The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat presided over the opening session of DHARA 2023 (Driving Holistic Action for Urban Rivers) organised by National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in Pune today. DHARA is the annual meeting of the members of the River Cities Alliance (RCA) and provides a platform for senior officials including Commissioners, Addl. Commissioners, Chief Engineers and Senior Planners of over 100 member-cities in India to co-learn and discuss solutions for managing local water resources.

Shri G. Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, Shri Vikram Kumar, Municipal Commissioner, Pune, Shri Hitesh Vaidya, Director, NIUA were also present on the occasion. The opening session also witnessed the launch of Urban River Management Plan for Ayodhya and Aurangabad and ‘75 River Initiatives’ – a Compendium. The Union Minister inaugurated the event by unifying the water collected from 52 participating cities in a Jal Kalash.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that rivers are synonymous with civilizations and after several decades of using our rivers for survival, we must reflect on what we have given the rivers back, otherwise our future generation will bear the brunt of water scarcity. He expressed his happiness on the fact that over 40 Municipal Commissioners are present today at the event and reflected on the importance of de-centralized planning in effectively managing water resources. “The planning can best be done at the level of the local self-bodies and that is the reason why their presence here is of immense importance,” adding, “Through the local bodies we can directly connect with the people, which is absolutely essential for the success of any programme concerning water.”

Shri Shekhawat said that the country is going through a crucial time and has completed the 75 years of independence. He also said that technologically-driven change that has been witnessed in the past few decades make it all the more important for all of us to collectively work in the direction of making a ‘Viksit Bharat’ as envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister. “The world is looking at us because of our growth, especially since India has been handed over the G20 presidency,” he said, adding, “During an event in Bhopal – Vision@2047- it was emphasized by me that we have accepted the challenge of Viksit Bharat and it is our collective responsibility. I was happy to see that 25 states participated in that event and made presentations on their plans for water related issues.” He added that water availability is the basis of making Vision@2027 target a success and it is our firm belief that requirement of water is directly proportional to the growth of the economy.

He also said that caution has to be exercised in ensuring that our programmes on rivers do not get limited to infrastructure development but we must try and establish a robust people-river connect. “It is necessary to reestablish the respect for water, which went down from generation-to-generation as part of the traditional wisdom of our forefathers,” he said, adding, “It is time that we generate that sentiment in the younger generation by using social media, which is a powerful tool in the times we live.”

He added that the Ministry of Jal Shakti is working holistically for providing safe drinking water to every household, groundwater management and recharge, aquifer mapping, river rejuvenation and India is among the countries with one of the biggest financial allocation to the water sector. “We have to move ahead with a firm resolution and we will certainly achieve our targets,” he said.

He expressed his happiness over the trajectory of increasing members of River-Cities Alliance from 23 to 107. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, water as a sector is raising above the silos. “If every city (107) which is the member of the RCA will take a step forward, we will take 107 steps forward and that is the need-of-the-hour,” he added.

Delivering the opening address, Shri G. Asok Kumar, DG, NMCG welcomed the guests and said that Namami Gange Programme was launched to rejuvenate River Ganga and its tributaries. He said that water was hardly a priority for municipal commissioners but under Namami Gange Programme, they were urged to bring water into their main agenda and we have been successful in doing that. “Namami Gange has been selected as one of the world’s top 10 flagship programmes from over 160 countries which is a testament of the success of Namami Gange Programme.”

Talking about the 2^nd National Ganga Council meeting that took place on 30^th December 2022, Shri Kumar said that the Hon’ble Prime Minister mentioned during the meeting how rivers are extremely important vehicles for economic growth and emphasized the direct connection between clean rivers and the country’s GDP and growth. “The Hon’ble PM espoused the concept of Arth Ganga in the first NGC meeting to focus on improving the lives of the people living on the banks of the river basins. The contribution of the Hon’ble Prime Minister in bringing back the respect for water is unparalleled,” Shri Kumar added. Shri said the vision for Swachh Bharat Mission laid out by Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi paved the path towards a paradigm shift in the approach to urban management which can be seen in several improved health indicators.

Shi Kumar expressed his happiness on the fact that the members of the River Cities Alliance have crossed the 100 mark and the urban water issues are now being address in totality. “Water has always been kept in silos; one H2O was divided into multiple units. The creation of the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2019 was, perhaps, the first attempt at breaking those silos,” he said, adding, “Another important factor is the encroachment of our water bodies, which are the backbone of the traditional wisdom of water conservation and rainwater harvesting.”

Shri Kumar urged the municipal commissioners to manage their water resources well to see tremendous growth in health, economy and overall well-being in their jurisdictions and add value to their cities. “NMCG has taken a lot of initiatives like making Urban River Management Plans, Thesis Competition etc. to develop models for water as a development resource and RCA is certainly one of the most important steps in the direction of effective urban water management,” he said, adding, “Water sector is a niche area and good work done will pave the way towards an efficient water management and make India water secure.” He ended his address by expressing hope that the unique ideas and solutions presented in the deliberations will be used by the city planners with DHARA becoming rain stream that can help make India a river-friendly country.

Day 1 of DHARA 2023 saw sessions on ‘Innovative Examples of River Management within India’, ‘Innovative International Case Studies for River Management’, ‘Strengthening the Agenda for Urban River management’, ‘Youth for Rivers’, ‘Experiences from International River Cities’.

