30.09.21

Outlook-ICARE India University Rankings 2021: Assam varsity secures 12th place among top 25 central universities

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With an overall score of 529.84 points out of 1000, Assam University Silchar has improved its rank and secured 12th position among the top 25 central universities in the country in the Outlook-ICARE India university rankings 2021. In the rankings issued by Outlook in 2020, Assam University Silchar was placed 15th among the top 25 central universities with an overall score of 500.13 points.

Vice-chancellor Prof Dilip Chandra Nath said, “Despite manifold hindrances including geographical and financial we are improving every day. This year, we have scored 225.78 points in the Academic and Research Excellence and 115.91 points in Interface and Placement and 71.93 points in Infrastructure and facilities. In Governance and Extension, our score is 78.54 points. But our area of concern remains in the diversity and outreach parameter in which we could score merely 37.68 points on which we are looking to address.

Centre urged to open ESIC sub-regional office at Jharsuguda

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Union Education minister DharmendraPradhanhas written two different letters to his cabinet colleague Bhupender Yadav, Union labour and EMPLOYMENT minister, requesting him to create sub-regional office (SRO) of employees state Insurance corporation (Esic) atJharsugudaand personal intervention for opening of 12 dispensaries at different places ofOdisha.

In the first letter, Pradhan stated that the ESIC regional office at Bhubaneswar is in the eastern side of Odisha and it is not easily accessible for the employers and beneficiaries from the western part of the state. Hence, a proposal has been put forth for creation of a SRO at Jharsuguda under the ESIC regional office Bhubaneswar, said Pradhan.

The Union education minister stated that most of the states have at least one or more number of SROs, but Odisha has no SRO at present. Because of the long distance, many people face difficulties to come to Bhubaneswar for any ESI related work.

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin relaunches Varumun Kappom scheme

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Chief minister M KStalin relaunched the Varumun Kappom (preventive healthcare) scheme as Kalaignarin Varumun Kappom at a function at Vazhapadi here on Wednesday. He said 1,250 medicalcampswould be conducted under the scheme in the state in a year.

The main objective of the scheme, he said, was to prevent diseases among the people and ensure their Health. The scheme will benefit the people in all villages, town panchayats, municipalities and corporations in the state. The chief minister has increased the number of camps under the scheme to 1,250 from his earlier announcement of 1,000 to cover the maximum number of Population. At the medical camps, doctors will screen one for all sorts of health issues. He said the camps would address dental, ENT, stomach, intestine, high blood pressure, diphtheria, bone and joint, kidney, heart, and psychiatric related issues. Special focus will be given on paediatric issues, pregnant womens issues and womens health issues in general.

Kerala education minister releases first uniform sign language alphabet in Malayalam

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Kerala Higher Education Minister Dr R Bindu released the first uniform sign language alphabet in Malayalam and said that it would bring a complete change in the life of hearing-impaired people.

She also promised to look into its use in special schools.

The alphabet has been developed by the Thiruvananthapuram-based National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) in collaboration with the All Kerala Association of the Deaf.

Bindu further said that all potential technology to ensure physical and mental support to the hearing-impaired to enable them to lead a normal life would be used by the .

She also added that Kerala government will extend all support to NISH become a global institution.

Notably, the event coincided with the International Week of the Deaf observed in the last week of September.

Karnataka govt considering to bring anti-conversion law: CM Basavaraj Bommai

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Karnatakachief ministerBasavaraj Bommai said the is contemplating bringing a law in the assembly to prevent religious conversions.

Karnataka chief minister was responding to the allegation of conversion in Yadgir after reports of forced conversions from the region.

Earlier in April this year, Gujarat Vidhan Sabha had passed the ‘Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2021’ with a majority to bring more stringent punishment against forced religious conversions through marriage.

Gujarat had become the third state after Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh to make a law against forced religious conversions.

Telangana Ku Haritha Haram, biggest plantation drive in country

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TheTelanganagovernments flagship programmeTelangana Ku Haritha Haram(THH), taken up to enhance the green cover in the state is the biggest plantation drive in the country and third in the world after China and Brazil. After launching theTHH, had planted 239 crore saplings in the past six years, which is nine crore more than the target 230 crore.

