15.10.21

Arunachal signs MoUs with NGOs for running three Eklavya schools

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The Arunachal Pradesh government on Saturday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for running three new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).

The schools are being constructed at Nyapin in Kurung Kumey district, Khela in Tirap, and Tirbin in Leparada, and would start functioning from the next academic session, the Education Department officials said. The MoUs were signed between the Arunachal Pradesh Ekalvya Model Residential School Society (APEMRSS) and NGOs Gyamar Art and Cultural Society, Arunachal Shiksha Vikas Samiti and VKV Arunachal Trust. Chief Minister Pema Khandu, who was present on the occasion, appreciated the NGOs for volunteering to run the institutions to impart quality education to rural children.

Odisha to adopt PM Gati Shakti

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The Odisha Government decided to adopt the PM Gati Shakti scheme for seamless multimodal connectivity of integration of various projects in the State.A meeting in this connection was held here under the chairmanship of Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera.

The Minister reviewed various infrastructure projects in the State and suggested taking advantage of getting integrated with the PM Gati Shakti, the national Master Plan for seamless multimodal connectivity of integration of various infrastructures like roads, Ports, aviation, energy and telecom. With integration, the logistic cost for the manufacturing sector, allied sector and exports would be reduced, ensure quick turnaround time, increase competitiveness and help the goal of achieving 1 trillion dollar economy of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Guwahati airport’s operations handed over to Adani Group

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The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati was handed over to the Adani Group for operations, management and development responsibilities.

Beginning the process of developing and modernising the Northeast’s foremost airport, the symbolic key of the airport was handed over by Ramesh Kumar, Airport Director of the Authority of India (AAI). To Utpal Baruah, Chief Airport Officer of the new airport operator at an event held midnight.

In 2018, the government of India included the Guwahati airport in the group of six airports — Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangalore, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram — set for privatisation for operations, management and development (OMD) for a period of 50 years.

Drop in SC/ST scholarship beneficiaries in Tamil Nadu

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Nadu Adi Dravida and Tribal Welfare Department has reduced the budgetary allocation for the Post Matriculation Scholarship (PMS) scheme this year by Rs 48 crore.

Under this scheme, scholarship is given to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, who pursue medicine, engineering, arts and science, polytechnic, MBA and other professional courses.

Authorities attribute the fund reduction to drop in applications and SC/ST enrolment in higher Education institutions. This decline started in 2017 the year in which the government tweaked PMS scheme guidelines. Until then, scholarship was provided to all SC/ST students in government, aided and self-financing institutions.

Kerala: BPL families hit by Covid deaths to get Rs 5,000 per month for 3 years

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The cabinet decided to provide a sustenance fund on compassionate grounds of Rs 5,000 each to BPL families of those who have died of Covid-19. This will be in addition to all the declared compensations and financial assistance for Covid deaths.

People dependent on those who have died of Covid-19 in the BPL families will be eligible. The government has made it clear that the beneficiary of any social welfare pensions will not be a hindrance for getting this new benefit.

As per the decision, if the person has died anywhere in the country or even outside the country, and if the family is settled in Kerala, then they will be eligible for this compensation. District collectors and the revenue department will be taking up the steps for beginning the process of application. A simplified application process will be made available for this.

The state cabinet has directed the revenue department that this special assistance should be disbursed within 30 days of the receipt of the application. No applicants should be summoned to any of the offices for verifying the applications.

River projects: Telangana govt yet to give consent for takeover

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The Godavari and Krishna river management boards sent the copies of the resolutions of the board meetings held on Monday and Tuesday to the and asked it to come out with government orders (GOs) accepting the takeover of the Irrigation projects by the two boards.

However, the state government did not issue any GOs for the takeover of irrigation projects on Godavari and Krishna by the two boards. Till late night on Wednesday, the government was yet to issue any GOs in this regard.

Sources said the Telangana government is of the view that the deadline for takeover is October 14 and there was no need to hurriedly issue GOs on October 13 itself. Also, the state government is still trying and is hoping that the Centre may defer the takeover as chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. A senior official in the state government said that they need to examine the proposal and resolution of the two boards before acting on them.

Karnataka signs MoU with NASSCOM for industry-aligned skill development of students

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Karnataka State Higher Education Council entered into an MoU with IT body National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) on Tuesday, aimed at providing industry-aligned Skill development experiences to students of higher education.

This is likely to benefit over 5 lakh students and faculty every year.

This MoU will make skill development courses available on the ‘Future Skills Prime’ platform of NASSCOM to all students and faculty members of higher education institutions in Karnataka.

Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra sworn in as chief justice of Andhra Pradesh high court

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VJustice Prashant Kumar Mishra was sworn in as the chief of AP High Court.

Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan administered the oath to Justice Mishra. While chief secretary Sameer Sharma initiated the proceedings, high court registrar general BS Bhanumati read out the notification issued by the President of India on the appointment.

Justice Mishra was born in Raigarh (Chhattisgarh) in 1964. After completing his BSc and LLB from Guru Ghasidas University in Bilaspur, he enrolled as an advocate in 1987 and practised at Raigarh district court, high court of Madhya Pradesh, and later at Chhattisgarh high court. Having dealt with civil, criminal and writ branches of law, he was designated as senior advocate in 2005.

Film subsidy not released for six years

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The Federation of Film of Goa (FFFG), on Thursday, demanded that the Entertainment Society of Goa clear the files of the film subsidies pending for six years. The delegation was led by Konkani filmmaker Laxmikant Shetgaonkar who said that the delay in subsidy has resulted in an economic crisis in the local film Industry and reduction in the number of films produced locally.

The state, which hosts an international event on cinema (IFFI), has failed miserably to support its local filmmakers, Shetgaonkar added.

Presently more than 45 film producers are awaiting subsidy for the films they have made since the past six years. Uncertainty over the government subsidy has resulted in low response to film production amongst investors and financiers.

FFFG warned that it will involve all artists, technicians, Trade Unions including IMPPA, FFI and launch their agitation beginning November 1.

Maharashtra pays Rs 330 crore for power as deficit rises

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The Maharashtra government has spent more than Rs 330 crore on purchasing electricity from the open market to bridge the demand-supply gap caused by coal shortage.

Energy minister Nitin Raut on Tuesday said the state is facing a shortfall of 3,500-4,000MW of electricity, and blamed the mismanagement and a lack of planning on the part of central Psu Coal India Ltd for it.

At present, the state needs 17,500-18,000MW of electricity, and with the soaring October heat, the requirement may go up to 20,000MW. Officials said state-owned power Plants have maximum two days stock and its likely that government may have to go in for load-shedding in some areas if supply doesnt stabilise.