Current Affairs May 2020 - Regional

1 - Rajasthan issued notifications regarding implementation of ‘Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Ordinance -2020

Government of Rajasthan has issued notifications regarding the implementation of the ‘Rajasthan Epidemic Diseases Ordinance -2020’. COVID-19 has been declared an epidemic under this ordinance and several provisions have been made to prevent the spread of Corona infection.

Key Points are given below:

Every person at public places and work places are required to wear masks and maintain social distance.
Sell of tobacco products and spitting on roads as well as drinking liquor at public places is strictly prohibited.
Maximum 50 persons allowed to attend wedding function and maximum 20 to attend the funeral.

2 - Madhya Pradesh government announced amendments in Mandi Act to benefit farmers

The Madhya Pradesh state government has amended its Madhya Pradesh Krishi Upaj Mandi Act to allow initiatives like setting up agriculture marketing yards and letting farmers sell their produce from their farms or doorsteps. The state government has also implemented e-trading system under which the rates at mandis all over the country will be accessible.

The government has also revived the practice of ‘sauda patrak’. Discontinued in 2009, it allowed farmers and traders to buy outside the premises of designated mandis but the sales were recorded in mandis.

3 - Umaria police in Madhya Pradesh launched 'Sankalp Scheme'

The Umaria police in Madhya Pradesh launched a Sankalp Scheme to provide 24-hour help to the elderly. Under the Sankalp Scheme, Superintendent of Police has instructed all police officers to identify and help one or two elderly families who are living alone and are worried about their everyday needs during the lockdown.

The Umaria Police had also conducted activities such as painting and poetry writing in the past as an initiative to connect the children towards creative activities.

4 - ADB provides $346 million loan for rural electricity in Maharashtra

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $346 million loan to India to help provide efficient and reliable power connection to rural agriculture customers in Maharashtra. The loan will be under ADB’s results-based lending (RBL) modality, where fund disbursements are linked to the achievement of agreed program results rather than to upfront expenditures.

This is first ADB-financed RBL program in South Asia’s energy sector. The Government of Maharashtra and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) will arrange for counterpart funding of $357.1 million equivalent toward the $703.1 million total cost of the project.

5 - Maharashtra became first state to provide free and cashless insurance premium to people of the state

Maharashtra became the first state in the country to provide free and cashless insurance premium to the people of the state. Everyone in the state will be provided free health treatment under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Aarogya Yojana. Documents such as ration card and domicile certificate are essential to apply for the scheme.

At present, the scheme covers 85% of the population; but benefits are now extended to the remaining 15%. The government has signed a MoU with the General Insurance Public Sector Association (GIPSA) for treatment of COVID-19 patients at private hospitals in Pune and Mumbai.

6 - Himachal Pradesh government launched 'Nigah' to aware family members of migrant returnees

The Himachal Pradesh state government has launched a new programme, Nigah, to sensitize and educate the family members of the people coming to the state from other parts of the country. The government will create general awareness in maintaining social distancing during home quarantine.

Under the Nigah programme a team of ASHA, Health and Anganwadi workers would sensitize the family members of persons arriving from other States regarding the importance of social distancing, so that they could be saved from any possible infection.

7 - HP government to launch Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna

The Himachal Pradesh state government announced to launch ‘Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna’ for urban employment. As a part of the scheme, the government will provide 120 days of employment to those living in urban areas.

The scheme will help revive the economy of the state affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. People employed under the scheme will also be imparted training to increase their skills as and when required.

8 - Karnataka announced Rs. 1,610 crore package for farmers, construction workers, weavers, auto and taxi drivers

The Karnataka state government announced a 1610 crore rupees package for farmers, construction workers, weavers, auto and taxi drivers to compensate them for their incurred losses due to lockdown. The government will give compensation as per the following details:

Flower growers: Rs. 25,000 per hectare
Washermen, barbers, construction workers, auto and taxi drivers: Rs. 5000
MSMEs: Electricity fixed charges waived off for two months

The state government also announced a new Naikar Samaan Yojana that will provide 2000 rupees financial assistance to the weavers.

9 - Assam started community surveillance in view of COVID-19 outbreak

The State Health Department of Assam started a Community Surveillance in the state in view of Corona virus outbreak. 28 thousand villages were covered in the first phase. ASHA, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and the Survillance Team visited door to door in this process.

The objective of the initiative was to treat the symptomatic minor flu cases at homes. It also helped in strengthening the surveillance for other diseases associated with fever like Malaria, Dengue , Japanese Encephalitis and Measles among others.

10 - Annual Capex Budget of 232.42 crore rupees approved for year 2020-2021 in Ladakh

After the formation of Union Territory of Ladakh, the first Annual Capex Budget of 232.42 crore rupees of for the year 2020-2021 was approved during a meeting of the Executive Council under the chairmanship of the Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan.

