Cheetah patrolling units in Uttarakhand cities to be armed with handguns

In a bid to modernise the ground units, especially the quick reaction ones,Uttarakhandpolice would soon arm its two-wheeler-borne city patrolling units, known as ‘Cheetah’, with 9mm pistols.

Its in accordance with the ministry of Home affairs initiative of ‘Strict and Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Techno-savvy and Trained (SMART)’ policing.

Govt to procure 60L tons wheat

The Uttar Pradesh government is targeting to procure 60 lakh tons of wheat in the Rabi Marketing season 2023-24. Since the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat has been fixed at Rs 2,125 per quintal, the payout to farmers against the targeted purchase is estimated at Rs 12,750 crore.

UP government agencies have so far procured 90,000 MT of wheat at 2,978 procurement centres from 19,000 farmers. The farmers have been paid Rs 130 crore through DBT (direct benefit transfer). The state, together with the (Fci), will procure wheat from the farmers.

Last year, UP wheat procurement was way below the mark against the target of 60 lakh tons since the open market prices were higher than the MSP owing to a surge in the international wheat prices following the Russia-Ukraine war.

Since Russia and Ukraine are among the leading global wheat producers, the conflict affected their wheat supply chains, causing a scarcity of the commodity and stoking prices.

The domestic wheat prices during the last procurement season went north due to the sudden spurt in the export market, prompting India to ban export of the commodity to cool domestic prices and ensure Food Security amid global upheavals.

The global wheat supply chains are fairly stabilised this year, which augurs well for the domestic procurement of the Rabi crop in different states, including UP. Barring the 2022-23 wheat procurement season, which was exacerbated by the Ukraine war, the institutional buying of wheat in UP has been robust over the year

State discom chief plans to honour loyal consumers

JharkhandBijli Vitaran Nigam Ltd.(JBVNL), the state-owned power distribution company, on Monday sought to assure its 12.5 lakh-plus consumers and Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) that it was poised to make a dramatic turnaround in the next two to three years, ensure reliable power to consumers and reward all loyal consumers who have been regularly clearing their power bills on time, each month.

At a state advisory committee meeting meet called by Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC) in Ranchi on Monday to discuss tariff proposals submitted by the state-owned power discom for the years 2021-2022 to 2025-2026, K KVerma, managing director, JBVNL, pointed out that after two years of Covid pandemic, which had disrupted business and normal life alike, an action plan to reduce fiscal losses, increase operating efficiency, cut down on transmission and distribution losses and improve customer confidence is already under various stages of implementation.

No respite in sight from heatwave in Bihar: Met

Southern parts of the state are bracing for a surge in temperature by 2 to 3 degrees C over the next two days. The meteorologists have forecast heatwave in Kaimur, Rohtas and Aurangabad districts.

According toPatna Meteorological Centre, Harnaut in district recorded the highest maximum temperature of 41.5 degrees C in the state on Sunday, followed closely by Vaishali at 41.2 degrees C, while Patna and Siwan saw a maximum temperature of 41 degrees C.

CM lauds Anganwadi workers, Mitanins for service to mankind

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said the work done by Anganwadi workers, assistants and Mitanin was incomparable. No one else can do their work and they are an example of service to humanity.

He was addressing the Abhaar Sammelan at the Science College Ground here.

The event was held by the Women and Child Development Department to thank the Chief Minister for hiking the honorarium of Anganwadi workers, assistants and Mitanins.

Baghel felicitated six Anganwadi workers and five Mitanins for excellent work. Six self-help groups were handed over a cheque of loan amount of Rs. 10 lakh from Mahila Kosh.

The Chief Minister pledged that the annual income limit of women will be increased from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh for the benefit of the scheme under Saksham Yojana.

The limit of loan amount given to women groups will be increased from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. He also pledged to construct 5,000 Anganwadi buildings.

Baghel said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Anganwadi workers, assistants and Mitanins did when none else did. They continued to work during lockdown fighting Malnutrition.

Similarly, he praised their role in the fight against malaria. The door-to-door malaria tests were done by Mitanins and medicines were distributed, helping to bring down the malaria cases.

CM gives tagline Haan Main Bhi Ladli Hoon to Ladli Laxmis

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gave the tagline Haan Main Bhi Ladli Hoon to the Ladli Laxmis of the state and said that the Ladli Lakshmis should get admission in medical, IIT, IIM, law institutes and other prestigious educational institutions. But their fees will be paid by the .

Chouhan was addressing the state level Ladli Lakshmi Utsav focused on respect, guidance and dialogue for daughters in the Chief Ministers residence premises on Ladli Lakshmi Day. Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang, MP Pragya Singh Thakur, MLA Smt. Krishna Gaur, Mayor Smt. Malti Rai, District Panchayat President Smt. Ramkunwar along with a large number of beneficiaries of Ladli Lakshmi scheme and their guardians were present.

Chouhan said that Ladli Laxmi Yojana is completing 16 years. In the state, more than 44 lakh 85 thousand Lakhpati ladlies are now like a family, this is a big achievement for the state. The thinking towards daughters in the Society has changed. Girls are showing their talent in all fields. The Ladli Lakshmi Yojana was started 16 years ago with the aim that there should be no second-rate treatment towards daughters, sons and daughters should be considered equal.

Gujarat govt to give scholarships to 25,000 students of Classes 9-12

The stateeducation department announced the launch of a new Scholarship scheme for Class 9-12 students from financially weak families.
The government will provide scholarships to about 25,000 students under the Gyan Sadhana Scholarship Scheme from the new academic year.
A statement from the Education department said that Class 9-10 students will be given Rs 20,000 per annum and Class 11-12 students, Rs 25,000 per annum. The annual household income of a student from the rural area should not exceed Rs 1.2 lakh per annum, while this limit is Rs 1.5 lakh for those from urban areas.
The eligible students will be required to take a competitive exam and the meritorious ones will be chosen for the scholarship programme.

5 rivers identified for conservation campaign in Rajasthan

The states rural development department has launched a Vrikshmala riverbank conservation campaign under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural EMPLOYMENT Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to promote water conservation and sustainable Environment.

Under the campaign, five rivers Banas, Luni, Parvati, Kali Sindh and Chambal have been selected, the banks of which will be used for intensive plantation drive.

As many as 48 sites in 20 districts have been identified for the plantation drive. Intensive plantation will be done on a hectare of land on riverbanks under this campaign. On the site being on the riverbank, the survival chances of plans will increase, said EGS superintendent engineer Arvind Saxena.
Moreover, under MGNREGA, 60% focus will be given to individual category work and 40% to group work. Under this initiative, will be promoted in the individual category work. Of the total work under the individual category, 20% work will be dedicated to horticulture plantation, he said.

Till now,Rajasthanhas generated 1.57 crore persondays under the scheme. A labour budget of 20 crore was approved for this financial year. The central government has extended the deadline for Aadhaar-based payment of wages to workers till June 30. Earlier the deadline was extended up to March 31.

Indias foreign exchange reserve soar to an 11-month high of $595.9

Indias Foreign Exchange reserves increased by$7.196 billionin the week ending May 5, 2023, reaching$595.976 billion, which is an 11-month high. This follows a previous rise of $4.532 billion the week before.Foreign currency assets (FCA)saw the most significant Growth, rising by$6.536 billionto$526.021 billionduring the week.

Gold reservesrose by $659 million to $46.315 billion, while the reserve position at the increased by $139 million to $5.192 billion.

However,Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)decreased by $204 million to $18.447 billion. The Reserve Bank Of India has been intervening in the forex market to curb rupee depreciation through spot and forward positions.