GI Board for Products to be Set up in Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand | 22 Aug 2022

Why In News?

• On August 21, 2022, Vinay Kumar, managing director of Uttarakhand Organic Development Council, informed that a blueprint has been prepared for the formation of GI (Geographical Indications) Board to promote the identification and marketing of local products of the state.

Key Points

• Vinay Kumar said that its formation can be given a green signal in the upcoming cabinet board meeting. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had announced the formation of a GI board in the state. The Agriculture Department has prepared a proposal to form a board and sent it to the government.
• The proposed board will have several senior officials as members besides a chairman. The board's job will be to select local products and register GI. By getting the GI tag, fake products will be avoided in the market.
• The board will also have one or two special invitees and experts as members. Officers and employees of agriculture department and Uttarakhand Organic Products Council will work on the board. This will not put any additional expenditure burden on the Government from the constitution of the Board.
• The state government believes that there are more than 100 products in the state that can be given the GI tag. These include cereals, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruits, vegetables, handicrafts and handloom products, traditional instruments. Getting the GI tag will give these products legal protection.
• It is worth mentioning that so far nine products of the state have received gi tag. These include Tejpat, Basmati Rice, Aipan Art, Munsiyari's White Rajma, Ringal Craft, Thulma, Bhotia Dan, Chura Oil and Tamta.
• Apart from this, the process of GI registration of 14 other products is underway. These include Berinag Tea, Manduva, Jhangora, Gahat, Lal Rice, Kala Bhatt, Malta, Amaranth, Lakhori Chilli, Pahari Tur Dal, Buransh Juice, Sajavati Candle, Kumaoni Pichoda, Kandali (Scorpion Herb) fibers are included.
• It is known that geographical indication is given to the products of a particular region, which has a special geographical importance and place. Due to the same geographical origin, the product has special properties and identity. One cannot copy another product after getting the GI tag.

Critical Care Centers will Open in Seven Districts of Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand | 22 Aug 2022

Why In News?

• On August 21, 2022, Uttarakhand Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that critical care centers will be set up in seven districts of the state. Detailed project reports of all the centres are being prepared. The budget will be given by the central government to set up these centers.

Key Points

• The health minister said that the construction of each centre is estimated to cost Rs 23.7 crore. For this, an amount of Rs 166 crore will be given by the Central Government from the National Health Mission (NHM).
• He said that the Centre has sanctioned funds for setting up seven critical care centres in Uttarakhand for the current financial year 2022-23 under NHM. These centers will be built in Champawat, Bageshwar, Nainital, Chamoli, Pauri, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi districts.
• DPR is being prepared by selecting 1550 square meters of space for the center around the district hospitals. Construction work will be done through irrigation department in three districts of Bridkul and Garhwal division in three districts of Kumaon division.
• After the construction of the critical care center, the people of the state will get better treatment facility in emergency situations. In these, serious patients suffering from epidemic or any other disease and injured in road accidents will be given all medical facilities at one place.
• The critical care center will have facilities for the treatment of all serious diseases , including modern medical equipment for the treatment of heart disease, gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and many other diseases. Apart from this, the injured in the epidemic and road accidents will also get all the treatment facilities at one place in case of emergency. All other types of tests including dialysis, oxygen, ECG, ultrasound will be done in the center.