March 2021: Rajasthan Current Affairs Summary

This article lists Summary of Rajasthan Current Affairs for month of March 2021.

5% quota to disabled persons in Private Jobs

Rajasthan state’s court for specially-abled persons has directed labour and employment departments to come up with a plan and proposal for providing 5% reservation to persons with disability (PwDs) in private jobs.

The court has suggested the department to ensure reservation to the PwDs in private factories and small industries at the initial level.

PwDs, who are beneficiaries of social security pension scheme, have been categorised under below poverty line (BPL) families in the state budget. They will now be getting all the government benefits meant for BPL category including Ayushman Bharat-Swasthya Bima Yojana, PMAY-G, National Food Security Scheme and others.

There are 5.40 lakh specially-abled persons in Rajasthan who are getting pension under social security scheme.

Unemployment rate Increasing in Rajasthan

CMIE monthly data shows the unemployment rate in Rajasthan has been climbing to new highs in the past five months.

The unemployment rate hit record high at 28.2% in December, 2020 after touching 24.1% in October.

In February, 2021, it has again shot up to 25.6%, the second highest in the country after Haryana’s 26.4% against a national average of close to 7%.

Petrol Pump Operated by Jail Inmates

Jaipur now has first petrol pump operated by jail inmates. This initiative is providing opportunity to prisoners to earn money. The revenue generated through the petrol pump will also be used for infrastructure development of prison.

First Shekhawati fest

The Rajasthan tourism department has decided to introduce Shekhawati festival on its cultural calendar and the maiden fest will take place during 20-22 March 2021.

In the Budget 2021-22, announced recently, the government has proposed to develop a tourism circuit for the Shekhawati region covering Alsisar, Mandawa, Nawalgarh, Dundlod, Fatehpur, Ramgarh, Jhunjunu, Mahansar, Sikar, Mukudgarh, Khetri, Khandela, Bagar and Pilani.

The richness of Shekhawati region revels through its havelis, forts and monuments. The region also has religious places like Khatu Shyam ji and wildlife habitats like Jamwa Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Tal Chhapar Sanctuary add to its diversity.

1 million senior citizens vaccinated

Rajasthan became the first state in the country to vaccinate over 1 million senior citizens. Out of the 2 million doses that the state has administered, more than half are people over 60 years of age.

Nehru Bal award

In March 2021, Chief minister Ashok Gehlot gave financial approval and the draft of the guidelines for the ‘Nehru Child Protection Award Scheme-2021’. Now, Nehru Bal award will be given in Rajasthan to encourage the people associated with child rights and in promoting their protection.

As per the proposal, the annual financial burden of this award scheme, to be operated under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, will be Rs 5.59 lakh, which will be borne by the Juvenile Justice Fund

Second Phase of ‘Aayog Aapke Dwar’ Campaign

In March 2021, the Rajasthan state child commission has launched its second phase of ‘Aayog Aapke Dwar‘ awareness campaign from Tonk. later, the campaign will be extended to Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaisalmer and other districts as well.

The ‘Aayog Aapke Dwar’ campaign is essentially to raise awareness about crimes against children and will investigate the reasons as to why many children are unable to get access to education. The campaign also talks to children about good and bad touch.

State’s 1st Toy Zone

Launched last year, the sports goods and toys zone at Khushkhera in Bhiwadi has attracted investors’ interest with 22 of the 39 plots available having been sold in the product specific cluster. The industries department showcased the zone in the ‘The India Toy Fair 2021’ to attract investors in the remaining 17 plots.

Rajasthan already has several clusters in Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Kathputali Nagar – Jaipur where traditional toys and artifacts are made.

According to a research analysis done by RIICO, size of sports goods and toys sector in terms of value is at around Rs 18,000 crore. About20% of the country’s toy market is served by domestic manufacturers and the rest is met through imports, mainly from China and Italy. India’s toy industry has a share of 0.51% in world toy market as compared to China’s share of more than 45%.

Appointment of NON-SCS Officers to IAS Cadre

As per the notification issued by department of personnel and training (DOPT), GOI, four Non-State Civil Service (Non-SCS) officers have been appointed to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in March 2021.

The four officers, who have been appointed to IAS against the vacancies that came up between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019

As per news in ToI, the four officers are:

• Dr Ghanshyam, who is husband of the women and child development minister Mamta Bhupesh;
• Sita Ram Jat (agriculture service officer),
• Hem Pushpa Sharma, who is sister of Chief Minister’s (Ashok Gehlot) advisor Govind Sharma;
• Sharad Mehra.

The notification in this connection stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Rule 8 (2) of the IAS (Recruitment) rules, 1954 read with Regulation 8 of the IAS (appointment by selection) regulations, 1997 and Rule 3 of the IAS (probation) rules, 1954, the President is pleased to appoint the members of the Non-State Civil Service of Rajasthan to the IAS against the vacancies determined by the government of India in consultation with the state government for the select list of 2019.”

Persons in NEWS

Justice Pratap Krishna Lohra

Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra appointed former judge of Rajasthan high court Justice Pratap Krishna Lohra to the post of Lokayukta.

The post of the Rajasthan’s Lokayukta was lying vacant after the term of Justice (retd) S S Kothari ended on March 7, 2019.

Vasundhara Chauhan:

She showed exemplary courage by engaging in a daring fight against armed goons who attacked a public transport bus to free their accomplice, a hardcore criminal, in Dholpur on 3 March 2021.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot took the decision of direct appointment offer to post of Sub-Inspector as a step towards promoting women empowerment on the International Women’s Day (8th March).