Mr. Himansu Badoni, Executive Director, NMCG; Mr. S. Vishwanath, Director, BIOME Solutions; Mr. Ramveer Tanwar, Pondman of India; Dr. Kartiki Naik, Urban Development Specialist, World Resources Institute; Mr. Gaurav Anand, Swacchta Pukare, Jamshedpur; Mr. Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Chief Advisor, NIUA; Col. Andy Pannier, Secretary, Mississippi River Commission, USA; Ms. Martina Bukard, Programme Director, GIZ, Germany; Dr. Harry Virahsawmy, Head of Urban Water, Alluvium Consulting, Australia; Dr. Anitha Sharma, Counsellar for Water and Urban Development, Embassy of Denmark; Dr. Srinivas Chokkakula, Ministry of Jal Shakti Professional Chair, Centre for Policy Research; Prof. Mr. Vinod Tare, Founding Head, cGanga and Mr. Dheeraj Joshi, Deputy Secretary, NMCG were among the panelists of the sessions on Day 1.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted all radio listeners, RJs and all others associated with the broadcasting eco-system on the occasion of World Radio Day. Shri Modi has also urged citizens to share their inputs for Mann Ki Baat programme on the 26th February, 2023.

In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said;

“Greetings to all radio listeners, RJs and all others associated with the broadcasting eco-system on the special occasion of World Radio Day. May the radio keep brightening lives through innovative programmes and showcasing human creativity.”

“Since it is World Radio Day, I would also like to take the opportunity to remind you all of the 98th #MannKiBaat programme on the 26th. Do share your inputs for the same. Write on MyGov, NaMo App or record your message by dialling 1800-11-7800.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation, the 246 km Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway today. He also laid the foundation stone for 247 kilometres of National Highway projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 5940 crore. The Prime Minister’s emphasis on the building of excellent road infrastructure as an engine of growth, development and connectivity in New India is being realised by the construction of a number of ongoing world-class Expressways across the country.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed pride in dedicating the first phase of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway to the nation. He underlined that this is one of the most advanced expressways in the world which presents a grand picture of developing India.

The Prime Minister said that when such modern roads, railway stations, railway tracks, Metro and airports are constructed, the country’s development gets momentum. He also highlighted the multiplier effect of the investment on infrastructure. “For the last 9 years, the Central Government is also continuously making huge investments in infrastructure”, the Prime Minister remarked as he noted investments worth more than 50,000 crores for the construction of highways in Rajasthan. In this year’s budget, the Prime Minister informed that there has been an allocation of 10 lakh crores for infrastructure which is 5 times more than the allocation in 2014. He underlined that the poor and middle class from Rajasthan will greatly benefit from these investments. The Prime Minister underscored the benefits of investment in infrastructure on the economy and said that it creates employment and connectivity

The Prime Minister stated that when investments are made in highways, railways, ports, airports, optical fibers, digital connectivity, construction of pucca houses and colleges, every section of the society gets empowered.

Elaborating on another benefit of infrastructure, the Prime Minister said that economic activities are getting a boost. He said with the construction of the Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot highway, the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur will be reduced. The Prime Minister said that along the Expressway Grameen Haats are being established that will help the local farmers and artisans. He underlined that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will benefit Rajasthan along with many areas of Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra. “Tourism spots like Sariska, Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore and Jaipur will draw huge benefits from the highway”, he said.

Speaking about the three other projects, the Prime Minister said that one of them will give Jaipur direct connectivity with the expressway. The second project will connect the expressway with Ambala- Kotputli corridor near Alwar. This will help vehicles coming from Haryana, Punjab,  Himachal and Jammu Kashmir to travel to Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Lalsot Karoli road will also connect the region with the Expressway.

The Prime Minister underlined that the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor are going to become two strong pillars of progress for Rajasthan and the country and will transform this entire region including Rajasthan in the times to come. He noted that these two projects will strengthen the Mumbai-Delhi Economic Corridor and the road and freight corridor will connect many regions of Rajasthan, Haryana and Western India with ports. He said that it will create new opportunities for logistics, storage, transport and other industries as well.

Highlighting that the Delhi Mumbai Expressway is powered by the PM Gati Shakti Masterplan, the Prime Minister informed that arrangements have been made to lay optical fiber, electricity lines and gas pipelines, and the leftover land will be used for producing solar energy as well as warehousing purposes. “These efforts will save the nation a lot of money in the future”, the Prime Minister remarked.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister highlighted the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ for Rajasthan and the county, and said, “The government’s resolve is to make a competent, capable and prosperous India.”

Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudary, PWD Minister of Rajasthan Government, Shri Bhajanlal Jatav and Members of Parliament were present on the occasion among others.

Background

The 246 km Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi Mumbai Expressway has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 12,150 crore. This operationalization of this section will reduce the travel time from Delhi to Jaipur from 5 hours to around 3.5 hours and provide a major boost to the economic development of the entire region.

