In an attempt to encourage the customers to demand the bills for the goods they purchase, the State Tax department of Uttarakhand has initiated a scheme to reward the customers. On Monday, the Finance minister Prem Chand Agarwal took out the first monthly lucky draw under the Bill Lao Inam Pao scheme at the head office of the department. A total of 1,500 customers were selected by the randomly chosen electronic medium for the prizes. Under the scheme, 500 people received mobile phones as first prize. Similarly 500 customers each got smart watches and earphones as second and third prizes respectively. Speaking on the occasion, Agarwal said that the has started the rewards scheme to create awareness among people to demand bills of the goods they purchase. He said that the awareness of the customers would help in protecting the government treasury and participation of all stakeholders in the process. He said that complete transparency has been maintained in the process of selection of winners in the scheme and for the whole process has been kept free from human interference. The process is being conducted electronically. The minister said that customers have an opportunity to win prizes every month till March 2023 by uploading their bills under the scheme. He said that after selection the winners would be intimated over the phone. The minister appealed to the people to demand bills and contribute to the development and prosperity of the State.
UTTARAKHAND
Uttarakhand has great potential in the field of organic farming which can be used to double the income of farmers. The Central government has also been emphasising on organic farming using modern tools rather than using chemical fertilisers in agriculture.
The centre is working to make Uttarakhand a progressive and prosperous state too. This was stated by the vice chairman of , Rajiv Kumar during his recent visit to the Nainital district. During his inspection of apple orchards at Dhanachuli and Kasialekh in the district, Kumar emphasised on Organic Farming in the state. He also interacted with local farmers who shared their issues regarding farming in the district. Kumar said that organic farming is the future and is currently being done in several states of the country. He stated that he has recently met chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and talked about encouraging organic farming in the State.
PM Modi requested to inaugurate global investors summit in Ukhand
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the global investors summit slated to be hosted by Uttarakhand in November/December this year. Chairing a meeting with officials here on Thursday, Dhami directed them to ensure that all preparations for this event are completed on time.
The chief minister said that there are varied opportunities for work in Uttarakhand. The has a good opportunity to increase Investment opportunities through the global investors summit. Along with a good Environment for establishment of industries, the State also has better human Resources. The government has made a new strong Industrial Policy to maximise the number of investors coming to the State. Dhami further said that the speed at which air, rail and road connectivity are expanding in the State is also attracting those in the industrial world to come to Uttarakhand.
A sum of Rs two crore will be provided for improvement of the assets of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). The government will also provide financial assistance for various adventure tourism activities, skill development of personnel, digitalisation of commercial activities and services and encouraging innovation in the corporation.
The CM said that in order to encourage adventure Sports, the corporation will be provided financial assistance for conducting trekking, mountaineering, river rafting, paragliding and other activities and for developing it into a professional institution. Assistance will also be provided for midterm training to enhance the knowledge of the corporations personnel in tourism and hotel activities. Similarly, assistance will also be provided to GMVN for fully digitalising its commercial activities and financial transactions with an effective online booking system, maximising digital transaction, enhancing the use of CCTV cameras and incorporating digital locks and other innovations in the hotel business.
Ukhand lives up to the reputation of being the land of braves
Uttarakhand is popularly also referred to as the land of the brave soldiers and this will be reflected again during the Passing out Parade (PoP) at Indian Military Academy (IMA) on Saturday.Twenty nine youngmen from this small predominantly mountainous State would becomeofficersin the IndianArmyafter the PoP of the autumn term-2022 on Saturday.A total of 314 Gentlemen Cadets (GCs) would become proudofficersof the Indianarmyon Saturday when they step on the Antim Pag (last step) of the academy after the PoP.
Uttar Pradesh with 51 GCs leads the table of State-wise representation of GCs while Haryana is at second position with a passing out contingent of 30 GCs. Uttarakhandis at third place with a contingent of 29 GCs in the parade.
Bihar with 24 and Maharashtra and Punjab with 21 GCs each are other big contributors in the list. Himachal Pradesh would have 17 GCs in the passing out parade. The largest State in terms of area, Rajasthan would contribute 16 and the second largest state Madhya Pradesh would provide 15 GCs in the passing out contingent ofofficers.
