UTTARAKHAND

‘Low-cost’ grain millets crucial for us: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

by

A one-day national conference on ” – Potential and Opportunities” was held at a hotel in Mussoorie.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who inaugurated the conference, welcomed delegates from various other states.

“The deliberations at this conference would help in successfully celebrating the International Year of Millets,” Dhami said, while appreciating the government’s “concerted efforts” that led to the UN declaring 2023 the “International Year of Millets”. “On one hand, millets are important for farmers, thanks to the low cost of cultivation. At the same time, due to high nutrient value, there are essential for all of us. Events like this would also help promote millet cultivation inUttarakhand,” Dhami said. Dhami said that several startups are already promoting millets and generating EMPLOYMENT.

In a major cabinet decision, theUttarakhandgovernment passed a proposal for a new tourism policy. The policy offers capital subsidy up to 50% of the eligible capital assets.

by

The move is aimed at promoting investments in the tourism sector of Uttarakhand as it would directly boost the economy and also provide EMPLOYMENT opportunities to the locals.

Under the policy, the locations have been divided into three categories — A, B and C. Entire district area of Haridwar, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar have been included in category A. Areas of Dehradun district which are not included in category B and Ranikhet and Almora tehsil of Almora district have been included in category A.

The remaining areas of district Almora (not included in category A), Kalsi, Chakrata, Tyuni, Garud Tehsil, Kotdwar, Lansdowne, Yamkeshwar, Dhoomakot, Dhanaulti and Narendra Nagar have been included under the category B.

Uttarakhand New Anti-Cheating Law

by

The Governor of Uttarakhand recently issued an ordinance to control unfair recruitment in the state. In accordance with the ordinance, the can impose fines of up to 10 crores of rupees against unfair practices in exams and in recruitment. Since 2016, there were multiple paper leaks in the state.

The ordinance is applicable to all the public examinations conducted by the and also to the autonomous bodies that come under the purview of the state government

If an examinee cheats during the exam, he shall be imprisoned for 3 years and fined a minimum of 5 lakh rupees

Ukhand hikes the remuneration of Sanitation workers

by

The Uttarakhand government has fulfilled the long standing demand of the sanitation workers for increasing their remuneration. On Wednesday the chief minister Puskhar Singh Dhami declared that these workers would now get a daily allowance of Rs 500 instead of Rs 350 which is given at present.

A delegation of the sanitation workers under the Leadership of former chairman of Safai Karmchari Ayog Bhagwat Prasad Makwana met the CM at his residence. The delegation informed about the problems of the sanitation workers and put forward the demand of increasing their remuneration. Apart from accepting the demand of increasing their remuneration the CM assured that their other problems too would be solved.

Pithoragarh district Panchayat takes initiative for waste management in villages

by

The district Panchayat of Pithoragarh has approved Rs 18.70 lakh to distribute dustbins and jute bags to each family in six Gram Panchayats of Munsyari as a pilot project to raise awareness about solid Waste Management in the villages. District Panchayat member Jagat Martolia said that this initiative has been taken under the Clean the Himalayas theme to raise awareness on waste management. He said that an amount of about Rs three lakh each has been sanctioned to five Gram Panchayats of Munsyari which are Kavadhar, Kwirizimiya, Khasiabada, Jalath, Dhimdhimiya besides Rs 3.70 lakh to Jaiti Gram Panchayat. He said that the administration will be working in these villages as a pilot project in association with the Society for Action in Himalaya organisation. He said that intense awareness campaigns will be run in these villages with the help of this organisation besides seeking assistance from the district and State administration. He said that the campaign would focus on how one can incorporate Solid Waste Management into daily routine.

He said that the administration will make young students of the six villages brand ambassadors of the campaign as an initiative to associate the younger generation with the cleanliness of the Himalayas and their surroundings in general. As per this plan, it would be the first time when there would be a brand ambassador for the campaign in every household in the block, said Martolia. He said that the administration will dedicate the next year to raising awareness on solid waste management in daily life and proper waste disposal methods to improve sanitation conditions across the district.

The first meeting of the Uttarakhand Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami late on Sunday resolved to give people a corruption-free administration, transparent, sensitive and speedy services by maximising the use of information technology and ramp up health facilities to effectively control Covid-19 in the State.

by

The Cabinet adopted six resolutions to meet public expectations ahead of 2022 Assembly . Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal informed the media about the decisions taken in the meeting held hours after Dhamis and his 11 Cabinet colleagues swearing-in on Sunday, though the media briefing was held on Monday as the meeting continued till late in the night.