Delhi Mumbai Expressway will be India’s longest expressway with a length of 1,386 km. It will reduce the travel distance between Delhi and Mumbai by 12% from 1,424 km to 1,242 Km and travel time will be reduced by 50% from 24 hrs to 12 hrs. It will pass through six states – Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra and connect major cities like Kota, Indore, Jaipur, Bhopal, Vadodara and Surat. The Expressway will also serve 93 PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, 13 Ports, 8 Major Airports and 8 multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) along with spurs to new upcoming greenfield airports such as Jewar Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport and JNPT port. The Expressway will have a catalytic impact on the developmental trajectory of all adjoining regions, thus contributing in a major way to the economic transformation of the country.

During the programme, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 247 kilometres of National Highway projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 5940 crore. This includes a 67-km long four-lane spur road from Bandikui to Jaipur to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 2000 crore, a six-lane spur road from Kotputli to Baraodaneo, to be developed at a cost of about Rs 3775 crore and two-lane paved shoulder of Lalsot – Karoli section, being developed at a cost of about Rs 150 crore.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the year-long celebrations commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi today. He also released a logo for commemoration.

Upon arriving at the venue, the Prime Minister walked past the panorama and live representations of Arya Samaj and also offered Ahuti Arpan in the ongoing Yagya. Later on, he handed over the LED Mashal to youth representatives as a symbolic carry forward of the spark ignited in this programme reinforcing the messages of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati to the rest of India and the world.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister called the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati historic, an occasion to create a future and inspiration for the entire world. Referring to  Maharishi Dayanand’s ideal of making the world a better place, the Prime Minister said in this era of discord, violence and instability, the path shown by Maharishi Dayanand gives hope.

The Prime Minister underlined that the auspicious occasion will be celebrated for two years and said that the government has decided to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati. Throwing light on the continuous practice for the welfare of humanity, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for being able to offer Ahuti Arpan in the ongoing Yagya. Referring to the good fortune of being born in the same land where Swami ji was born, the Prime Minister stressed the continued attraction of the ideals of Maharshi Dayananda in his life.

Recalling India’s condition when Dayanand Saraswati was born, the Prime Minister stated that India was marred and weakened after centuries of slavery and was losing its aura and self-confidence. He recalled the numerous efforts that were underway to crush the ideals, the culture and the roots of India. Swami ji dispelled the notion of any deficiency in the traditions and scriptures of India, he pointed out that their real meaning is forgotten. The Prime Minister recalled the time when the false interpretation of Vedas was being used to belittle India and traditions were being deformed, in such a time Maharshi Dayanand’s effort came as a saviour. “Maharshi Ji started a strong campaign against social ills like discrimination and untouchability.” Shri Modi cited the reactions against his emphasis on duty as a challenge in the 21st century to illustrate the enormity of the effort of the Maharshi in his time. “Evils that were falsely attributed to religion, Swami Ji removed them with the light of religion itself”, the Prime Minister explained. Mahatma Gandhi, said the Prime Minister, considered Swamiji’s fight against untouchability as his biggest contribution.

The Prime Minister underlined that Maharishi Dayanand ji also emerged as a logical and effective voice against the stereotypes that had flourished in society regarding women. He informed that Maharishi Dayanand ji strongly opposed discrimination against women and also initiated campaigns for the education of women while underlining that these facts are more than 150 years old. Even in today’s day and age, the Prime Minister said, there are societies which deprive women of their right to education and respect, but it was Maharishi Dayanand who raised his voice when equal rights for women was a far-fetched reality, even in the western countries.

The Prime Minister emphasized the extraordinary nature of the achievements and efforts of Maharishi ji. He said that people’s spirit and regard for him 150 years after Arya Samaj and 200 years after his birth is an indication of his prominent place in the journey of the nation. “In the Amrit Kaal, the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati has come with a sacred inspiration”, he added.

Shri Modi said that the country is following Swamiji’s teaching with great confidence. Referring to Swamiji’s call ‘Back to Vedas’, the Prime Minister said “today the country is confidently calling for ‘pride in our heritage’”, as he noted the confidence of the people of India to lay the path of modernity while enriching the culture and traditions at the same time.

The Prime Minister dwelled on the expansive notion of religion in India which goes beyond rituals and is defined as an entire way of life. ‘With us, the first interpretation of religion is about duty’, the Prime Minister said. Swami ji, the Prime Minister said, took an inclusive and integrated approach and assumed responsibility and leadership of many dimensions of the nation’s life. The Prime Minister further elaborated on the wider role of the sages and saints in Indian life by referring to the achievements of Indian sages in philosophy, Yoga, Mathematics, policy, diplomacy, science and medical science. Swami ji played a big role in reviving that ancient tradition, the Prime Minister added.

Reflecting on the teachings of Maharishi Dayanand, the Prime Minister noted the various organizations established by him during his lifetime. Even though Maharishi lived with a revolutionary ideology, the Prime Minister underlined how Maharishi connected all his ideas with order and institutionalized them to establish various organizations that have actively taken up various welfare work in different sectors for decades. Giving the example of Paropkarini Sabha, the Prime Minister said that the organization was established by Maharishi himself and propagates Vedic traditions today through Gurukuls and publications as mediums. He also gave examples of Kurukshetra Gurukul, Swami Shraddhanand Trust and Maharishi Dayanand Trust and noted the numerous lives of youth that have been shaped by these organizations. The Prime Minister also noted the significant contributions of Jeevan Prabhat Trust in social service and rescue operations during the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat and underlined that the organization was inspired by the ideals of Maharishi Ji.

