30.12.21

Centre eases norms for import of Afghan dry fruit

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The importers of Afghanistan dry fruit, who were worried that their consignments would be dumped at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari for want of fumigation, were relieved after the Ministry of Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture and Farmers Welfare extended a temporary relaxation in the norms.

Dry fruit, an agricultural product imported from Afghanistan, was earlier required to undergo fumigation with methyl bromide, only as stipulated by the Plant Quarantine wing (Regulation of Import into India), before clearance through the Attari-Wagah land route. Since this chemical was not available with Afghanistan, the dry fruit received here was being treated with aluminium phosphide at the checkpost. As the process did not comply with the stipulated norms, it was not acceptable, resulting in dumping of large consignments worth crores, hampering the import.

Aluminium phosphide, a toxic substance, is not meant for human consumption. However, in more than 100 countries, it is used as an approved fumigant to protect certain substances from rodents and insects. Its ethical use help in the storage of food items for a longer period.

Himachal CM launches Gram Panchayat Gyan Kendra in Kullu district

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On the occasion of birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday launched Gram Panchayat Gyan Kendra, an initiative of District Administration at Prini, the village of Atal Behari Vajpayee, along with ten other Gram Panchayat Gyan Kendras of Nagar, Kullu and Banjar Developmental Blocks of Kullu district.

Virtually interacting with the Pradhans of the Gram Panchayat Gyan Kendras, Chief Minister said that this initiative of the district administration was indeed a commendable step as the youth of these panchayats would get opportunity to prepare for competitive examinations. He said that the students would not only get 24-hour library facilities nearer to their homes but they would also get Internet and wifi-facilities. Thakur said that since this initiative has been taken on the birth anniversary of Atal Behari Vajpayee, these Gyan Kendra would be named as Atal Gyan Kendra as a mark of respect to the former Prime Minister as he had chosen Manali as his Home. He said that the would provide all possible help to further strengthen this initiative.

The Chief Minister also thanked the National Book Trust for providing books to these Gyan Kandras and also urged the general public to donate books for these Kandras. He also appealed to the other panchayats of the district as well as state to replicate this initiative in their respective districts.

NEP-2020 focused on skill development- VC Nautiyal

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The Vice Chancellor (VC) of HNB Garhwal University, Annpurna Nautiyal has said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is focused on Skill development through integration for self-reliance. She was presiding over the inaugural session of a training program on Strategies for Implementation of NEP-2020 on Tuesday.

The training programme is being organised by the Faculty Development Centre (FDC) , established under Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission for Teachers and TEACHING, Department of Higher Education, at the university.

The VC of Himalayiya University J P Pachauri, said that Indianness, universalisation of education, value inculcation and education in mother tongue are the four pillars of the NEP 2020 which aimed at and Social Change by creating a knowledge Society. For this purpose, the commitment of teachers and connectivity with the students is a must for quality education and research outcomes.

Panel to prepare manual for regulation of drones

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Complying with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths instructions, the Home department has decided to prepare a training programme/manual for regulation, manufacturing and manpower training on the use of drones.

A high-level committee has been set up for this. It is chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi and has top officials of Revenue, , Technical Education, Micro, Small and Medium enterprises, Civil Aviation departments and UP Director General of Police and Director General of Police (Logistics).

Besides, technical experts from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow have been also included in the committee.

Agricultural progress to open ways of overall development in State

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Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Government of India Charanjit Singh and Livelihood Mission Directors of Gujarat, Assam and Nadu, inspected the Integrated Livelihood Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture System under Karra Block in Khunti District on Friday. During the visit the Joint Secretary said that works of common masses along with sisters of the District Administration and Sakhi Mandal are highly appreciable.

On the occasion, Mission Director of Gujarat , KC Sampad, Mission Director of Tamilnadu, Pallvi Baldeo, Mission Director, Mission Director of Assam, Krishna Barua, Khunti Deputy Commissioner (DC), Shashiranjan, Deputy Development Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officer as well as representatives of other states and other block level officials were present.

