State PCS

• 17 May 2022

Rewamped Distribution Sector Scheme

Why in News

• Recently, Uttar Pradesh Principal Energy Secretary and UPPCL Chairman M Devraj informed that a statewide campaign will be launched by the Government of India to install the entire smart prepaid meters through funds earmarked for metering and other related works under the Rewamped Distribution Area Scheme (RDSS).

Key Points

• The purpose of installing this smart prepaid meter by UPPCL is to reduce the gross technical and commercial losses.
• Under this, UPPCL will install 73,27,988 smart prepaid meters in Varanasi discoms, 75,28,737 in Lucknow discoms, 53,54,069 in Agra discoms, 61,43,361 in Meerut discoms and 62,500 meters in KESCO distribution network.
• An umbrella scheme Revamped Distribution Area Scheme (RDSS) has been launched by combining all the existing power sector reform schemes like 'Integrated Power Development Scheme', 'Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana' and 'Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana'.
• Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Finance Corporation are the nodal agencies for the scheme.
• The scheme includes creation of a mandatory smart metering ecosystem in the distribution sector from power feeders to consumer level and financing feeder separation for unconnected feeders.
• Its main objectives are as under:
• Reduce AT&C losses (operational losses due to inefficient power system) by 12-15% at all India level by 2024-25.
• Developing institutional capabilities for modern discoms.

Rajasthan Nikashya Sambal Yojana

Why in News

• On 16^th May, 2022, 'Rajasthan Nikshya Sambal Yojana' was launched by the State Government with the objective of getting public support to provide help and social support to the TB patients of the State.

Key Points

• The scheme was launched by the State Tuberculosis Section at a meeting of the State TB Forum chaired by Dr. Prithvi, Government Secretary, Department of Medical and Health at the auditorium of Swasthya Bhavan.
• On the occasion, Government Secretary Dr. Prithvi also released the poster of 'Rajasthan Nikshya Sambal Yojana'.
• In the meeting, Dr. Prithvi appealed to all the industries, corporate institutions, public representatives, voluntary organizations, etc. of the State to cooperate in providing nutrition, employment oriented and educational support to TB patients and their families and to play their social participation in creating a TB-free state.
• Mission Director, National Health Mission, Dr. Jitendra Kumar Soni laid special emphasis on collective participation to achieve the goal of TB elimination. He also directed to check all TB patients for HIV and diabetes.
• Director, Department of Public Health, Dr. V.K. Mathur said that pre-treated patients are being identified as TB champions by the department at all the health centres in the state, who will play an important role in diagnosing the problems of TB patients.
• The TB champions will be the voice of TB patients in the community and will also help in getting the assistance being provided by the Department for nutritious food under the 'Nikashya Poshan Yojana'.

‘Chuppi Todo, Sayani Bano’ Campaign

Why in News

• On May 16, 2022, Jaipur District Collector Rajan Vishal launched the second phase of the 'Chuppi Todo, Sayani Bano' campaign at Government Higher Secondary Girls' School, Gangouri Bazar.

Key Points

• The district collector said that the campaign has been launched in Jaipur after Nagaur and Alwar districts.
• As part of the 'Chuppi Todo, Sayani Bano' campaign, a workshop was organized in 929 schools of the district, in which about one lakh 30 thousand adolescent girls participated. The workshop was briefed on menstrual hygiene management by the trained teachers.
• Sanitary napkins were provided free of cost to girls under the UDAN scheme of the State Government in the workshop. As part of the campaign, every girl student was provided with a booklet on menstrual hygiene management and posters and banners on the theme 'Good Touch Bad Touch' in every government school.
• As many as 3,716 girls selected from class 9th to 12th have been appointed as hygiene ambassadors in the district. These girls will also make the girl students studying in the school aware as well as the parents, public representatives, anganwadi workers, ANMs, Saathins, ASHA Sahyogini and out of school girls.
• It is worth mentioning that before the second phase of the campaign, workshops, training, public awareness programmes and other activities were organized in a phased manner at each subdivision and gram panchayat level in Jaipur district.
• In the first phase of the campaign, 2,223 teachers working in government schools were trained from 14th to 16th March.

Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary Becomes Country's 52nd Tiger Reserve

Why in News

• On May 16, 2022, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav informed that a notification has been issued to declare the Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary in Bundi district of Rajasthan as the 52nd tiger reserve in the country.