The budget comprises of a total allocation of 10,637.73 lakh rupees under the Engineering Sector and 12604.27 lakh rupees under the Non-Engineering Sector for execution of major works and the purchase of Machinery and Equipments and Motor Vehicles.

11 - Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Ayush Kavach-Covid’ App

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched ‘Ayush Kavach-Covid’ app to help people get health remedies which can be useful in fight against COVID-19. The app has been developed by AYUSH ministry.

The ‘Ayush Kavach-Covid’ App provides for measures to boost immunity based on natural resources. The app is designed to tell users how commonly available kitchen ingredients such as tulsi, clove and cinnamon can be used to enhance the body’s immunity to fight against COVID-19. It also offers users the opportunity to seek advice from experts.

12 - Jharkhand government launched three schemes to boost rural employment

The Jharkhand state government launched three schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in a bid to “revive the rural economy”, affected by the lockdown in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

The three initiatives are:

Birsa Harit Gram Yojana for rural plantations.
Neelambar Pitambar JAL Sammridhi Yojana for water conservation.
Poto Ho Khel Vikas Scheme for making playgrounds.

The government has set a target of creating 25 crore man-days for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) scheme with about Rs. 20,000 crore under the three schemes.

13 - Delhi government launched e-token system for liquor sale

Delhi Government launched e-token system for liquor sale in the national capital to ensure social distancing and to stop overcrowding. The decision was taken to encourage people to avoid long queues by applying for an e-token with time slot at any nearby shop to buy liquor.

Any person can apply for an e-token through the link www.qtoken.in. Name and phone number will be required while applying and the e-token will be sent at the registered mobile number.

14 - UP became first state to provide facility of beds with ventilators in each district of state

Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in the country to provide the facility of beds with ventilators in hospitals of each and every district of state. With this, all 75 districts of state can provide higher level of care to the patients of COVID-19.

The state government has also constituted Village Supervision Committee or Gram Nigrani Samiti in every village to curb the spread of Corona. These committees will also supervise the persons who are coming from other states during their quarantine period and will inform accordingly to the Administration.

15 - Hygienic masks available via ATM like vending machine in Tamil Nadu

A new initiative for supplying hygienic masks, using machines similar to the popular ATMs has been started in the Thuthukudi Municipal Corporation of Tamil Nadu. Under the initiative, five automatic vending machines for supplying masks have been installed in various busy points of the town.

Hygienic masks can be purchased from the machines on payment of Rs Five for each mask. Each machine has the capacity of storing up to 120 mask at a time.

16 - Tripura CM launched online portal scholarships.gov.in

Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb, has launched an online portal scholarships.gov.in under ‘Mukhyamantri Yuba Yogayog Yojana’ at the state secretariat. As a part of the scheme, the state government will provide Rs. 5,000 to 14,608 youths who are in final year in colleges or Universities as a grant for Smart Phones.

The scheme will help empower the youth digitally and leverage the advantages of an interconnected world. The total cost of the scheme is expected to be Rs. 7.30 crore.

17 - India’s first Covid-19 test bus launched in Maharashtra

India’s first test bus for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic was flagged off on Maharashtra Day. The bus is an initiative by the C19 Taskforce of IIT Alumni Council, health department of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), and Krsnaa diagnostics.

The COVID-19 test bus is based on “indigenous technology” and the “first vehicle of its kind in the world with onboard genetic testing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based technology and contactless sample collection”. The bus has 384 sqft of lab space onboard. It also has a wireless robotic tele-operated ultrasound lung probe and nanopore gene sequencer.

18 - Madhya Pradesh became first state to provide Mid-Day Meal ration

Madhya Pradesh became the first state in the country to provide mid-day meal ration with the help of Anganwadi workers, Panchayat representatives and local teachers. To provide mid-day meal to school children in the corona outbreak, an amount of Rs. 117 crore was transferred online in the bank account of the parents of 66,27,000 students of primary and secondary school government. In addition, under door-to-door mid-day meal scheme, ration was provided to 56,87,000 children.

The Mid-day Meal Scheme is a school meal programme of the Government of India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide.

19 - Uttar Pradesh government launched 'Pravasi Rahat Mitra' App for migrant workers of state

The Uttar Pradesh State Government has launched the 'Pravasi Rahat Mitra' App for migrant workers of state who are returning from different parts of country amidst lockdown. The multipurpose App is aimed at providing benefits of government schemes to the migrant workers and it will also help in monitoring their health besides providing jobs and livelihood, related to their skills.

The app will have full details of the persons staying in the shelter homes and also of those migrants who have reached their homes directly from other states.

