HIMACHAL NEWS TODAY

April 5th, 2021

 

1. Successful and profitable strawberry farming in Hamirpur during COVID-19 by a local resident.

2. The HIMCARE program has treated more than 1.5 Lakh residents of the state since January 2019.

3. Girl’s hostel inaugurated at Government Polytechnic Sundernagar with better boarding facilities.

4. On April 4, the unhappy day Kangra was shaken massively by a devastating earthquake in 1905, and remembers the victims that day.

5. Its yellow warning by meteorological department till April 8, with hailstorms, thunderstorms and gusty winds in low and mid hills.

 

Topic: Horticulture Development

 

IMPORTANCE: Prelims and Mains

 

WHAT IS THE NEWS?

• A local resident of Hamirpur successfully harvested strawberries from his farmlands as part of a pilot project.

 

WHY IN NEWS?

• As the number of jobs lost due to COVID-19 grows, a Hamirpur youth named Prakrit Lakhanpal successfully harvested strawberries on his farmland as part of a pilot project.
• He was successful in cultivating and harvesting the Strawberries.
• According to him, he is able to harvest 4-5 kg of Strawberries per day and is also able to making profit out of it.

 

 HOW IT WAS  DONE?

• Prakrit bought 1000 plants from Bangalore and planted them in his field under the guidance of horticulture experts.
• He simply used organic processes in growing strawberries.

 

FACTS

• Prakrit Lakhanpal’s success will be a new way for farmers to improve their incomes.
• Horticulture products, if scientifically grown, can be beneficial to the individual and the economy of the state.

(Source: HP Tribune)

 

Topic: Health and Social Welfare

 

IMPORTANCE: Prelims and Mains

 

WHAT IS THE NEWS?

• HIMCARE scheme cured and treated more than 1.5 Lakh state residents since January 2019.

 

WHY IN NEWS?

• Since its launch in January 2019, the Himachal Health Care Scheme (HIMCARE) has successfully provided a free treatment for 1, 51,157 patients which costs Rs 144 crore.

 

FACTS:

• 5, 21,698 State persons have enrolled in this scheme since January 2019.
• Cashless treatment up to Rs 5 lakh is covered per year per family.
• If a family has more than five persons, then the remaining persons will be enrolled separately.
• The HIMCARE card holders can avail free, medical treatment in 201 registered hospitals out of which 64 are private hospitals.

(Source: HP Tribune)

 

Topic: Geography

 

IMPORTANCE: Prelims and Mains

 

WHAT IS THE NEWS?

• Its yellow warning by meteorological department till April 8th with hailstorms, thunderstorms and gusty winds in low and mid hills

WHY IN NEWS?

• This is a good sign for farmers especially and other residents generally as there was a 62% rain deficit in March 2021.
• The yellow alert brings with it gust od winds, thunderstorms, hailstorms and phenomenon of lightening.
• Areas especially mid and lower hills are more affected.

 

 FACTS:

• There was a rain deficit of 69% during the last winter season.
• Monsoon deficit was 26%
• The post monsoon deficit was 15%

(Source: HP Tribune)