21-22.08.21

Haryana to table law against cheating in job exams

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Notorious for regular leaks and innovative cheating in competitive examinations conducted by the state and central governments, Haryana has finally decided to introduce a new law to prevent such leaks in the future.

The proposed law, Haryana Public Examination (Prevention Of Unfair Means), 2021, will be introduced in the Haryana assemblys monsoon session that is commencing on Friday. The BJP-JJP aims to prevent embarrassing leaks of question papers and the use of unfair means in public examinations with this bill.

Haryana is proposing to introduce this law even as states such as Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh already have a law in place.

Punjab fares poorly in vaccinating its elderly

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Punjab is one of the worst-performing states in the country when it comes to vaccinating the Population in the 60-plus age group.

As per government data till August 18, just 22 per cent population belonging to the above-60 year group is fully vaccinated in Punjab. However, the national Average is 30 per cent. Punjab is on the 28th position among all states and union territories in the country. Neighbouring Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are way ahead. Himachal Pradesh has fully vaccinated 63 per cent of its population, Jammu and Kashmir (43 per cent) and Haryana (38 per cent) of this age group.

Similarly, 47 per cent population in Punjab from the same group has received the first dose of the vaccine against the national average of 60 per cent. The coverage in Himachal Pradesh is 95 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir (93 per cent) and Haryana (73 per cent). Significantly, the state is continuously facing shortage of Vaccines. During a meeting with the Union Health Minister last week, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had sought supply of 55 lakh doses of Covid vaccine on priority for Punjab in view of the forthcoming festival season. Following this, the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister had ordered immediate increase in the states allocation by 25 per cent.

Rs 4-cr irrigation scheme for Spiti village

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An Irrigation facility will be constructed at Rs 3.99 crore for cultivation of agricultural land at Langcha village in the Spiti region of Lahaul-Spiti.

The scheme will irrigate 107 hectares in the area and will benefit the farmers of Langcha village.

Markanda said people of Langcha village had been demanded for an irrigation scheme for a long time.

At Kaza, the minister laid the foundation stone of a common housing building to be built at Rs 87.72 lakh and the foundation stone of a helipad to be built under Kungri panchayat at Rs. 54.57 lakh. Markanda also inaugurated a 70-ft bridge connecting Mane Siluk village completed at a cost of Rs 78.47 lakh.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announces Rs 118 crore relief package for 7.54 lakh women

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Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a Rs 118 crore relief package for Women self-help groups and the women associated with Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission. The decision has been taken to help the women who were severely hit financially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The total package includes an amount of Rs 24.82 crore, which would be paid by the government in form of interest on loans by the women groups under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission and Integrated Livelihood Support Package (ILSP).

A total of 159 Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) have been formed under Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission. Each one of them would be given a one-time grant of Rs 5 lakh. The total estimated cost for the same would be Rs 7.95 crore, a communique from the CMs office said.

Financial assistance would also be provided for six months to the active self-help groups formed under the scheme for self-reliance. Under the project, Rs 2,000 per month would be given to 42,989 active women groups leading to an expense of Rs 51.59 crore for the government.

Under the Mukhyamantri Swarojgar Yojana, the beneficiaries will be given interest reimbursement at Rs 5,000 per month on the loan taken for six months. The total cost for the same would be Rs 9 crore.

Yuvak Mangal Dal and Mahila Mangal Dal of Youth Welfare and Provincial Development Dal will be provided financial assistance for six months for self-reliance. In the package, a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 per month would be given to 20,000 groups and it would cost almost Rs 24 crore for the Uttarakhand government.

Uttar Pradesh govt to hold second pottery fair on Diwali

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In a re-run of the successful maiden exhibition of clay and held last Diwali, the State Government is set to organise a three-day exhibition to promote pottery and clayware this Diwali season as well. The UP Mati Kala Board has started preparations for the event during which 150 artisans from across the state will showcase their products.

With the focus on Vocal for Local, the main attraction of the exhibition will be products like idols of Lord Ganesh and Lakshmi, decorative earthen lamps and other clay and handmade products that are in demand during the festival of lights.

The exhibition had ended on a memorable note for the artisans when chief minister Yogi Adiyanath bought all their products when they went to meet him on the concluding day of the exhibition.

Union minister Arjun Munda upset with slow implementation of central schemes

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The Union minister for tribal affairs, Arjun Munda, on Thursday expressed his dissatisfaction over the slow implementation of various central schemes, like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and the Jal Ka Nal scheme, in Jharkhand and directed the officials concerned to make sure those enrolled in such welfare schemes receive the benefits within a stipulated time frame.

