08.02.22

Manipur Craft Map

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In 2018-19, an expert team conducted a field survey in Manipur to create the craft map.

Highlights:

It is the first of its kind, created with the goal of giving all creative genres equal and focused attention. Manipur’s handmade map was created more than a year ago.

It describes Manipur’s handloom and handicraft traditions in detail.

Konsam Ibomcha Singh, who earned the Padma Shri in 2022 for his doll-making craft, recently brought this map into the spotlight.

Apart from him, Lourembam Bino Devi was also honored for more than five decades of preserving ‘leeba’ applique textile craft from the state.

In collaboration with the National Institute of Design, Manipur’s Mission for Economic Empowerment of Traditional Artisans and Craftsmen (MEETAC) mapped many Art Forms.

Odisha got more than expected in Rail Budget

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RAILWAY and Communication Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said the Narendra Modi Government has been allocating more funds than expected in the Railway Budget to Odisha from 2014 onwards.

During the tenure of the UPA Government, Odisha had got Rs 800 crore in the Railway Budget. But from 2014 to 2019, the Modi Government allocated approximately Rs 4,124 every year to Odisha. This is more than four times the funds allocated by the UPA, said Vaishnaw at a Press meet here.

This year, a record amount of Rs 9,734 crore has been allocated for Odisha. We all have to make joint efforts to utilise the allocated funds. Forest clearance and land acquisition need to be done on time. We will get more funds if we spend the sanctioned amount on time.

Tamil Nadu assembly to pass anti-NEET Bill

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In a special sitting at Fort St George, the Nadu assembly on Tuesday reintroduced the Bill, popularly known as the anti-NEET Bill, to provide for admission to undergraduate courses in medicine, dentistry, Indian medicine and homeopathy on the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying examination. The anti-NEET Bill also provides for the students of government schools to get 7.5% horizontal quota in medical admission.

The special sitting was convened after chief minister M K Stalin-led meeting of all legislature parties — barring the AIADMK and its allies the BJP and the Puratchi Bharatham — on Saturday resolved to reintroduce and pass the Bill again after governor R N Ravi returned the Bill for reconsideration.

Kerala to get Rs 347.55 crore under SDMF

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The state will receive Rs 347.55 crore from the Centre under the newly constitutedstate disaster mitigation fund(SDMF) that will be exclusively utilized for preparatory works to ensure mitigation of natural disasters.

The ministry of Home affairs has allocated the funds, to which Rs 115.85 crore will be contributed by the state as its share, taking the total to Rs 463.40 crore to be utilized for the next five years, on the basis of the recommendations of the 15th .
The state is expected to benefit immensely from the new funds as most of the districts have been complaining about shortage of funds for pre-monsoon activities like desilting, ensuring the smooth flow of storm water for averting chances of flooding, etc.

The SDMF will be used for those local level and community-based interventions, which reduce the risks and promote Environment-friendly settlements and livelihood practices. However, the Centre has specifically asked the states that large-scale mitigation interventions such as construction of coastal walls, flood embankments, support for drought resilience, etc. should be pursued through the regular development schemes and not from the mitigation fund.

Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards 2022

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The Karnataka Government won’t accept applications for Rajyotsava Awards from 2023. Instead, a panel is to be found to settle on the eligible candidates.

Highlights:

The government is following in the footsteps of the central government. The central government chooses the Padma awardees by itself.

No applications are received from the candidates. The award is additionally called Rajyotsava Prahasti.

It’s the second-highest civilian award within the state presented on November 1. The award carries one lakh rupees and a trophy (20 grams).

Between 1966 and 1972, it had been called the Mysore State Award.

The awards are presented to distinguished individuals in drugs, Sports, science, arts, , Education, public affairs, welfare work.

Telangana-AIM invitation for AI startups

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The AI Mission(T-AIM) has invited applications from early stage startups, working in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) space, from across the country for the second cohort of its Revv Up startup acceleration programme.

