Current Affairs - State

The Maharashtra Government has announced plans to enhance 60 prison libraries by providing each with one bookcase and one bookrack under the Matching Fund Scheme of the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has emphasised the importance of fostering a reading culture among inmates to encourage personal growth, improve knowledge, and instil a positive outlook. This step is part of broader prison reform measures aimed at rehabilitation through education, enabling prisoners to utilise their time productively and prepare for a constructive life after release.

The ‘Nari Adalat’ was launched in Sikkim by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang during Amma Samman Diwas at Rongpo. This unique initiative serves as a community-based forum led entirely by women to deliver informal justice in rural and semi-urban regions. Instead of relying on the formal court system, it uses a flexible, dialogue-driven approach to resolve disputes, making justice more accessible, timely, and sensitive to local cultural contexts. The system aims to empower women, strengthen community bonds, and reduce the challenges faced by people in navigating lengthy and complex legal procedures.

The ‘Baaj Akh’ Anti-Drone System (ADS) was launched by the Punjab Government in Tarn Taran to tackle drug smuggling from across the border using drones. This advanced system can swiftly neutralise any drones entering Indian territory from hostile areas. Initially, three units have been deployed, with six more planned soon. The ADS will be strategically placed from Pathankot to Fazilka, acting as a second line of defence in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), thereby enhancing border security and curbing the inflow of illegal substances.

The World Lions Day 2025 on August 10 state-level celebration took place in Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gujarat, where Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth ₹179 crore. A key highlight was the designation of the Barda area as the second habitat for lions in the state. Remarkably, lions have naturally returned to Barda Dungar after a gap of 143 years. Gujarat’s lions, especially the Asiatic lions of the Gir forest, are seen as a source of national pride, and these initiatives aim to strengthen their conservation and expand their safe habitats for future generations.

Maharashtra has become the first state in India to roll out ‘Disha Abhiyan’, a state-wide initiative ensuring uniform and quality education for students with intellectual disabilities. Implemented across 453 special schools, the programme features a standardised curriculum developed by the Jai Vakil Foundation and certified by the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID). Drawing on over 80 years of expertise in special education, it includes global best practices, research-backed teaching strategies, and vocational training modules. This initiative aims to eliminate disparities in teaching quality, promote independence, and align with the nation’s inclusive development vision for 2047.