+91 9815591973 support@examlife.info
MENU
Click on Drop Down for Current Affairs

8th, March, 2023

Topic: Chief Minister’s Sukh-Ashray Kosh

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are important.

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

Importance for the Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: UNIT II: Institutional framework, Policies and Interventions for development in various sectors.

 

What is the news?

  • Contribution can now be made through online medium also in the Chief Minister’s Sukh-Ashray Kosh. An online portal has been started for this fund.
  • Subscriber can make contribution online through https://sukhashray-hp.nic.in portal.
  • All philanthropists, general public and privileged sections of the society are requested to contribute generously to this fund so that more and more needy people can be helped through it.

About Chief Minister’s Sukh-Ashray Kosh:

  • The Mukhya Mantri Sukh Aashray Kosh is a new initiative of the government, constituted on the auspicious occasion of new year by the state government. Taking an innovative step towards humanity to shoulder his social responsibility, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh has contributed his first salary to the Mukhya Mantri Sukh Aashray Kosh. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh also announced on 1st January that all designated ministers and Congress MLAs have volunteered to donate their first salary as MLAs to the fund.

 

  • On February 16, 2023, the Himachal Pradesh cabinet’s 2nd meeting, which was led by Chief Minister (CM) Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, approved the rules for the “Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana,” which helps orphans, children with special needs, homeless women, and older people.
  • The CM also said that the government will take care of the orphans, who are called “Children of the State.”
  • In January 2023, CM started a programme for orphans called Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana (also known as CM’s Sukhashray Sahayata Kosh) with a budget of Rs 101 crore.

 

The Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana has the following parts:

  • The cabinet also decided that, as part of the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana, the existing shelter homes, orphanages, old-age homes, etc will be fixed up so that the people who live there can have better living conditions.
  • In the shelters, there will be modern features like common rooms, smart classes and coaching rooms, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, a music room, and bathrooms with showers.
  • Under the plan, integrated complexes with all of the basic services will be built in Jawalamukhi in the Kangra district and in Sundernagar in the Mandi district to help poor women, elderly people, and orphans.
  • To make sure the kids in orphanages get a good education, they will get the right amount of coaching and reference books and study materials.
  • Under the plan, some well-known people from the community will be chosen to be mentors for these kids and give them advice.
  • The cabinet also decided that orphaned children who turn 18 will get food and a place to stay in an after-care facility until they turn 27.

 

Financial assistance:

  • For orphans older than 18, the government will pay Rs 1 lakh per person per year for the coaching hostel and tuition fees, plus Rs 4,000 per resident per month during the coaching period.
  • Eligible inmates who are 18 years old or older and want to start a business or invest in a startup will get a one-time grant of Rs 2 lakh per person.
  • Under this plan, the people who live in these facilities will get Rs 2 lakhs or the actual cost of their wedding, whichever is less.
  • A recurring deposit account will be set up for the residents (children and homeless women), and each child aged 0-14 will get Rs 1000 per month and each child aged 15-18 will get Rs 2500 per month. Single women get the same kind of help.
  • Landless orphans who are 27 years old or older will get 3 biswa (1 biswa = 1350 square feet) of land in a rural area and Rs 3 lakh to help build a house.
  • Rs 10,000 will be put in the bank accounts of the people who live in orphanages, old age homes, and Nari Sewa Sadans as a clothing allowance.
(Source: Timesofindia)

 

Topic: The development of two paragliding sites in Kangra

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are important.

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

Importance for the Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT II: Himachal Pradesh’s tourism policy, potential, and initiative.

 

What’s the news?

  • In the Kangra district’s Nirwana and Majheen areas, two paragliding sites will be built.

What sites are already there?

  • Existing sites in the district are in the Bir-Billing and Indrunag areas of Dharamsala city.

 

Bir-Billing facilities to be revealed:

  • Within a month, Bir will have a paragliding school open.
  • At Billing, a control room will be positioned close to the paragliding takeoff area.
  • There will be an ambulance stationed close to the takeoff area.
  • In order to address the growing problem of solid waste, a plastic waste processing facility will be built in Bir.
  • According to Kangra DC, amenities like restrooms would be built at the Proposed take-off site.

 

Which department oversees the paragliding facility in Bir-Billing?

  • The paragliding area in Bir-Billing is under the control of the Department of Tourism.
(Source: HP Tribune)

 

Topic: Electricity producers are displeased with the implementation of a cess.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are important.

Economic and social development – sustainable development, poverty, inclusiveness, demographics, social sector activities, etc. – are important for Prelims.

Importance for the Mains Exam:

  • PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: UNIT II: Institutional framework, Policies and Interventions for development in various sectors.

 

What’s the news?

  • The government’s decision to levy a water cess on hydroelectric projects in the state has angered electricity companies. The decision has stung the power producers, who are considering alternatives ranging from encouraging the government to reconsider the decision to pursuing legal action.

What is the Cess levied by the government?

  • The government might earn up to Rs 700 crore.

 

How?

  • The government has levied a water cess on hydroelectric projects.
  • It varies between Rs 0.10 and Rs 0.50 per cubic metre, depending on the ‘head’ of the project.
  • The government hopes to generate approximately Rs 500-700 crore per year from water cess on hydro projects.

 

Rajesh Sharma, president of the Bonafide Hydro Developers Association, expressed concern:

  • The application of a cess will burden already-running projects and dissuade future investors from investing in them.
  • We will make our case to the government. We will ask for an exception for projects up to 25 MW.
  • Some power producers are considering legal action.
  • In the terms and conditions of ancient projects, there is no provision for cess. In addition, we are paying 12% royalty and 1% to the local area development authority,” a power producer stated.
(Source: HP Tribune)