Reportage
BSP MP Kunwar Danish Ali tests positive for COVID19 after attending Lok Sabha’s ongoing Winter Session
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Kunwar Danish Ali has asked people, who came in his contact with him before he tested positive for COVID19, to observe self-isolation and take all preventive measures. Details here.
Gaon Connection
J&K: Electricity supply set to resume as power dept employees call off strike after admin’s assurance
The strike which lasted three days threw normalcy out of gear in Jammu and Kashmir as multiple districts lived through blackouts at a time when the region is facing a freezing cold wave. Details here.
Gaon Connection
India’s COVID19 caseload from Omicron variant reaches 200; Delhi & Maharashtra report most cases
While most of the Omicron cases of COVID19 in India have been reported as asymptomatic, the high transmissibility of the variant is being perceived as a potential threat that could unleash the third wave of the pandemic in the country. More details here.
Gaon Connection
Explained: Power shutdown in J&K, Army’s help sought — what is the crisis about?
Indian Army’s assistance has been sought as employees of the Jammu and Kashmir’s Power Development Department have gone on a strike in their protest against the alleged privatisation. The strike has affected multiple districts while a third of the total area in Jammu is under the cloak of darkness. The union territory is facing a power crisis at a time when the cold wave season has just begun. Details here.
Gaon Connection
Karnataka introduces eggs in mid day meals in seven dists; health activists demand all 31 dists covered
As part of the new initiative, the state government has decided to offer three eggs per week to 1.4 million children in seven districts with very poor child health indicators. According to the NFHS-5, more than 37% under-5 rural kids in Karnataka are stunted.
Gaon Connection
Parliament Winter Session: Bill to link Aadhaar-Voter ID passed in Lok Sabha by voice vote
The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks to provide an option to link Aadhaar number to electoral rolls. The Speaker had to adjourn the Parliament meeting 15 minutes early due to constant disruptions over the amendment bill.
Gaon Connection
Vaccines could be tweaked to protect from emerging COVID19 variants: AIIMS Director
Five days ago, on December 15, COVID Task Force Chief had stated that there is a potential scenario that our vaccines may become ineffective in emerging situations. Here’s what the AIIMS director said yesterday at an event in Pune.
Gaon Connection
Delhi records highest daily COVID19 cases in six months; genome test of all positive samples
Amid the fear of Omicron, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the Centre to allow booster shots for fully vaccinated residents of the national capital. So far 28 Omicron cases have been reported in Delhi and a total of 161 cases across India.
Gaon Connection
Want to improve your crop yield? Adopt bee farming
Nitin Singh started with 20 bee colonies and today there are 1,200 colonies developed by his company Royal Honey and Bee Farming Society. Apart from pure organic honey, he also trades in honey energy drinks, lip balm, soaps and candles, and considers bees to be a farmer’s best friend.
Puja Bhattacharjee
Rural women to get Rs 5,000 approved loans; 50 million self-help group members to benefit
A new programme by the Union Rural Development Ministry promises an overdraft facility of Rs 5,000 to self-help group women to meet their emergency requirements. What is an overdraft facility? Details here.