• 30 Sep 2021

'Nirbhaya: Ek Pahal'

Why in News

• On September 29, 2021, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched 'Nirbhaya: Ek Pahal' to encourage entrepreneurial skills among women.

Key Points

• In order to ensure safety and dignity of women and girls, Mission 'Shakti' was launched by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2020. In the third phase of this mission, 'Nirbhaya: Ek Pahal' campaign has been started, which will be financed from Nirbhaya Fund.
• Under this, training kits will be distributed to about 1000 women from each district of the state i.e. a total of 75,000 women.
• The implementation of this three-day special training campaign will be done by the state Department of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Women will be made aware of the central and state government schemes pertaining to entrepreneurship.
• Assistance will be given by the state government in providing capital through various schemes in the next three months after providing training to start the enterprise.
• Apart from this, the helpline number 18002126844 and website https://msmemissionshakti.in/ and a mobile app were launched by the Chief Minister so that women entrepreneurs can get all the information related to entrepreneurship at one place.

Jal Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyan Rankings

Why in News

• Recently, the ranking for August, 2021 have been released under the 'Jal Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyan' by the Bihar State Government. Buxar district has got the first position in the entire state.

Key Points

• This ranking is released every month by the Department of Rural Development on the basis of ten different dimensions.
• In the ranking of August 2021, Buxar district has got the first place in the state, while Gaya has got the second and Jehanabad has got the third place.
• In this ranking, Sheohar has got the last position while the capital Patna was ranked 24^th.

'PM Kusum Component-A' Scheme

Why in News

• On September 29, 2021, the Chairman and Managing Director of Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation, Dr. Subodh Agrawal informed that solar energy production has been started from the eighth power plant in Bagher village of Khanpur tehsil (Jhalawar district) under the 'PM Kusum Component-A' scheme operated by Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation in the state.

Key Points

• Dr. Subodh Agrawal told about the project that a power purchase agreement has been signed between Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam and local farmer Ram Hetar Nagar for a period of 25 years for the establishment of the project.
• With this, an estimated 9 lakh units of electricity will be produced annually, which will be purchased by Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam at the rate of Rs 3.14 per unit for 25 years, due to which the concerned farmer will get revenue of about 28 lakhs per annum.
• The project has been constructed on about 1 hectare of land and the construction cost of this 0.5 MW project is about Rs 2 crore.
• He was informed that this is the first solar power plant in Kota division and Jhalawar district under PM Kusum Component-A scheme.
• In the budget announcement 2019-20, a target was set for setting up solar power plants of 2600 MW capacity in the state under this scheme, out of which letters of award have been issued for 722 MW capacity projects.
• It is worth mentioning that Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha and Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM Kusum Yojana) is an ambitious scheme of the Government of India, whose component-A is being implemented in the state by Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation.
• In the first phase of this scheme, 623 solar power producers have been selected for setting up projects of a total 722 MW capacity. Under this scheme, a maximum capacity of 9.5 MW in the country and a maximum 8 projects have been established in Rajasthan.

GI tag to Chinnor Rice

Why in News

• On September 29, 2021, it was informed by the state government that Madhya Pradesh has been recognized in the claim of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for GI tag to Chinnor rice.

Key Points

• Chinnor rice is mainly produced in the Balaghat region, although it is also produced in Bhandara, Maharashtra, for which the GI tag was claimed by Maharashtra.
• The chalky loamy soil found in Balaghat creates favorable conditions for rice production there. That is why Balaghat is also called the rice bowl of Madhya Pradesh.
• GI tag in India is governed by Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.
• The first GI tag in India was given to Darjeeling tea in 2004.

Water Sports Inaugurated at Morni-Tikkar Taal, Panchkula

Why in News

• On September 29, 2021, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar formally inaugurated various adventure sports activities like paragliding, parasailing, paramotor and jet scooter water sports at Tikkar Taal of Morni area in Panchkula district of the state.

Key Points

• Water sports like parasailing, paramotor etc have been started to promote tourism activities in Tikkar Taal.
• An agreement has been signed with a company for organizing hot balloon activity in Pinjore also.
• After Goa, such water sports activities are being started in Tikkar Taal in Panchkula, Haryana in North India.
• To increase the employment opportunities for people in the Morni-Tikkar Taal area, a Home Stay Policy has been launched. With this Policy, the income of the people will increase and tourists will also get more facilities.

Prof. Shyam Sundar Jyani Honored with UN Award

Why in News

• On September 28, 2021, Prof. Shyam Sundar Jyani was awarded the World's highest award for land conservation - 'Land for Life Award'.
  
  • He was given this award for family forestry, under the international category, at the online global ceremony held in Boon, China.

Key Points

• Prof Jyani was declared the winner for his outstanding contribution to land conservation at the global event of World Desertification Day in Costa Rica on June 17, 2021.
• In May 2022, at the Global Conference of Member States in the African country of Ivory Coast, Prof. Jyani will be invited for a special address and will be presented with this trophy.
• It is noteworthy that this award is given every two years by UNCCD, the unit on land conservation of the United Nations, to a person or organization from all over the world for their outstanding contribution to land conservation.
• The United Nations rewards organizations and individuals on the international stage for innovation in land restoration and conservation methods that promote well-being of the environment and communities and improve relationships with them.
  
