This suggests that on Average, around four cases of atrocities against Dalits were reported in Gujarat per day in 2022. The RTI response was provided to a Mehsana-based activist,KaushikParmar, byD P Chudasma, DySP and public information officer of SC/ST cell, Gujarat Police, on April 17.
GUJARAT
Gujarat Technological University makes vaccination mandatory for students
Gujarat Technological University(GTU) has made it mandatory for allstudentsof 18 years and above age to get Covid-19vaccinationbefore filling up of Winter 2021 exam forms.
The Centres vaccination drive will continue as before, providing free vaccination for essential and priority populations as defined earlier i.e healthcare workers, frontline workers and Population above 45 years of age. GTU recently announced that it will hold online exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students this year as well.
Defence equipment parts: Rajkot units hopeful of boom
The increase in capital procurement budget to 68% for domestic in the DEFENCE sector is expected to increase output from Rajkot, the hub of engineering units, many of whom are engaged in making parts for defence equipment. There are at least 300 small and big units making parts fordefence equipment, according to industry sources in Rajkot.
Over the last few years, the engineering units of Rajkot are bagging contracts from the Indian Railways as well as the defence ministry.
TheUnion budgetalso proposed to open up research and development for industry and startups in the defence sector.
The FM proposed revoking anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty (CVD) on stainless steel and coated steel flat products, bars of Alloy steel and high speed steel. This will also help the local engineering units, especially those making kitchenware and hardware industry.
Launch of Zen Style Garden and Kaizen Academy
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated a Zen Garden and Kaizen Academy at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) premises in Ahmedabad. These two new initiatives are phase of the PM’s vision of growing a Mini-Japan in Gujarat. The newly launched Zen Garden in Ahmedabad will show off quite a few Elements of Japanese art, culture, landscape and architecture.
The Zen garden facets a statue of Lord Buddha. The backyard is built in PARTNERSHIP with the Japan Information and Study Centre at AMA and Indo-Japan Friendship Association (IJFA), Gujarat, supported through the Hyogo International Association (HIA), Japan.
Feb GST collection surges 8% in state
Increased inflationary pressure, improved industrial production, revival in demand and in turn consumption kept tax collection buoyant in February. According to the data byUnion ministry of finance, the goods and Services tax (GST) collection inGujaratstood at Rs 8,873 crore in February 2022, up 8% year-on-year against Rs 8,221 crore in the corresponding month last year.
players and tax professionals attribute the spike in tax collection to Inflation and cost pressures in addition to streamlining of business procurement cycles.
According to data by state commercial tax department, total collection of state goods and services tax (SGST), stood at Rs 3,007.46 crore with anIGSTsettlement of Rs 1,179.74 crore, amounting to a total of Rs 4,187.20 crore in February as compared to Rs 4,365.79 crore in January
Net VAT collection in Gujarat stood at Rs 2,592.28 crore in February as compared to Rs 2,622.4 crore in January.
Power generation from coal falls 56% in Gujarat
Gujarats production of electricity from the coal-fired thermal power Plants halved in October as private sector plants struggled to generate power due to spiralling prices of imported coal.
States thermal coal-based electricity generation declined by 56% to 3,465GWh (gigawatt hours) in October 2021 from 7,877GWh during the same month last year, shows the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)s tentative monthly report for October.
Steep reduction in power generation by private sector plants, including those run on imported coal, brought down the overall electricity generated from the coal-based power plants in October.
Private sectors generation from coal plunged 70% to 1,858GWh from 6,142GWh. The generation stood at only 32% of the targeted generation of 5,839GWh for October 2021, according to the report.
Gujarat gets 14,963MW from non-conventional sources
Projects with the capacity of generating 14,963MW of electricity from non-conventional sources are currently operational inGujarat.
The government said the state accounts for 15% of the countrys installed capacity for power generation from non-conventional energy sources.
A government release said that Gujarat stands first in the country with 1,444MW installed capacity in relation to solar rooftop projects.
These include residential, commercial, and industrial solar rooftop projects.
The government said that in terms of setting up solar rooftop systems on private residential properties, Gujarat is the first in the country.
Solar rooftop systems have been installed on 2.84 lakh houses and 1,081MW electricity is being generated.
This project was introduced in the state in 2016-17. The release added that Gujarat announced its solar power policy in 2008-09. The installed capacity of solar power in the state today is 5,947MW, the government said.
Gujarat stands third in the country in terms of solar power generation.
The installed capacity of wind power projects in the state is 8,860MW, the government said.
RBSK data to be used for comorbidity scan in Gujarat
About 1.6 crore children and teen are covered under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) (National Child Health Programme) inGujarat. The data will be used for assessing children with comorbidities in preparedness of the possible third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, said senior health department officials.
TheSchool Health Programmeis also extended to all below 18 years of age recently, bringing all children and teens under the umbrella for free health Services at government hospitals.
Gujarat proposes new 1,630 km coastal corridor
Aiming to give an impetus to tourism and economic activities in the state,Gujaratgovernment has proposed a new 1,630-kilometre coastal corridor from Umeragm in the south to Narayan Sarovar in Kutch. To be completed under PM GatiShakti scheme, the government proposes to set aside a buffer area along the highway for industrial and allied activities. The government has already earmarked the first 300 km covering Valsad, Navsari, Surat and Bharuch districts.
With the objective of giving an impetus to tourism and economic activities in the state, the Gujarat government has proposed a new 1,630km long coastal corridor from Umargam in south Gujarat to Narayan Sarovar in Kutch. To be completed under thePM Gati Shakti scheme, the government proposes to set aside a stipulated area along the highway for various industrial and allied activities.
The has already earmarked the first 300 kilometres of the project covering the districts of Valsad, Navsari, Surat and Bharuch in south Gujarat. A key source close to the development confirmed that the state government has proposed a new coastal corridor highway under the PM Gati Shakti project.
Under the PM Gati Shakti project, a detailed plan has been prepared for first 300km stretch. Sources said that the entire corridor is being planned keeping in mind the CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) restrictions, forest regulations and the like.
Gujarat: Charging stations key to electric vehicles push
The FAME2 portal onelectric vehiclesin India indicates the presence of 1,319 e-vehicles inGujaratof the total 77,511 in India. Out of the total, the share of two-wheelers and three-wheelers was very high. As the state unveiled the electric vehicle policy on Tuesday, experts pointed tocharging stationsas a crucial part of converting commuters to e-mobility.
According to the state policy, the FAME Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India scheme had approved 278 charging stations for Gujarat. Thats among the highest in the country according to the electric vehicle (EV) sector experts. The CM, moreover, announced an increase of 250 more stations and a capital subsidy of 25% up to Rs 10 lakh for setting them up.
Charu Lata, lead consultant (electric mobility and clean energy access) of Delhi-based https://exam.pscnotes.com/natural-Resources“>Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), welcomed the policy.