Chief ministerK Chandrasekhar Raostarted THH in July, 2015 with an intention to improve the forest coverage to 33% from the 24% in 2014. The National Forest Policy of India, 1988 also envisages 33% of forest cover. There is a gap of about 9% in the forest cover in the state.

In the past six years, the forest department and other departments have planted over 160 crore saplings outside the forest areas and another 80 crore with the forest areas after 7th THH programme conducted this year. This include direct plantation and rejuvenation of degraded forest.

Andhra Pradesh ranks 2nd in sexual harassment at work

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Andhra Pradeshrankssecondin India after Himachal Pradesh when it comes tosexual harassmentinstances at workplace, according to Crime in India 2020 report released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The Crime in India 2019 document had ranked Andhra Pradesh eighth in the country for workplace sexual harassment with 22 cases.

Overall, there has been a 13% increase in sexual harassment cases (section 354 of IPC) in 2020 compared to 2019.

According to cops, the increase inworkplace harassmentcases is in a way, a healthy sign for the state as it indicates more Women are coming forward in exposing their ordeals.

Not surprisingly, the major chunk (around 38%) of crimes against women include 498A of IPC (cruelty by husband or his relatives). Contrary to the popular belief that COVID-induced lockdown might have increased domestic violence,APsaw a 16% dip in 498A cases in 2020

Goa government hopes to store solar power for use in peak hours

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In a bid to address the fluctuation inpowersupply duringpeakload periods, the is exploring RENEWABLE ENERGY storage technology, which will release power generated viasolarplants back into the states power gridduringpeak hours. The state electricity department is working with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to see if such a project can augment power supply particularly for the industries, said power minister Nilesh Cabral.

GCCI, which organised the virtual meeting, requested Cabral to focus on adequate, reliable, affordable and consistent power supply in the state.

The tourism sector is heavily dependant on quality power for operation, production, utilities and recreational facilities. Interruptions, fluctuations and power drops create a total disruption in this sector. Thus hoteliers are forced to depend on diesel Generator sets, which are expensive to run.

Maharashtra Gene Bank to help document, conserve biodiversity through local knowledge

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The will set up aMaharashtra Gene Bank(MGB) to document native Resources, conserve them, and add value to thecommunitythat is conserving this rich diversity in the state, launch Biodiversity conservation as a peoples movement and engage folk ecologists in a scientific enterprise.

Started in 2014, the MGB project demonstrates the power of community-led conservation activities. For these to sustain and continue in mission mode, the state will now include these projects for funding. This will benefit local communities using traditional and scientificknowledgefor Sustainable Development.

Funded by Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission, it is a collaborative work of Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Pune; National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa; National Centre for Cell Science (NCSS), Pune; Shivaji University, Kolhapur, and College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri. It also saw participation of 13 NGOs, of which two (BAIF and CEE) are pan-India organizations.

Livelihood strengthening efforts happened in the course of this project via activities related to fodder management. About 4,000 MT of palatable grass is produced in this area and this fodder availability is supporting about 3,000 animal heads, which belong to about 1,000 Livestock-keeping families.

The tourists in Haryana will soon be able to stay with a local family to experience the local culture and relish the State’s authentic cuisines. For, the Manohar Lal Khattar Government in the State has chalked out a Home Stay Scheme 2021, allowing the house owners to provide home stays to tourists.

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The scheme is aimed at giving an impetus to tourism in the state after the impact of Covid-19 on the tourism sector. The Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is scheduled to launch the Home Stay Scheme 2021 at Tikkar Taal, Panchkula on September 29.

The scheme lays down the eligibility criteria for home stays, incentives for them, registration procedure, inspection and Police verification, Marketing and promotion, responsibility of proprietor among other parameters.

Under the scheme, any house located within the limit of any type of municipal body is not eligible for registration and consequential subsidy under the scheme. Existing OYO or Airbnb, or B&B proprietors will also be not eligible.

The Department of Tourism will publish on its website the list of all approved home stay units. Brochures, leaflets, amongst other publicity materials will also be developed and disseminated at suitable public places in this regard.

As per the scheme, any proprietor can register a maximum four fully owned accommodation rooms in the scheme. All rooms must be in the same house and all registered rooms should be available for letting out. At least one of the proprietors/owner must be physically staying in the same house.