ADVISORY FOR MANAGING HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT
Government of India along with SC-NBWL (Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife) approves advisory for management of Human-Wildlife Conflict across the country.
The advisory has laid down important regulations for States/Union Territories to deal with conflicts between humans and wildlife, and seeks to speed up coordination and effective action between departments.
In accordance with Article 11(1)(b) of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, the organization envisages empowering the gram panchayats to deal with problematic wildlife.
It is also envisaged to use additional coverage under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to compensate crop compensation for crop damage caused by HWC and increase feed and water sources in forest areas.
It also stipulates that the victim/family shall be paid a part of special temporary relief within 24 hours after the incident.
The advisory also discussed the establishment of inter-departmental committees at the local/state level, the use of early warning systems, the installation of obstacles, and a special circulation control room with toll-free hotlines numbers, which can be operated on a 24X7 basis to identify hot spots and formulate plans and implement special plans to improve livestock breeding, etc.
The National Board for Wildlife also approved the inclusion of Caracal on the list of Critically endangered species so that conservation work can be carried out under the funding of the centrally sponsored scheme- Development of Wildlife Habitat.
This makes the entire number of ‘critically endangered’ wildlife species under the recovery programme for critically species to 22.
PRESIDENT OF SURINAME TO BE GUEST AT REPUBLIC DAY
President of the Republic of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade on January 26.
India had initially invited Boris Johnson to be the chief guest but the British PM had to cancel his visit in view of the grim coronavirus situation back home.
Earlier this week, Santokhi was the chief guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, held by the Ministry of External Affairs and he delivered the keynote address.
He was sworn in as the president of Suriname in July 2020, when his party, the Progressive Reform Party, won 20 of the 51 seats in the elections.
- Suriname Capital: Paramaribo.
- Suriname Currency: Suriname Dollar.
- Suriname Continent: South America.
‘MERA GAON MERA GAURAV’ INITIATIVE IN GOA
Under ICAR’s “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav” initiative, Cleanliness activities are administered in Ibrampur, Veling and Parra villages in Goa.
The drive “Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav” was launched in 2015. This is the flagship programme of the Prime Minister of India.
Objective: Provide farmers with necessary information, knowledge and advice on a daily basis through adoption villages.
Aim: to plug the direct interface of scientists with the farmers to hasten the lab to land process. Indian Council of Agricultural Research – ICAR implements the drive, which is an autonomous body liable for coordinating agricultural education & research.
ICAR reports to the Department of Agricultural Research & Education, Ministry of Agriculture.
FIRST TIME, UNION BUDGET 2021 TO BE PAPERLESS
Union Budget 2021, slated to be presented on February 1, is going to be completely paperless in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
This will be the first time since independence that the budget papers will not be printed. The Centre has received permission for the same from both houses of parliament.
The decision has been taken as several people (approximately 100) would be required to stay at the printing press for around a fortnight amid the COVID-19 fear.
The budget papers are usually printed at the ministry’s in-house printing press in the North Block.
This year’s budget may reportedly witness several conventions being broken as the traditional ‘Halwa’ ceremony, which is a given every year is also not likely to take place, or a low-key function may be held with limited gathering in attendance.
- Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs: Nirmala Sitharaman.
- Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs: Anurag Singh Thakur.
4TH EDITION OF CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 2020
The 4th edition of the Cherry Blossom Festival, Mao in Manipur was virtually inaugurated by Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
However this year, the authority decided to scale down the festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Festival featured the picturesque landscape of Mao adorned with beautiful cherry trees laden with blooming flowers which have traditionally attracted visitors from across the world.
Manipur has been celebrating the festival every year since 2017. The festival which featured the picturesque landscape of Mao town adorned with beautiful Cherry Blossom flowers was streamed live from 2 pm on various social media platforms.
The Mao area of Senapati district in Manipur is known for Cherry Blossom, a plant which is popularly known as Sakura in Japan.
- Chief Minister of Manipur: N. Biren Singh
- Governor of Manipur: Najma Heptulla.
TELANGANA 3RD STATE FOR URBAN LOCAL BODIES REFORM
Telangana becomes the 3rd State to finish the Urban Local Bodies reforms. Telangana has become the 3rd State in India to successfully implement the “Urban Local Bodies (ULB)” reform prescribed by the Finance Ministry and Department of Expenditure.
Therefore, the State is eligible to mobilize additional financial resources of Rs 25.08 crore through Open Market Borrowings.
Telangana has now joined two other states, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which have completed this reform.
The purpose of the reform of urban local institutions and the reform of urban public utilities is to strengthen the urban public finance of each state so that it can provide better public health and health services.
Ultralight enterprises that have undergone economic revival will also be able to build good citizenship infrastructure.
BOOK RELEASED MANIPUR GOVERNOR ‘NAJMA HEPTULLA’
Manipur Governor, Dr Najma Heptulla has virtually released a book titled “Making of a General-A Himalayan Echo” authored by (Retd) Lt General Konsam Himalaya Singh at Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Imphal.
The book elegantly summons the essence and imperatives of superior command of one of the most formidable forces in the world.
The book is the memoir of Lt Gen (Dr) Konsam Himalay Singh who has traced his journey from a small village in Manipur to becoming the first person from North East India to hold the rank of a Three-Star General of the Indian Army.
The book has also highlighted about Manipur, the “Land of Emeralds”.
