Haryana

• 29 Oct 2024

Rajya Vishisht Yojana

Why in News?

Recently, Haryana introduced the Rajya Vishisht Yojana to tackle stubble burning, aiming to protect air quality during the harvest season.

Key Points

• Rajya Vishisht Yojana:
  • Haryana’s Rajya Vishisht Yojana focuses on reducing stubble burning through incentives and resources for farmers, primarily targeting areas where paddy harvesting leads to stubble residue.
• Subsidies and Resources:
  • The government provides subsidies on equipment for crop residue management, such as Happy Seeders and Super SMS systems, to promote eco-friendly disposal methods.
• Penalties and Rewards:
  • Strict fines for stubble burning violations are enforced, alongside incentives for farmers who comply, aiming to balance punitive and supportive measures.
• Environmental Goals:
  • The initiative aligns with national environmental goals by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, reducing air pollution, and mitigating respiratory health risks.

Alternatives to Stubble Burning

• PUSA Decomposers: The decomposers are in the form of capsules made by extracting fungi strains that help the paddy straw to decompose at a much faster rate.
• Happy Seeder: It is a tractor-mounted device offering an eco-friendly alternative to stubble burning.
  • It works by cutting and lifting rice straw, simultaneously sowing wheat into the exposed soil and depositing the straw over the sown area as protective mulch.
• Palletisation: Paddy straw, when dried and transformed into pellets, becomes a viable alternative fuel source.
  • When mixed with coal, these pellets can be utilized in thermal power plants and industries, potentially saving coal usage and lowering carbon emissions.

Grand Acharyakulam for Vedic Learning

Why in News?

Recently, Haryana's Chief Minister announced plans to create a prestigious Acharyakulam, or traditional school, to preserve Vedic culture and ancient Indian education.

Key Points

• Institution Focus:
  • The Acharyakulam aims to revive Vedic teachings, Sanskrit, and Indian traditions, promoting cultural heritage among students.
• Facilities and Infrastructure:
  • It will be set to feature advanced educational amenities while adhering to traditional gurukul values, it will provide students with holistic learning environments.
• Government Support:
  • The state government emphasizes the importance of integrating modern education with ancient wisdom, aligning with broader initiatives to preserve Indian culture.

Vedic Period (1500-600 BC)

• In terms of literature, as well as social and cultural evolution, Vedic texts reflect two stages of development.
• The Rigvedic period, also known as the Early Vedic period, corresponds to the time when the Rigvedic hymns were composed, which was between 1500 BC and 1000 BC.
• The later stage, known as the Later Vedic period, is placed between 1000 BC and 600 BC.