the Chief Minister honored Padma Shri Basanti Bisht, Jitendra Joshi, Harendra Kumar Garg, Dr. DM Kala, Prem Higwal. Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman was given to Ruskin Bond and Prasoon Joshi. In his absence, his representatives received this honor.