Karnataka Assembly Passed Bill to allow ‘Kambala’
- Karnataka assembly passed a bill to facilitate the conduct of ‘Kambala’, a traditional annual buffalo race in marshy fields, held in the coastal districts of the State on February 13, 2017.
- Kambla in its traditional form is non-competitive with buffalo pairs made to race one after another in paddy fields, which is considered a thanksgiving to the Gods for protecting the animals from diseases.
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,, 1960 (Central Act 59 of 1960) was enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary cruelty and suffering on animals. It recognises the need to exempt the application of its provisions in certain circumstances.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Launched UJALA Scheme
- Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched energy efficient fans and LED tube lights under the ‘Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All’ (UJALA) scheme in the State on February 7, 2017.
- The UJALA scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a JV under the administration of Ministry of Power, government of India.
- The schemes will help the government manage peak demand and reduce power outage. We should all be proud that we are helping the environment by mitigating climate change through the adoption oi energy efficient appliances.
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Assam Budget 2017-18
- The Assam Finance Minister Himant Biswa Sarnia presented the State Budget for the session 2017-18 In the State Assembly on February 7, 2017. The budget was based on the theme ‘Resurgent Assam’.
- As per the Minister the State Budget 2017-18 was Rs 2349.79 crore deficit Budget. The budget presented merged Plan and Non-Plan expenditures. The government has redefined the role of Planning & Development Department.
- The department has been rechristened to the Department for Development and Transformation of Assam (DDTA). The Budget Estimates of 2017-18, proposes to have a receipt of Rs 84732.16 crore under consolidated fund of the State. Out Of this, Rs 70719.61 crore is on Revenue account and Rs 14012.55 crore is under Capital account.
- The Assam government led by Sarbananda Sonowal, has proposed to bring appropriate legislation to ensure that students of the State must be taught one local language as inscribed in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India, by all schools including public, government, private up to Class 8. The government also aims to fill vacant posts of Sanskrit teachers soon.
- The budget has proposed to increase Other Backward Class (OBC) reservation in the higher educational institutions from 15% to 29%. The government proposed to provide two wheeler to top 1000 girl students in 10+2 examinations in 2017.
- Budget has proposed to introduce zero interest crop loans for farmers. They would get 100% interest subvention on agricultural loans up to Rs 1 lakh. Besides, the budget has proposed to provide Rs 3000 per inactive Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) as One time cash incentive to increase the flow of credit to farmers.
- The budget has proposed to give Rs 5000 to each tea garden worker in his or her bank account. Rs 287 allocated for this. It also proposes to set up Pravasi Asomiya Department. Each pregnant woman of garden areas would be given a one-time payment of Rs 12000.
Read More – Economy and Banking Current Affairs
Telangana Launched India’s First Social Innovation Hub in Nizainabad
- The Telangana government has launched India first social innovation centre—The ‘Kakatiya Hub for Social Innovation’ In Nizamabad on February 6, 2017.
- The ‘Kakatiya Hub for Social Innovation’ funded by the Telangana government and implemented through Kakatiya Sandbox will function like a rural incubator to encourage entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
- The move is expected to create a .model for promoting entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban areas in the country.
Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana Launched in Assam
- Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) launched in Assam on February 5, 2017.
- Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana is a mega mission with a financial outlay of Rs 30000 crore will be implemented in all the villages in Assam in the next five years culminating in 2021-22.
- It has been aimed at bringing in revolutionary changes by doubling the farm income in the State. This scheme is launched in a move to bring about paradigm shift towards holistic development of villages in Assam.
- Under the Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) five teams will be constituted in each block to work as a catalyst to implement different missions of the programme. These teams will prepare development plans for them to he implemented in each village.
Bihar Government Introduced Third Gender Category in School Exams
- For the first time since the Supreme Court recognised transgender people as a third gender in 2014, as many as 18 students in Bihar allowed to appear for the Board exams conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) under the third-gender category on February 3, 2017.
- In March, 2016, the Bihar government had said it would positively consider the demand for giving financial assistance to those wanting to change their sex by medical intervention.
- According to board officials, 10 third-gender students will be taking the. class 12 exams and eight would be writing the class 10 exams.
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