18-19.12.22

Govts Act East policy has borne fruit in northeast: Amit Shah

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On a tour of the northeastern region, Union Home ministerAmit Shah said Congress coined the look east policy but failed to deliver, while in contrast, the BJP government implemented its Act East policy, paving the way for peace and development in the once-disturbed region.

After laying the foundation of nine schemes worth Rs 1060 crore and inaugurating 12 projects worth Rs 300 crore, Shah said: This is the difference between Congress and BJP. In the last eight years, the Modi government has spent Rs 3.45 lakh crore for northeastern India, which is equal to what had been spent for the region in the 25 years before it.

Shah said Manipur has marched forward without any bandhs and blockades and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been lifted in six districts of the state.

NIT Silchar-Assam University signs MoU to foster NEP 2020In a bid to facilitate the sharing of resources, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Silchar, and Assam University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

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In the Light of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, whose implementation process has already begun at our institute, this memorandum of understanding holds great significance with respect to the holistic development of the academic pursuits of students.

Free rice should reach actual beneficiaries: Pradhan urges Odisha govt

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Days after the Centre announced the distribution of free rice under the National Act (NFSA) for a year, the BJP asked the State Government to ensure that the ration reached the actual beneficiaries.

Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking care of the food security need of 80 per cent of the countrys Population during the Covid-19 pandemic and thereafter, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said around 3.25 lakh people of the state will be benefited.

The state government has the responsibility for proper distribution of this free rice to the beneficiaries. My expectation from the state government is that none of the beneficiaries will be deprived of the free food grain, Pradhan told reporters during the launch of 5G service in the city.

Earlier, food grains distributed under NFSA had some cost out of which 90 to 95 per cent was taken care of by the Centre while a minuscule amount was borne by the state government. As the Centre will now bear the entire cost of the ration, the state has the only responsibility for its proper distribution, he added.

Project to protect Nilgiri Tahr, Tamil Nadu animal, launched

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Nadu is set to implement Project Nilgiri Tahr, aimed at developing a better understanding of the Population, distribution and ECOLOGY of the endangered species which is the state animal. Quoting references from Sangam literature about its significance and its habitat, the department of Environment, Climate and forest on Wednesday issued an order in connection with the new conservation initiative.

The project, to be set up at a cost of `25.1 crore, will be implemented during the 2022-27 period. Nilgiris Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), endemic to the Western ghats and locally known as Varaiaadu, has been classified a critically endangered species in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) red list and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (protection) Act of India, 1972. A World Wide Fund for Nature Report in 2015 estimated that there were 3,122 Nilgiri Tahr in the wild.

The project will follow a multi-pronged strategy including synchronized surveys to estimate the numbers of individuals through the use of radio telemetry including radio collaring, etc. It will also include efforts to restore the animals fragmented habitat, with revival of shola grasslands to be taken up on a priority basis.

Kerala govt to formulate a design policy: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

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Kerala government is working towards a design policy with the intention of making the state a global hub in the fast-emerging creative field by capitalizing on the regions strong startup ecosystem and traditionally vibrant culture, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

While inaugurating the two-day Kochi Design Week (KDW), supported by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) at Bolgatty, the CM said the government is holding discussions with experts to locate suitable areas that require focal attention to promote design as a means to augment .

Kerala is all set to become the design capital of India. The state has the best startup ecosystem in the country, and we have Kerala fibre optic Network (K-FON) Internet connectivity even in rural areas, said CM.

CM Basavaraj Bommai releases logo and mascot of National Youth Festival

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Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai unveiled the logo and mascot for the National Youth Festival.

The theme of this year’s Youth festival is ‘Vikasit Yuva, Vikasit Bharat’, and over 7,500 delegates from all over the country are expected to participate.

The CM thanked the Government of India for allowing Karnataka to host this year’s National Youth Festival and Khelo India University Sports meet. The state has made all arrangements to host the youth festival on a grand scale.

Growers demand tobacco to be treated as farm produce

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Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) has appealed to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to treat tobacco crop like any other agricultural produce and not put additional burden of taxes on legally manufactured products in India.

The irrational taxes on tobacco are causing adverse impact on tobacco farmers, said FAIFA. It said that the farming community is very concerned with the unabashed push by vested NGOs whose agenda is to push for Growth of international tobacco through smuggled cigarettes. FAIFA submitted a detailed representation to the finance minister as part of pre-budget consultations.

For tourism projects & green policies, Goa govt to modify RP

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The state cabinet granted approval to amendGoa Town And Country Planning Act, 1974, which will allow the government to modify theregional planto accommodate tourism-related projects and the states economic and environmental policies.

The cabinet also felt that there are inadvertent errors, inconsistent and incoherent zoning proposals in the Regional Plan which need to be corrected.

It is resolved to amend Section 17 of the Act for introducing a provision for alteration/modification of Regional Plan by the government, for accommodating projects/schemes in furtherance to tourism development, economic and environmental policies of the state or in consonance thereof, which will not materially alter the overall character of regional and for rectification of inadvertent errors, inconsistent/incoherent zoning proposals in the Regional Plan in such manner and to such extent as may be prescribed.

Maharashtra government tells local bodies to stop manual scavenging

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The has issued orders to all local bodies in Maharashtra to stop manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewage lines by safai kamgars and instead go for 100% mechanisation for cleaning them.

The state urban development (UD) department issued a government resolution (GR) to stop the practice in three months and appoint mechanised cleaning agencies for the job.

As per the Prohibition of EMPLOYMENT as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (MS Act, 2013), manual scavenging means manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of, or handling in any manner, human excreta in an insanitary latrine.

The prohibition was with effect from December 2013. Yet news of deaths related to manual scavenging right across the peripheries of Mumbai keep pouring in with regularity.

The Act prohibits states and Union territories to employ workers for manual scavenging of sewage and drainage lines.