25.08.21

Arunachal cabinet approves credit-linked schemes to boost agriculture, horticulture

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In a bid to boost the state’s economy through Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and , the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved two credit-linked schemes, which will facilitate Rs 300 crore Investment in the agro-based sectors, a minister said. The State Government has earmarked Rs 60 crore of subsidy each for Atma Nirbhar Krishi Yojana for agriculture and Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojana for horticulture during the 2021-22 fiscal, he said. The credit-linked programmes will have three components – bank loans, subsidy and beneficiaries’ contribution, Home Minister Bamang Felix told reporters.

Under the programmes, a farmer can get up to Rs1.6 lakh with no collateral or bank guarantee, while self-help groups can avail of up to Rs 10 lakh, the government spokesperson said. The schemes will be available across the state, and people need to apply at the deputy commissioner office in their respective districts.

Despite the Union governments alert to states to prepare for pediatric care and NITI Aayogs advisory to make preparations for 23% hospitalisation in case of a surge in Covid cases shortly, the state government is more focused on reopening schools. The target of building up Covid infrastructure for children in the state also looks doubtful.The state government had planned 1,000 Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU), out of which the minimum goal was 10 in each district. But the state health department and the National Health Mission officials could not say anything on the progress of achieving this goal set in June.

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Assam is going ahead to complete 10 PICU in each of the district hospitals to treat children below 18 years, while the corresponding figure set for all medical colleges is a minimum of 30. However, the target is yet to be achieved.

Health department sources said five to eight per cent of the total Covid infections in the first and second wave were children in the state. But considering the warning from the Centre, this figure may go up further in a possible third-wave strike. During the fourth nationwide sero survey for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the Indian Council of Medical Research (Icmr) detected sero prevalence in children on a par with adults in Assam. During the study carried out in the second wave, children between six and 14 years were found to have similar sero prevalence in the range of 39.4% to 52.2%, as in adults.

In the 2nd phase of school transformation project, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday inaugurated 10 more modernised schools in Hinjili block in Ganjam district.

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Parents are expected to be more interested to enrol their children in Government schools instead of private schools. In the first phase, the CM had dedicated 10 such schools in Sheragada and Hinjili blocks of Ganjam district on August 21.

Patnaik said, “Our children in Odisha are no less than talented.” They have a lot of potential. They can make HISTORY if given the opportunity. The programme was moderated by 5-T Secretary VK Pandian from the Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

IoT irrigation project in tea estate near Ooty

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The Consulate General of Israel to South India in collaboration with United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI), Jain Irrigation Systems and NaanDanJain Irrigation (Israel) launched a smart IoT irrigation project in a tea plantation (a first of its kind in the tea plantation in the country) near Ooty.

has been in vogue for tea for many years though. Smart IoT irrigation is an innovative Israeli technique that uses water judiciously and helps farmers achieve higher levels of crop yield with minimal amount of water.

The irrigation system has been installed on a 5-acre tea garden in the United Nilgiri Tea Estates Company Pvt. Ltd. (Chamraj group) in Allada Valley near Ooty.

Export opportunities for Keralas GI foods

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WithVegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Keralams (VFPCKs) trials of sendingnendranto Europe and theMiddle Eastproving successful, experts say that it opens immense opportunities for farmers inKeralain tapping the export market forGI-tagged foodproducts from the state.

People from other states and countries usually prefer Robusta variety of banana, but it is Malayalis who prefer nendran the most, so where there is a considerable number of Malayalis, Kerala could find an easy market worth tapping, she added.
However, farmers and exporters have to adhere to the food quality parameters of the overseas market, which needs a new set of protocols to be followed by farmers. Trichy-based National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB) had developed protocols for the same

Postal department plans to bring out special covers on GI products in Karnataka

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India Post has planned to introduce special covers on Geographical Indication (GI) products in Karnataka. Initially, it will choose 10 products having GI tags, includingByadagi chilli. In this regard, the authorities have already conducted a meeting with Byadagi APMC authorities and others.

According to the department, special covers have philately value. The other products in the pipeline are Dharwad pedha, Sirsi supari, Huvinahadagali jasmine, Kinanal toys, Kalaburagi bark, Navalagunda dhurries, Sandur lambani embroidery and others.

The project will be launched underAtma Nirbhar Scheme, and print at least 1,000 special covers. We recently conducted a meeting with Byadagi APMC authorities and traders association and collected details about the produce.

Telangana: Officials directed to prepare Ramappa plan

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Chief secretary Somesh Kumar has directed officials to submit an integrated conservation and management plan for the development ofKakatiya Rudreshwara(Ramappa) temple at Palampet in Mulugu district. Chairing the first meeting of state-levelTelangana State Heritage Authority, Somesh Kumar discussed various heritage issues pertaining to the 26 protected monuments, includingQutb Shahi TombsandGolconda Fortin the city.

TheCSdirected the officials to prepare a brief status note on the protected monuments with photographs and submit inspection report to take further action.
The committee also directed officials to submit draft guidelines on buffer zones for Qutb Shahi Tombs toGreater Hyderabad Heritage and Precincts Committee.

Andhra Pradesh is role model to handle attacks on SCs, says National Commission for SCs

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The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has lauded the efforts of theAndhra Pradeshgovernment in handling the investigation of the murder of engineering student Ramya inGuntur.

The commission had also decided to recommend the names of Police officers for Awards to the Union Government.

The commission observed that they would recommend all the states to take AP as a model to handle the attacks against the SCs.

Include topographic maps in coastal zone plan to prevent disasters in Goa: Greens

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A cause of concern for environmentalists is that while the National Centre for SustainableCoastalManagement (NCSCM) has used toposheets to prepare the draft CoastalZoneManagementPlan(CZMP), the agency has carried out no independent study to determine the states coastal geomorphology.

Environmentalists are of the view that this renders the draft plan inadequate as dressing or altering sand dunes, hills, natural features, including landscape changes for beautification, recreation and other such purposes, is among the prohibited activities within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) as per the CRZ notification 2011.

Hilly areas and natural features are prohibited from being altered as per the CRZ notification 2011. These have to be identified and marked by using topographic sheets.

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board starts pollution monitoring at CSTPS

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Regional office of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) here has begunair qualitymonitoring to gauge pollution spread byChandrapurSuper Thermal Power Station (CSTPS).

Wadettiwar, while reviewing Environmental Degradation in Chandrapur city and surrounding areas, had blamed CSTPS for high pollution levels. He charged the mega power plant, having installed capacity of 2920MW, of not taking measures to curb pollution despite Supreme Court orders.

Expressing concern over the rising diseases like skin ailment, asthma, cancer and other respiratory disorders, he had directed MPCB regional office to check pollution caused by CSTPS and take appropriate action to bring the situation under control.