Uttarakhand Affairs
App to make U’khand roads pothole-free
Chief ministerPushkar Singh Dhami launched a ‘Patch Repairing App’ prepared by the public works department (PWD) with the aim to involve people in repair work on roads.
Using this app, a person can click a photo of a pothole on the road and inform the PWD about it. Following this, the PWD will get the repair done and later post the photo of the patch work to the complainant, officials said. “This app will help immensely in making the roads free of potholes across the state. The information provided by people will help us in repairing such roads at the earliest,” the CM said. Dhami also mentioned that the road repair would be completed within a week and the responsibility of officials would be fixed.
In an event at the state secretariat, Dhami said that departmental officials need to keep an eye on the complaints and ensure they are timely resolved.
National and International Affairs
Soon, Tele-MANAS doctors may prescribe medicines remotely
Psychiatrists who are part of Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (Tele-MANAS), which is operating in about 27 states andUnion Territories, will soon be able to prescribe medicines. This thanks to the programmes upcoming integration with e-Sanjeevani platform, the Union health ministrys flagship telemedicine service.
Till the last week of April, Tele-MANAS, the nodal centre of which is Bengaluru-based Nimhans and which facilitates in-person and telephonic counselling, has handled one lakh calls. It was launched in October 2022.
However, as Tele-MANAS provided only for audio consultation, psychiatrists couldnt prescribe medicines and would ask those needing the same to visit in person. Telemedicine practice guidelines also mandate a video session for the prescription of drugs.
Former President of India,Ram Nath Kovind,presented theBharat Ratna Dr. Ambedkar Awardto Chief MinisterYogi Adityanathfor his efforts in creating a fear-free Uttar Pradesh. The award ceremony took place at the Shri Shanmukhananda Auditorium in Mumbai, where Dr. Lalji Prasad Nirmal, a member of the UP legislative council, received the award on behalf of the Chief Minister. The event was organized by the Buddhanjali Research Foundation and was attended by Ramnath Kovind as the chief guest. This was the 13th edition of the award ceremony.
The Dr. Ambedkar Award is an annual award presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to Society in the areas of Education, social welfare, and economics, in the spirit of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was a renowned Indian jurist, economist, social reformer, and politician who played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution and fought for the rights of the oppressed sections of Indian Society.
TheMaharashtragovernment, under the leadership of Chief MinisterEknath Shinde, is set to launch a new initiative calledShasan Aplya Dari(government at your doorstep). The primary objective of this initiative is to provide citizens with easy access to government schemes and documents, all in one place. District administrations have been directed to organize two-day camps in their respective areas to facilitate the distribution of benefits to approximately 75,000 locals. The inaugural event for this campaign will be held in Satara district, the Chief Ministers home district.
The Shasan Aplya Dari initiative aims to eliminate the difficulties faced by citizens when availing government Services and benefits. Often, individuals have to navigate through various bureaucratic processes and visit multiple offices to access the schemes they are entitled to. This new drive seeks to simplify the process by bringing the government directly to the peoples doorsteps.
Japanisseriouslyevaluating adoptingIndias UPI payments systemas both governments look at promoting digital cooperation by creating interoperability where the digital payments system could bring ease of cross-border payments. Japan and India aim to boost digital collaboration by creating interoperability through the real-time funds transfer system to ease digital payments.
The potential for Japan to join UPI is significant. It would be the first major country to adopt the system, and it could help to boost digital payments in both countries. It would also be a sign of the growing cooperation between India and Japan in the digital space.