20 - Jharkhand banned 11 brands of pan masala for one year

The Jharkhand state government banned 11 brands of pan masala for one year, as products contain magnesium carbonate which can cause acute hyper magnesia and sometimes cardiac arrest. Jharkhand became third state in the country after Maharashtra and Bihar that banned Pan Masala.

The Jharkhand state government has already imposed a ban on all tobacco products to prevent spitting in public places that could increase the threat of the spread of novel coronavirus infection.

21 - Madhya Pradesh launched India's first ever 'FIR Aapke Dwar' Yojana

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Dr. Narottam Mishra launched country's first ever 'FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana'. Under this scheme, head constables will lodge FIR on the spot. Dial 100 vehicle would have trained head constables. FIRs in complaints of general nature will be lodged on the spot.

Madhya Pradesh is the first state in the country to implement such an innovative scheme. 'FIR Aapke Dwar' scheme has been started as a pilot project in 23 Police Stations including one urban and one rural Police Station at 11 Divisional Headquarters.

22 - GI tag for Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal

The Geographical Indications Registry has given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal. The Sohrai Khovar painting is a traditional and ritualistic mural art being practised by local tribal women during local harvest and marriage seasons using local, naturally available soils of different colours in the area of Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand.

Telia Rumal cloth involves intricate handmade work with cotton loom displaying a variety of designs and motifs in three particular colours — red, black and white.

23 - Haryana and J&K to provide tap water to every household by Dec 2022

Haryana and Union Territory (UT) Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) are geared to provide tap water connection to all rural households by December, 2022 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Haryana is likely to get Rs 290 Crores as Central share under JJM for this financial year while J&K is likely to get Rs 680 crore.

Jal Jeevan Mission is being implemented by Government of India with the aim to provide Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) to every rural household by 2024-25.

24 - Union Government and West Bengal Government signed agreement with AIIB

Government of India, West Bengal Government and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), signed a loan agreement for a 145 million dollar project to improve irrigation services and flood management in the Damodar Valley Command Area in West Bengal.

The total value of the project is $413.8 million, co-financed between the AIIB ($145 million), IBRD ($145 million) and the Government of West Bengal ($123.8 million). The

25 - Uttarakhand CM launched ‘HOPE’ portal

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched a portal aimed at creating employment avenues for the trained youth as well as offering them skill development opportunities to increase their employability. The portal is called ‘HOPE’ - Helping Out People Everywhere.

The portal will contain data on the youths staying in the state as well as migrant youths. It will help potential employers find human resources as per their requirements. The youths can also use it for job hunting and skill development through its database.

26 - West Bengal government launched ''Matir Smristi'' scheme

The state government of West Bengal has launched ''Matir Smristi'' scheme to utilise 50,000 acres of barren land in six districts for income-generating activities like horticulture and pisciculture. It will benefit around 2.5 lakh people in rural Bengal in Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia, Jhargram, West Burdwan and West Midnapore districts.

Farmers will be involved in constituting co-operative societies, which will get financial support from the co-operative banks. The government would give preference to locals for carrying out the project.

27 - Gujarat government launched "Atmanirbhar Gujarat Yojana"

The state government of Gujarat has launched Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna (AGSY) under which people in lower middle income group can avail guarantee-free loan of Rs. 1 lakh from banks at 2% annual interest. The tenure of the loan will be three years and the payment of installments will begin only after six months of disbursal.

The AGSY scheme is launched in line to the Rs. 20 lakh crore ‘atmanirbhar’ scheme of central government. It will benefit small businessmen, skilled workers, auto-rickshaw owners, electricians and barbers, among others.

28 - Delhi Police launched Thermal Corona Combat Headgear

Delhi Police launched Thermal Corona Combat Gear (TCCH) through which police personnel will be able to detect the temperature of a large number of people from a distance of 10-15 metres. The initiative was launched by the police in collaboration with Indian Robotics Solution (IRS).

The Delhi Police has also launched a 'Thermal Corona Combat Drone-(TCCD)' in collaboration with Indian Robotics Solution (IRS). The drone is fitted with a day-vision camera, a disinfectant tank a spotlight with a night utility camera as well as a loudspeaker.

29 - Chhattisgarh launched Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana

The Chhattisgarh government has launched Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana by transferring Rs 1,500 crore into the accounts of more than 18,000 farmers. Under the scheme, based on registered area and area under cultivation during Kharif crop season 2019, Rs 10,000 per acre will be deposited in the bank accounts of farmers as agriculture assistance grant for sowing crops.

The state government had allocated Rs. 5,756 crore in the budget 2020-21. The money will be given to the farmers in four installments.

30 - Madhya Pradesh launched Charan Paduka initiative for migrant labourers

Madhya Pradesh, in a first of its kind of initiative, launched CharanPaduka campaign for the migrant labourers passing through the state. Under this campaign, the migrant labourers going barefoot were provided shoes and slippers to reduce their pain. The migrant labour crisis arouse out of the refusal of businessmen to pay wages during lockdown due to Covid-19.

