04-05.04.21

India calls for talks to restore democracy in Myanmar

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For the second time in three days, India condemned any use of violence, inMyanmaras it called for restoration of Democracy in the country where the military seized power in a coup in February.

However, Indias position remains nuanced with the government having also called for engagement with Myanmar and for the situation to be resolved through dialogue. While India was among eight countries to send a representative to the Myanmar Armed Forces Day parade, Bagchi said not too much should be read into it as India had an embassy there with the ambassador and DEFENCE attache performing their duties.

Assam body to go for Muslim census

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The Janagosthiya Samannay Parishad, an umbrella body of 21 indigenous Muslim organizations in Assam, will begin acensusto identify the states khilonjiya or indigenous Muslim Population to re-establish theseparate identityof these communities, which has been threatened of late.

Thestate governmenthad announced that it will conduct the census and state budget allocated welfare funds of Rs 100 crore to establish a development corporation for theindigenousMuslims.

The Assam government last year on February 6 announced a meeting with representatives of indigenous Muslim communities Goria, Moria, Ujani, Deshi, Jola, Maimal, Syed, etc. to discuss the implementation of socio-economic census of indigenous Muslims. Awal said there are 40 lakh indigenous Muslims in the state. According to Census 2011, Muslims constitute 34.22% of the 3.12 crore population of Assam.

Odisha: Government debt to touch 1.25lakh-crore by the end of 2021-22 fiscal year

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Odishas overall debt stock by the end of 2021-22 financial year is estimated to touch Rs 1.25 lakh crore, which indicates increasing loan burden on the states finances, revealed the budget documents tabled.

As the states revenue collection from own tax and non-tax sectors and fund flow from the Centre under shared tax and grants-in-aid are not adequate to meet the budgetary requirements, the generally goes for borrowing.

During the 2021-22 financial year, the state government has targeted to borrow a major amount of Rs 18,000 crore from open market and Rs 16,186 crore from sources like Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (Campa) funds.

Aquaculture company partners with Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University

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South India-based farm diversification integrator Aqgromalin has announced its PARTNERSHIP withTANUVAS, the first veterinary and animal sciences university in Asia (in 1989).

As part of the agreement, Aqgromalin will be inducted as a virtual (remote) incubatee into the Veterinary Incubation Foundation established atTamil NaduVeterinary and Animal Sciences University.

Aqgromalin helps provide ready to implement micro farms to animal husbandry and aquaculture farmers that can help them in improving their household income. These farms are implemented with minimal and include all necessary input Infrastructure.

Karnataka: Of cases in past month, 47% in 15-45 yrs bracket

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Experts say the government should ideally begin vaccinating the moving Population, which largely comprises those above the 18 years of age, since figures show that 47% or 38,256 of the total 67,298 people who tested positive for Covid-19 between March 5 and April 5 this year in Karnataka are in the 15 to 45 years age group.

The Karnataka government apprised the central government of these statistics during a video conference meeting on Tuesday to discuss measures to curb the spread of the virus. During the meeting,state Health department officialsprovided age-wise distribution ofCovid cases in Karnatakain the past one month.

As per the state health and family welfare department data, there are 4,172 children in the age group 0-14 years who tested positive between March 5 and April 5 this year. The highest number of infections 19,378 were seen among those aged between 15 and 29 years, a majority of whom were students, while 18,853 people in the age group of 30-44 years had also tested positive during the same period.

There were 14,978 cases in the age group 45 to 59 years, and 9,917 people above 60 years of age who tested positive.

Of the total 67,298 patients, 307 died of which 214 (or 70%) of them were aged 60 years and above. While 75 people in the age group of 45-59 years succumbed to Covid-19, the number was four for the 15-30 years age group and 13 for the 30-45 years group.

Telangana CM forms nodal agency to put devpt work on fast track

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To find solutions for problems and also for the integrated development of surrounding areas of Hyderabad, including Medchal-Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts, which are rapidly developing, CMK Chandrashekhar Rao has decided to constitute anodal agencyheaded bychief secretary Somesh Kumar.

The agency will oversee works that provide a permanent solution to issues such as traffic, submerging of areas under flood water among other things. The agency will take up developmental works in all assembly constituencies, municipalities and other important towns in two districts. These works include developing Infrastructure such as power, drinking water, cleanliness, repairing of sewerage and drainage, and construction of integrated vegetable and meat markets, town halls and laying of roads. TheCMinstructed chief secretary to hold meetings with the ministers, MLAs, MLCs and officials of departments.

Andhra Pradesh govt offices to get smart power meters

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In a move that could have far reaching consequences, the has directedpowerdistribution companies to replace existing electricity meters in all government offices, including local bodies withprepaid meters.

Thediscomshave been permitted to procure smart/prepaid meters to replace the existing meters. Although the decision is likely to help discoms in getting their billing Money in advance, it has to be seen how the government would manage the finances to pay the same to different departments and local bodies.

The government had already started installation of smart meters foragriculture pumpsetsin the state and is spending close to Rs 8,500 crore on free power supply for the Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture sector.

The government had to remit the entire metered amount into the respective farmers bank account as part of its Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. The respective power distribution companies would be allowed to take the entire amount from the farmers account without delay.

State signs renewable energy MOU with German company

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Thestate governmenthas signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the German-based Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH for developing astate energy planand 100%renewable energyroadmap for Goa under the Indo-German program on Access toEnergyin Rural Areas.

Aimed at creating a strategic unit to develop, maintain and implement the multi-sectoral energy action plan, the MoU has been inked on the advice of the Union ministry for new andrenewableenergy.

While the MoU clearly lays down the broader mandates of technical cooperation with the electricity department and the GoaEnergy DevelopmentAuthority, a detailed list of activities will be separately agreed in writing between the parties.

The German company will provide technical assistance in setting up a multi-sectoral strategic unit (or PMU) and provide necessary technical assistance in developing a 100 % roadmap along with appropriate decision support tools.

It will also provide technical assistance to monitor, report and modify components of the renewable energy roadmap through organizing periodic steering committee meetings and subsequently provide technical assistance to implement mutually agreed upon priority activities.

The electricity department will coordinate with key departments and steer the process of developing the renewable energy roadmap as well as state energy plan in consultation with GIZ and its partners.

The government of Maharashtra State announced the establishment of an area in the Amboli region of the Ghats in the western Ghats of Sindhudurg region, where a rare freshwater fish has been discovered as a heritage of biodiversity. Highlights:

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Tejas Thackeray, the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, is a wildlife researcher. The team of Tejas discovered a new freshwater fish species named in Schistura Hiranyakeshi near Amboli in Sawantwadi tehsil, Sindhudurg region.

The issued a notice declaring the Amboli area as a Biodiversity heritage. Schistura is a colorful little fish that lives in water and flows through it with a lot of Oxygen.

Previously, the state government of Maharashtra has declared the glory of Allapalli (Gadchiroli district), Landor Khori Park (Jalgaon), Ganesh Khind (Pune), and mystrica swamp vegetation in Sindhudurg district as biodiversity heritage.

Tejas Thackeray and co-authors published the discovery of freshwater fish species in the October 2020 edition of the International Journal of Ichthyology.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Sunday announced a bonanza of welfare schemes in the interest of sanitation workers in the state.

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The monthly salary of sanitation workers working in rural areas has been increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 14,000 per month and monthly salary of sanitation workers working in urban areas has been increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 16,000 per month, said the Chief Minister during Safai Mitra Utthan Sammelan in Karnal.

Sanitary workers having annual income of upto Rs 1.80 lakh will be able to take a collateral free loan for Education of their children and if a person is not able to pay such loan, then it will be compensated by the .