BIHAR

Despite the Covid challenges, enrolment of children in 6-14 age group in the government schools in Bihar has increased by 3.6% in the last one year, according to the 16th edition ofAnnual Status of Education Reportreleased.

The number of children enrolled in government schools increased from 76.9% in 2020 to 80.5% in 2021, compared to 2.8% rise in the last three years since 2018. The report also revealed that more children from the rural background took admission in the government schools, compared to private schools, between 2018 and 2021.

The report was based on a survey conducted in the rural areas of 581 districts across 25 states and 3 union territories between September and October this year. It covered 76,706 households, 75,234 children in 5-16 age group besides teachers and staff of 7,300 government schools.

Significantly, the proportion of both boys and girls enrolled in government schools across all grades increased from 2020 to 2021. The Percentage of girls enrolled went up from 80.9% in 2020 to 82.9% in 2021 while the boys enrolment increased from 73.2% in 2020 to 78.2% this year.

As per the report, the availability of smartphones to the enrolled kids also increased from 27.2% in 2018 to 54.4% in 2021. However, only 11.8% kids have access to studies all the time while 34.4% used the device for limited periods for education purpose. A large section of almost 53.8% enrolled kids still have no electronic devices for studies.

Chief ministerNitish Kumar launched online transfer of special financial assistance in the bank accounts of all drought-affected families in 96 blocks of 11 drought-hit districts, and asked the district magistrates concerned to ensure that all affected families in their district get the amount before the upcoming Chhath festival.

An amount of Rs 3,500 per family is being transferred directly in the bank accounts of drought affected families.

The CM said a sum of Rs 500 crore has been provided and more funds would be given under the scheme. He said the DMs of all 11 affected districts would personally monitor and ensure that not a single affected family is left out under the scheme.

President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Patna, Bihar, on 20 October on a three-day visit.

Highlights

President Kovind will attend the celebration noting the Bihar Legislative Assembly building’s centenary during the visit.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the Shatabdi Smriti Stambh and plant the sapling of a Bodhi tree in the assembly premises before addressing the primary function.

Through centenary celebration, the new generation will come to know about the glorious past of the assembly.

He will visit Takhat Sri Harimandir Sahib Ji in Patna Sahib, the Vipassana centre at Buddha Smriti Park and Khadi Mall in Patna on 22 October, the last day of his visit.

The Health department has also given approval of Rs 15.21 crore for the construction of mother-neonatal ICUs at the Dumraon (Buxar), Barh (Patna), Sherghati (Gaya), Bagha (West Champaran), Hilsa (), Rajgir (Nalanda), Barsoi (Katihar), Tarapur (Munger), Naugachia (Bhagalpur),Dalsinghsarai(Samastipur), Rosera (Samastipur), Sonepur (Saran) and Hathua (Gopalganj) divisional hospitals.

Eight new power substations are being set up in BodhGaya, Manpur, Khizarsarai, Banke Bazar andWazirganjblocks of the district,South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited(SBPDCL) executive engineer (project) Balvir Prasad Bagish said.

While power supply will start from two substations at Mahkar (Khizarsarai) and Bakraur (Bodh Gaya) from July 20, the other six would be functional by the end of this year. The power substations are being set up at an estimate cost of Rs4 crore each under the Union governmentsDeenDayal Gram Jyoti Yojana and the state plan.

The other power substations are being set up at Alipur and Bhore (Manpur), Sakardas Nawada and Tarwan (Wazirganj), Dhangain (Barachatti) and Karchoi (Banke Bazar). Those at Mahkar, Bakraur, Alipur and Sakardas Nawada are being set up under Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana and the remaining from the funds made available by the .

The NationalMonuments Authority (NMA) has released the draft heritage bylaws for the protection of ancient structures in Rajgir () and the Asoka column at Lauriya in East Champaran district. Both the sites are under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The protected site in Rajgir has a number of ruined temples and stone structures including Jarasandh ka Akhara (battleground), Bimbisara jail, Jaina shrine, Mahadeva temple, Son Bhandar cave, Maniyar Math, Jivakamravana (monastery/ancient hospital), Chariot Wheel mark, among others.

The monuments are mostly made of Mauryan bricks, stone rubble, mud mortar and brick jelly.

Draft bylaws for Rajgir say, Monuments lie mostly embedded, or in the foothills of Rajgir hills. No development pressure, or Urbanisation, or Population pressure, is prevalent around this area. The general rules of construction will be applicable for all projects as per the Bihar Building Bylaws 2014.

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a delayed onset of Southwest monsoon over Kerala, weathermen in Patna said Bihar will only witness the arrival of rain-bearing winds by June 13 or 14.

Th Southwest monsoon reaches Kerala every year on June 1. However, this year’s monsoon onset over Kerala is expected to be later than the usual date, with a likely arrival on June 4, with a model error of (+/-)as per the IMD statement.

The state industries minister, Shahnawaz Hussain, launched the 24×7 Oxygen bank of the Bihar Industries Association (BIA).

Addressing the virtual workshop on Oxygen Production and Promotion Policy 2021 organised by the BIA, he said his department has been working closely with the Health department to meet the increased demand for oxygen due to the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of oxygen at hospitals and the supply of liquid oxygen in the state.

Several parts of the state, includingPatnaand Gaya, are experiencing punishing heatwave with mercury crossing the 40C mark.

Experts said heatwave has been occurring for shorter duration for the last couple of years, which is a major cause for concern. They attributed https://exam.pscnotes.com/Climate-change”>Climate Change and rapid Urbanisation across the state as the major reasons for this change, which used to last for around two months in past years.

The most effective way to address rising temperature is to tackle the root Causes of Climate Change, which is reducing greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the most significant contributor to Global Warming.

As per a recent report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Average global temperature has increased by 1.2C since 1880, where most of the changes took place after 1975.

The farm labour crunch has hit harvesting season as migrants are making their way back to their native states again fearing another lockdown in the Tricity. Again, factory owners and farmers are grappling with labour crunch.

The exodus this time is said to be driven by fear of being trapped in place due to another lockdown and panchayat in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.