2nd, September, 2022

 

 

Topic: NCRB report: Punjab third in country in NDPS cases, but rate per lakh highest

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

Punjab PCS Prelims: Polity (Current Events)

Punjab PCS Mains:

• Paper 4: General Aptitude I: Topic: Society
• Paper 7: General Aptitude IV: Topic: Situations in Civil Service -Problem Solving and Decision Making

 

What is the news?

• Once at the top of the country in the number of drug trafficking cases, Punjab is now placed third though the state’s crime rate of 32.8 per lakh population in this category remains at the top in the country.

What does it mean?

• The rate means about 33 persons per lakh indulged in drug smuggling.
• The crime data of all states for the year 2021 released by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) earlier this year reveals Uttar Pradesh with 10,432 FIRs under the NDPS Act was at the top followed by Maharashtra at 10,078 cases while Punjab had 9,972 cases.

 

In an explanatory note on the interpretation of data, the NCRB shared:

• As crime increases with population, crime per lakh population (crime rate) may be a better indicator to assess increase or decrease in crime. However, there is a word of caution. The primary presumption that the upward swing in police data indicates an increase in crime and thus a reflection of the ineffectiveness of the police is fallacious.
• ‘Rise in crime’ and ‘increase in registration of crime by the police’ are clearly two different things.”
• The state is sixth in the country overall in the category of possessing drugs for consumption. It registered 4,206 cases (out of a total 9,972) but the rate of consumption per lakh is 13.8 meaning about 14 persons out of given one lakh persons would be drug consumers. Punjab is third in the category topped by Kerala (14.3) and Arunachal Pradesh (14.2).
• The state tops in the category of possessing drugs for trafficking. The NCRB report says 5,766 cases (out of a total 9,972) were registered against persons for possessing drugs for smuggling. The rate of 19 persons per lakh indulging in drug smuggling is the country’s highest. Himachal Pradesh is a distant second with 14.7 persons per lakh involved in drug smuggling.
• Punjab topped the country in the registration of cases from 2016-2018. It was second in the country in 2019 and 2020. Drug smuggling has remained a much-debated social, criminal and political issue in the state. The incidence had gone high forcing the government to form a Special Task Force (STF) against drugs.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Ludhiana records maximum deaths due to cold exposure in 2021

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

Punjab PCS Prelims: Polity (Current Events)

Punjab PCS Mains:

• Paper 4: General Aptitude I: Topic: Society
• Paper 7: General Aptitude IV: Topic: Situations in Civil Service -Problem Solving and Decision Making

 

What is the news?

• According to the latest report from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ludhiana exceeded the country’s maximum number of cold-related deaths in 2021.
• As many as 39 persons had succumbed to cold exposure in Punjab’s most populated city last year, which were maximum deaths reported in mega cities across the country, the report on “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2021”.

• Amritsar arrived second in the country with 21 deaths due to “cold exposure”, followed by 15 deaths in Dhanbad, the second most populous city of Jharkhand.
• A total of 533 deaths from forces of nature were reported in 53 megalopolis across the country in 2021, according to the report.

 

Reasons shared:

• Among specified causes of accidents due to forces of nature, maximum deaths were reported due to “exposure to cold” followed by cyclones, accounting for 20.1 per cent and 13.3 per cent of total such accidental deaths, respectively.
• In Ludhiana, as many as 1,243 accidental deaths were reported in 2021, of which 58 were caused due to “forces of nature”, accounting for 4.67 per cent, while 1,185 persons had died due to “other causes”, which accounted for 95.33 per cent of the total casualties.
• While Ludhiana contributed 2.3 per cent share in the total accidental deaths, which was 13th highest among 53 mega cities across the country, the rate of accidental deaths in Ludhiana remained 77.2 per cent, which was more than double the national average of 33.3 per cent.
• Ludhiana’s 58 deaths due to “forces of nature” in 2021 were 18.4 per cent higher than 49 such casualties reported in 2020 while 1,185 deaths due to “other causes” in 2021 were 21 per cent more than 979 such casualties reported in 2020.
• As well, 1,243 accidental deaths reported in Ludhiana in 2021 were up 20.9% from 1,028 in 2020.
• While Ludhiana’s increase in deaths due to “forces of nature” was eighth highest in the country, the rise in deaths due to “other causes” was almost four times than the national average of 5.5 per cent. The upward trend in the total number of accidental fatalities in Ludhiana was more than three times higher than the national average of 5.9 percent.

 

What is a mega city?

• Mega city refers to a city that has a population of 10 lakh or more. As per the Census 2011, the status of mega city has been accorded to 53 cities in the country.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Ludhiana witnesses fifth highest accidental deaths in 2021: NCRB

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

Punjab PCS Prelims: Polity (Current Events)

Punjab PCS Mains:

• Paper 4: General Aptitude I: Topic: Society
• Paper 7: General Aptitude IV: Topic: Situations in Civil Service -Problem Solving and Decision Making

 

What is the news?

• According to the National Crime Records Bureau report, Ludhiana witnessed the fifth highest accidental death rate in the country in 2021.
• As many as 1,243 persons died due to the road accidents in the district at the rate of 77.2 per cent, which was more than double the national average of 29.1 per cent.

