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Punjab Current Affairs

27^th August 2019

Topic:- Farmers issues. (Important for Mains)

News: Support to farmers by the state government during the tough time.

Context:- On the directions of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Punjab State Seeds Corporation will provide approximately 25,000 Quintal high-quality seed of the wheat crop to the flood-hit farmers, for upcoming Rabi season.
Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh has ordered to reduce service connection charge to 50 % in all cases of increasing electricity load. This will not only help farmers and rural/urban domestic users but also business users. This will be relief to a small community with this only 500 rupees. 100 crore.
Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh ordered PSPCL to reduce Service Connection Charges by 50% in all cases of Electricity Load Extension. This will hugely benefit not only the Farmers and rural/urban households but also commercial consumers.
The relief to the farming community alone shall be Rs. 100 Crore.

About Punjab State Seeds Corporation:-

Name: Punjab State Seeds Corporation (PUNSEED)

Punjab State Seeds Corporation Limited was incorporated in 1976 with the objective to provide better quality
seeds at a reasonable price to farmers and develop such a seed production infrastructure that is able to respond
rapidly to the fast-changing demand of seeds of all kinds with the least possible costs.

Functions and Duties: The Aim & Objectives of the PUNSEED are

Aim :

To provide Quality/Certified Seeds, to the farmers of Punjab, of various varieties of different crops grown in the
The state of Punjab at very reasonable price and to implement the various programmes designed by the Central and
State Govt.

.
Objectives :

a) To implement the State Seeds Project forming part of the National Seeds Programme in accordance with the
arrangements between International Development Agency/International Bank for Reconstruction
Development, Government of India, National Seeds Corporation Limited, Punjab Government and the
Company or between any two or more of them.
b) To undertake the production of certified seeds in sufficient quantities to support the National Production
Program and of any crops or varieties coming under the preview of seeds Act.
c) To provide quality seeds at reasonable prices to farmers to support the high yielding varieties program
d) To process certified seeds on scientific and commercial lines.
e) To install, manage and operate processing plants and seed storage facilities.
f) To undertake and promote research in agriculture in general and seed production, processing, preserving and
storage techniques in the particular, in collaboration with ICAR, Agricultural Universities and National Seeds Corporation Limited and other Institutions.
g) To make arrangements for the supply of foundation seed to grower share-holders through the National Seeds
Corporation Limited for varieties of all-India and regional importance and through other agencies for other
varieties
h) To carry on business as seed merchants, to buy, sell, prepare for market and deal in seeds of all kind.

Topic:- Health

News:-Preventive measures in Punjab after the flood.

Context:-

Fogging campaign is in progress by the District Administration of Kapurthala, it is to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases in the flood-hit villages of Sultanpur Lodhi. A total of 23 flood-affected villages area to be covered under this campaign, the process has already been completed in more than 7 villages.

What are Waterborne diseases?

Waterborne diseases are caused by drinking contaminated or dirty water. Contaminated water can cause many types of diarrheal diseases, including Cholera, and other serious illnesses such as Guinea worm disease, Typhoid, and Dysentery. Water-related diseases cause 3.4 million deaths each year.

Transmission:-

Floods can potentially increase the transmission of the following communicable diseases: Water-borne diseases, such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and hepatitis A. Vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever, yellow fever, and West Nile Fever.