01-02.05.21

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said that “Mera Paani -Meri Virasat” Scheme will be linked to “Meri Fasal – Mera Byora” so that the farmers get the benefit of incentive money without any delay.

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The Chief Minister was presiding over a review meeting of “Mera Paani – Meri Virasat” Scheme.

Khattar said that the Haryana Government will provide incentive to farmers who conserve water. Farmers who sow other crops instead of paddy crops will be provided incentive money. This scheme was implemented last year, under which incentives were given at the rate of Rs 7,000 per acre to the farmers who sow alternative crops (which consume less water) instead of paddy.

As a result, the farmers sowed other crops instead of paddy in 96,000 acres of land. Due to its success in the first year, Haryana Government has decided to encourage farmers under this Scheme this year as well, he said.

Senior Congress leader and six-time MP from Amritsar Raghunandan Lal Bhatia passed away after a brief illness at a private hospital in Amritsar. He was 100.

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He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1972 from the Amritsar parliamentary constituency, and again re-elected from the same seat in the 1980, 1985, 1992, 1996 and 1999 as a member of the Congress. Bhatia had also served as the Governor of Kerala from 2004 to 2008 and the governor of Bihar from 2008 to 2009. He had also served as the minister of state for external affairs in 1992.

Himachal sees 60% rise in suicide cases

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The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the risk of psychiatric disorders, exacerbating suicidal behaviour. In Himachal, 218 persons ended their lives in the first three months of this year, an increase of over 60 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

Uncertain future and economic fallout, with no hope for early end to the pandemic, have been affecting the mental Health of people aged between 25 and 60 years, say health experts. Isolated from the outside world, elderly persons and nuclear families are another section showing signs of depression, but are hesitant when it comes to seeking help, they say.

UEPPCB contributes `25 crore to CM relief fund

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The Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) contributed Rs 25 crore to the CM relief fund to boost the fight against Covid-19. Forest and Environment minister Harak Singh Rawat presented the cheque for the amount to chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat.

Rawat said that the board charges environment fee every year and the income generated from this is used by the board to fulfil its social obligations. About Rs 20 crore is incurred on the salaries of the staff and other expenses of the board after which the remaining amount is also used for public welfare.

Uttar Pradesh Government framing Oxygen policy, seeks more investors

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MSMEministerSidharth Nath Singh said that to meet the demand for Oxygen in the ongoing pandemic, thestate governmentwas working on formulating anoxygen policy. The policy would offer incentives to encourage more investors in the sector.

Singh also spoke about the need to have a robust medical and healthcare in the state for any unforeseen contingencies or challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic. Asking the Industry for some out of the box suggestions on how this could be done at the earliest, the minister said that the pandemic has disrupted business activities and the momentum would have to be revived by the collective efforts of the government and the industry.

Jharkhand CM seeks help from military docs, infra to battle Covid surge

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Chief ministerHemantSoren wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to assign doctors and paramedics, who are working in the military and central paramilitary forces deployed inJharkhand, for Covid management in the state.

A large number of central paramilitary forces like CRPF and SSB have been deployed in Jharkhand to tackle extremism and several doctors and paramedics work in these forces. There are two military hospitals in Ranchi and Ramgarh.

Work in mission mode to achieve targets: Nitish Kumar tells officials at Bihar Vikas Mission meet

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Bihar CM Nitish Kumar asked the officials to work in mission mode to achieve the targets fixed under different development schemes.

Presiding over the 8th governing body meeting of the Bihar Vikas Mission (BVM) at the CM secretariats Samvad auditorium here, he also called for taking all necessary steps to increase the capacity of milk processing in the state.

Addressing the meeting through videoconferencing, the CM further asked the officials to work fast on the decision taken for increasing the number of Women milk Cooperative Societies across the state to enhance the production of milk.

The Mission was formed in January 2016 for proper implementation and monitoring of the schemes under the Saat Nischay (Seven Resolves) programme of the erstwhile Grand Alliance government headed by Nitish Kumar. But even after Nitish returned to the NDA in July 2017, he continued with the Saat Nischay programme, and thus, the Bihar Vikas Mission continued to operate and monitor the development scheme.

An online portal prepared by social organization Covid Jan Sahayta Samuh, launched on Sunday, shows there is no shortage of beds in the hospitals in Raipur.

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According to details furnished in it, out of 988 normal beds 767 are vacant. Similarly, out of 2,170 Oxygen beds 1,150 are vacant, out of 584 HDU beds 333 are vacant, out of 1,024 ICU beds 374 are vacant and out of 346 ventilator beds 131 are vacant.

The portal provides updated information of bed availability in Covid Hospitals. Actual bed position at a particular moment will be displayed like the online portals of Railways and airlines.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will distribute pension amount of Rs 301.25 crore to 50 lakh 20 thousand 979 beneficiaries on May 13 under various pension schemes of Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Department. Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Minister Prem Singh Patel informed that the transfer of funds to the beneficiaries of pension schemes will be done through e-payment.

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Patel informed that Chouhan will transfer through single click e-payment, Rs 56.55 crore in the account of 9 lakh 42 thousand 572 beneficiaries of social security old age pension, Rs 78 crore 87 lakh 19 thousand to 13 lakh 14 thousand 532 beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Kalyani pension, Rs 2 crore 8 lakh 5 thousand to 34 thousand 675 beneficiaries of Social Security Parityakta Pension, Rs 19 crore 49 lakh 22 thousand to 3 lakh 24 thousand 870 beneficiaries of Social Security Divyang Pension, Rs crore 44 lakh 92 thousand to 57 thousand 486 beneficiaries of Social Security Shiksha Protsahan, Rs 12 lakh 84 thousand to 2 thousand 140 beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Avivahita Pension and Rs 1 lakh 48 thousand pension amount will be transferred into the accounts of 246 elderly people residing in old age homes through a single click.

Rs 1.5 lakh/kg: Gujarat scientists grow one of costliest mushrooms

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Scientists at Kutch-basedGujaratInstitute of Desert ECOLOGY (GUIDE) have successfully cultivated cordyceps militaris a mushroom species that traditionally found its use in Chinese and Tibetan herbal medicines. The scientists grew themushroomsin 35 jars in a controlled Environment in a laboratory within 90 days giving 350 grams yield. The mushroom is valued at Rs1.50 lakh a kg.

The institute which has found it useful in treating even breast cancer has decided to provide training to entrepreneurs at a very nominal fee as a livelihood option to cultivate mushrooms at laboratory scale.