NCRB report entitled “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2021” states:

• Amritsar, the only other mega-city in Punjab, in addition to Ludhiana, reported only 350 accidental deaths in 2021, 71.84% less than the industrial center.
• Chandigarh’s 379 accidental fatalities were also almost three times fewer than Ludhiana’s.
• Ludhiana’s total accidental deaths included 1,104 men and 139 women, of which 403 men and 46 women were aged between 30 years and 45 years, 309 men and 22 women between 45 years and 60 years, and 135 men and 10 women were aged 60 years and above.
• Of the total accidental deaths in the district, 380 happened in 478 road accidents, which were 23.2 per cent more than 388 in 2020. As many as 169 persons were left injured in 478 road accidents in 2021.
• Of the 380 victims, 77 were travelling on trucks, 11 on buses, 75 on cars, 13 each on tractors and auto-rickshaws, 100 on two-wheelers, 56 on other motor vehicles, 10 cyclists, three on cycle rickshaws and 22 persons on various other mode of transportation.
• Meanwhile, there was no pedestrian among 380 persons who lost their lives in the road accidents in the district last year.

(Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Agro-economist Dr Sukhpal Singh to head Punjab farmers’ commission

 

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

Punjab PCS Prelims: Agriculture

Punjab PCS Mains:

• Paper 4: General Aptitude I: Topic: Geography of Punjab: Location and agriculture

 

 

What is the news?

• Eminent agro-economist Dr Sukhpal Singh, who has done work on tracking farmer indebtedness-related suicides, has been made chairman of the Punjab State Farmers’ Commission.

About Agro-economist Dr Sukhpal Singh:

• A native of a Bapiana village in Mansa district, Dr Sukhpal has undertaken 20 research projects on rural suicides, farm debt, rural education, depeasantisation, rural marketing and farm reforms.
• He has authored two research books, 83 research bulletins/ reports, over 200 research/policy papers
  The ICRA Netherlands had bestowed German Fellowship Award on him. He also got state award, best book award by PAU, Anamitra Saha Award by ISAE and Dr MS Randhawa Award
• His role as chairman of the commission will be pivotal in steering the agrarian economy of the state to a higher level, while keeping in mind the humane approach to changing agriculture.

 

About Punjab State Farmers’ Commission:

 

PUNJAB STATE FARMERS & FARM WORKERS COMMISSION (PSFFWC) was set up to address the issues related to sustainability of agriculture, improving farmer incomes (including off-farm incomes) and other related rural problems, and in particular of the small and marginal farmers.

 

Functions of the commission include:

1. To provide for rights and welfare of those dependent on agriculture. The Government will consult the Commission on matters relating to welfare of those dependent on agriculture and matters referred to by the Commission to the Government.

2. To frame an agricultural policy which contributes to increase farmers income while providing for ecological and economic sustainability and agriculture productivity.

3. To collate data, information, analyze, inquire, consult, review, monitor, survey, undertake studies and suggest measures for:

a) Improving the Status of agriculture and allied sectors, rural infrastructure, agriculture extension and education, quality and delivery of agricultural goods/inputs and services by all entities including both government and private.

b) Promoting the off-farm job creation in rural areas.

c) Market interventions, mechanization and adoption of new technologies for agricultural production, value addition, post harvest handling and processing of the produce.

d) Domestic and international markets to assess the competition, future trends, local demand, export potential, import substitution.

e) Promotion of cooperatives for delivery of goods/inputs and services with an aim to increase the efficiency and the economic sustainability of rural economy.

4. To consider demands and grievances of those dependent on agriculture and various farmers’ Associations and Unions and to meet their representatives from time to time and make suitable policy recommendations to the Government.

5. To consider any other issue which is relevant to the above or is specially referred to the Commission by the State Government.

6. To requisition and utilize the services of any organization or officer or any other person for the purpose of fulfilling its mandate under the Act.

7. Subject to the provisions of this Act, Commission may initiate a suo-moto inquiry on matters relating its mandate and for the purpose of this inquiry, the Commission will have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in respect of the following:

a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examine him under oath;

b) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;

c) receiving evidence on affidavit;

d) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any Court or office;

e) Issuing summons for examining of witnesses or documents; and any other matter which may be prescribed.

(News Source: The Tribune)

 

 

Topic: Chief Minister’s Field Officers as nodal officers for NRIs

 

 

Punjab PCS Prelims: Punjab(Current Events)

Punjab PCS Mains:

• Paper 5: General Aptitude II: Topic: Indian Constitution & Polity

 

 

What is the news?

• In a major relief to Non Resident Indians (NRIs), Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has decided to appoint Chief Minister’s Field Officers as nodal officers for NRIs to ensure rederessal of their grievances in a prompt and time-bound manner.
• 23 posts of Chief Minister’s Field Officer were created after abolishing equal number of posts of Assistant Commissioner (Grievances).

Aim of this:

• The Chief Minister emphasized that the sole aim of evolving this entire mechanism is to ensure quick disposal services to the NRIs.
• The State government is committed to ensure that the NRI brethren, who had proved their mettle across the globe, do not face any sort of problem back at home. He said that NRIs have already carved a niche for them through their sheer hard work and dedication, adding that the state government will make all out efforts to ensure that their complaints, if any, are redressed in a time bound and prompt manner.
• It will ensure the grievances of residents of the state were redressed at the district level by providing a well structured and empowered grievance Redressal system to them.
• CM envisioned that these officers would prove to be ideal nodal officers for NRIs as they would be able to coordinate across departments and districts having a direct communication with the CM office.
• The CM said now NRIs would get a single-point contact to get all their problems resolved in a smooth and hassle-free manner.

(News Source: Punjab Government)