  • The Saihanba Forest of China was given the award under the national category.
• Prof Shyamsunder Jyani hails from village 12 TK in Raisingh Nagar tehsil of Sriganganagar district and is currently Associate Professor of Sociology at Government Dungar College, Bikaner.
• Professor Jyani has been doing excellent work for the last 20 years by going from village to village and explaining people, school students and teachers about trees and environment and planting lakhs of trees in the desert land of western Rajasthan with his salary.

Country's First Women Commando Squad

Why in News

• Recently, Bihar has become the first state in the country, where a squad of women commandos has been made ready.

Key Points

• 92 women constables selected in the Bihar Special Armed Police have been trained at the Central Training Center of CRPF in Mudkhed, Maharashtra.
• In three months of training, they have been trained to operate small and large state-of-the-art weapons with special training to thwart even the biggest attacks.
• Apart from the security of the Chief Minister, they will be deployed for ATS and STF.
• After training, they were sent on leave, but now the team has returned to their unit and is ready to start their work.

Police Torture

Why in News

• Recently a businessman resident of Kanpur died due to torture inflicted by Gorakhpur police. This death has again made topics such as the use of violence against people by the police in India and custodial death a topic of discussion.

Key Points

• According to the 'Status of Policing in India' report released by the non-governmental organization 'Common Cause', 3 out of every 5 police officers believe that the use of violence against criminals is justified. According to another report, between 2000 and 2018, more than 2000 human rights violation cases were registered against the police.
• Factors responsible for violence by police-
  
  • Absence of laws against torture in India.
  • Non-action of policemen in case of violation of human rights.
  • Slow pace of police reforms.
  • Low conviction rate.
• Provisions to prevent police torture-
  
  • In DK Basu vs West Bengal, the Supreme Court held that protection against torture is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Right to Life.
  • Under the Code of Criminal Procedure, logical grounds and rules for arrest and detention have been laid down in Section 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D.
  • Sections of the Indian Penal Code- 330, 331, 348
  • Indian Evidence Act Section- 25 and 26
• It is noteworthy that despite India's signing of the 'United Nations 'Convention against Torture', it has not been ratified yet.

Maximum Collection of Tendu Leaves in Bilaspur Forest in the State

Why in News

• According to the information received from the State Minor Forest Produce, the maximum number of 276670 standard bags of tendu leaves has been collected within Bilaspur forest circle in the state, during the current financial year.

Key Points

• It is worth mentioning that during the current financial year, in Chhattisgarh, 135710 standard bags of tendu leaves worth more than Rs 522 crore have been collected during the tendu leaf collection season. In this, 100% payment of collection amount of Rs 110 crore 21 lakh has been made to the Tendu Leaf collectors.
• Under Bilaspur forest circle, 2 lakh 76 thousand 670 standard bags of tendu leaves worth Rs 110 crore 61 lakh were collected. Of these, 29 thousand 715 standard bags in Bilaspur forest division, 19 thousand 440 standard bags in Marwahi, 3 thousand 763 standard bags in Janjgir-Champa, 44 thousand 702 standard bags in Raigarh, 70 thousand 157 standard bags in Dharamjaigarh, 42 thousand 960 standard bags in Korba, 65 thousand 932 standard bags in Bora and Katghora, were collected.
• After Bilaspur, 2 lakh 55 thousand 675 standard bags of tendu leaves worth Rs 102 crore 10 lakh have been collected under Surguja forestry. Of these, 23 thousand 297 standard bags have been collected in Jashpur forest division, 32 thousand standard bags in Manendragarh, 20 thousand 996 standard bags in Korea, 30 thousand 645 standard bags in Surguja and 58 thousand 207 standard bags in Surajpur.
• Similarly, 2 lakh 49 thousand 679 standard bags of tendu leaves worth Rs 98 crore 98 lakh have been collected under Kanker Vanvrit. These include forest division wise- 91 thousand 320 standard bags in East Bhanupratappur, 70 thousand 120 standard bags in West Bhanupratappur, 12 thousand 446 standard bags in South Kondagaon and 21 thousand 107 standard bags in Keshkal, 15 thousand 322 standard bags in Narayanpur and 34364 in Kanker.
• One lakh 88 thousand 527 standard bags of tendu leaves worth Rs 75 crore 32 lakh have been collected under Forest Circle Raipur. Of these, 22 thousand 890 standard bags have been collected in Dhamtari forest division, 69 thousand 890 standard bags in Gariaband, 74 thousand 871 standard bags in Mahasamund and 20 thousand 877 standard bags of tendu leaves in Baloda Bazar.
• One lakh 76 thousand 505 standard bags of tendu leaves worth Rs 70 crore 60 lakh have been collected under Vanvrit Jagdalpur. Of these, 75 thousand 395 standard bags have been collected in Bijapur forest division, 75 thousand 913 standard bags in Sukma, 10 thousand 395 standard bags in Dantewada, 14 thousand 802 standard bags of tendu leaves in Jagdalpur.
• After this, one lakh 58 thousand 653 standard bags of tendu leaves worth Rs 63 crore 46 lakh have been collected under Vanvrit fort. Of these, 65 thousand 559 standard bags have been collected in Rajnandgaon forest division, 34 thousand 698 standard bags in Khairagarh, 20 thousand 383 standard bags in Balod and 38 thousand standard bags of tendu leaves in Kawardha.