State PCS

• 07 Jun 2023

Sainik Schools to be opened at all Commissionerates in UP

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on 5 June 2023, the Ministry of Defense has given its consent to the proposal to open Sainik Schools on PPP i.e. Public Private Partnership basis at all the commissionerate of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points:

• It is known that the state government had sent a request letter to the Ministry of Defense four years ago to open a Sainik School in every division, to which the Ministry of Defense has given its consent.
• On the basis of the letter received by the State Government from the Sainik School Society of the Ministry of Defense, the government has sent a letter to the District Magistrates of all the 16 districts of the state where new Sainik Schools are to be opened.
• In a letter sent to the DMs of the concerned districts on behalf of the Additional Chief Secretary of Basic & Secondary Education Deepak Kumar, it has been said that they can request to convert suitable government or aided or interested private or NGO-run schools in their districts into Sainik Schools.
• All these schools will be opened on PPP (Private Public Partnership) basis in Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Azamgarh, Basti, Bareilly, Moradabad, Banda, Jhansi, Devipatan, Ayodhya, Kanpur Nagar, Meerut, Saharanpur, Mirzapur and Varanasi.
• Significantly, there are 25 Sainik Schools of the Ministry of Defense in the country, while three Sainik Schools are being run by the Ministry of Defense in the state, which are in Amethi, Jhansi, and Mainpuri. Apart from this, a provision of Rs 90 crore has been made by the state government for the construction of a Sainik School in Gorakhpur. The UP Sainik School is being run in Lucknow which is run by the state government.

Mission Nand Baba

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on 6 June 2023, with the aim to increase the income of milk-producing farmers of Uttar Pradesh and ensure the facility of selling milk at a reasonable price in villages through dairy co-operatives, the Cabinet Minister, Livestock and Dairy Development Department, Dharampal Singh unveiled the logo of 'Mission Nand Baba'.

Key Points:

• Under 'Mission Nand Baba', efforts will be made to increase the income of milk-producing farmers in Uttar Pradesh. For this, the state government will spend Rs 1000 crore in the next five years on Nand Baba Milk Scheme.
• Under this mission, milk producers in villages will provide milk products in their villages through dairy co-operatives.
• The milk trade is an additional source of income in rural areas. Under this mission, there is a plan to set up five Dairy Farmer Producer Organizations in five districts as a pilot project in the financial year 2023-24, in which women will be given an important role.
• Under this mission, farmers will be given incentives from the government for subsidies in the purchase of indigenous cows of advanced breeds. Grants will also be given to those who make fodder and animal feed for cows.
• Committees have been formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary at the state level and DM at the district level to ensure that the work of Mission Nand Baba runs properly. Through the mission, the government will also create a database of cow breeders in the entire state.
• Additional Chief Secretary of Livestock and Dairy Development Rajneesh Dubey said that there is immense potential for investment in new industries within the dairy sector in the state. For this, the government has made the Uttar Pradesh Dairy Development & Milk Products Promotion Policy- 2022. This policy will be aligned with Mission Nand Baba.
• This mission will help in the annual growth of more than 25 percent in the field of milk production.

E-inauguration of newly developed portal ERTI for Rajasthan High Court & District Judiciary

Why in News?

On 5 June 2023, Rajasthan High Court’s Chief Justice Augustine George Masih inaugurated the newly developed e-RTI portal for Rajasthan High Court & district judiciary through video conferencing.

Key Points:

• Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice Augustine George Masih said the move will prove to be a milestone towards achieving a transparent, efficient and accessible judicial system. The portal will ensure that this important legal right of the common man is not entangled in complex paperwork and lengthy procedures.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice described the portal as a stepping stone in the campaign being undertaken by Chief Justice of India Dr. D.Y. Chandrachud to computerize and digitize the entire judiciary through the latest technology.
• Speaking on the occasion, Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava, Executive Chairman, Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority said that the success of the portal will depend not only on technical skills but also on collective commitment to its effective use. He said that this portal will become an example for other institutions in the country.
• Justice Arun Bhansali, who joined the video conferencing from Jodhpur, said that this portal will not only streamline the process of filing RTI applications but will also increase the speed and accuracy of information dissemination.
• He said that it will work as a single & centralized platform where citizens can submit their applications online, submit online fees, get information about the status of the application and also get timely notifications.
• By digitizing the entire process, not only the hurdles of paperwork have been eliminated but also provided a safe & convenient channel to the applicants and the information provider authorities.
• It is worth mentioning that in the case of Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1040/2019, Overseas Legal Cell v. Union of India & others, all high courts & subordinate courts had given instructions for the implementation of the e-portal under the Right to Information Act, in compliance with which the technical team of the Rajasthan High Court issued instructions to the e-RTI department before the period given in the instructions. The portal has been launched by giving a concrete shape to the portal and its related rules.
• The link to the e-RTI portal has been made available in the Right to Information tab on the home page of the official website of the Rajasthan High Court.

Collector appointed Incident Commander for flood control

Why in News?

District Collector Prakash Rajpurohit has appointed an Incident Commander to monitor the flood situation and waterlogging areas in view of the possibility of floods in the upcoming monsoon season in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 6 June 2023.

Key Points:

• Collector Prakash Rajpurohit said that 22 incident commanders in urban areas and sub-divisional officers in rural areas have also been entrusted with the responsibility of incident commander. The Incident Commander will coordinate with the officials of the concerned departments to ensure flood control and rescue work.
• In Jaipur Metropolitan Area, the Incident Commander will coordinate with Municipal Corporation Jaipur Heritage/Greater & Jaipur Development Authority to assess the resources and conduct relief activities in the event of floods.
• It will be the responsibility of the Incident Commanders to make arrangements for drainage in case of waterlogging, spray necessary medicines in the affected areas, identify school buildings, community buildings, shelters & buildings for rehabilitation in the flood-affected areas and rehabilitate the affected families.
• The Collector said that necessary arrangements will be ensured in coordination with the district administration, police department and army in the event of floods.

5 major Sewerage & Drinking Water Projects approved in the state worth more than Rs.4508 lakh

Why in News?

On 6 June 2023, in a meeting held in Chandigarh under the chairmanship of Haryana Public Health & Cooperation Minister Dr. Banwari Lal, 5 major sewerage and drinking water schemes worth more than Rs 45.08 lakh were approved in the state.

Key Points:

• The Public Health & Cooperation Minister said that the old sewerage system from Timber Market Chowk near Kheda, Arya Nagar Chowk Nandi Mohalla to South Disposal in Ambala city would be strengthened with CIPP technology at a cost of about Rs 1349.31 lakh.
• The work of changing the sewerage system in 10 wards of Karnal city will be done, in which 425 RCC main halls will be built and water connections will be made. For this, a 200 mm pipeline of about 12037 meters long will be laid. An amount of about Rs 691.80 lakh will be spent on this.
• The cabinet also approved the installation of 14 tubewells and submersible pump sets for drinking water and new pipelines for drinking water & sewerage in Karnal city. An amount of Rs 759.60 lakh will be spent on this work. Thus, the sewerage and drinking water schemes in Karnal city will cost more than Rs.14.51 lakh.
• Under the 'Mahagram Yojana', the work of laying sewerage line will be done in the village Siswal of Hisar district. Rs 1167.77 lakh will be spent on this work. Work is already underway on the drinking water scheme to provide an adequate quantity of clean drinking water to the people in Siswal.
• A sewerage line and a sewerage treatment plant of 2.50 MLD will be constructed in the village of Kaul of the Kaithal district. Apart from this, an amount of Rs 540.89 lakh will be spent on the work of commissioning the main pumping station etc. These projects will be launched in the coming month.
• The Public Health Minister directed the officials to complete the Mewat Rainwell project at the earliest and solve the drinking water problem of the Pinjore and Morni areas with immediate effect. Apart from this, he also directed to completion the necessary formalities for the early construction of the water house at Raghunathpura, Ibrahim Bishnupar in Rewari.

CM flags off the 'Doctor Tumcho Duar' program for inaccessible villages

Why in News?

On 6 June 2023, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel flagged off the new initiative of the district administration 'Doctor Tumcho Duar' at a program organized at village Bedma of Keskal Development Block.

