HIMACHAL PRADESH

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recommended stringent regulations for the annual Manimahesh Yatra in Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, to mitigate the environmental damage caused by the influx of pilgrims. A joint committee, comprising the Chamba deputy commissioner and deputy conservator of forests, has proposed a comprehensive plan to manage human activity on the sensitive trek route, including capping daily pilgrim numbers, mandatory online registration, and an eco cess. The report highlights the need for stricter control over commercial activities, with specific zones designated for commercial structures and a ban on commercial activity and langars near the Manimahesh lake. The committee also recommends scientific waste management, including waste segregation at source and a material recovery facility, and increased sanitation facilities. These measures aim to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Manimahesh region while ensuring a safe and sustainable pilgrimage experience for devotees.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed district officials to prioritize the implementation of the state government’s flagship schemes, ensuring that citizens benefit from them. He stressed the importance of good governance and transparency, urging officials to focus on improving services and addressing public grievances. To achieve this, the CM has instructed all DCs and SPs to dedicate two days a week to addressing public concerns in their offices, rather than prioritizing tours. He also encouraged officials to submit suggestions for enhancing governance and ensuring prompt service delivery. This directive reflects the government’s commitment to efficient administration and citizen-centric service delivery.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has dissolved the entire Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) unit in Himachal Pradesh, along with the district and block units, effective immediately. This decision, aimed at restructuring the party’s Himachal Pradesh unit, comes amidst persistent factionalism within the state Congress. The move follows the recent Rajya Sabha elections where Congress nominee Abhishek Singhvi lost to BJP’s Harsh Mahajan due to cross-voting by several Congress MLAs, highlighting internal discord. The outgoing president of the Himachal Pradesh Congress, Pratibha Singh, who was appointed in 2022, has already joined the Congress Working Committee (CWC). This is the first major change in the PCC since the Congress assumed power in the hill state.

The Madhya Pradesh government has re-constituted a task force under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to ensure the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) in the state. The apex committee of the task force includes key ministers from the tribal affairs, panchayat and rural development, and forest and environment departments. An executive committee has also been formed, with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials serving as ex-officio members. The task force also includes legal and subject experts, former MLAs, and representatives from the Tribal Advisory Council, ensuring a comprehensive approach to implementing these crucial acts. The principal secretary of the tribal affairs department will act as the ex-officio Member Secretary of the Committee.

This article highlights a series of initiatives focused on addressing public grievances and improving citizen engagement in India. Here are the key points:

• Direct Engagement: The “Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar” program in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, brings government officials directly to the people, allowing for face-to-face interaction and immediate feedback.
• Addressing Grievances: The program aims to resolve public grievances promptly, with the Chief Minister directing officials to prioritize addressing concerns raised during the meeting.
• Empowering Local Communities: The program emphasizes a bottom-up approach, ensuring that local needs are heard and addressed. This is exemplified by the announcement of development projects for Putriyal, including a new school building and a health sub-center.
• Transparency and Accountability: The initiative promotes transparency by bringing government officials into direct contact with the public, fostering accountability and trust.
• Timely Resolution: The program emphasizes time-bound resolution of grievances, ensuring that issues are addressed efficiently and effectively.
• Expanding Reach: The initiative is being implemented across various states, with similar programs being organized in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to address electricity consumer concerns.
• Dedicated Support: The establishment of a “Police Grievance Cell” in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, demonstrates a commitment to addressing the concerns of police personnel, ensuring their well-being and fostering a positive work environment.

These initiatives exemplify a humanistic approach to governance, prioritizing the needs and concerns of the people and fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility. By engaging directly with citizens and addressing their grievances, these programs aim to build trust, improve service delivery, and create a more responsive and accountable government.

Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), Dharamsala, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indiana University, Pennsylvania (IUP), USA. The PARTNERSHIP will focus on academic and research collaboration between the two universities.

Professor Bansal added the universities would make efforts to identify and develop courses at undergraduate and post-graduate level wherein credit sharing could be possible.

The Himachal Pradesh government has approved and notified a new scheme, Himachal PradeshSwarn Jayanti(Legacy Cases Resolution) Scheme-2021, to settle all pending legacy cases and recover arrears stuck in cases under litigation. Himachal Pradesh Swarn Jayanti (Legacy Cases Resolution) Scheme-2021 will be available for the pre-GST taxpayers to resolve tax liability and disputes.

The scheme will be valid for six months from its publication in the official gazette of the Himachal Pradesh. It will come in two phases. In the first phase of four months, the dealer is required to pay due tax along with settlement fee at 10% and in the second phase of two months, 150% of the settlement fee as applicable in the earlier phase along with due tax.
Stakeholders or dealers can apply under the scheme by visiting the circle or district office of the department concerned. The dealers will have to deposit applicable settlement fee online in relevant head of account of subsumed enactment and no manual fee will be accepted.

He said that the Rath Yatra would celebrate the contribution of a common man in these 50 years of the glorious journey of Himachal Pradesh. The would organize 51 events across the State by different departments. Swarnim Rath Yatra would cover almost all the constituencies of the State in over two months.

A mega event would be held on January 25, 2022 on the State level Statehood day function, he said.

Thakur said the State Government was contemplating to organize the Swarnim Himachal Rath Yatra in the State from January 25 this year but due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was postponed.

The state industries minister informed theHousethat 8,46,209 educated persons had been registered in the state as unemployed. In last two years, 28,661 persons have got jobs in government sector.