This post lists summary of current affairs (NEWS) of Rajasthan from December 2019.
Gram Panchayat Elections in January
- In December 2019, the state election commission (SEC) has announced the dates for the elections to 9,171 gram panchayats and 90,400 ward panch and will be held in three phases – January 17, 22 and 29 (2020).
- As per Rajasthan High Court order, the elections are being held for those gram panchayats that have not affected by the state government’s delimitation notifications issued after November 15-16.
- However, the state election commission (SEC) has not announced the dates for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections.
- The counting of the votes will be conducted on the day of elections, i.e., January 17, 22 and 29.
- The model of conduct (MCC) comes into force with the announcement of the election dates.
- After the HC’s order, there are currently 343 panchayat samitis and 11,142 gram panchayats in all the 33 districts of the state, as per the delimitation notification issued on November 15-16.
Desert Festival 2020
- The Desert Festival 2020 will be organized from February 7-9 at Jaisalmer.
- Some of the major attractions of the festival will be Ghoomar dance, turban tying competition, moomal-mahendra, miss moomal, moustache competition, mister desert etc.
- Camel decoration, shaan-e- marudhara, panihari matka race, camel polo match, camel tattoo show will also be organised.
Rajasthan tops in free medicine scheme in country
- According to the rankings issued by the ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW), Rajasthan has ranked first in 16 states of the country in implementation of the free medicine scheme.
- The state had launched the free medicine scheme on October 2, 2011. Recently, the health department has included medicines for free distribution for treatment of cancer, kidney and heart disorders.
District Special Teams to fight organised crime
- The State Police Department will set up District Special Teams (DST) across the state to fight organised crime.
- The DSTs will operate under the supervision of SP and will coordinate with Special Operations Group (SOG) to collect information about criminal syndicates and mafias.
- A team will consist of 12 to 14 cops and will also include special cyber experts for technical help.
- DGP Bhupendra Singh have given an 11-point instructions to DSTs. These include collection of organised crime data from all police stations, hunting of fugitives and acting on special information.
- The DST’s mandate will also include sharing information with SOG headquarters about gangs operation in their areas, preparing dossiers on criminals and helping modus operandi bureau to keep a tab on criminals.
State floats panel to study impact of liquor ban in Bihar
In December 2019, the state government of Rajasthan has formed a committee of senior officials, mostly from the finance department, to visit Bihar and study the impact of liquor ban in the state. The move is considered to be a prelude to prohibition of liquor in Rajasthan.
Liquor ban in other states:
- In August 2014, Kerala had banned liquor and it neither issued new licences nor renewed existing ones. However in May 2016,the state government relaxed the policy and conducted ‘Tourism Trends, Trade Survey’ in July 2016. The survey found that liquor ban was one of the main reasons behind the decline in foreign tourist arrivals to Kerala. Once the ban was eased, foreign tourist arrival growth bounced back to 10.9% and hotel occupancy, which had dropped to 64% between 2014 and 2016, returned to its earlier trend, at 77.6%.
- Bihar, which imposed prohibition in 2016, has seen a 25-30% decline in its F&B sector, including hotels and restaurants, the survey had said.
- Gujarat, the oldest dry state in the country had to amend its prohibition policy to attract tourists. Between 2012 and 2016, 23 hotels were given liquor licences, and in 2013, on-arrival permits for alcohol were made available to tourists at airports and hotels. Today, tourists can apply online for a one-month permit.
Update 28th December:
- The panel has returned to the state. The team led by additional excise commissioner CR Dewasi, will submit its report to the government in a few days.
- The government was in favour of prohibition, it was not possible without the support of people. Chief Minsiter called for a people’s movement in support of prohibition while addressing a function.
- The team claimed that though liquor prohibition in Bihar was total, the circumstances of the two states were different. There is also a wide gap in the revenue earning from excise in the two states.
- Before prohibition, Bihar had a revenue of Rs 300-400 crore from excise, while in Rajasthan it is around Rs 11,000 crore. Rajasthan is also a tourist destination, which is the mainstay of the state economy.
- The excise department gives thousands of crores of rupees to the state exchequer and its target increases by 20 per cent every year. If the government decides to go for prohibition, then the income of Rs 11,000 crore will stop directly
Rajasthan high court to go paperless
Rajasthan High Court has taken a stride towards a paperless regime. Beginning next year, all documents will be converted into the digital format and 6 months later, court work will be switched to online system.
3 villages in State to be developed under Gandhi model scheme
In December 2019, the rural development and panchayati raj department has announced that it will develop one village in each of the 33 districts of the state under the Mahatma Gandhi Model Village Scheme. This was mooted on the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji.
Salient features of Mahatma Gandhi Model Village Scheme:
- No liquor or tobacco will be sold in the model villages.
- The village will have all facilities, including health, education and sanitation.
- The nutrition of women, particularly pregnant and lactating mothers, and children will be taken care of.
- These villages will also target total immunization of pregnant women and children.
- The villages which will strive for full enrolment of children in schools will focus on skill development among children.
- It will also endeavour to be a society without discrimination on caste and gender.
- Focus would be on conservation natural water sources, conservation of environment and preservation of heritage.
- Permanent houses with toilets are also proposed at the model villages.
Jaipur Union Football Club
- The club was recently in NEWS for laying down its conditions before handing over its ground at Ranniwas Bagh to the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) for the construction of underground parking.
- Important to take note that, Jaipur Union Football Club is as old as Mohan Bagan FC both established in 1889.
Persons in NEWS:
- Suman Rao: After winning the titles of Miss World 2nd runner-up 2019 and Miss World Asia 2019 in London, Suman reached her hometown Aaidana, village in the Rajasamand district of Rajasthan.
New Policies Released by State Government in December 2019
In December 2019, the Rajasthan Government has released new state policies on multiple sectors including:
- Rajasthan Solar Energy Policy 2019
- Rajasthan Industrial Development Policy 2019
- Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme 2019 | RIPS 2019
- Rajasthan Agro Processing, Agribusiness and Agri Export Promotion Policy-2019