The campaign is being conducted by the police at most places. The Charan Paduka campaign started from the Rau Police Station of Indore. The campaign is being executed by other district’s police authorities also.

31 - Uttar Pradesh state launched ‘Startup Fund’ to encourage youth for entrepreneurship

Uttar Pradesh government launched the ‘Uttar Pradesh Startup Fund’ to encourage the youth of the state for entrepreneurship. The first installment of Rs. 15 crore was handed over to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) at a function in Lucknow by Chief Minister of state.

The MoU between the state government and SIDBI will further strengthen the possibilities of job creation in state. A large number of migrant workers had come to the state and that they needed to be given jobs on the basis of their skills.

32 - “Didi Vehicle Service” launched in Madhya Pradesh

In the tribal-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, the women of Rural Livelihood Mission launched Didi Vehicle Service for rural women for the safe delivery and emergency services. This vehicle service started for 29 villages of 10 Gram Panchayats of Petlavad development block of Jhabua, is completely free of cost. The women of Rural Livelihood Mission are bearing the expenses of Didi vehicle service through the interest, they earn on their savings.

National Rural Livelihood Mission is a poverty alleviation project implemented by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

33 - “Mee Annapurna” initiative launched in Maharashtra

Integrated Risk Insurance Brokers Limited (IRIBL), announced ‘Mee Annapurna’ for farmers welfare across Maharashtra state. Under this scheme, the famers will have to be given an adequate loan to cover the input expenditure for farming. It revolves around the three commandments – Expertise, Engagement and Entitlement.

Maharashtra is the most affected state with the total number of cases surpassing 30,000 and the death toll nearing 1,100 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Integrated Risk Insurance Brokers Limited is an IRDAI Licensed Insurance Broking Company since 2004.

34 - Naxal-affected Balaghat district secured 1st position in providing employment under MNREGA in MP

Naxal-affected Balaghat district has secured the first position in the state of Madhya Pradesh in terms of providing employment to rural job card holders under MNREGA. In the current financial year 2020-21, an amount of Rs 20 crore has been spent on wages for MGNREGA works in this district while 1,23,064 laborers got employment.

A total of 5,246 works are in progress in 684 gram panchayats in Balaghat district. The works of MGNREGA had started in the district from April 20 and 17 lakh days of employment has been created.

35 - Ladakh Police came into existence after LG approved new insignia of Police

After the formation of Union Territory of Ladakh, separate Ladakh Police has come into being. Lieutenant Governor RK Mathur has approved the new insignia of Ladakh Police.

Formation Sign: A backdrop of blood red color symbolising sacrifice in golden border and ribbon, a snow leopard is designed in motion.
Logo: Ashoka with Satyameva Jayate, LP in symmetric design and Juniper leaves covering the Ashoka and LP.
Flap Pattern: Name of Ladakh as common practice with police forces across the country.
Police Flag: Red and blue colored with 'Khidmat aur Himmat,' reads service and courage is ready to fly high.

36 - AP Government released first tranche of Rs. 450 Crore under 'ReStart Package'

The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched Rs. 1,110-crore 'ReStart Package' and released the first tranche of Rs. 450 crore to help reopen lockdown-hit MSMEs. The first tranche will help clear the pending industrial incentives that would benefit nearly 98,000 units.

The second tranche of Rs. 454 crore will be cleared on June 29. Under the “ReStart Package”, government will waive off all the minimum power demand charges of MSMEs of the months of April, May and June. It will provide input capital of Rs. 200 crore to the firms at low-interest rates in partnership with SIDBI.

37 - Uttar Pradesh government to develop 800 km roads as Herbal roads

Uttar Pradesh government will develop 800 km roads as Herbal roads in the state. These herbal roads will have medicinal and herbal trees along with the land on their both sides. These herbal roads will have trees like like Peepal, Neem, Sehjan along with other herb varieties like Brahmi, Ashvagandha and Jatrofa.

The 800 kilometer roads will be along national and state highways passing through state. PWD Department will also make arrangement for rain water recharging system on these herbal roads.

38 - ADB signed 177 million dollars loan to upgrade major roads, highways in Maharashtra

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $177 million loan agreement with India to upgrade 450 kilometers (km) of state highways and major district roads in Maharashtra State. The project will also finance the development of a road maintenance planning system and build the capacity of the Maharashtra Public Works Department (MPWD).

The Government of Maharashtra will contribute $78.99 million equivalent toward the $255.99 million total cost of the project. This loan complements ADB’s ongoing assistance through the Maharashtra Rural Connectivity Improvement Project.