15th, April, 2022

 

 

Topic: Important Day

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims

 

What is the news?

• Chief Minister Shri Jai Ram Thakur ji is addressing the state level “Himachal Diwas” function organized at Chowgan, Chamba.

 

When is Himachal Day Celebrated?

• Himachal Day 2021: April 15 is observed as Himachal Day.

 

Why it is celebrated?

• Himachal Day is a gazetted public holiday in the Himachal Pradesh state in India.
• It is always celebrated on April 15th. It was on this day in 1948 that Himachal Pradesh was created as a province of India.
• As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Birthday is usually a gazetted holiday in the state on April 14th, this forms part of a two-day break in Himachal Pradesh.

 

The chief minister announced:

 

1) The chief minister announced a 50 percent discount on traveling in HRTC buses for women. He said that with this the women would get a benefit of about Rs 60 crore.

2) He announced that all consumers up to 125 units would get Zero Bill from 1st July and no electricity bill would be charged from them. He said that with this decision about 11.5 lakh consumers would get benefit of about Rs. 250 crores.

3) He also announced that no water bill would be charged from all the families living in rural areas. This would provide financial benefits of Rs 30 crore to all our rural families of the State.

 

Some Schemes shared by CM:

1) The State Government has started ‘HIMCARE’ scheme from January, 2019 under which five members of the beneficiary family were being provided free treatment facility up to Rs. 5 lakh per year.

2) State government at its very first Cabinet meeting, reduced the age criteria for providing old age pension from 80 years to 70 years without any income limit, which has now further been reduced to 60 years.

3) ‘Mukhya Mantri Seva Sankalp Helpline-1100’ was launched through which a person can register his complaint from any corner to get his issues redressed within a stipulated time period.

4) ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ of the Union Government came as a boon to the women folk and provided them much needed relief from traditional chullahs and collecting fire-wood by providing free gas connections. He said that the State Government started ‘Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna’ for the eligible families of the state who could not be covered under Ujjwala Yojna. He said that under this scheme, three cylinders including free gas connection were being provided to 3.25 lakh families besides 1.37 lakh families have been provided free gas connections under ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna’ as well. Now, the State Government has decided to provide one more additional free cylinder to the beneficiaries under both these schemes from this financial year and the State has become the first state of the country to be declared smoke-free.

5) ‘Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojna’ has been started to provide financial assistance to the economically weaker sections suffering from serious ailments. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 3,000 is provided to them every month and so far Rs. 60.50 crore has been provided to about 18 thousand beneficiaries under this scheme.

6) ‘Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojna’ financial assistance of Rs. 31 thousand was being provided for the marriage of daughters belonging to families living below the poverty line.

7) ‘Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojna’ 25 percent subsidy was being given to the youth for investing in machinery, equipment and industrial plant of upto rupees one crore for startups. He said now the subsidy for women have been increased from 30 percent to 35 percent for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and specially-abled from 25 to 30 percent. As of today, 3758 units with an investment of about Rs. 624 crore have been established in which more than 10 thousand youth have got employment opportunities.

8) ‘Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojna’ has proved effective in giving a new dimension to the agriculture sector in the State as more than 1.68 lakh progressive farmers have adopted this scheme.

 

Some Awards Given:

1) Chief Minister gave ‘Prerana Sarotra Award-2022’ to Police Orchestra Harmony of the Pines, Dheeraj Mahajan of NGO Kranti working for helping stray animals, first voter of India Shyam Saran Negi, Dr. Tek Chand, Padam Shree Baba Ikbal Singh (received by Sardar Jagjit Singh), Padam Shree Vidya Nand Sariak, Padam Shree Lalita Vakeel, noted writers Dr. Gautam Sharma, Dr. Pritush Gularia and Vijay Raj Upadhaya.

2) ‘State Innovation Awards-2022’ to Information Technology Department (Mukesh Reshpar received the Award) for Chief Minister Sewa Sankalp Helpline and Dr. Navidita Sharma of Dr. Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry.

3) Chief Minister also presented Civil Services Award to District Administration Kullu (Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg) for starting Online library facility during the Covid-19 pandemic and National Health Mission (MD NHM Hemraj Bairwa) for its overall role in vaccination drive and District Administration Kinnaur (Deputy Commissioner Abid Husain) for its achievement in vaccination drive.

