agri reform, PM Modi, COVID-19,Indigo, Punjab field, handicrafts, GI Tag, farming law

12 December 2020

• Govt official cites 5 benefits of contract farming law

  Contract farming has been going on in the country for a long time now, both informal as well as informal manner, but the Central government has given it a legal basis through a law. A senior government official said that the agreement under the new law will define the quality, grade, price and conditions of services, and therefore will not compromise farmers' interests.
  
  According to Ashok Dalwai, the president of the committee constituted to achieve the goal of doubling the farmers' income, the new law emphasises on the interests of the farmers.

• Indigo crew seen pulling luggage through Punjab's fields

  Indigo crew was seen pulling their luggage on a narrow road between farm fields in Punjab while heading to the international airport near Chandigarh on Bharat Bandh day owing to the closure of road links, as per a viral video.
  
  Farmers observed a Bharat Bandh on December 8 to demand repealing of three farm laws. The crew was on the way to the airport from a hotel in Chandigarh.

• Agri reforms to usher in new investments, farmers to gain says, PM Modi

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that agricultural reforms will usher in new investments into the sector. Modi said this at the 93rd 'Annual General Meeting' of the industry body Ficci. The event was organised on a virtual platform.
  
  According to the Prime Minister, agriculture reforms will increase synchronisation in the sector and help create better logistics and cold chain infrastructure. The Prime Minister reiterated that agricultural reforms are done to empower farmers and improve their financial conditions.

• Handicraft, GI Toys exempted from 'Quality Control Order'

  Centre has exempted 'Handicraft, GI Toys' from quality control order. The development comes after the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released the Toys (Quality Control) Second Amendment Order, 2020.
  
  Subsequently, the order exempts goods manufactured and sold by artisans registered with "Development Commissioner' (Handicrafts), from use of 'Standard Mark under licence from Bureau of Indian Standards, as per Scheme1 of Schedule-II of BIS (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018".

• Purvanchal to be eco-tourism hub says, UP Forest Minister

  Uttar Pradesh Forest, Environment and Animal Horticulture Minister Dara Singh Chauhan have said that there is immense potential for development and employment in the area of eco-tourism in Purvanchal. With special interest by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, this area will become a hub of it.

  
  Singh was presiding over the eighth session of the primary sector on Saturday on the last day of the three-day national webinar and seminar organised under the joint aegis of the Planning Department and Gorakhpur University on the university campus. He said the Chief Minister has rejuvenated the neglected vast natural lake Ramgarh. 

• Gujarat govt to compensate farmers for damage to crops

  Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday said the government will soon carry out a survey on the damage to crops in the state due to the unseasonal rain in the last couple of days.
  
  Rupani said, "We will carry out a survey wherever unseasonal rains and crop damage are reported and will disburse compensation to the affected farmers accordingly. But that will be after a couple of days, as there is still rainy weather continuing in the state."

• Dr Harsh Vardhan digitally addresses the students of Lady Hardinge Medical College on their convocation ceremony

  Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare today digitally addressed the students of Lady Hardinge Medical College(LHMC) on their convocation ceremony. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Hon’ble Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare was also present at the occasion.

  Expressing his gratitude on the occasion, Dr Vardhan said, “I am honoured and privileged to be here at the convocation ceremony of the illustrious Lady Hardinge Medical College. It’s another milestone in the decorated history of this college, as today the 99th batch of MBBS students will be awarded their degrees.”