29.06.23
World Bank’s $391-million aid for Assam healthcare and Tripura roads
TheWorld Bank’s Board of executive directors approved a total of $391 million investment to improve access to high-qualityhealthcareservices and boost economic opportunities forAssamand Tripura.
The World Bank’s (WB) focus in Assam will be improving the health sector while in Tripura, road infrastructure and adding technology boost to agriculture are in the pipeline. The $251 million variable spread loan for Assam and $140 million loan for Tripura are from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), administered by WB, with a maturity of 10.5 years, including a five-year grace period.
The bank observed that Assam has made strides in increasing access to essential healthcare services, with 87% of women giving birth in a facility today compared to just 24% in 2005.
Rs 168.30 cr for Green Mahanadi Mission
Under the Green Mahanadi Mission (GMM), the State Government so far released over Rs 168.30 crore. The Mission was launched during 2018-19 with an aim to create a green belt in 1 km width on both sides of the river Mahanadi, Tel and IB on all available and suitable forest land, revenue forest land, District Level Committee (DLC) area and private land through massive participation of peoples representatives and all stakeholders.
Preparatory activities of the Mission like identification of villages, selection of plantation sites, nursery sites, identification of Mahanadi Sevaks and mass motivation were taken up during 2017-18 in 16 districts covering 1,303 villages under the jurisdiction of 20 forest and wildlife divisions.
The scheme is being implemented with the funding sources under the State Plan. The scheme has been approved in the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) meeting from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and their maintenance up to 2025-26, sources said.
The scheme was implemented during the Phase II in 2019-20 with inclusion of four more rivers namely Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya and Vanshadhara and left-over area of Mahanadi, Tel and IB at a total budget provision of Rs 51 crore.
In 2022-23, 576 hectares of AR, 424 hectares of bald hill, 3,000 hectares of ANR plantation, 2.89 lakh saplings under urban tree plantation were taken up and 5.48 lakh seedlings were distributed with a cost of Rs 26.82 crore.
FaMe TN signs MoUs to get Rs 1,510 crore in MSME sector
FaMe TN, an autonomous agency of theTamil Nadugovernment, has entered into MoUs with 100 MSME companies to attract investments up to 1,510 crore.
These units are to be established in multiple sectors including automobile, aerospace, defence, electric vehicles (EV), pharma and textile across the state and are expected to generate employment opportunities for around 7,400 people.
The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday to mark International MSMEs Day. FaMe TN also signed one with SIDBI to facilitate loans for MSMEs.
Stalin said, Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme offers 35% capital subsidy on the project cost including land, plant, machinery, testing equipment and computing devices, besides 6% interest subvention for loans offered for up to 10 years. No state has such a high subsidy scheme for beneficiaries belonging to SC/ST communities. Sanction orders for 127 entrepreneurs covering a loan of 45 crore have been obtained in a short span of three months since the scheme was announced, he said. Stalin gave away the sanction orders for 100 beneficiaries on the occasion.
Kerala: Civil dept to deliver ration goods through auto rickshaw
The Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has implemented a new scheme in Kerala called ‘OPPAM’ which aims to deliver ration articles at the doorsteps of extremely poor families with the cooperation of auto rickshaw employees.
According to the statement, the scheme aims to deliver ration articles by obtaining the acknowledgement of beneficiaries for the receipt of stock and on the same day the issue details are recorded in the E-POS machine under the supervision of concerned Rationing Inspectors, by which the department can ensure error-free distribution without arising any complaints.
Shakti scheme is affecting commute, claim rural students
The state government has allowed free travel for women under theShakti Yojana, but it is affecting students as authorities are not providing more buses for the transportation of school and college students. Because of this, the students from rural areas will have to travel in crowded buses, which is causing inconvenience to them.
The buses plying via Yaraguppi, Chikkanarthi, Hirenerthi and Benakanahalli route of Kundagol taluk are witnessing heavy rush and having more than the prescribed number of passengers, which has forced school and college students to travel by standing on the footboard or standing in the crowded buses. Due to these problems regularly, the conductors are said to be forcing students to get down or come by another bus
Rythu Bandhu Beneficiaries To Cross 70 Lakh Mark
The number of Rythu Bandhu beneficiaries is set to touch the 70 lakh mark in the ongoing kharif season, on account of the addition of five lakh farmers. The state government will start crediting the Rythu Bandhu aid, of Rs 5,000 per acre, to farmers accounts from Monday. The government has mobilised RS 7,720 crore for the scheme.
The number of beneficiaries will increase due to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos decision to extend the scheme to tribal recipients of podu land pattas from June 30.
It will result in addition of 1.5 lakh farmers and 4 lakh acres. This apart, all farmers who purchased land after kharif in 2022 will be included in the beneficiaries list.
This is the 11th instalment of Rythu Bandhu since May 2018. The government has disbursed RS 65,910 crore in 10 instalments so far, ahead of this kharif.
CM Jagan Mohan Reddy to Release Jagananna Amma Vodi Funds, Empowering Education
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy would release Jagananna Amma Vodi funds for the fourth year, directly into the bank accounts of students mothers, by the press of a computer button at Kurupam in Parvathipuram Manyam district on Wednesday. The Chief Minister will address a public meeting at Kurupam.
The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government provided Amma Vodi for the past four years without fail. This tranche will be the last of this term.
The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of Andhra Pradesh in Primary Education for 2018 was as low as 84.48 compared to national average of 99.21. AP then was at the lowest place among the 29 states. In the last four years, the state has witnessed a remarkable surge in GER from 84.48 to 100.8.”
The CM said the government has decided to further improve the GER and encourage students continue their studies. Even those who failed in Class 10 and Intermediate are readmitted in schools and colleges and are once again provided with the Jagananna Amma Vodi benefit.”
Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana said that a financial assistance of 6,392.94 crore will be deposited into the bank accounts of 42,61,965 mothers in a festive atmosphere across the state for 10 days. This, he said, would benefit 83,15,341 students of Classes 1 to Intermediate.
Almost 90% of Goa’s old water supply pipes yet to be replaced
Goa is facing the issue of 38% non-revenue water or loss of water from the supply chain due to old pipelines. The state has been vying for central government assistance in replacing the entire water supply pipeline network in Goa with a new one. Over Rs 300 crore will be needed to complete the task.
Goa was the first state in the country to be declared to have achieved 100% water supply connections to households under the Har Ghar Jal mission. Yet, Goa is facing a shortage of around 85MLD of treated water as against its demand.
Meagre Campa funds for wildlife, but better than other states
The state wildlife wing and tiger reserve officials are peeved over the drastic cuts in funds for various afforestation, forest protection, and wildlife conservation works bythe NationalCompensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA).
TheMaharashtraannual plan of operation outlay for 2023-24 was 841.33 crores. However, the executive committee of the National Campa has approved a little over 593 crore only.
Though the sanctioned funds come to 70% of the total outlay proposed, a review of the crucial works related to the wildlife sector shows that the total funds approved are even less than 50% and it will be difficult to manage, especially in the backdrop of the fact that grants under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) from NTCA under the Project Tiger dont come in time.