11.05.21

Northeast may be next Covid hotspot

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The north-east could be poised to become the next target of the ongoing second wave of Covid, according to a forecasting tool based on data.

Development Data Lab, a research organisation working on open data, and a team led by University of Chicagos Prof Anup Malani calculates the reproductive rate (Rt) for the Covid-19 outbreak each day. This is a measure of how many people an infected person is likely to infect in a community. The calculations show that the Rt value is greater than 1 for allnortheastern states.

The data shows that there are 15 states and UTs where this value was more than 1 on May 21. At 1.36, the value is the highest for Tripura followed by Meghalaya at 1.31 and Arunachal Pradesh at 1.26. Apart from the eight northeastern states.

Assam govt announces free power for all new oxygen plants

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The Assam government said it will provide free power to all the new Oxygen Plants that are coming up in the state.

In a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, a number of decisions were taken in view of the rising Covid-19 cases and availability of medical oxygen.

If any new oxygen plant is set up, the will provide 100 per cent free power supply. For reviving closed oxygen plants, 100 per cent free power will be provided.

In Odisha hinterlands, community radios go where state can’t

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In the hinterlands ofOdisha, wheretribalsdo not have exposure to information, community radios are trying to fill that void. They have been providing updates on Covid-19 and sensitising villagers about preventive methods to keep the virus at bay.

As many as 13community radio stationshave adopted nearby villages to keep them updated aboutCovidthrough their campaign Nua Sakalara Katha (story of a new dawn) and help villagers practice wearing mask, maintain social distancing and wash hands regularly.

The campaign has received support from the US Consulate General in Hyderabad andYoung India, an NGO.

Tamil Nadu: Drones to be used for 3D images of temples

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In a bid to introduce transparency and efficiency, theTamil NaduHindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department proposes to digitize moveable and immoveable properties of 44,000-odd temples under its purview, within eight months. It would take up drone surveys to develop 3D images of the temples and their properties, which devotees can view from any part of the world.

The government is clear in its approach to introduce transparency and efficiency in the administration of all the 44,227 temples located across the state. So far, the HR & CE department has uploaded data related to 32,239 temples in the existing Thirukoil web portal.

The department would engage an agency to develop digital elevation and surface models, covering the entire 4.95 lakh temple properties with survey numbers.

Kerala needs a new model of public finance

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The finance minister in thePinarayi Vijayangovernment 2.0 needs to chart a newKeralamodel of PUBLIC FINANCE that will not burden the future generation, eminent economist Prof K PKannanhas said.

The minister can find solace in the fact that the flow of has been continuing, a good part of which end up as Savings in banks, Kannan said, adding that he should find ways and means to tap these deposits through innovative ways by offering competitive interest rates and convert them into investments in productive Infrastructure.

Kerala has been facing serious challenges on the Migration front, including dwindling prospects of migration. In his opinion, skilling and raising the quality of Education are important prerequisites to tap the emerging potentials in overseas job markets.

The new Decentralization known asPanchayat Rajis now a half-built house. It calls for a complete faith in the principle of decentralized Governance as well as development, which I doubt, is still lacking among powerful sections in almost all Political Parties. But the Society, in general, has found it of value, especially in times of social crises.

The centralizing tendencies—for example by way of creating ‘missions’ for tasks that are legitimately meant for the Panchayat Rajare not a good omen. Deepening decentralization calls for a hand-holding approach by the government towards the local (not yet self) government. This is an agenda in which we need a political consensus across parties; I think we already have a social consensus, Kannan said.

Kalaburagi first Karnataka city to deploy auto ambulances

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Kalaburagi, facing acute shortage of ambulances, became the only city inKarnatakato deploy autorickshawambulancesto ferry Covid-positive patients to hospitals free of cost. The service with a fleet of fiveauto ambulancesbegan late Tuesday evening and aims at ensuring patients reach hospitals without much wait.

The idea behind introducing auto ambulances is not only about shortage of ambulances. Many patients have been requesting autorickshaw drivers to reach out to hospitals and many drivers refuse fearing the virus spread and stigma.

Labour dept directs industries to ensure safety of all workers

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With the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases, labour departmenthas turned its attention to condition of registered workers and workers of theunorganised sectorin Telangana.

According to official records, there are over 1.20 lakh registered workers in construction sector and another 95 lakh workers in unorganised sectors such asindustriesincluding major, medium and minor, and other mini hand-made manufacturing units in Telangana. Themigrant workers share in both sectors is more than 60%.

Recently, the Labour Department also constitutedTelanganaState Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers (TSSSBUW) to register all the workers of unorganised sector.

Andhra Pradesh govt presents Rs 2.29 lakh crore budget for financial year 2021-22

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The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday presented its annual budget for the financial year 2021-22 with an estimated expenditure of Rs 2.29 lakh crore and an estimated revenue of Rs 1.77 lakh crore.

He incorporated a ‘gender budget’ as well as a ‘child budget’ this year with an outlay of Rs 47,283 crore and Rs 16,748 crore respectively.

Further, the government has earmarked a whopping Rs 48,083.92 crore for 22 freebie schemes this year.

Three of these schemes that will cost Rs 16,899 crore will be implemented through the State Development Corporation.

While the estimated was Rs 5,000 crore, the Fiscal Deficit was estimated to be Rs 37,029 crore.

The state’s Public Debt will mount to Rs 3,87,125 crore in 2021-22 from Rs 3,55,874 crore the previous year as the government targeted to borrow Rs 50,525 crore afresh.

The gender budget has further been divided into two components, one of which has an outlay of Rs 23,463 crore to fully cover schemes targeted for Women and girls.

Govt begins work to amend Goa Co-op Societies Act

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The is mulling to amend the Goa Co-operative Societies Act to strengthen cooperative organisations and to try and keep a check on fraudulent activities in cooperative bodies which are in a bad shape, said minister for cooperation Govind Gaude.

For many years Goas cooperative sector has been ignored and has been riddled with financial irregularities and erosion of depositors funds. One of the objectives behind the proposed amendment, said sources, is to bring in checks and balances to prevent malpractices and bring in transparency in a sector which is the backbone of the states rural economy.

Maharashtra govt likely to give special relief package to affected districts

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The is likely to consider a specialcompensation packageunder the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the districts affected byCyclone Tauktae.

State cabinet ministerUday Samant, who is also Ratnagiri guardian minister, demanded a specialrelief packageon the lines of that given last year to those affected by Cyclone Nisarga, which had made a landfall in Raigad district.

Last year, in the wake of Cyclone Nisarga, the state government had hiked the per hectare compensation under NDRF for horticultural land to Rs 50,000 from Rs 25,000, for damaged houses to Rs 1.5 lakh from Rs 95,000, and for partially damaged houses to Rs 15,000 from Rs 6,000.