Himachal Pradesh Weekly Current Affairs – [March 1st Week]

Himachal Pradesh Weekly Current Affairs:

March 01-07, 2019

HP government revises policy for jobs on compassionate grounds:

• HP cabinet decided to simplify the policy for providing employment on compassionate ground to the dependents of government servants who die while in service to benefit the maximum employees of the State Government.
• According to policy, now age limit condition of employee upto 50 years has been abolished and retirement age of the deceased employee will be the age limit to consider the eligibility for compassionate appointment and income criterion has been enhanced to Rs. two lakh per annum per family.

HP government stresses on efficient governance by regular monitoring of works:

• Himachal Pradesh has been ranked consistently on top in good governance among small states of India and the District Good Governance Index.
• To ensure wider public usage, 188 time-bound services notified by 27 departments under Public Service Guarantee Act, 2011.
• An awareness campaign would be launched by the Administrative Reforms Department to the general public and departments sensitized in a workshop.

Answer this Question in the comment box:

What are the features of  Himachal Pradesh Public Services Guarantee Act 2011? [150 words] 

GoI releases Rs. 26.12 crore to Himachal under PMGSY:

• The government of India has released financial incentive amounting to Rs. 26.12 crore to Himachal Pradesh under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).
• This grant-in-aid amount would be spent on periodic maintenance of roads constructed under the PMGSY.
• This central assistance has been released by the Union Ministry of Rural Development to the HP Gram Sadak Development Agency (HPGSDA) for the financial year 2018-19.
• These funds would be utilized for the purpose of mettaling and tarring of those roads which were constructed five or more than five years back.

Answer this Question in the comment box:

What is PMGSY? What are the demands put forth by the Government of Himachal Pradesh with the centre to make changes in PMGSY?  [150 words] 

Jan Manch organised successfully in State:

More than 25000 complaints have been redressed during Jan Manch organised so far and the state government is committed to provide good governance to facilitate the people of the state.

Answer this Question in the comment box:

Jan Manch has brought the Administration closer to people. Critically examine. [150 words]

Grihini Suvidha Yojna:

• The state government has provided 64 thousand LPG connections to the beneficiaries under Grihini Suvidha Yojna in the state.

Answer these Question in the comment box:

What is the difference between Ujjawala scheme (national) and Grihini Suvidha Yojna (State)? [150 words]

Chief Minister inaugurates traditional International Shivratri Fair:

• The week-long famous traditional International Shivratri fair of Mandi district began as Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur formally announced the opening of the Mela at historical Paddal ground at Mandi.
• As many as 216 Devtas participated in the ‘Jaleb’, the traditional Shobha Yatra, from almost all corners of the district.
• Mandi Shivratri once was the main attraction for trade and business also.
• Shivratri Fair was a befitting example of union of Dev and Manav that is reunion of humans and deities.
• Madho Rai is the presiding deity of this fair.

Write a short note on Shivratri fair of Mandi. [60 words]

CM launches Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojna for State:

• Launched from Mandi, this scheme would provide assured monthly pension of Rs. 3000 to the workers working in the unorganised sector. 
• This was a Central sector scheme for unorganized workers whose monthly income was Rs. 15000 or below and have Aadhar number and Jan Dhan or other bank accounts.
• Anyone between the age group of 18 to 40 year would be covered under the scheme.
• It was a voluntary and contributory based scheme under which the subscriber would be paid an assured minimum monthly pension of Rs. 3000 from the age of 60 years onwards.

Differentiate between Atal Pension Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Yojna. [150 words]

Cabinet gave its approval to new Excise Policy-2019-20:

• This policy envisages generating additional revenue of Rs. 200 crore from existing Rs. 1425 crore to Rs. 1625 crore.
• It also decided to reduce export duty in order to encourage the export of liquor to other States.
• In order to encourage local distilleries units it also gave its nod to increase the import duty on liquor.

CM lays foundation stone of National Skill Training Institute for Women:

• The Institute has been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Directorate General of India.
• This institute is presently functioning in a building adjacent to DIET campus Shamalaghat, in Shimla district.
• The state government is laying special stress on skill upgradation of the youth of the State in order to provide trained and skilled workforce for ensuring that they become job providers instead of job seekers.
• The state government has provided around seven acres of land free of cost for construction of permanent campus of NSTI for women at Jhundla, near Shimla.
• A state of art campus would be coming at this piece of land at a cost of Rs. 27.95 crore.

CM releases ‘Drishti Himachal Pradesh-2030: Sustainable Development Goals’:

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), officially known as ‘Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, are an intergovernmental set of 17 aspiration goals with 169 targets that were adopted in September, 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and the same has been signed and adopted by the Government of India.
• The State government finds the goals as an opportunity that provides a new dimension to development. With the Agenda for Sustainable Development-2030, which aims at leaving no one behind in sharing the benefits of development, the State government had been pursuing inclusive growth with the motto of “Sabka Saath-Sabka Vikas”.
• The State government was committed to attain synergy between faster and inclusive economic growth, social cohesion and environmental sustainability in Himachal Pradesh to facilitate overall prosperity and a better quality of life for people of the State.
• Based on 62 priority indicators, NITI Aayog has brought out a report “The SDG India Index: Baseline Report 2018” in December, 2018 in which Himachal Pradesh has been ranked as number one performing state in making efforts to achieve SDGs.

Dr. C.L Chandan appointed VC of Mandi Cluster University:

• The state government has appointed Dr. C.L Chandan as Vice Chancellor of Sardar Balabh Bhai Patel Cluster University, Mandi.
• His appointment has been made for period of three years or attaining the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
• Earlier, Dr. Chandan was rendering his services as Professor of Management, Dean, School of Management, Bahra University, district Solan.

Flow Irrigation Scheme of Sunah Batahr Cluster, Janjehli:

• On 6 March 2019 foundation stone of Flow Irrigation Scheme of Sunah Batahr Cluster Janjehli Development Block in Mandi was laid down under HP Horticulture Development Project.
• This project is to be completed by spending Rs. 1.33 crore.

Biggest water supply scheme of state in Seraj Constituency:

• CM laid foundation stone of biggest water supply scheme of the State for Seraj and Gohar Blocks to be completed at a cost of Rs. 215 crore at Lambathach in Seraj Vidhan Sabha of Mandi district.
• This water supply scheme would provide drinking water facilities to thousands of people of 33 Panchayats out of total 58 Panchayats of Seraj Assembly constituency.
• Under this ambitious mega scheme, over 1100 km water pipelines would be laid and over 7800 additional households would be provided taped water.
• On completion, this scheme would benefit 163 villages and 1135 habitations.
• Water would be lifted from Chhari, Bakhli, Chhatri and Thanesar Khuds (rivulets) for this scheme.

PGI satellite Centre at Una:

• Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda today laid foundation stone of PGI satellite Centre at Malahat in Una district to be completed by at a cost of Rs. 480 crore.
• This institute would ensure world class health care facilities to the people of the State which would have 300 bed capacity and specialised healthcare facilities at par with the PGI, Chandigarh.

Other:

1. Rural livelihood Center Seraj at Bijahi in Gram Panchayat Kanda to be completed by spending an amount of Rs  7.50 crore
2.  Silk Seed Production Centre at Thunag will be opened.

Read more: HP Current Affairs [Weekly and Monthly]