Singh, while addressing the villagers, told that the goal of all of us should be that we can move forward on the path of multifaceted progress. He said that Jharkhand has a lot of potential in the field of agriculture. Especially if done on a large scale, farmers will get direct benefits. The aim of all of us should be that farmers can get direct benefit from it. Work of the general public along with the sisters of the district administration and Sakhi Mandals are highly appreciable. Along with this, the self-confidence of the villagers also increased to move forward in this direction, he added.

AIIMS Patna launches ‘Shravan Kumar’ scheme to train rural youth

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The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims) set up in the state capital Patna has launched an initiative for preparing youth to take care of elderly and poor people in the rural areas. This is seen as an initiative somewhat similar to ‘Shravan Kumar’whose story is famously known in the ancient Hindu text of Ramayana where a boy named Shravan Kumar took care of his old and blind parents.

The main objective of this initiative is to provide support to the elderly, poor and the needy along with generating EMPLOYMENT for the rural youth.

The ‘Shravan Kumar Yojana’ has been started by the Community Outreach and Telemedicine department of AIIMS-Patna, under which six Women among a total of 36 people, have been trained in its second batch. Earlier, 45 youths were trained in the first batch under this initiative.

No registry, allotment under Atal Awas Yojana

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The Mahasamund District Administration on Monday clarified that no house under the Atal Awas Yojana was registered or allotted to anyone by the Chhattisgarh Housing Board (CGHB) in village Bansula in Basna.

CGHB Executive Engineer, Mahasamund, said in a report to the district Collector that 262 buildings were to be constructed under the scheme in Bansula. The tender for the work was invited in 2008.

The officer said that some people illegally encroached the existing buildings under the scheme. As these were unfit for residential purpose, fearing loss of life, the people living in encroachments were repeatedly told to vacate the premises.

Meanwhile, unused construction material like iron, brick and others were stolen. Police action is under process.

Satellite campus of IIT Indore will open in Ujjain: Minister

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Higher Education Minister Mohan Yadav said that according to the ancient glorious knowledge tradition, efforts are being made to establish Ujjain of Malwa region as a major Learning centre of technology and knowledge-science. Under this the satellite campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore will be opened in Ujjain. This campus to be established on 100 acres of land will provide international standard research centre and higher education at par with standards. It will be the first educational institute of its kind in the country. This campus will also play an important role in promotion of EMPLOYMENT and self-employment.

Yadav informed that recently the need of opening educational institutions was discussed with the Union Minister of State for Education Subhash Sarkar keeping in view the heritage of astronomy, culture and knowledge-science of Ujjain. He said that IIT Indore has prepared the preliminary DPR for setting up the satellite campus. The campus would be complete in all respects and would be free to take administrative, academic decisions. The campus will also have hostel and accommodation for teachers. International level research facilities and courses will be conducted here. Research work will also be done for industrial units of Ujjain-Indore in the campus. It is also proposed to open four national level learning centres and industrial research parks in the initial phase.

Gujarat government to amend land grabbing laws through ordinance

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After receiving complaints about the recently enacted anti-land grabbing laws and looking at the flurry of petitions in theGujarat challenging various provisions, the State Government is likely to soon come out with an ordinance to rectify lacunae in the law.

The law has been under question for various reasons, mainly for unsettling settled disputes by its overriding effect on pending civil disputes and decrees of civil courts. The lawyers termed this law draconian and submitted how Gujarat has adopted few safeguards compared to other states.

2nd genome sequencing lab to start in Jodhpur from January

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To speed up trackingOmicroncases and other Covid variants, the is expanding its genome sequencing labs. It will soon start the states second genome testing lab inJodhpur, which is expected to be functional from the first week of January.

Currently, the onlygenome sequencing labat Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital is functional for identifying the variants of Corona infected. The Health department is maintaining that samples of each and every Corona infected should be sent for genome sequencing.