The Prime Minister underlined that the country is witnessing progress with non-discriminatory policies and efforts which were a priority for Swami Ji also. “The service of the poor, backward and downtrodden is the first yagya for the country today.”  He cited housing, medical treatment, and women empowerment in this regard. New Education policy promotes modern education with emphasis on Indianness as taught by Swami ji.

The Prime Minister recalled Swami ji’s definition of a realized person, a person who gives more than he takes is a realized person. This has relevance in myriad spheres including the environment. Swami ji understood this knowledge of Vedas deeply, the Prime Minister said. “Maharishi ji was a student of Vedas and a saint of Gyan Marg”, the Prime Minister said. India is leading the world in the quest for sustainable development. The Prime Minister referred to Mission LiFE in this regard and said the environment is being pushed as a special agenda of G20. The Prime Minister said that Arya Samaj can play a big role by promoting these modern ideals with the foundation of ancient wisdom. He asked them to push natural farming. The Prime Minister also mentioned the push for Shri Anna.

Emphasizing that lots can be learnt from the Maharishi’s personality, the Prime Minister narrated the story of an English officer who came to meet Maharishi and asked him to pray for continuous British Rule in India to which Maharishi fearlessly replied, “Independence is my soul and the voice of India”. The Prime Minister said innumerable freedom fighters and institution builders and patriots took inspiration from Swami Ji and gave examples of Lokmanya Tilak, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Veer Savarkar, Lala Lajpat Rai, Lala Hardayal, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and other freedom fighters. He also gave examples of Mahatma Hansraj, Swami Shraddhanand Ji, Bhai Parmanand Ji and many other leaders who found inspiration from Maharishi

The Prime Minister said that Arya Samaj has the legacy of teachings of Swami Ji and the country expects a lot from every ‘Arya Veer’. He also informed that next year, Arya Samaj will begin its 150th year. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister congratulated everyone for organizing the momentous occasion with great planning, execution and management. “In the Amrit Kaal, may we all find inspiration from the efforts of Maharishi Dayanand ji”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, Union Minister for Culture, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Ministers of State for Culture, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and Smt Meenakshi Lekhi, President of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Daram Pal Arya, Mahamantri of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Vinay Arya, and President, Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Shri Suresh Chandra Arya were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Born on 12th February 1824, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati was a social reformer who founded Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter social inequities prevalent during the times. Arya Samaj has played a crucial role in the cultural and social awakening of the country through its emphasis on social reforms and education.

The government has been committed to celebrating the social reformers and important personalities, especially those whose contributions were not given their due yet on a pan-India scale. From declaring the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Muda as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas to participating in a programme commemorating Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been leading such initiatives from the front.

There have been commitments to the tune of lakhs of crores to invest in Uttar Pradesh and this has been made possible due to the honest government and safe environment in the state, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said today, while addressing the UP Global Investors Summit in Lucknow.

The fast pace of progress that we can see and feel in the Global Investors Summit in Uttar Pradesh is due to the capable leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, adding that Uttar Pradesh is now on the move and no one can now stop its progress.

Shri Goyal recounted the story that started way back in 2017 when UP Assembly elections were in progress. ‘At the time we were given the task of making a manifesto for the party. We met people across the state and people from all sections of life wanted change and able administration. We wondered where we will get the required funds to do what was to be done. Prime Minister was clear that whatever we promised in the manifesto will have to be implemented’, he said.

The Minister said that at the time Home Minister Shri Amit Shahji said that we will have to do three things: to put an end to land-mafia, sand-mafia and liquor mafia. Shri Shah said that if we are able to do this, there will never be a shortage of resources in the state, Shri Goyal added. The way UP has progressed in recent years shows that an honest government, a government working for the welfare of the people, a government that does not tolerate any wrongdoing, can ensure necessary revenues and take the state to new levels of achievement, Shri Goyal said.

Union Commerce Minister pointed out that there have been commitments of several lakhs of crores rupees by investors at this Summit. It is the proof that the people now believe that it is now easy to invest in the state, that the state has an honest system, that law and order is in place and the investors have invested their faith in the people of the state, he said. They believe that the people of UP will, even in the future, vote for such honest government, he added.

Speaking of Ease of Doing Business Ranking, Shri Goyal said that it is done across the country to assess where it is easy to do business and that India has jumped in the global ranking in the recent years. He pointed out that the Prime Minister believed in competitive and collaborative federalism and therefore there is a ranking of states also. UP now ranks at number 2 in the country among the states, he said.

The progress of Start Up India in Uttar Pradesh is a matter of satisfaction, Shri Goyal said. UP was an emerging ecosystem state in 2020 but in 2021 ranking, UP is the leader in Start Up ecosystem, he pointed out. There are 8,277 Start Ups in the state and the state is on 4th number, he said. Shri Goyal wondered “Who could have thought this possible a few years ago?” He said that he had the opportunity to speak to some young men and women who are running some of these Start Ups and could see their enthusiasm and their wonderful ideas.

Shri Goyal said that India signed three important Free Trade Agreements last year and this year also we were hoping to sigh two or three FTAs. They will open the doors for the breweries and wineries of UP as they will get market access, investments and technologies. “I saw in the presentation today that there are 28 fruits and 4 flowers excluding grapes that are found in UP which can produce various kinds of wine in the state. These products will have ready markets worldwide,” he added.