 

Some Important Years:

The history of present day Himachal Pradesh in the post-independence era has been outlined below:

• The Chief Commissioner’s province of HP came into being on 15th April, 1948.
• HP became a part C state on 26th January, 1950 with the implementation of the Constitution of India.
• Bilaspur was merged with Himachal Pradesh on 1st July, 1954.
• Himachal Pradesh became a Union Territory on 1st November, 1956.
• Kangra and most of the other hill areas of Punjab were merged with HP on 1st November, 1966 though its status remained that of a Union Territory.
• On 18th December, 1970 the State of Himachal Pradesh Act was passed by Parliament and the new state came into being on 25th January, 1971. Thus, HP emerged as the eighteenth state of Indian Union.
• Himachal Pradesh has come a long way since then. It has seen a number of full-fledged governments which have led the state towards economic self-reliance.

 

(Source: HP Government)

 

 

Topic: Green Energy

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims

 

What is the news?

• Signing of MoU: Himachal’s first green hydrogen plant to be built in 1100 bighas of land in Chamba.

 

About Hydrogen Plant:

• Hydrogen produced in the plant will be stored in fuel tank of 20 kg capacity bus/car etc and this hydrogen will go to hydrogen fuel cell installed in main engine. This energy will be used to run the bus for 8 hours continuously or 200 kms with 20 kg fuel tank.
• The energy generated from this will be used to produce hydrogen in the electrolyzer. Around 20 kg of green hydrogen will be generated daily through electrolysis process and it will be stored through adaptive process. 9 to 12 liters of water would be used to produce one kilogram of hydrogen fuel.

 

The Chief Minister said:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India would become carbon neutral by 2070 and by 2030 India would generate 500 GW from non-fossil fuel sources, which would be 50 percent of the total installed capacity. This initiative of the State Government in collaboration with NHPC will prove to be a milestone.

(Source: Amar Ujala)

 

Topic: Conservation Project

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• First ethno-botanical park to be set up in Himachal.
• The work to set up ethno-botanical park has been started in February 2022 and it is likely to be completed by August 2022.

 

Who will develop this?

• This is being developed by the Forest department in association with Rural Development and Tourism departments.

 

Purpose:

• Himachal Pradesh’s first ethno-botanical park will be set up in 26.10 hectares in Una district to conserve endangered and vulnerable species of plants and trees of Kangra, Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts falling in lower Shivalik hills region.

Exact Location:

• State Rural Development minister Virender Kanwar said the park is being set up in Androli unprotected forest area in Bangana sub-division of Una district at a cost of Rs 8 crore.
• It is adjacent to Govind Sagar Lake and will be home to 150 rare varieties of plants and trees to associate young minds, nature lovers and enthusiasts to gain knowledge about the biodiversity of the region.
• Besides, one Block will be set up adjacent to Govind Sagar lake to promote seasonal visits of migratory birds to the different wetlands on Una and facilitate bird photographers and bird watchers to promote tourism.
• It is adjacent to the Govind Sagar Lake and will be home to 150 rare varieties of plants and trees to associate young minds, nature lovers and enthusiasts to gain knowledge about the biodiversity of the region.
• Besides, one Block will be set up adjacent to the Govind Sagar lake to promote seasonal visits of migratory birds to the different wetlands on Una and facilitate bird photographers and bird watchers to promote tourism.

(Source: thestatesman)

Some More News:

1)Sirmaur: Paragliding flagged off in Dadahu, adventure sports to be held in Renuka lake.

2) SJVN has been conferred with 13th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2022 in the categories of ‘Corona Warriors’ and ‘Partners in Progress.’

• These prestigious awards have been conferred to SJVN for exceptional contributions and initiatives in health and hygiene, education and skill development, infrastructural development, and sustainable development under its corporate social responsibility. Besides these two awards, Geeta Kapur, director personnel and chairperson, SJVN Foundation has also been honored with ‘CIDC Chairman’s Commendation Trophy in the Individual Capacity.’
• These awards were received by Geeta Kapur from Dr P R Swarup, VIDC director general at New Delhi.