07.07.23

Punjab to give old-age pension benefits only to needy, eligible individuals

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Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday instructed all District Social Security Officers in the state to collect income documents from original old-age pension beneficiaries within 15 days to ensure that the pension benefits are provided exclusively to those who are genuinely in need and eligible.

The Minister said that during pension-related actions taken, it was discovered that out of the J Form holders, 63,424 individuals are receiving old-age pension from the Department despite having an annual income exceeding Rs 60,000. However, for old-age pension, the beneficiarys annual income should not exceed Rs 60,000.

The Minister emphasized that the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is dedicated to creating a Corruption-free state.

Many pensioners in the Department are farmers. The Punjab State Mandi Board issues J Forms to farmers, providing information about their income from crop sales. To accurately determine their annual income, the Department compared the data with that of the Punjab State Mandi Board, she added.

1,000 Lok Mitra Kendra to be opened in Himachal to provide internet connectivity: CM

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Himachal Pradesh government is planning to open 1,000 Lok Mitra Kendra in far-flung areas during the current fiscal to provide instant Internet access to the people, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday. The government is determined to make high-speed internet connectivity accessible to the users, especially in the rural areas which lack internet connectivity through these Kendras, he said.

These centres will help in fulfilling the objective to create EMPLOYMENT opportunities for the rural youth at their doorstep, Sukhu said in a statement.

A widespread optical fibre cable Network will be laid across the state for providing internet connectivity, he said, adding that the government will also take up the matter with the concerned authorities to strengthen 5G Services. Adequate budget provision has been made for the same by the government for the current financial year, the statement added. The chief minister said an ‘Integrated Data Base Management System’ would be created in the next four months.

This system will then be used for the direct benefit transfer (DBT) mapping of different welfare schemes of various departments, including Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture, animal husbandry, labour and employment, he said.

Expedite the process of making villages ODF Plus in Ukhand: CM Dhami

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Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed the officers of department to expedite the process of making all the village Panchayats of Uttarakhand Open Defecation Free (ODF) plus. An ODF plus village is the one which has either solid or liquid Waste Management systems to sustain its ODF status.

He also directed that installation of solar lights in villages should be encouraged and computerisation of remaining Village Panchayats should be done. The CM gave these orders while undertaking a review meeting of the Rural development and Panchayati Raj departments at the State secretariat on Thursday. The meeting was held to review the progress of these departments in achieving targets under Empowered Uttarakhand @25 mission.

The CM said that the utilisation certificates (UC) and pending processes of the schemes funded in 90: 10 ratio by Union Government and State Government respectively should be completed and sent to the central government. He sought details of the centrally sponsored schemes that are pending from 2020 and before it.

The CM told the officers of the rural development department to ensure better Marketing of the local products and said that a system of online marketing should also be followed. Arrangements of maintaining supply of the products in demand should also be made.

Chambal to be home to dolphin sanctuary

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The NationalChambal sanctuary in UP will soon have a dolphin sanctuary area too. A proposal for the same was sent to the by deputy conservator of forest (wildlife) Arushi Mishra of the sanctuary project. The dolphin sanctuary has been proposed in Sahson ofChambalsanctuary, which has a considerable presence of dolphins in a stretch of 20 kms. Dolphin count in the area is 50 to 80 at present.

The Gangetic dolphin is national aquatic animal of the country. Proposal for the dolphin sanctuary is meant for the conservation of dolphins, said the official. In the 2012 census of the Gangetic dolphin, 671 of them were found in the rivers in the state, out of which 78 were sighted in the Chambal. At present, Bah range of Chambal sanctuary has 24 dolphins while another 147 dolphins are in the Etawah range, taking the total to 171 dolphins in the Chambal river in UP.

The Chambal sanctuary is spread across 635 sq km in three states, MP,Rajasthanand UP. The sanctuary has 2,176 ghariyals, 878 crocodiles and several rare species of turtles. The centre has identified two sites for the dolphin sanctuary in UP. The presentation on the two sites, chosen in Varanasi and Chambal, have already been made to the central government.

New Pharmaceutical and Solar policy soon: Industry Secretary

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The10th Manufacturing Conclave was organised by Confederation of Indian (CII) Eastern Region in the city with the theme of integrating Global Value Chain through Competitiveness Sustainability Technology.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Jitendra Kumar Singh, Ias Secretary, Department of Industries, Government of Jharkhand briefed about the integral role played by the manufacturing sector in the economy of India.