Key Points:

• Under this pilot project, medical facilities will be made available through telemedicine in the inaccessible villages of Baderajpur and Pharasgaon development blocks of the district. For this, a call centre will be set up and 24-hour staff will be deployed in the call centre.
• As soon as the call is received from the call centre, the team made up of doctors, ANMs and other staff will be informed. The doctor will discuss with the sick person and their family members and consult through teleconferencing and for serious patients who need immediate treatment, the doctor & his team will reach home with the vehicle and treat the patient. If necessary, they will be brought to the hospital and treated.
• It is known that the Haat Bazaar Clinic Scheme is already being successfully operated for treatment in remote areas in the district. In such a situation, efforts are being made by 'Doctor Tumcho Duar' to provide accessible health facilities even in inaccessible villages of the district and to provide medical facilities to more and more people through telemedicine.
• If this scheme is successful, the scheme will be extended to other development blocks as well. This scheme is based on the government's initiative of equal justice, equal facilities for all.

At least 12 Tigers and Tigresses have died in the last 5 Months

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on 5 June 2023, tigers are continuously dying in Uttarakhand amid efforts being made for the conservation of tigers across the country. In the last five months, 12 tigers and tigresses have died here.

Key Points:

• Uttarakhand Forest Department's Chief Wildlife Warden Dr. Samir Sinha said that 12 tigers have died in the state so far this year. Most of the deaths have occurred in the Central Terai region. Most of the deaths occurred due to mutual conflict or an accident. Chief Conservator of Forests, Kumaon has been asked to submit a detailed inquiry report.
• It is known that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released the tiger census-2022 data in the country in April this year. It shows an increase of 6.7% in the tiger population in the last four years. The number of tigers across the country is reported to be around 3167.
• According to the 2018 census, the number of tigers in Uttarakhand is 442. State-wise figures have not been released yet, but Uttarakhand Forest Department Officials are predicting an increase in the number of tigers in the state on the basis of these figures. On the contrary, the speed at which tigers are dying can also blur the colour of the picture.
• According to the data released by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a total of 76 tigers have died in the last five months across the country this year. Of these, 12 tigers were killed in Uttarakhand alone. The first tiger death in Uttarakhand this year was reported in Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve in January. In February, three tigers were found dead in Nainital and Ramnagar. Then in March, two tigers were killed in the Chakrata range Haldwani and Ramnagar divisions.
• In April, a tiger was found dead in Corbett's Dhela range. In May, two tigers were killed in the Kalagarh division and Corbett Tiger Reserve, while the death toll of three tigers is yet to be updated on the website. The reasons for the death of tigers are different. In 2022, nine tiger deaths were recorded in 12 months.
• It is worth mentioning that the number of tigers killed in Uttarakhand from 2001 to May 2023 is 181.

New Initiative of the Postal Department in Dehradun

Why in News?

On 6 June 2023, Uttarakhand Postal Service Director Anusuya Prasad Chamola informed that the Postal Department is now delivering speed post and parcels to Delhi through air service. For this, the Postal Department has signed an agreement with an air company. So far this work was done by train.

Key Points:

• Significantly, the Postal Department had started a special Rail Mail Service (RMS) in collaboration with the Railways. Under this, speed posts and parcels coming to the main post office in Doon from hilly districts including Dehradun were transported from Dehradun to Delhi through two trains (Mussoorie Express / Yoga Express). But, the Mussoorie Express takes a long time to reach Delhi.
• In view of this, the Mussoorie Express has been removed from the RMS. In return, the Postal Department is now sending speed posts and parcels from an airline flight. Although speed posts and parcels are being sent by the Yoga Express train running from Haridwar, the department is also exploring the option of another airline in place of this train.
• It is known that at present, those parcels and mail are being transported to Delhi by air service, which is important. Due to this, speed posts and parcels reaching throughout the week are reaching the people in a few days. While other speed posts and parcels are being transported to Ahmedabad by train after reaching Haridwar by departmental vehicle.
• More than 100 parcels are being booked in GPO throughout the day. These include parcels that are going abroad. While in other post offices in the hilly areas including Doon, parcels booked for the country also come to GPO late in the evening.