Another big state Andhra Pradesh will have only four GCs in the PoP while Nadu would be represented by seven GCs in the passing out contingent.The State of Gujarat where serving in the armed forces is not considered a popular choice will have five GCs passing out with this course.The States of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand which were created along with Uttarakhandin the year 2000 would have less representation with only four and two GCs respectively. Incidentally both these States are much bigger in area and Population compared to Uttarakhand.
The IMA would also be sending a batch of 30 Foreign Gentlemen Cadets (FGCs) from 11 friendly foreign countries to become officers in their respective countries after the end of training.
Uttarakhand to get the world’s longest road tunnel
Uttarakhand may get the worlds longest road tunnel approximately 30 km in the next few years. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invited bids for carrying out the feasibility study and preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the tunnel, which would start from Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun and end at Koti Colony near Tehri Dam in the poll-bound state.
Currently, the 24.5 km Laerdal tunnel in Norway is the longest road tunnel in the world.
The project will include a 7-10 km approach road at both ends.
Recently, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had sought approval from the Centre for the construction of a double-lane tunnel from Dehradun to Tehri Lake. The central government decided to give this task to the NHAI.
3 complain districts account for 60% of accident deaths in Uttarakhand
While zig-zag hill roads are considered more vulnerable to accidents, three of the four plain districts in Uttarakhand account for over 60% of accident deaths in theHimalayanstate.
According to Police data for the first seven months of 2022, three plain districts — Udham Singh Nagar,HaridwarandDehradun— have recorded 389 out of the total 610 road accident-related deaths in Uttarakhand. These districts also account for nearly 73% of total road accidents that took place in the state during the aforementioned period.
Among all 13 districts, Udham Singh Nagar has reported the highest 251 road accidents and 153 consequent deaths. Haridwar closely follows with 221 accidents and 149 related deaths. State capital Dehradun is at the third spot with 233 road accidents and 87 deaths.
Govt claims Uttarakhand charging lowest MBBS fee in country
With government, at a cabinet meeting held late, deciding to slash MBBS fee in government colleges,Uttarakhandhas become the state offering medical Education at the lowest rates in the country, claimed spokesperson and Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture minister Subodh Uniyal.
“For an MBBS course, in a government college, a student has to pay Rs 4 lakh per annum. Uttarakhand government has brought the fee down to Rs 1.45 lakh now. Those furnishing a bond to serve in the state for five years after the completion of course will have to pay only Rs 50,000 per year.
The government spokesperson further added that a state team had studied the fee structure in other states and found that Punjab was charging the lowest amount in state medical colleges.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in association with Dehradun Smart City Limited (DSCL) has prepared a work plan to start Eat Right Smart City programme to provide a healthful, safe and sustainable food environment to people.
Under this programme, the officials will also work on developing a clean street food hub by marking such eateries which are famous among locals and tourists. The district food safety officer and a designated officer of the programme, PC Joshi informed this while adding that traditional local delicacies and local organic fruits and vegetables will also be promoted under this programme. Joshi said that in the initial phase, the officials are working on connecting sweet shops, restaurants, hotels, street food vendors, meat shops and other eateries located in the smart city area with this programme to promote safe and healthy food in campuses like workplaces, schools, colleges and universities among others.
Subsequently, a group of 25 to 50 owners of eateries and some local vendors will be formed to make a clean street food hub and Fssai authorised training will be provided to these group members to run their business more effectively, stated Joshi.
As an initiative to prevent piles of waste from ending up in landfills and dump yards of the city, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has started promoting and monitoring the compositing process in selected government colonies in the city in association with a non-governmental organisation Waste Warriors.
The officials informed that the Health section of the corporation has marked 45 government colonies and societies in various wards of Dehradun to initiate this process. Besides this, certain general colonies have been marked for composting too. As stated by municipal sanitation inspector, Pushpa Rauthan, the corporation always encourages segregating garbage at source and adoption of composting to minimise the domestic waste generation but not many locals follow it.
The residents make compost and the corporation only monitors whether garbage segregation and compositing are being done regularly in these areas. Sanitation workers of MCD do not get involved in the composting process.