31st, August, 2022

 

 

Topic: Effective steps taken for ensuring upliftment of poor and weaker sections of society in Himachal

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims: Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: Unit III: Topic: Various policies framed by the Government of Himachal Pradesh for the socioeconomic development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of the State.
• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: Unit II: Topic: Issues and Challenges: Programmes and policies for the Weaker Sections.

 

What is the news?

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government was sensitive towards the poor and weaker sections of the society and effective steps have been taken for the upliftment of these sections.

 

Where he was speaking?

• He was presiding over the concluding session of one day seminar on “The Role of SC Commission in Solution of Schedule Castes issues after 75 years of Independence”, organized by the Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes here today.

 

Chief Minister also released the book Safarnama written by Dr. Karam Chand on the occasion.

Chief Minister shared:

• Chief Minister said that the population of scheduled castes in the state was around 25.19 percent as per the 2011 census and holistic development of the state could be possible only when there was all-round and balanced development of all the communities and areas.
• He said that the State Government had always given top priority to fulfill the basic needs like livelihood and housing of all the communities and had ensured that everyone gets better and equal opportunities for education, health and development.
• Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government had been implementing the Scheduled Castes Development Program with an objective of accelerating the economic and social development of the Scheduled Castes.

 

Budget Provision:

• A budget provision of Rs 2400.12 crore had been made under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Rs 148 Lakh had been made under Follow up Programme to achieve the target of 8244 beneficiaries in this financial year. Total 20399 people have benefited under this scheme since the year 2018.
• Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the budget allocation for the empowerment of Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Specially abled, by 113 percent in the last four years. As compared to the budget amount of Rs 537.06 crore allocated in the financial year 2017-18, a provision of Rs 1145.21 crore has been made this year, added the Chief Minister.
• He said that a budget provision had been made this year for the construction of houses under the Swarna Jayanti Ashray Yojana, to achieve the target of construction of 5000 houses and a provision of Rs 310 lakh for Inter Caste Marriage Scheme.

 

Under Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana:

• 348 villages were also selected in 2018-19 under Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojna phase-2, besides this, 213 villages under Gram Vikas Yojna. So far 167 villages have been declared as Adarsh Grams under Phase II. He said that ‘Mukhyamantri Adarsh Gram Yojana’ was being implemented on the lines of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, under which Rs. 96.26 crore has been released so far, which has benefitted about 700 villages.
• Chief Minister said that various scholarship schemes were being implemented for providing scholarship to students of SC communities at school and college level.
• Jai Ram Thakur said that people of all communities and castes in Himachal Pradesh were contributing towards the all-round development of the state. The provisions of various Acts are being implemented effectively to provide social justice to the Scheduled Caste community. He said that due to the concerted efforts of the State Government, there has been an unprecedented change in the attitude of the society.

(Source: HP Government)

 

 

 

Topic: Steps to stop illegal mining in Himachal

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims : Economic and social development – sustainable development poverty, inclusion, demographics, social sector initiatives, etc.

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit III: Topic: Issues, concerns, policies, programs, conventions, treaties and missions aimed at environmental protection, and dealing with the problem of climate change.

 

What is the news?

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Himachal Pradesh Government to deal firmly with the mining mafia and ensure that there is no illegal mining in rivers and rivulets of the state.

What State Government has decided?

• The state government has decided to allow all state SDMs to fix the properties of people involved in illegal mining to recover the fine imposed on them.

 

Why important?

• The state invoked these strict laws for the first time to crack down on the mining mafia, which has wreaked havoc across the state.
• Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary, Environment, issued a notification in this regard yesterday,which shared:
• The SDMs have been asked to grant an opportunity to the defaulters before attaching their assets by issuing them a show-cause notice.
  Illegal mining is going on unabated in the Kangra valley. After the recent floods, the functioning of the state Mining Department has come under the scanner.
• In Kangra, illegal mining is posing a threat to several irrigation and drinking water supply schemes. The 400-year-old Kirpal Chand Kuhl, originating from Neugal, which feeds over 50 Panchayats comprising hundreds of villages of Palampur, Bhawarna and Daroh blocks, is in danger because of mining in the catchment areas.

 

Important Highlight:

• SDMs have been asked to first provide an opportunity to defaulters by issuing them a show-cause notice.
  After the recent flash floods, the functioning of the state Mining Department has come under the scanner.
  In Kangra, illegal mining is posing a serious threat to several irrigation & drinking water supply schemes.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Paddy Crop hit by virus

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims : General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit III: Topic: Agriculture

 

 

What is the news?

• Paddy virus: Paddy hit by virus in Himachal’s Sirmaur, crop turns yellow

 

Why concern?

• For the first time, standing paddy crop has contracted the virus in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. Paonta Sahib has suffered the most from this virus. This virus has been named SRBSDV. The virus has so far damaged 20-50 per cent of farmers’ crops in different parts. This is the first time that the paddy crop has contracted the virus.

About Virus:

• It is being told that this is a Chinese virus. It was first reported in 2001. Now this virus is affecting the paddy crop in North India.
• This virus has been named SRBSDV. WBPH that is a white-back locust is spreading rapidly in crops by taking this virus with it. Scientists are engaged in researching the prevention of this virus. This has stopped the development of paddy crop. In many places, the crop has started turning yellow. The roots have turned red instead of white and new roots are not developing.

 

The Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has stated that:

• The disease-causing ‘dwarfing’ in rice plants across Haryana and Punjab is due to the Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), belonging to the genus Fijivirus.
• SRBSDV is a virus with ten double-stranded RNA segments. It is transmitted by a white-backed plant hopper (WBPH). Apart from rice, it can also be found in several weed species.

