RAJASTHAN

A study conducted by an NGO has revealed that one-fourth of the Average monthly household income of worker families inRajasthancame from children.

The study was conducted during March-April in four majorsectorsnamely brick kilns, stone crushing and sand stone mining, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and gems workshops across six districts including Jaipur, Dausa, Dholpur,Hanumangarh, Baran and Bikaner. The survey conducted by NGO Save the Children under the title Status of Child Labours and Legal Entitlements of Workers in Major Sectors in Rajasthan reached out to 543 parents and 317 child labourers.

The study found that the average monthly household income is Rs 11,628 for worker families out of which Rs 2,707 came from children. Family earnings were highest for brick kiln workers who get Rs 17,915 and least for agriculture workers who get Rs 4,528.The average earning per day for a child is Rs 208.

One-third of the children interviewed get EMPLOYMENT for a period of 3 to 9 months in a year.
The study further found that nearly 53% children worked for 8 to 10 hours a day. Working hours are highest in brick kilns where 20% of children work for more than 10 hours per day.

Apart from this, nearly 10% children reported about physical exploitation but no one reported about sexual exploitation at workplace during the study. However, as many as 23% children said that they were aware of sexual exploitation of children at some other work sites.

The grasslands that shelter the Great Indian Bustard in Sorsan in Baran, and the winter Home of Demoiselle Cranes in Khichan in Jodhpur were among three new wildlife conservation areas, the third being Hamirgarh in Bhilwara, declared by the forest department inRajasthanon the occasion of Earth Day, April 22.

After the forest areas become conservation reserves, it will be mandatory to get clearance under the Forest conservation Act, 1990, and approvals of State Board of Wildlife (SBWL) and of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to carry out any development project within the area. Experts said the CR category was first introduced in the amendment in 2002.

The fund for each legislator has been raised from Rs. 2.25 crore to Rs. 5 crore per year to cover expenses.

This is the state version of the central government scheme – Member of the Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD).

The aim of the scheme is to build based on local needs, create assets for public utilities, and eliminate regional imbalances in development.

The scheme is implemented in rural and urban areas in a state.

This scheme does not provide any funds to MLAs. It is transferred directly to the appropriate local authorities by the government.

Each state has its own set of rules for using MLA-LAD funds.

Rajasthan passed a landmarkRight to Health(RTH) Bill under which privatehospitalswill not be able to charge emergency patients and will be compensated by the state a controversial provision according to such hospitals and doctors who continued protests against the move for the second day and were later joined by government doctors.

Right to health is fundamental to a modern welfare state. But often there are financial considerations that prevent it from happening. Rajasthan has taken a bold step. But the schemes success will depend on how it is implemented on the ground. Other states will be closely watching.

Startup ecosystem is set to add heft with the chief minister announcing Rs 250 crore to support them. Presenting theBudget, Gehlot saidRajasthan Fund will be given Rs 250 crore to handhold the startups.

Besides the fund, they will also enjoy exemption on stamp duty applicable on loan documents executed for the establishment of start-up. The amount has been raised from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.

Stamp duty on purchase or lease above 10 years of immovable property for the establishment of workplace by a startup where founding member or members are of the age group of 18 to 35 years will be exempted.
The limit of single source procurement without tender through startups is raised to Rs 25 lakh from the current limit of Rs 15 lakh.

The startup policy recently announced by the State Government has many provisions to encourage Entrepreneurship and support the ventures financially and otherwise.

The states food and civil supplies department has sent a proposal to food ministerPratap SinghKhachariyawas for approval to allow registration of more beneficiaries under theNational Act(NFSA) in urban areas, where the number of beneficiaries is less compared to rural areas.

A proposal has been sent to the minister with a suggestion to open registration of NFSA beneficiaries with urban areas in the state.

With the ceiling for adding NFSA beneficiaries in the state being 4.46 crore, the State Government can still add 5-6 lakh more.

The has given relaxation to the developers constructing affordable houses under the public private PARTNERSHIP (PPP) mode in the state.

The decision was taken after the pace to construct affordable houses including economic weaker section (EWS) and lower income group (LIG) slowed down due to existing policies, which became a hindrance in achieving a target of 4,200 houses.

The department will take a loan of Rs 200 crore to complete these projects. While Rs 160 crore will be spent to construct the pending 19,244 houses under Jan Awas Yojana, Rs 40 crore will be spent for constructing 4,112 affordable houses.

The financial progress of state-run schemes likeMEWAT,MAGRAand DANG has been quite poor, arural development departmentreport has revealed.
According to the report, only 5.14% (Rs 1.68 crore) of the total available funds – Rs 32.85 crore – was utilised under MEWAT (up to October 2022). While 5.22% of the total available funds was utilised in Alwar, 4.89% was used in Bharatpur district.

Under DANG, only 8.37% (Rs 2.08 crore) of the total available funds – Rs 24.94 crore – was utilised by the department up to October this year. According to the report, there was zero spending in Bharatpur and Bundi districts under the scheme. While just 0.23% of the total available funds was utilised in Baran, 0.76% in Kota, 1.95% in Jhalawar, 5.59% in Karauli and 9.42% of the total funds was utilised in Dholpur. However, in Sawai Madhopur, the utilisation of funds was 49.12% till October.

Meanwhile, under MAGRA scheme, 14.67% (Rs 3.93 crore) of the total available funds – Rs 26.81 crore – was utilised by the rural development department up to October this year. The report further stated 10.40% of the total available funds was utilised in Rajsamand, 11.29% in Pali district, 14.23% in Bhilwara and 22.91% in Ajmer district. However, Chittorgarhs financial progress exceeded the use of its available funds, having utilised 117% of the total funds, the report mentioned.

However, the financial progress of schemes like BADP (42.20% expenditure) andSPMRM(78.47% expenditure) has been comparatively much better, the report stated.