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CRPF DG Bhatnagar retires, ITBP chief given additional charge

January 1, 2020

ITBP Director General S S Deswal has been given the “additional” charge to head country’s largest paramilitary force CRPF as its serving DG, R R Bhatnagar, retired on Tuesday.

An order issued by the Union home ministry said Deswal, a 1984-batch Haryana cadre IPS officer, will hold the CRPF charge, till the appointment and joining of the successor or until furtherorders, whichever is earlier.

Bhatnagar, is retiring after heading the Central Reserve Police Force for over 2.5 years. He was appointed CRPF Director General (DG) in April, 2017.

Kerala Travel Mart to support Green Cochin Mission

January 1, 2020

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society is set to implement the initiatives under the nascent Green Cochin Mission as its major policy programme to speed up the ongoing efforts to free Kerala’s top tourist city of waste.

The Green Cochin Mission is aiming, among others, to rejuvenate the city’s canals and check encroachment so as to achieve its zero pollution of soil and water alongside greening Kochi. Its social media wing, too, is working full swing, while trying to rope in taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers besides roadside vendors.

The Green Cochin Mission, inaugurated on December 20, enjoys the assistance of Kochi Corporation, district administration, Kerala Suchitwa Mission, Indian Medical Association, Childline India, Justice Brigade, Haritha Keralam, National Health Mission and Motor Vehicles Department besides educational institutes, NGOs and other private agencies.

Kerala Becomes First State To Pass Anti-CAA Resolution

January 1, 2020

Kerala became the first state to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act amid widespread protests across the country. Kerala is now the first state to go down the legislative route to register its opposition.

Chief Ministers of several non-BJP ruled states including Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, had also previously voiced their opposition to the law.

Atal Canteen launched by Haryana CM in Karnal

January 1, 2020

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar inaugurated the state’s first Atal Kisan-Mazdoor canteens( Atal Canteen) constructed by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board at a cost of Rs 4 lakh. It is very pocket friendly as farmers and labourers coming to the mandi will get a wholesome diet from the canteen at a price of Rs 10. The food will include four rotis, pulses, vegetables and rice

The canteen will function from 11am-3pm everyday and for now, it has the capacity to serve 300 persons. Ten women from a self-help group (SHG) have been appointed to prepare the food.

The canteens are named after former PM late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but the government failed to launch it on his birthday on December 25. Haryana CM unveiled a 14-foot statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Atal Park.

E-certificate project launched by Odisha government

January 1, 2020

The Odisha government has launched a unique “people-friendly” project to provide official documents such as income, residence and similar other certificates online without any fees and without visiting government offices. The e-certificate project launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the Revenue and Disaster Management department as part of the 5T model of governance aims at benefiting over 5 million applicants annually, revolutionising peoples life.

Patnaik also launched “Pauti”, an App to facilitate online payment of land revenue and people need not visit government offices for the purpose. They can download the application and make payment.

‘Dhanu Jatra’ the 11-day long festival begins at Bargarh in western Odisha

January 1, 2020

The famous 11-day long ‘Dhanu Jatra’, considered as the largest open-air theatre festival of the world, that finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records, begins at Bargarh in western Odisha. The annual festival came into being in 1947-48 to celebrate Indian’s Independence and to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

The Jatra is based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna and his demon uncle King Kansa. It is about the episode of Krishna and Balaram’s visit to Mathura to witness the Dhanu ceremony organized by their (maternal) uncle King Kansa.

Over 70 artists performed and another 45 artists played different roles at Gopapura during the festival. Around 3,000 artists of 120 cultural troupes from across the state and from neighboring states will perform at the Raj Durbar, Nanda Durbar, and Rangamahal during the festival.

The department of Culture of the Government of India has accorded National Festival status to Dhanu Jatra in November 2014.

‘Verified Milk Vendor Scheme’ launched by FSSAI in Gujarat

January 1, 2020

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched ‘Verified Milk Vendors Scheme’ in Gujarat with an aim to cover milk producers and milk vendors under the regulation net and monitor through a verification programme.

Under the new scheme, all the unorganised milk producers and vendors in Gujarat will be issued identity cards by taking their registration.

Flipkart partners with government to empower artisans, self-help groups

January 1, 2020

E-commerce giant, Flipkart has announced a tie-up with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) to train, support and provide market access to artisans, self-help groups (SHGs) and those who deal with raw, organic food production, with the aim to help small businesses explore wide markets.

The e-commerce firm will collaborate with state missions under the DAY-NULM to establish the Flipkart Samarth program in 22 states in the country. It will provide time-bound incubation support to the sellers including cataloguing support, account management support and more.

RBI launches ‘MANI’ app for visually challenged to identify denomination of currency notes

January 1, 2020

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched a mobile app ‘MANI’ (Mobile Aided Note Identifier) for the visually challenged to identify the denomination of a note by using the application, which can also work offline. Through the downloaded app, users can scan the notes using the camera, the audio output will give the result in Hindi and English.

The app, which is available both on Android and iOS operating systems, was launched by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and other officials on Wednesday, 1st Jan 2020.

India sets records for highest number of babies born globally on New Year’s Day: UNICEF

January 1, 2020

According to UNICEF, an estimated 392,078 babies were born around the world on New Year’s Day, with India recording the highest number of these births worldwide at 67,385. China comes in second with 46,299 births.

Globally, over half of these births were estimated to have taken place in eight countries – India (67,385), China (46,299), Nigeria (26,039), Pakistan (16,787), Indonesia (13,020), United States of America (10,452), Democratic Republic of Congo (10,247) and Ethiopia (8,493).

“The beginning of a new year and a new decade is an opportunity to reflect on our hopes and aspirations not only for our future, but the future of those who will come after us,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore stated