2nd, June, 2023

Topic: Hailstorm wreaks havoc on crops in Mandi’s remote Chauhar valley.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

Importance for  Prelims: Geography of Himachal Pradesh.

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-IV: GENERAL STUDIES-I: UNIT I: Introduction to Disasters: Concepts, definitions, disaster classifications including natural and man-made disasters,Social and Environmental impacts of disasters.

 

What is the news?

• After the Seraj valley, a hailstorm caused damage in the remote Chauhar valley of Mandi on Sunday. Wheat, barley, potato, apple, and walnut crops, among others, were hurt.
• Farmers who were hurt by the storm said it did a lot of damage to wheat and barley crops that were ready to be picked. Farmers in Silahbudhani and Tarswan panchayats of the district are the ones who are hurt the most.

Let’s understand what a hailstorm  is and why it happens?

• Hailstorms are weather conditions where small, round balls of ice fall from the sky. Any time of year, hailstorms can happen, but they happen most often in the spring and summer.
• Thunderstorms are what cause hail storms. When a thunderstorm starts, strong updrafts of air carry water droplets high into the sky. When these water drops get to a certain height where the temperature is below freezing, they freeze. When the hailstones hit other water drops and ice crystals in the cloud, they get bigger.
• Hailstones can be a wide range of sizes. Some hailstones are only a few millimeters across, while others can be as big as golf balls or even baseballs. Large hailstones from a hailstorm can do a lot of damage to buildings and crops.

 

Here are some of the things that can cause hailstorms:

• Supercell thunderstorms are the strongest kind of thunderstorm, and hailstorms often happen with them. Strong updrafts in supercell clouds can carry water droplets high into the air, where they can freeze.
• Inversions: When a layer of warm air sits on top of a layer of cold air, this is called an inversion. This can make a shield that keeps the hailstones from falling to the ground. The hailstones will keep getting bigger as they move around inside the cloud.
• Moisture: There needs to be a lot of water in the air for it to hail. This moisture is needed to make the water droplets that will finally freeze and turn into hailstones.
• Wind shear is when the speed or direction of the wind changes with height. This can help make the strong updrafts that are needed for hailstorms to form.

Hailstorms can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage to homes, farms, and other things. If you live in an area where hail storms happen often, you should be ready. Here are some ways to stay safe during a hailstorm:

• Stay indoors. During a hail storm, the best place to be is inside. Get inside right away if you are outside.
• Avoid windows. Hail can break windows, so it’s best to stay away from them during a storm.
• Wrap up your car. Cover your car with a blanket or something else that will keep it safe. This will help keep your car from getting damaged by hail.
  Tighten things down. Lock up things like lawn chairs, trash cans, and toys that are outside. Strong winds or snow could blow these things away or damage them.

About Chauhar Valley:

• The beautiful Chauhar Valley is in the Mandi district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is a famous place for tourists to visit because of its beautiful scenery, lush forests, and cute villages.

There are many things to see and do in the valley, such as:

• The Barot Dam is a power dam that makes water available for drinking and farming.
• The Jhatingri Temple is a Hindu place of worship where the god Jhatingri is honored.
• The Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary is a place for animals to live. There are lions, bears, and monkeys there.
• The best time to visit Chauhar Valley is from June to September, when the weather is warm and sunny. People also like to go walking and camping in the valley.

(News Source: The Tribune)

Topic: Himachal Pradesh Government Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi Scheme.

 

Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.

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

Significance for the Mains Exam:

• PAPER-V: GENERAL STUDIES-II: UNIT I: Programmes and Schemes for welfare of Women.

 

What is the news?

• The Himachal Pradesh government has notified Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi Yojana to provide Rs 1,500 per month to the women of Spiti region of Lahaul-Spiti district.
• The first four payments of Rs 1,500 will be sent to eligible women in Spiti every month. Then, for six months,will get Rs 9000. The plan will start to pay off on June 1.
• Up until September, Rs 1,500 will be put into the bank or post office account every month. After that, money will be given every six months.
  For the Samman Nidhi, you have to make a request to the Tehsil Welfare Officer in Kaza. Under the plan, women and Buddhist nuns (chomo) who live in Spiti and are 18 to 59 years old will be able to get Rs 1,500. M Sudha Devi, who is in charge of social justice and empowerment, said that this was said by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on April 15, which was Himachal Day. About 46% of the people who live in the Spiti area are women.

The Goal of this scheme is:

• This plan will help women in this area get ahead in the job market. If a woman wants to get Samman Nidhi, she must fill out the form and give it to the Tehsil Welfare Officer in Kaza. Along with the registration form, you must give a valid age certificate, a Himachali bonafide-native certificate, a photocopy of your passbook for your bank or post office account number, a photocopy of your Aadhaar card, and a certificate from the Panchayat or the Chief Nun of the Buddhist Math.
• Women in a family with a government worker or retiree will not be included in the program. Ex-servicemen and military widows, honorarium Anganwadi workers, assistants, Asha workers, mid-day meal workers, multi-task workers, social security pension recipients, people registered for Goods and Services Tax, and women who pay income tax will also not be included in the plan.