Shri Goyal pointed out that the increase of UP’s excise has gone up three times despite reduction in rates. This is because of the honest system enforced in the state and due to breaking the back of liquor mafia. This is an example for the entire country, he concluded.The speeding up of approval of licencing in the state has helped the state attract investment and it is smooth and investor friendly, Shri Goyal said.

Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister has asked all states to take export as a special responsibility and in this,UP has taken a lead. One District One Product was taken seriously and now in the last 5 years the exports from UP has doubled. Telecom equipment export from UP has increased 63 times, fruits and vegetables have increased 26 times in this period, he noted. There are immense possibilities for the state to grow.

This is truly a land of opportunities because we are doing reforms not because of any pressure but because of our conviction that it will take the state and country ahead in Amrit Kaal. This summit has been done at the right time to attract large amounts of investment in the state, Shri Goyal concluded.

With an effort to further strengthen the sports infrastructure available at Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence in Lucknow,

the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur on Sunday inaugurated a 300-bedded hostel, an upgraded hall for wrestling with state-of-the-art facilities in line with international standards and a sports medicine centre.

SAI NCOE Lucknow has been the centre of women’s wrestling National camps with India’s elite women wrestlers training there.

The addition of the 300-bedded hostel increases the capacity of NCOE Lucknow to house 460 athletes at any given time, including national campers. The new hostel will be dedicated to women athletes while the existing two hostels of 80 beds each will be reserved for boys training in the centre.

The sports medicine centre, which has been upgraded from the existing medical centre, will have sports science experts as well as a sports psychologist. Advanced biomechanic machines are being installed to make it a fully-equipped sports science centre.

Speaking at the launch, Shri. Thakur said, “The SAI Lucknow centre was a small centre earlier which has now been revamped to match international training standards. Our efforts are always to ensure that our athletes have the facilities that can help them perform better and these changes are a step in that direction.”

Shri Thakur stressed particularly on the good performance being displayed by women athletes at the centre and spoke about the performance of M Martina Devi, the Manipuri weightlifter who trains in NCOE Lucknow and has broken 7 records at the recently-concluded Khelo India Youth Games in Madhya Pradesh. “The facilities of a centre are put to test when athletes from the centre compete. Martina’s recent feat proves that NCOE athletes in Lucknow are indeed getting the kind of training, diet, lodging facilities that they need.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed Vijay Sankalp Rallies at Ambassa and Radhakishorepur in Tripura today, kickstarting his campaigning for Tripura’s State Assembly Elections. PM Modi started his address by highlighting the contribution of the tribals in developing Tripura and the nation. He also paid tribute to N. C. Debbarma whom the Prime Minister regarded as a visionary.

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PM Modi talked about how Tripura has been brought out of the clutches of ‘Chanda Culture’ and Left parties who restricted the benefits of central government schemes to themselves. PM Modi said, “Earlier in Tripura, only the Left cadres used to get the benefits of government schemes. Now every citizen of Tripura is getting the benefits of government schemes under the BJP government”. PM Modi further added how rule of law has now been established in Tripura under the BJP government.

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Talking about the development the BJP government has undertaken in Tripura, PM Modi said, “When I came to Tripura 5 years ago, I had promised you HIRA i.e. Highway, Internet, Railway and Airway. The BJP’s double-engine government has worked day and night to empower Tripura’s development with highways, internet, railways and airways”. He further delved into many projects that have been built in Tripura.

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PM Modi also elucidated the people on the ‘Trishakti’ BJP government has provided to Tripura. He talked about this trinity of Housing, Health and Income and said’ “My poor brothers and sisters, my mothers-sisters-daughters, my fellow farmers, all have got the benefit of this trinity of BJP government in the last 5 years”.

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Hitting out at the opposition, PM Modi said, “The Congress and the Left want to stop all such schemes that make life easier for the people of Tripura. That’s why the people of Tripura have to be careful from the double-edged sword of the Left and the Congress”. PM Modi further talked about how the opposition left Tribals out of development and said, “During the Congress and Left governments, bamboo cutting and its trade was banned. The BJP government is now promoting products made of bamboo in the country and the world. Tribal society is benefiting the most from this. I am happy that today the country’s first bamboo park has come up in Tripura”.

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Also, the Prime Minister talked about how his government solving every problem of Bru-Reang community. He said, “The Bru-Reang issue continued here for decades.
But the opposition did not make efforts for its permanent solution. Our Double engine government solved it and today we are trying to solve every problem of Bru-Reang community.”

Targeting the Congress and the Left in poll-bound Tripura, Prime Minister Modi said the parties had pushed the state backward in the terms of development when they were power, and that every vote for the allies would pull Tripura down. In Radhakishorepur, PM Modi said the BJP had brought the state back on the track of rapid development in just five years, and that the state had decided that the ‘double-engine of development’ would not stop.

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Listing the initiatives taken by his government for the development of the state, PM Modi said, “In the last 5 years, the farmers of Tripura have received Rs 500 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Here, more than Rs 80 crore has been sent to the bank accounts of 40,000 farmers of Gomti district. New possibilities are continuously being created for the rubber farmers of Tripura.” He also talked about that how the farmers of Tripura who were producing Millets would be benefitted from the ongoing initiatives of the centre.