He said the real-time monitoring of all centrally- sponsored schemes is important for an all-inclusive development. He added, We have discussed the implementation of over three dozen welfare programs, which have been rolled out throughout the country with an aim to improve the lives of the rural Population. I have directed the officials to make sure that these schemes do not just exist in black and white and are implemented properly.

As an example, Munda was told during the meeting that slightly over 900 PMAY beneficiaries are yet to receive the benefits but the minister said, Although it may not seem like a huge statistic, it goes up to a huge number when one takes into account the number of families who have been deprived of the benefits.

43 spinning-weaving training centres for women soon: Bihar industries minister

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Altogether 43 new centres are to be set up in the state to impart three months training in spinning and weaving -khadi and silk yarn to Women and girls to make them economically self-reliant.

The minister said more khadi malls like the one at Patna would come up in Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Gaya to make khadi products more popular and create job opportunities in the state. He said the industries department would lay emphasis on promoting the traditional industries such as khadi and handloom in the state as well. The demand of trained workers in khadi and handloom sectors will be higher in the days to come, he asserted.

Shahnawaz said the industries department is contemplating setting up exhibition-cum-sale centres of khadi and handloom products at the RAILWAY stations outside the state to benefit the workers associated with the traditional industries.

The Bihar State Khadi Gramodyog Board has already been sanctioned Rs1 crore for the purpose. In addition, Rs1.25 crore has been sanctioned for imparting training to women and girls during 2021-22 fiscal, Hussain said.

Chhattisgarh govt disburses Rs 1,522 crore to 21 lakh farmers under Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana

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The Chhattisgarh government has transferred Rs 1,522 crore to the bank accounts of about 21 lakh farmers under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana (RGKNY). The transfer was made to coincide with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

This was the second of the 4 installments of the scheme, under which the government will disburse a total of Rs 5600 crore.

Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said that from the 2021 season, RGKNY has been expanded to include paddy as well as some other .

The scheme was implemented in the year 2020 to provide fair price to farmers, boost productivity of Kharif crops and encourage crop diversification.

An amount of Rs 3 crore 49 lakh was also transferred online to cattle rearers, Gauthan committees and Women self-help groups under the Godhan Nyay Yojana for cow dung purchased from them. About 45 per cent beneficiaries of this scheme are women.

The Chhattisgarh government is also starting Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhoomheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana to provide financial help to landless agricultural laborers.

Under the scheme, Rs 6000 will be given annually to rural families who do not have agricultural land and are associated with MNREGA or agricultural wages.

Madhya Pradesh bags award for best wildlife & eco-tourism

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Madhya Pradesh has been awarded as the Best Wildlife & Eco Tourism state in 7th edition of International Tourism Expo and Conclave held in Delhi on Friday night.

The Awards were presented by Sheo Shekhar Shukla , the principal secretary of the department of tourism, who was also the chief guest of the function.

Madhya Pradesh also bagged award for the best state for tourism Marketing campaign.

“Madhya Pradesh is blessed with rich wildlife and the forest cover spreads over 77,700 sq km. It has numerous wildlife hotspots with 11 national parks and 24 wildlife sanctuaries.

For active promotion of the state tourism,the state has organised various promotional events like Orchha festival, Mandu Utsav and Jal Mahotsav among others. Campaigns like ‘Buffer Me Safar’ and ‘Monsoon Magic’ also attracted people towards MP.

Gujarat to give aid worth Rs 498 crore to Covid-hit industries

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Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani announced a plan for assistance to industrial units and MSMEs in the state which had been adversely affected by the second wave of Covid-19 cases.

A meeting was chaired by chief minister Vijay Rupani, with the chairman and managing director of GIDC and additional chief secretary of the industries and mines department.

Before this, the chief minister had announced an Atmanirbhar Package of Rs 14,000 crore, after the first wave of Covid-19, to boost the economy by reviving and trade. Under this package, 31,166 industrialists received benefits worth Rs 407.72 crore under 14 schemes from GIDC.

According to this, industrialists whose time limit to start production ends in 2021-22 will get an extension till 2022-23 i.e. up to March 2023, without levying the non-use penalty.

Due to this decision, industrialists will get more time to use the property and will be relieved from payment of non-use penalty of around Rs 16.70 crore. Around 672 parties will benefit from this.

Allottees of the industrial estates who did not get the benefit of the extended time limit for usage under the previous policy and those who were provided benefits up to March 2022 will also get the extension up to March 2023. Under this policy, 1,656 such industrialists will get benefits worth around Rs 350 crore.