21.04.23

US keen to collaborate with Mizoram on connectivity, solid waste management, cyber security

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The US is keen to collaborate with Mizoram on connectivity, solid Waste Management, cyber security, research and development in the military, Kolkata-based US Consul General Melinda Pavek said.

Pavek said that apart from land and air connectivity, human mobility, visa issuance for students and businesses, collaborative efforts can be undertaken in the field of innovation and to work with US industries, Solid Waste Management, cyber security, research and development in the military, as per the official. People to people, Government to Government and multilateral collaboration can also be undertaken, the Head of the US Consulate General in Kolkata said.

Lalthangliana mentioned that Mizoram has the lowest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and has ranked first among small states in the recently released NITI Aayog‘s Health Index. He also stated that Mizoram has the second highest Literacy rate in India (after Kerala) and applauded the effort of the Church, NGOs and local communities in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic. While mentioning certain developments and ongoing projects in the state such as JICA’s (Japan International Cooperation Agency) funded Cancer Superspeciality Hospital, installation of Oxygen Plants in all districts, addition of ICU beds, World Bank funded Mizoram State Health System Strengthening Project. The Minister also asserted the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Malaria, TB in the state and called for better cooperation to eradicate such diseases from the state.


Assam Govt provincialises 419 tea garden managed schoolsThe Assam Government provincialized as many as 419 Tea Garden managed schools in the state, informed education minister Ranoj Pegu.

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In a notification released on the orders of Governor of Assam, it said that 419 Lower Primary (L.P) schools, two Middle English (M.E) schools, one High School in tea garden areas will be provincialised.

The notification reads, The concerned District Elementary Education Officers and Inspector of Schools will ensure proper working relationship between the newly appointed teachers and existing tea garden engaged teachers. Further they will ensure harmonious Environment in the schools with better academic coordination. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that 219 new high schools will be established in tea garden areas.

Family planning picking up pace in Odisha: Govt data

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Government data has revealed that family planning is gaining pace in the state.

According to the data, while total sterilisation cases were 55,072 in 2020-21, but it increased to 83,143 in 2021-22 and 85,219 in 2022-23 (till February 2023). Intake ofcontraception pillsand use ofcondomshave also increased in the state.

According to government data, both male and female sterilisation cases have increased since 2020-21. Of seven contraception methods propagated by the , intake of contraceptionpillshas sharply increased over the years.

Only 1,587 Women were taking these pills in 2018-19. The number doubled the next year. In 2020-21, as many as 17,260 women had taken these pills. The number increased to 1,38,663 in 2021-22 and more than two lakh in 2022-23 (till February).

Bill introduced to empower state to appoint VCs in TANUVAS

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Abillto empower the to appoint vice-chancellors forTamil Nadu Veterinaryand Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) was introduced in the assembly to amend the TANUVAS Act, 1989, follows a series of bills passed in the assembly.

All these bills empower the state government to appoint VCs instead of the governor appointing them. When the bill was introduced, the AIADMK opposed it at the introductory stage. The governor is yet to give assent to any of the bills.

K N Nehru introduces bill to collect edu tax in Urban Local Bodies: Minister for municipal administration K N Nehru introduced a bill to levy and collect Education tax in urban local bodies. The bill, to amend the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998, empowers the local bodies to levy education tax of not more than 5% of annual value of all lands, buildings, Telecommunication towers and storage structures built on or attached to the land, as determined by the council concerned.

Sagar Kavach exercise

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Coastal security exerciseSagar Kavachis being conducted

forKeralaandMahe. It is a half-yearly exercise held with an objective to check coastal security mechanisms and validate standard operating procedures. The exercise is conducted and coordinated byIndian Coast Guardwith active participation of all stakeholders including INDIAN NAVY, Coastal Police/ State Police, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, CISF department of Port, Department of , DirectorateGeneral of Lighthouses and Lightships(DGLL) and Kadalora Jagiratha Samithi.

The exercise plays a vital role and brings together the central/ state stakeholders and helps in strengthening the coastal security mechanism. The exercise covers the entire Kerala and Mahe coast (590 km). Fishermen play an important role in coastal security. During exercise, fishermen are advised to intimate any unknown vessel, operating close to the coast, to the INDIAN COAST GUARD.

Karnataka education department gives 1.6k schools 45 days to obtain permits

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Cracking down on schools without valid permits, thedepartment of school educationand Literacy has given 45 days’ time to these institutions to get the necessary permits.

About 1,600 schools inKarnatakahave been identified as lacking the required permits for functioning.

Following the incident, the Education department asked the deputy directors of public instruction to compile the number of schools that do not have valid recognition.

Child labour in Telangana cotton fields is almost eradicated

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Child Labour in fields ofTelanganaand other states has become almost negligible.

After three years of consistent advocacy-cum-awareness campaigns for child labour elimination organised jointly by International Labour Organization’s (ILO) ‘Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in Cotton Supply Chain’ Project and Telangana, results have shown that engagement of child labour in this supply chain has disappeared.

According to State Government officials, multiple reports have also indicated positive results about child labour not visible in the cotton fields.

Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Rajasthan,Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Telangana are major cotton growing states and Telangana alone accounts for approximately 15% of the country’s total cotton growing area.

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2018-19 data, there are primarily three types of workers/labour – own cultivation, family labour and casual labour (which accounts for majority of the state’s workforce at 46 per cent) – in cotton cultivation in Telangana.

Further more, the proportion of casual labour by Women under the age of 18 is higher than that of men. Women (children, adolescents and adults) account for a higher proportion of causal labour, while a majority of men work as owner cultivators, the PLFS data says.

State okays 2,020 cr for Polavaram works

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The wanted to complete all the works before theGodavarireceives floods in October

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It is pertinent to note that the Polavaram project works came to a grinding halt following the massive floods damaging the diaphragm wall during two successivemonsoonseasons in 2019 and 2020. Although the state government has completed the other major works including installation of 48 radial gates and spillway work, the deadlock over the diaphragm wall had hit the overall progress.

Finally, the National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) team carried out the inspections and detected damage. NHPC submitted a report on its study and roadmap for carrying the works ahead. The NHPC report was scrutinised at the highest level in Cwc, Dam Designs Review Panel (DDRP) and jal shakti ministry and directed the state government to go ahead with the repairs as suggested by the NHPC.

8th Science Film Festival concludes in Goa

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The eighth edition of the Science Film Festival of India (SCI-FFI).

Additionally, it was announced that the Goa University is in the process to establish Research Park that would include a bio-incubation centre and an IT incubation centre.

At the valedictory ceremony, prizes for the Vidyarthi Vigyan Manthan (VVM) were distributed. VVM is a national program for popularizing science among school students of standard VI to XI. It is Indias largest science talent search examination for new India using digital devices as well as Indias first open book exam.

Nagpur tops Maharashtra in beautification, cleanliness contest, gets Rs 15 crore reward

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The city has bagged the first position in the first state-level city beautification and cleanliness competition-2022 organized by theMaharashtragovernment.

Thane stood second, while Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation clinched the third position under A+, A and B grades municipal corporations across the state.

Under D grade, Amravati Municipal Corporation won the second spot, while in municipal council category, Mouda Municipal Council came first.

The state sought a 15-slide presentation regarding the work done by the city during the competition period and categorized it according to the four paramaters. Municipal commissioners and chief executive officers of the cities and towns that participated in the competition submitted the presentation.