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PM Modi finally addressed the people on how the NEP is enabling inclusivity for the people of Tripura. He said, “It is our BJP government which has included Kokborok language as a subject in government schools. Today it is being taught in hundreds of schools in Tripura”. PM Modi further asked people to be wary of parties that want to stop the progress of Tripura and asked people to vote for the double-engine government.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the 60^th National Conference of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) in Ahmedabad via a video message.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of physiotherapists as providers of solace, symbol of hope, resilience and recovery. A physiotherapist, he said, not only treats physical injury but gives the patient courage to deal with the psychological challenge.

The Prime Minister lauded the professionalism of the physiotherapist profession and explained how the same spirit of providing support in the times of need pervades governance also. He said with support in provision of basic needs like bank accounts, toilets, tap water, free medical treatment and creation of a social security net, poor and middle classes of the country are garnering courage to dream. “We have shown the world that with their potential they are capable of reaching new heights”, the Prime Minister added.

Similarly, he touched upon the characteristics of the profession that ensure self-reliance in the patient and said that India is also moving towards Aatmnirbharta. The profession also symbolizes the ‘Sabka Prayas’ as patient and doctor both need to work on the problem and this is reflected in many schemes and Jan Andolans like Swacch Bharat and Beti Bachao, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister underlined the spirit of physiotherapy that carries many key messages like consistency, continuity and conviction which are critical for the policies of the governance also, he said.

The Prime Minister said that in the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava, Physiotherapists received a much awaited recognition as  a profession as the government brought the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Bill which recognizes the contribution of physiotherapists in the nation’s healthcare system. “This has made it easier for all of you to work in India as well as abroad. The government has also added physiotherapists to the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission network. This has made it easier for you to reach the patients”, Shri Modi said. The Prime Minister also touched upon growing opportunities for physiotherapists in the environment of Fit India Movement and Khelo India.

The Prime Minister requested physiotherapists to take up the task of educating people about Right Posture,  Right Habits, Right Exercises. “It is important that people adopt the right approach regarding fitness. You can do this through Articles and Lectures. And my young friends can even do it through Reels”, he said.

Drawing on his personal experience of physiotherapy, the Prime Minister said “It is my experience that when the expertise of yoga is combined with that of a physiotherapist, its power increases manifold. The common problems of the body, which often require physiotherapy, are sometimes solved in yoga as well. That’s why You must also know yoga along with physiotherapy. This will enhance  your professional power.”

As a big part of the physiotherapy profession is connected with senior citizens, the Prime Minister stressed the need for experience and soft-skills and asked the profession to document and present them via academic papers and presentations before the world.

Shri Modi also requested the profession to develop ways of video consulting and tele-medicine. He said this can be useful in situations like the earthquake in Turkiye where a large number of physiotherapists are needed and Indian physiotherapists can help via mobile phones and asked the Physiotherapist Association to think in this direction. “I have full faith that under the leadership of experts like you, India will be fit as well as a super hit”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addressed the convocation ceremony of 74 RR IPS batch of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy at Hyderabad today. Shri Amit Shah paid tribute to 36,000 martyred police personnel who made the supreme sacrifices for the internal security of the nation at the Martyr’s Memorial. The passing out parade of 74 RR batch of IPS Probationers was also attended by the Governor of Telangana Smt. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Director of the Academy Shri AS Rajan and several other dignitaries.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that joining the great tradition of IPS, the 74 RR batch of trainee officers will be known as the batch of Amrit Kaal. After training this batch is capable, dedicated and equipped to face every challenge that may emerge before the country. With the culmination of our 75 years of independence, this batch is marching to protect the internal security of the country, which is a matter of great pride. He said that during the last seven decades, the country has seen many ups and downs in the field of security and faced many challenges, and while facing these challenges, more than 36,000 police personnel have made the supreme sacrifices. Shri Shah said that looking back at the 75 years after independence, today India’s situation has changed from Local to Global and from Violent to Vibrant. The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that after the independence of this great nation, while beginning the All India Services, Sardar Patel had said that it is the responsibility of the All India Services to keep India intact under a federal constitution, and officer trainees should make this sentence their motto. Shri Shah said at the time of establishment of this college, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had said that this college is first of its kind in India and  there was no precedent like this in the past but it will become an inspiring example for the future generations.

Shri Amit Shah said that the goals set by the country’s first Union Home Minister for the Academy have been well accomplished during the past 75 years. Currently, a total of 195 officer trainees are undergoing basic course training at the academy, including 41 women officers and 29 officer trainees from our neighboring countries Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and Mauritius. He said that most of the trainees of this batch have completed their basic qualification in technical fields. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set up ‘Police Technology Mission’ to meet the challenges of the future, and empower all the police institutions of our country to be in tune with the global technical challenges from the point of view of technology. Shri Shah said that the mission will not only make the entire police system from constable to DGP capable to tackle the technical challenges but will also make them tech-savvy.  This Police Technology Mission will make all the police institutions of our country in sync with the global technical challenges from the point of view of technology.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a goal for the people of the country that when we celebrate the centenary of independence in 2047, the country should emerge at the top of every field, globally. Fulfillment of this goal is both the responsibility and duty of every Indian citizen. The IPS trainee officers present here have a special responsibility because no nation can be great without good law and order and impenetrable internal security. Shri Shah added that the protection of the rights of the weakest citizen, the sensitivity of the system towards him/her and a police system that can withstand all the challenges, are essential elements to lay the foundation of a developed nation. He said that we aim to make India a five trillion dollar economy by 2025 and ensure that India becomes a fully developed nation by 2047. It is definitely possible to achieve this goal as in 2014, we were at the 11th position in the world’s economic ranking and in a span of just eight years, we have been able to reach at the fifth position. According to Morgan Stanley estimates, by 2027 India will emerge to be the third largest economy in the world.

