DAILY PIB 13th April 2023

Jivhala loan scheme:The scheme offers aid for life term inmates of Yerwada jail.It has been launched primarily for convicted inmates who are undergoing a prison sentence of more than three years.While the loan will be disbursed in the name of the inmate, it will be issued to designated family members.In the initial phase, a loan of Rs 50,000 will be given at a 7 per cent interest rate.Of the interest the bank earns, one per cent will be given back to the system as a contribution to the Prisoners’ Welfare Fund.The loan will be provided without any requirement of mortgage or guarantor.Inmates will be able to use the loans for education of their children, medical treatment of family members, legal fees.On entering the prison system, an inmate is categorised as skilled, semi-skilled or un-skilled and assigned work in various industrial and manufacturing units inside the prison.For this work, they are paid anywhere between Rs 50 to 70 as daily wages.The money, deposited in their accounts, can be used to buy essentials from the jail canteen and/or can be sent home.The inmates get their earnings from the jail upon their release.Once an inmate takes a loan, the Equated Monthly Installment calculated will be directly deducted from their prison accounts.

Bihu:It is the state festival of Assam.The word Bihu is taken from the Sanskrit word Bishu meaning “to ask blessings and prosperity from the Gods” during harvesting season.

The first-ever Bihu dance was performed in 1694. Types of Bihu:

• Bohaag Baisakh (mid of April): The Bohaag Bihu marks a new year at the beginning of seeding time. Also called Rongaali Bihu.
• Maagh – in mid of January:The Magh Bihu marks the end of the harvesting period. Also known as Bhogaali Bihu, the festival of foods.
• Kaati- Kartik (mid of October):The Kaati Bihu marks the completion of sowing and transplanting of paddies. Also called Kongaali Bihu or the festival of the poor.

Bihu dance:More than 11,000 performers, including drummers and dancers, participated at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati in the State Government’s bid to register its world record in the Guinness Book.The Bihu dance is a folk dance from the Assam state performed on the Bihu festival.It began with the tribes of Moran, Sonowal, Deories, Borahis, Kacharis.

Young women and men come together and dance to the music from the dhol, buffalo Horn-Pipes, Taal, Toka, Xutuli, Gogona, Baanhi and Flutes.The dancers are dressed in the traditional attires of Assam with the dhotis and gamochas for the men and the Mekhela Chador with blouses for the women.Global Significance:It was a proud moment for the state when professional Bihu dancers performed at the London Olympics in 2012.

Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists: The G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) will be held in Varanasi.The first meet of MACS was held in Mexico in 2012.The members of the MACS include ministries or governmental bodies responsible for agricultural research in the respective G20 states as well as leading research institutions which strategically advise these decision-makers.The theme of the 2023 meeting: Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems for Healthy People and Planet. The meeting will also feature the MAHARISHI Initiative i.e., Millets And OtHer Ancient Grains International ReSearcH Initiative. This International Initiative will focus on research and awareness about agro-biodiversity, food security, and nutrition in line with the International Year of Millets 2023.