Key Points

• After the notification, Ramgarh Vishdhari sanctuary has become the fourth tiger reserve of Rajasthan. At present, There are Ranthambhore, Sariska and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had accorded 'in-principle' approval for creation of Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas as tiger reserves on July 5, 2021 under the provision of Section 38 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• In order to accord the approval granted by NTCA, an Expert Committee was constituted by the State Government for identification of Critical Tiger Habitat (Core) and Buffer Area of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.
• A report was submitted by the Committee to the State Government on 24th January, 2022 for determination of the core and buffer area of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, District Bundi.
• It may be mentioned that the newly notified Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve includes habitat of tigers between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in the Northeast and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in the south.
• The Government of Rajasthan declared it a sanctuary under Section 5 of the Rajasthan Wildlife and Bird Protection Act, 1951 on 20th May, 1982.
• Apart from tiger conservation, this sanctuary is also famous for the ecosystem as well as floral species. The sanctuary has 500 types of wildlife including Indian wolf, leopard, striped woodpecker, cheetal, sambhar, sloath bear, golden jackal, chinkara, nilgai, fox, wild cats, langur, snake, crocodile.

Sambal-2.0 Scheme

Why in News

• On May 16, 2022, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan transferred an amount of Rs 573.39 crore to the labour families of all the districts of the state under Sambal Yojana.

Key Points

• The Sambal 2.0 scheme is a changed form of the Sambal scheme itself which was launched in 2018.
• Lakhs of tendu leaf collectors of the state have also been included as unorganised labourers in the new registration process under Sambal 2.0. At the same time, the workers who were earlier declared ineligible will also be able to apply afresh.
• Under ‘Anugrah Sahayata Yojana’ (ex-gratia assistance scheme) for lakhs of workers in the unorganised sector, an amount of Rs.4 lakh is given to the family in case of death in an accident. Rs.2 lakh is provided in case of death in normal circumstances, Rs.2 lakh on permanent disability and Rs.1 lakh on partial disability. An amount of Rs.5,000 is given as funeral assistance.
• Under the scheme, women who are not able to get enough rest at the time of delivery will be given an amount of Rs 16,000 in the scheme. The amount of assistance given before delivery is Rs.4,000/- and post-natal assistance is Rs.12,000.
• All those eligible for the scheme are all those workers who do not get the benefit of social security like Provident Fund, Employees' State Insurance Scheme, Gratuity etc.

Haryana Right to Service Commission

Why in News

• Haryana Right to Service Commission on May 16, 2022, taking action in respect of delay in issue of ration cards during the period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 in matters relating to Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, decided to impose a fine of Rs 10,000 in the matter.

Key Points

• The Haryana Right to Service Commission was constituted by the state government vide a notification issued on July 31, 2014.
• The Commission is a statutory body constituted under Sections 12(1) and (2) of the Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014.
• The Commission will consist of 1 Chief Commissioner and a maximum of 4 Commissioners, who will oversee the effective implementation of the Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014.
• The HRTS Act, 2014, has empowered people to make the most of the services in a hassle-free, transparent and time-bound manner through an effective service delivery mechanism.

Food Minister Inaugurates Biodiversity Park

Why in News

• On May 16, 2022, Chhattisgarh's Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Amarjeet Bhagat inaugurated the Biodiversity Park at Ropakhar, a gram panchayat of Manpat Vikaskhand in Ambikapur district.

Key Points

• A biodiversity park is being developed by the Forest Department in village panchayat Ropakhar of Manpat development block on an area of 100 hectares at a cost of about one crore rupees.
• Cactus and bamboo plants will be planted in an area of 1-1 hectare and medicinal plants will be planted in about 2 hectares. Along with this, other construction works including inspection roads, guard quarters are also being carried out here.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Food Minister said that biodiversity park has also been added to the link to promote tourism in Manpat. In this park, tourists will get to see different forms of nature.

Sudden Increase in Water Level of Alaknanda Due to Melting of Glaciers

Why in News

• On May 16, 2022, due to the melting of glaciers in the catchment area of Alaknanda river in Chamoli district, the water level of the river suddenly increased, raising concerns about a new disaster in the district.

Key Points

• Considering the seriousness of the situation, an alert has been issued and SDRF teams have been deployed at the ghats along with the removal of people from the ghats.
• It may be recalled that in February last year, a massive flash flood was witnessed in the Dhauli Ganga and Alaknanda rivers due to the breaking of a glacier in the Tapovan-Raini area of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, causing severe damage to the Rishiganga power project.
• The rapid melting of glaciers at Satopanth and Alkapuri Bank is responsible for the rise in the water level of the Alaknanda river.
• Alaknanda is one of the two main streams of the Ganga. In fact, the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers are jointly known as Ganga after meeting at Devprayag.
• Alaknanda originates from the Satopanth glacier. Its major tributaries include Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pindar etc.