As many as 42 startups were selected in August 2021 for the first cohort of the Revv Up programme, which has been launched by theTelanganagovernment in PARTNERSHIP with apex IT Industry bodyNasscomto boost AI innovation. The accelerator is primarily aimed at providing exclusive opportunities forAI startupsto solve societal and business problems through partnerships with government and industry.

Selected startups will not only be mentored by industry experts but will also get technology and IP support to build scalable businesses with AI-based offering at their core.

According to T-AIM, over 20 startups from the first cohort have started to explore the North American market with the help of T-AIMs partner organisation.
While six startups are exploring the Central European market through digital delegations and virtual booths enabled by the programme.

Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy credits Rs 285 crore to small businesses

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Chief ministerY SJaganMohan Reddydisbursed Rs 285.35 crore into the accounts of 2,85,350 beneficiaries, including tailors, barbers and dhobis who have their own shops. He transferred 10,000 each to the beneficiaries towards upgradation of their small business.

Interacting with beneficiaries, the chief minister said the government is providing financial assistance in a transparent manner without Corruption. He said this government has turned the BCs from Backward Classes to Backbone Classes by empowering weaker sections socially, economically and politically. He further saidAndhra Pradeshis the first state in the country to create a BC Commission.

Going into details, he said there were only 3.97 lakh government employees until the 2019 , whereas after the elections as many as 1,84,264 new jobs were created and over one lakh Outsourcing employees have been receiving EPF and ESI benefits through APCOS. By regularising RTC employees, the State Government is bearing an additional burden of 3,600 crore every year and additionally, a minimum timescale has been brought in for contract employees. The salary bill for 3.7 lakh government employees was 1,198 crore till 2019, but has now increased to 3,187 crore per annum.

Indo-US trade body to map pain points of Goa Inc

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TheIndo-American Chamber of Commerce(IACC) has decided to capture the pain points and suggestions to improve in Goa. The Industry feedback will be collated and submitted to the new government after the February 14 Elections so that the government can prepare a roadmap to help local businesses.

The industry body will also submit a list of reforms that need to be implemented to promote industrial activity and private Investment.

Among the many factors being assessed, the IACC is asking local businessmen about the reforms that they envision, the timelines that they expect for government Services, redundant processes and compliances that need to be done away with and services expected from government departments.

Data shows 38 per cent OBC population in Maharashtra, commission supports OBC quota in local body polls

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The A V Nirgude (retired)-led commission for Backward Classes has supportedMaharashtragovernment’s 27 per cent quota for other backward classes (OBC) in local self-government bodies poll and in its interim report said that data extracted fromSARAL(rural and urban areas) and UDISE indicates that in the state, more than 35 per cent of the Population belongs to OBC.

The commission said it finds data from Systematic Administrative Reforms for Achieving and Learning(SARAL) and UDISE report by the department of Education more reliable”. The UDISE report indicates that the OBC population is 38 per cent, it said.The above sources (SARAL & UDISE), indicates the Percentage of OBC pupils, joined the schools, therefore, it endorses that the percentage of OBCs in Maharashtra may be much more than 38 per cent,” said the report making its authoritative recommendation” to restore and grant 27 per cent political reservation to OBC in the upcoming Elections to the local self government.

The report said, on analyzing the data and documents submitted by the State Government it thought it fit to recommend restoration of 27 per cent quota which is already prescribed by enactments, excluding areas notified by the PESA Act and subject to the permissible upper limit of 50 per cent to OBC category in local self-government, excluding statutory reservation meant for SC and ST.

Haryana Govt to give Rs 561 cr for crop damage

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The farmers who were staging a dharna outside the mini secretariat in Hisar for the past nine months have called off their dharna after the government announced a compensation of Rs 561 crore for the damage to in 2021 for the state. Out of this amount, Rs 173 crore has been sanctioned for the Hisar farmers.

The All India Kisan Sabha leaders said the SDM Ashveer Nain reached the dharna site today to inform about the acceptance of their demand by the State Government.