Shri Amit Shah said that the officer trainees are passing out today after imbibing the Constitution of our country and its spirit. They must be able to appreciate that the three types of system are essential in our constitutional system. The first one is the citizenery, which votes once and elects the governance system for five years, second one is the government elected by the citizens for a period of five years and the third one is the selected bureaucracy which serves the country for 30 to 35 years. He said that the citizen has the right to vote once in five years, the people who get elected work for the development of the country for five years, and later have to go back to the public to seek mandate, but the selected officers in the All India Services have the right to serve the country selflessly for 30-35 years. Shri Shah said that the next 25 years are crucial for the country, as they can help us fulfill the dream of a great India envisioned by our freedom fighters. He added that during the next 25 years, this IPS batch is going to be responsible for the internal security of the country, and the cognizance of this responsibility should always reflect on the mind, duty and accountability of these officers. These 25 years are the years of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that when we assess the internal security scenario of the country eight years ago, the terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency inside the Northeast and increasing violence in the left wing extremism areas, were the three major challenges in front of us. Now, after 8 years, the government has succeeded in countering these three challenges to a large extent. He said that after the abrogation of Article 370, there has been a huge reduction in terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that over 8,000 cadets have been brought back to the mainstream by signing a peace deal with many insurgent organizations in the North East and settling the border disputes between the states, a wave of development has begun today and with the establishment of peace a dawn of new era has been witnessed in North East. By filling the security vacuum and cracking down on their top leadership of LWE, the number of  96 districts under Left Wing Extremist zones in 2010 reduced just to 46 in 2021. Shri Shah said that India has showcased a successful example to the world by banning PFI.  Central agencies and the police of all the states of the country have succeeded in banning an organization like PFI by successful operation in a single day. It shows the maturity and power of our democracy

Shri Amit Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the main reasons for the reduction in the incidents of terrorism across the country, are the policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against terrorism, strong framework of counter-terror laws, empowerment of all agencies and strong political will. The global participation of our agencies is also expanding.  The holding of the Interpol General Assembly in India and India’s leadership in the field of terrorism and finance in No Money for Terror conference symbolises the acceptance of our security agencies globally. He said that by establishing Forensic Science University during the past 3 years, India has endeavored to fill the expert human resource and logistical gap in the field of forensic science. The Officer Trainees when they move from Academy to Field, they will be associated with ICJS and the main pillars of Criminal Justice namely e-Courts, e-Prison, e-Forensic, e-Prosecution and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network (CCTN) and facilitate linking the work of policing with ICJS. Shri Shah said that at present NIA is extending in all the states of the country and the expansion of NIA and NCB is a very important step to crack down on criminals linked to international narcotics and terrorism. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra  Modi, National database on crimes like terrorism, narcotics and economic offenses is being developed. NAFIS (National Automated Fingerprint Identification System) has also been launched for making a fingerprint database. Government of India has also established Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center (I4C) and launched schemes to ensure housing and health  for the soldiers and many other schemes to ensure that they spend more time with their families.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that at present the security scenario is changing from Geographical to Thematic, now multi-dimensional policing will have to be accepted instead of single dimensional policing. In place of Geographical Threats like insurgency in Northeast, Left Wing Extremism, Communal Hotspots, now thematic threats like Cyber Crime, Misuse of Data, Misinformation are emerging that need to be dealt  firmly. Earlier there were challenges of terrorism, extremism and day-to-day policing, but now we are faced with multidimensional challenges like Terror Finance, Narco Terror, Fourth Generation Information Warfare, etc. Our police forces have to be equipped to grapple with them. Shri Shah said that a new approach is to be devised by the authorities to counter the challenges and strengthen policing. Our focus should be on the security of the country’s economic centres, protection of human rights of the poor, evidence-based investigation, evidence-based forensic science, and cracking down on terror links of narcotics, cyber and financial fraud.

