ASSAM

ACMS demands tea ministry in Assam

The Assam Chah Mazdoor Sangha (ACMS), the largest trade union of tea workers in the country, has demanded a tea ministry in Assam saying that it will help revive the state’s tea industry which is passing through a sluggish phase. Participating in the 63rd foundation day of the ACMS at its headquarters in Dibrugarh on Monday, ACMS president and former union DoNER minister Paban Singh Ghatowar said that setting up a tea ministry in Assam is a legitimate of the people of Assam as the tea industry has over 195 years of glorious history and provides livelihood to several million people.

Assam’s name is synonymous with tea all over the world. Tea is one of the major contributors to the state’s economy and millions of people are involved in the tea industry in the state. When the state can have a ministry for fisheries, why can’t we have a ministry of tea. At a time when the tea industry is passing through a sluggish phase due to Covid and drought-like conditions, setting up a ministry of tea at the state level will provide the necessary thrust for its revival. The government and policy makers should come forward to give shape to the idea. In fact, a tea ministry should have been formed a long time ago considering the importance of the tea industry in the state. It is the largest employment generator industry providing livelihood to lakhs of people,” ACMS president Paban Singh Ghatowar said.

With over 800 big tea plantations and thousands of small tea gardens, Assam contributes to nearly 51% of tea produced in the country. However, stagnant prices, lukewarm global demand, deficit rainfall and the Covid-19 pandemic has left the state’s tea industry in distress. In 2019, the annual tea production in Assam was 716.49 million kg which came down to 618.20 million kg in 2020, a 14% drop owing largely to the Covid-induced lockdown.

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

Manipur to set up park in honour of its Olympians

The state government has begun groundwork to set up ‘Manipur Olympian Park’ at the picturesque Sangauthel area near here in honour of all Olympians of the state.

Manipur — the mini powerhouse of sports of the nation — has so far produced 19 Olympians, three of whom won medals in the world’s biggest sporting event. The achievers include iconic boxer MC Mary Kom ( bronze, London, 2012) and weightlifting star Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (silver) and hockey player Sanglakpam Nilaknata Sharma (bronze) in the just-concluded Tokyo Olympics, 2020.

Construction of the park will be started soon ahead the enforcement of election code of conduct as the next assembly polls is due early next year.

INTERNATIONAL

World BioFuel Day – 10th August

World Biofuel Day is found on August 10 each year. The day is celebrated to increase consciousness about the significance of non-fossil fuels as a choice to conventional fossil fuels and spotlight the various efforts made by Government in the biofuel sector.

Highlights:

The development of biofuels is in sync with schemes such as Swach Bharat Abhiyan and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. World Biofuel Day was first by using the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas in August 2015. Biofuels are environmentally friendly fuels whose use would go a lengthy way in lowering carbon emissions. They are created via renewable biomass assets and therefore make a strong case for sustainable development. As such, biofuels will help meet the energy requirements of the 21st-century world except for negative the surroundings in the process.

World Lion Day – 10th August

World Lion Day is discovered globally on August 10 each and every year. World Lion Day is marked to raise recognition about the king of beasts and the efforts undertaken for their conservation. Lions frequently feature on national flags and royal symbols and emblems to represent command, energy, or authority across cultures due to their courage, intelligence, strength, and magnificence. World Lion Day used to be launched in 2013.

The big cat is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red List. The majestic animal is the second-largest member of the Felidae (cat family), after the tiger.

NATIONAL

India to have US standard highways in 3 years: Nitin Gadkari

Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that he believes that within three years, the entire country will be provided with national highways parallel to the standards of the American highways.

The minister was virtually present on the program on Saturday, celebrated as development day by Gujarat, marking the completion of five years of Chief ministership of Vijay Rupani.

Under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our national highways projects are gaining momentum. I believe that by the next three years, entire country will be provided with national highways parallel to the standards of the American highways. At one point of time, we used to construct only 2 kilometers roads per day, whereas now we are constructing 38 kilometers roads per day,” said Gadkari.

The union minister said that the ongoing works of Rs 8,711 crore for 125 kilometers expressway between Kim and Vadodara via Ankleshwar will be completed by December this year. This stretch of the expressway was part of the larger Delhi-Mumbai expressway. The stretch passes through seven districts of Gujarat, Dahod, Panchmahals, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Valsad and also Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

PM-DAKSH by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister

The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar, has unveiled a portal and mobile utility named ‘PM-DAKSH’, which aims to make the skill development schemes on hand to the target groups.

Highlights:

The ‘PM-DAKSH’ stands for Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana.

The ‘PM-DAKSH’ stands for Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana. The portal can be accessed at: http://pmdaksh.dosje.gov.in.

The platform has been developed using the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with the National E-Governance Division (NeGD), below the Department Of Electronics And Information Technology. The education programs will be implemented through Government Training Institutes and Sector Skill Councils constituted using the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and other credible institutions.

The training programmes will be supplied for the following: Up-skilling/Reskilling, Short Term Training Programme, Long Term Training Programme, Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP).

The target crew include Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Safai Karamcharis.

Indian Institute of Heritage at Noida

The Government has planned to set up the Indian Institute of Heritage at Noida.

Highlights:

The Indian Institute of Heritage would offer Masters and PhD courses in History of Arts, Conservation, Museology, Archival Studies, Archaeology, Preventives Conservation, Epigraphy and Numismatics, Manuscriptology, etc. as well as conservation training facilities to in-service employees and the students of the Indian Institute of Heritage.

This will impact higher education and research in fields related to the rich Indian heritage and its conservation.

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