(Source: Amar Ujala)

 

 

Topic: Research by IIT Mandi

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims : General Science

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit III: Topic: Latest developments in science and technology for harnessing agriculture, horticulture, medicinal and herbal resources in the country.

 

What is the news?

• Colorectal cancer: Turmeric will accurately treat rectal cancer, IIT Mandi researchers succeed.
• Turmeric, which enhances the color of the dishes in the kitchen, will now be an accurate treatment for rectal cancer. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi have succeeded in researching it.

 

• In this research conducted under the project of the Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India, researchers created smart nanoparticles based on natural polymers (turmeric, curcumin), which will be added to the drugs made for the prevention of cancer and make that drug more effective.
• These particles will deliver the drug to the cancerous part only on the tissues from which cancer thrives.

 

Where this research has been published?

• In such a situation, this combination of the anti-cancer process with anti-cancer drugs will provide a more effective way to treat cancer. The findings of the research have been published in the journal Carbohydrate Polymers.
• It has been mentioned in the research paper that this cancer has increased the mortality rate in the world. It is the third most common cancer among men in India, while it is the second most common cancer in women all over the world.

 

About Colorectal cancer:

• It occurs in the colon or rectum. It is also called colon cancer or rectal cancer. Most colorectal cancer begins with growth on the inner layer of the colon or rectum. This growth is called polyps. Many of these polyps take the form of cancer. It depends on the type of polyp.
• The colon is the final part of the digestive tract. Colon cancer typically affects older adults, though it can happen at any age. It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps that form on the inside of the colon. Over time some of these polyps can become colon cancers.

(News Source: Amar Ujala)

 

 

 

Topic: Power surplus and Energy policy

 

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims : General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III : Unit III : Topic: Issues, concerns, policies, programs, conventions, treaties and missions aimed at environmental protection, and dealing with the problem of climate change.

 

What is the news?

• Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to formulate a power surplus and energy policy. The 1500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project in the combined area in hydropower exploitation was also mainly connected.
• Launched LADF (Local Area Development Fund) in all hydro power projects of the state which was a unique initiative of its kind in the country.

Golden Energy Policy 2021:

• Recently, the government has passed its Golden Energy Policy 2021. Many types of new provisions have been made in it. To generate 10,000 MW of additional green energy by 2030.
• To develop the state as a water battery state. Use 100 percent green energy in the state. To promote green hydrogen energy in the state. To promote 100% use of green energy in industrial products. Giving various incentives for pump storage projects is its key component.

(Source: Amar Ujala)

 

 

 

Topic: Agriculture Challenges

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims : General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: Unit I: Topic: Diversification in Agriculture and allied activities.

 

 

What is the news?

• Farmers in Himachal Pradesh may have started producing coarse grains, but marketing arrangements for the finished crops have not been made. With the country’s market demand in mind, state farmers have taken steps to produce coarse grains in the state. Now the harvest is ready.
• There are problems selling it outside the state. In the agriculture pilot project itself, farmers are having a difficult time selling their crops. In such a situation, the yield of coarse cereals in Himachal increases year after year, so the farmers will have to waste their time in finding markets to sell the crops.

 

What is the issue?

• Department of Agriculture officials say that farmers started to produce coarse grains as part of the project.
• Now farmers are faced with the issue of selling their crops out of the states.
• In other states, particularly in major cities, demand for coarse grains is high, and crop prices are also good.
• The issue facing farmers is that coarse grains cannot be sold outside the state without packaging. Many formalities are required for the packaging of coarse grains and these small farmers are unable to do so.

Project by Government:

• The government launched a five crore pilot project a year ago to increase the production of coarse grains. It connected districts where farmers cultivated coarse grains and abandoned it. Koda, red rice, sugar, fanfra and maize etc. are being produced from this project.

 

What does the agricultural secretary say?

• Secretary of State for Agriculture Rakesh Kanwar says that state farmers produce coarse grains but are not able to sell outside the state at their level.
• Farmers don’t have much trouble selling coarse grains in the state. If you want to sell coarse grains outside the state, then you can sell it only after you’ve finished packing. For this purpose, the assistance of an organization is being studied.

 

 

Topic: Fortified rice to be available in mid-day meal scheme

 

Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains

 

Importance for Prelims : General science

Importance for Mains Exam:

• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: Unit II: Topic: Issues relating to the quality of life: livelihood, poverty, hunger, disease and social inclusiveness.

 

 

What is the news?

• School students of Himachal Pradesh will now get nutritious food. Under the mid-day meal scheme, students will be given fortified rice.
• The government has issued orders to the state education department and the Himachal Pradesh Civil Supplies Corporation.
• Every student from class I to V will get 100 grams of fortified rice, while every student from class VI to VIII will get 150 grams of fortified rice. Efforts are being made to overcome the problem of malnutrition among students by emphasizing on balanced diet through fortified rice.

 

About Fortified Rice:

 

What is rice fortification?

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) define fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefits with minimal risk to health”.

 

How it is made?

• Various technologies are available to add micronutrients to regular rice, such as coating, dusting, and ‘extrusion’. The last mentioned involves the production of fortified rice kernels (FRKs) from a mixture using an ‘extruder’ machine. It is considered to be the best technology for India.
• Fortified rice contains adequate amounts of nutrients like iron, vitamin B-12, folic acid.
• Due to the abundance of nutrients, the nutritional value of fortified rice is also high.

(Source: Amar Ujala)