Uniyal said the other resolutions passed by the Cabinet included those for creating jobs and self-EMPLOYMENT opportunities for youngsters, uplifting Dalits and empowering Women. Apart from the resolutions, some major decisions were taken by the Cabinet. These included raising the salary of the guest teachers from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month and deploying them in their Home districts, said Uniyal.

The Cabinet also decided to maintain the continuity of service of about 200 contractual employees of polytechnic institutes, paying the salaries to MNREGA workers for the strike period and the filling about 22,000 vacancies in different Government departments, the Cabinet Minister said.

The Cabinet also granted its approval to the proposal for reviving the defunct district employment offices.

Rudraprayag, Tehri top list of landslide-prone 147 dists: Isro

by

The two hill districts ofRudraprayagandTehriin Uttarakhand have the “maximum exposure to landslide risk in the country”, according to the ‘Landslide Atlas’ report prepared by Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of Isro.

Rudraprayag has 32 chronic landslide zones, with the maximum located on NH-107 that leads to the holy town, according to the District Emergency Operation Centre. Similarly, Tehri including Totaghati, which has been identified as a “very chronic landslide site”.

Rudraprayag and Tehri have been ranked first and second respectively among 147 districts from across the country, which are prone to landslides.Chamoli, which houses subsidence-hit Joshimath, is at 19th position.

According to data from the State Emergency Operation Centre, between 2018 and 2021, Uttarakhand reported 253 landslides, which resulted in 127 deaths.

Telemedicine project a boon for State- Dr Sayana

by

The Principal of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Dr Ashutosh Sayana has said that in view of the tough geographical conditions, the telemedicine project would prove to be a boon and turn out to be a milestone in Uttarakhand. He was addressing a workshop on the telemedicine project under the aegis of the Uttarakhand Health and family welfare Society at GDMC hospital on Thursday. Dr Sayana directed all head of the departments (HoD) to login themselves on time in the telemedicine OPD. He also said that the doctors should follow the dress code and behave politely with the patients.

Under the Telemedicine project 400 Primary Health Centres (PHC) of the State are connected with the four government medical colleges of the State. In the workshop the doctors were informed about the use of telemedicine applications.

Eco tourism circuit to be inaugurated in Tehri

by

Tourists visitingTehridistrict will soon be able to enjoy their stay while experiencing eco-tourism in the midst of nature. The Forest department has prepared a Raunslikhal-Kauria-Khurat eco-tourism circuit where tourists will get a glimpse of rural life included mud houses, several species of birds and wildlife in a clean Environment. The department claims that the nature-based tourism circuit will opennewdoors of EMPLOYMENT for local youth.

The valleys and the Mountains here are full of natural beauty and no less than any other tourist destination in the world. But despite having such rich and forest cover the eco-tourism activities have largely remained restricted to a few areas of the state. Realising this, the Forest department has developed the eco-tourism circuitwithout tampering with nature.

At the Raunslikhal-Kauria-Khurat eco tourism circuit, tourists will get a chance to enjoy the nature in its organic form along with mud houses at Raunsalikhal. The department will also provide nature Education to connect the people with the natural surroundings. A stall will also be set up to promote local products in which villagers will be able to keep their products. While bird watching and cycling will be available to the tourists at Kauria various other eco-tourism activities will be facilitated at Khurat. The tourists will also be educated about traditional herbs available here. There will also be village tourism activities in Khurat. While travelling on this tourism circuit, the tourists will also be able to see many birds, wildlife and Plants.

Free treatment under Ayushman Yojana used more than 6 lakh times in four years

by

Despite the various challenges and problems still being faced in facilitation of Health Services in the State, the Ayushman Yojana presents a positive aspect with free treatment under the scheme having been accessed on more than six lakh occasions so far in Uttarakhand. According to information provided by the State Health Authority (SHA) a sum of more than Rs 1,000 crore has been spent so far for providing free medical treatment under the scheme.

The Ayushman Yojana implemented by the SHA has completed about four years of its execution in the State. The performance under this public welfare scheme is encouraging and satisfactory considering the expectations from it. According to officials, more than 48.82 lakh Ayushman cards have been made in the State so far. According to the information provided by the SHA, the Ayushman Yojana has been used so far by 13,139 beneficiaries in Almora district with a cost of Rs 21,24,37, 330 being incurred on their treatment.