4th, July, 2022
Topic: Glory for State
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- The state took the first position among the Himalayan and North-East states by disburseing a loan worth Rs 20,000 each to street vendors.
Under which scheme?
- PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.
Urban Development Director Manmohan Sharma shared:
- In the second phase of the scheme, applications of 1,007 vendors have been approved and the amount has been disbursed to 894 vendors. Given the geographical location of the state, it is a great accomplishment and a matter of pride. I hope we will continue to be at the top in the future as well.
- According to an Urban Development official, there are three phases of the scheme, under which a street vendor is eligible to get a loan of Rs 10,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively. The scheme took off in July 2020, and will run till December 2024.
- All urban local bodies were surveyed to find the eligible beneficiaries for the scheme, and 4,892 street vendors have been identified. “In the first phase, 3,444 vendors were disbursed a loan of Rs 10,000 each. Besides, 11 applications have already been received for a loan of Rs 50,000 in the third phase,” the official said.
About PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme:
- The PM Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (SVANidhi) Scheme was launched in June 2020 as a Micro-Credit facility which aims to empower street vendors to recover losses incurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It has been established under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Key Objectives of the PM SVANidhi Scheme are:
- Facilitating working capital loans upto INR 10,000.
- Incentivising regular repayment of loans by offering an interest subsidy of 7% per annum. This subsidy will be credited back on a quarterly basis.
- Rewarding digital transactions with monthly cash back offers.
(News Source: The Tribune)
Topic: Infrastructure
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- India’s highest village in Spiti gets tap water.
What is the name of the village?
- Tashigang village in Spiti, the highest village in the country, got the domestic tap connection as Himachal achieved 93.05 per cent target of providing functional household connections.
Under which scheme?
- Jal Jeevan Mission.
Other districts:
- In Chamba, the target of 100 per cent coverage has been achieved by providing tap connections to all 1,21,752 households while in Una, the connections have been provided to all 1,15,949 houses.
About Jal Jeevan Mission:
- Jal Jeevan Mission, is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
- The programme will also implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting.
- The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission.
- The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission.
- Jal Jeevan Mission looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
(News Source: The Tribune)
Topic: Glory for State
Importance: Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains
What is the news?
- Himachal Pradesh has been recognized as the ‘Aspiring leaders’ in developing a strong startup ecosystem in the State.
Why?
- The State was applauded for its initiatives taken to build a strong ecosystem such as. building a comprehensive and inclusive startup policy, Outlining easy public procurement norms for startups and Launching Him Startup Yojna (HIMSUP) to promote and encourage new entrepreneurs.
Various Certificates received:
- The certificate of appreciation was received by Department of Industries, Himachal Pradesh recently at an event State’s Startup Ranking 2021 organised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), GOI.
- The certificate of achievement was awarded to Chief Secretary, Ram Subhag Singh for his commendable efforts for ensuring timeliness State approvals and clearances required for registering startups and launching of HIMSUP Yojna to provide funds to incubators for startups.
- Director of Industries, Rakesh Kumar Prajapati was awarded the certificate of commendation for extending support to startups from various State departments and setting up of new incubation centre in the State to facilitate the startups.
- Joint Director of Industries Deepika Khatri also received the certificate of commendation for promoting and conducting entrepreneurial events for spreading awareness about Startup scheme and providing the highest sustenance allowance along with plug and play facilities to support startups in the State.
(Source: CMO Himachal)