Shri Amit Shah said that the police force has to be Accessible, Accountable and Approachable. Being accessible means bringing a balance between knowledge, skills and approach. We will have to set an example of accountable policing by imbibing fresh energy and confidence within us and becoming approachable. He added that the police force will have to address the law and order only after understanding the local language, geography and culture. He said that the soul of the constitution is the citizens and their rights and the police force has to interpret all the clauses of the constitution and law keeping this goal in front. Officer Trainees will have to move forward by balancing their professional and personal life. Officers will need to win the trust of the citizens and retain their humanity. Shri Shah said that it is the responsibility of these officers to ensure welfare of the personnel working on the ground in stress situations, improve welfare measures, being sensitive to them, augment police capacity building and ensure that their approach matches the global standards.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that he would like to again emphasise on the Police Technology Mission and on the basis of the three mantras of Awareness, Preparedness and Enforcement, the technology mission is going to progress ahead. He appealed to all the trainee officers to be a part of this mission and strengthen it further. He added that as the head of a police force, it is very important that the officers do not succumb to pressure, should take precautions, stay away from fame and at the same time understand the rights and sensibilities of the person sitting at the lowest level. Shri Shah said that all the officers are not only going out as IPS Officers, but are also taking the responsibility of laying the foundation for the centenary year of independence of our country in the coming 25 years. He said that it is also the responsibility of the officer trainees to lead the journey from 75 years to 100 years  on the ‘Kartavya Path’ of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ from the perspective of the internal security. Together, we will ensure our maximum contribution in the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the creation of a great India and will always remain devoted to the unity and integrity of the country.

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush reiterated how India has taken the lead in the field of Traditional Medicine in the world and emphasized on the need for bolstering evidence based scientific research in Ayush sector. Minister was participating as Chief Guest in the event organized on the occasion of Unani Day 2023 and formal inauguration of International Conference held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi today.

The event was also attended by Shri Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of Law and Justice, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Union Minister of State for Ayush, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Shri Pramod Kumar Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Dr. M. A. Qasmi, Joint Advisor (Unani), Ministry of Ayush, Prof. Asim Ali Khan, Director General, CCRUM and other officials from Ministry of Ayush.

On this occasion Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ayush, said, “Under the visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi India has taken the initiative of establishing WHO GCTM. This is the indication that we are taking leadership role in Traditional Medicine in the world. We need to strengthen our research capabilities and academic facilities and work towards bolstering evidence-based research.”

He added that the vision of Prime Minister to build a robust healthcare system for the holistic patient care system remains solid as the Union Budget has considerably hiked the budget for the Ministry of Ayush by 20%. He also mentioned that Unani system of medicine has got enormous support and it has grown since year 2014. Recently, the largest institute in Unani medicine, National Institute of Unani Medicine in Ghaziabad was inaugurated by our PM.

Addressing the gathering Union Minister of Law & Justice, Shri Kiren Rijiju said, “Unani system of medicine is India’s rich traditional system of medicine. We witnessed how Ayush based remedies provided relieve during COVID-19 pandemic. Our rich traditional medicinal practices can offer us sustainable healthcare solutions which will contribute towards the enrichment of human lives in the country.”

Minister of state for Ayush Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai paid tributes to revered freedom fighter Hakim Ajmal Khan. He said that Unani Medicine provides detailed guidelines for healthy food habits to maintain health and prevent diseases.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush talked about how important role NABH QCI quality certification could play in gaining more acceptances for Ayush systems. He mentioned that Ministry of Ayush endeavor is to get entry level NABH certification for 12,500 Ayush Wellness Centers by end of this 2023.

On this occasion various publications of Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), international conference souvenir, online journal was released. Also, NABH certificate was given to two CCRUM institutes. A mobile app on common remedies in Unani Medicine developed by CCRUM was also launched today.

The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine is also organising two days International Conference on Unani Medicine in hybrid mode. About 1300 delegates, resource persons, academicians, researchers and industry representatives are participating in the conference.

“Government of India is improving the healthcare and medical education sectors through a holistic approach that not only envisages creating more quality healthcare infrastructure but also trained manpower to efficiently run institutions. Health is today being linked with development because only a health society can become a developed society”. This was stated by Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare during his address to the plenary session of the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit in the presence of Shri Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh and Shri Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh, Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, here today.

The purpose of the session was to discuss the progress and way forward on priorities in the healthcare and medical education sector. In this interactive session, the Uttar Pradesh govt also provided information on new medical facilities to the investors and highlighted opportunities available in medical colleges, para medical colleges and diagnostic facilities in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stated that “Uttar Pradesh is the land of Sushrut and Charaka. Under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi at the centre and Shri Yogi Adityanath in the state, UP is a land of opportunities”.

Encouraging investors and businesses to encash on the opportunities available in the healthcare and medical education sectors in the state, Dr Mandaviya stated that “the govt has created a conducive ecosystem for businesses to grow and has brought in long-term policies to encourage investors in the healthcare sector”. He emphasized that because of the policies of the government, there are over 100 unicorns in the country today.

Dr Mandaviya also highlighted that govt schemes like the Ayushman Bharat initiative has empowered and enabled even the poorest of the poor to benefit from quality treatment, even in private medical institutions.

The Union Health Minister also stated that the country is today 65% dependent on import of medical devices and urged entrepreneurs to reduce this high dependency. Reminding the audience of India successfully reducing the dependency of APIs for critical medicines in recent years, he also encouraged them to innovate in producing medical devices indigenously.

Shri Brajesh Pathak highlighted that investment proposals to the tune of Rs. 54,000 cr has been received in the healthcare sector and proposals of Rs. 17,000 cr has been received in medical education sector.

Shri Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh noted that the country is moving towards ‘atmanirbharta’ in the healthcare sector. He urged investors to also invest in the rural areas which are witnessing rapid development.

Shri Partha Sarathi Sen Sharma, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary, Medical Education, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Sangeeta Singh, CEO – State Health Agency, ABPMJAY and senior officials of the Union Govt and State Govt were present in the meeting.