The industry sector holds a prominent position in the country, contributing 30 percent in the overall GVA of the country reflecting a resilient Growth in the present years. He said that the share of the industry sector has been 48 percent of the GSDP of Jharkhand in 2021-22. The mining industry is among the leading industries in the state. Besides this, he said, Jharkhand is coming out with its new pharmaceutical policy, ethanol production policy and the solar policy. 40 percent of natural mineral stocks of the country belong to the state. Jharkhand can contribute majorly in the GVC exports of India with an upgradation in the Infrastructure of the state mentioned here about the Amritsar- Kolkata industrial corridor.

Cabinet nod to internship for foreign med graduates

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The state cabinet approved the government’s proposal to facilitate internship for sevenforeign graduatesat its medical colleges after their registration with theBihar Medical Council.

Cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary S Siddharth said the step was taken on the directions of the National Medical Commission (NMC). The proposal had been moved by the Health department.
The cabinet also gave its nod to the framing of Bihar Law Officer (Commitment) Rules, 2023. It has bearing on the commitment, salary, duty and other conditions related to the functioning of law officers.

The cabinet also gave its nod to the framing of Bihar Law Officer (Commitment) Rules, 2023. It has bearing on the commitment, salary, duty and other conditions related to the functioning of law officers.

The cabinet on Thursday approved the draft of the Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill 2023 for presentation of the First Supplementary demands for 2023-24.

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Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel chaired the cabinet meeting at his official residence.

In another important decision, it was decided to fill 3,722 vacancies for teachers and 5,577 vacancies for assistant teachers in Bastar and Surguja regions.

The also extended the market value guideline rates by 30 percent to facilitate affordable housing for the general public.

The reduction, effective until March 31 this year, has been extended until March 31, 2024.

A proposal to include the Women Entrepreneurship Policy 2023 was approved while amending the Industrial Policy 2019-24 to empower women and enhance their economic status.

Under the Public Distribution System, a decision was taken to procure the required quantity of sugar for distribution to ration cardholders under Antyodaya and priority categories from cooperative sugar mills from April 2023 to March 2024.

Bhopal ready to jump on 1 nation 1 card bandwagon

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Niti Aayogs One Nation One Card initiative is getting closer to become a reality in Bhopal. After floating an expression of interest earlier this year, city bus operator Bhopal city link limited (BCLL) is anticipating a rollout during the current fiscal.

Most transport operators in main cities already have smart cards to make payments. We are looking at integration of all into one. One card to pay for bus, metro and the same card can work nationally, said BCLL and Bhopalsmart citydevelopment corporation limited (BSCDCL) CEO, Gourav Benal.

This week, top five players have expressed their interest. Each made an hour-long presentation. BCLL would move ahead with the tendering and implementation stage, he added.

State govt approved 124 TP schemes in 18 months

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With the focusing on Urbanization and development of urban facilities, which is also among the key areas under the G20 umbrella, 124 town planning (TP) schemes have been approved while 281 development works worth Rs 8,963 crore have been completed in the cities and towns.

Surat has bagged the first position in the country under theSmart CityMission, while Ahmedabad is in the third position. Gujarat has been ranked fifth in the state rankings, the release added.
The statement said that upgrades are made to infrastructural facilities across the state and a robust road Network is being created by the construction of overbridges and under bridges, especially in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat, making transportation easier for the citizens.

Tourism has attracted over 10K cr investment in 4 yrs

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In the past four and half years, 802 tourism units have been approved in the state with an of Rs 10,463.47 crore, said director tourismRashmi Sharma.

She said these units will generate EMPLOYMENT opportunities for 40785 people in the state.Rajasthanhas become the first state in the country to give full Industry status to tourism and hospitality sector.

On the other hand, during the Rajasthan Investment Summit organized last year, 379 MoUs were signed in the tourism sector, out of which 55 MoUs have been completed and 149 are at various stages of implementation.

Through these agreements, an investment of Rs 14,679 crore will be made in the state and there are possibilities of providing employment to 60,687 people.

Under the industry status, tourism units get electricity at industrial rates which are about 30% less than the commercial rates. At the same time, UD tax on these units is also applicable at industrial rates, which is 80% less than the commercial rate.

So far, the rourism department has issued entitlement certificates to 859 units out of the 1,262 applications. Similarly, 41 applications have been received under the Rural Tourism Scheme 2022, out of which certificates have been issued to 35.