Today the BJP is the only political party in the country which has an ideology : Jagat Prakash Nadda

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Salient points of address of Hon’ble BJP President Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda after listening to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s highly popular programme “Mann Ki Baat” in Ernakulam at booth No. 65 in Kerala

The Bharatiya Janata Party National President Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda ji today addressed the party leaders and workers at Kottayam in Kerala after listening to the 93rd episode of the highly popular Mann Ki Baat programme of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji where he paid rich tributes to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji on his birth anniversary.

Key points of the speech:

  • First it was Jan Sangh and now the Bharatiya Janata Party has moved ahead following the ideology and principles of Hon’ble Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji. He appealed to all the BJP workers to follow the path shown by Honourable Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has followed the basic principles and ideology of Hon’ble Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji to tread the path of Antyodaya and Sabka -Saath Sabka Vikas to make India world’s leading economies today.
  • It is only possible in the Bharatiya Janata Party that right from the BJP National President to State unit president, district unit president, mandal unit president, panchayat president and booth president — all can sit together on one platform. Today the BJP is the only political party in the country which has an ideology and which is strongly based on its cadre.
  • Today we listened to the 93rd episode of the highly popular Mann Ki Baat programme of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji which he started on October 3, 2014. The popularity of this unique programme has been ever growing and today crores of citizens listen to it. The BJP leaders and workers also assemble at a pre designated spot to collectively listen to the Mann Ki Baat programme.
  • As the executive head of the country our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has always raised important issues and highlighted aspects of our society during each episode of Mann Ki Baat in the last eight years. The most important thing about the Mann Ki Baat programme is that our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has till date not talked about any political programme or raised any political issue. Shri Modi has talked about various pertinent and important issues related to our society, culture and traditions, our rich heritage, social harmony and national integration, environment, art and literature, our festivals and events, sports. He has always tried to bring in the public domain and highlight achievements of individuals and groups, showed citizens the right path and boosted their morale.
  • In his today’s Mann Ki Baat address, our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji talked about withdrawal symptoms patient Aanvi, and highlighted how the practice of Yoga has led to better health and wellness. He also talked about the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the importance of technology in development, water conservation, environment, cleanliness and the important role of citizens in making them successful.
  • Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji gave inspirational talk to change the thought process of citizens and stated that the government and political leaders can just give directions, it is the citizens who play the most important role in making any mission or programme successful.
  • The Hon’ble Prime Minister also talked about how ordinary citizens can play a very crucial role in development and progress of the society. He also talked about the growth of India in the economic sphere and sports, besides referring to the important role of our youth in the development of the startup environment in the country, women empowerment, empowerment of women and weaker sections of our society through education, and various aspects of our cultural and social development.
  • All the Bharatiya Janata Party presidents at the district, mandal, panchayat and booth levels collectively listen to the Mann Ki Baat programme of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi which is followed meetings and discussions on how to take the message of our Hon’ble Prime Minister to the larger sections of our society. This is a healthy trend which our party leaders and workers have adopted, which will continue and help our party grow and make us more socially aware.
  • Today is the birth anniversary of the great philosopher and thinker Honourable Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji and I on behalf of all the BJP workers and leaders pay my rich tributes and respect to our great leader. The Bharatiya Janata Party is moving ahead on the path shown by Honourable Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji. It was Honourable Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji who laid the rich foundation stone of ideology and principles first in the Jansangh and later in the Bharatiya Janata Party.
  • At the core of the philosophy and ideology of Hon’ble Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji was humanity through which he led the party and the nation. The Bharatiya Janata Party is the only political party today which runs on ideology and principles, and one of the main sources of this ideology and philosophy is Hon’ble Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji. By keeping the welfare of humanity in the core of his ideology, Honourable Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji always favoured economic growth and progress that enabled holistic development of the society and the poorest of the poor.
  • Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has based all his economic and social development schemes and programmes on the ideology and principles of Hon’ble Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji and successfully taken forward our ideology of Antyodaya (welfare of the poorest of the poor) and “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”.
  • Through the economic activities and programmes the Bharatiya Janata Party government under the leadership and guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has done the exemplary work of uplifting the poor and weaker sections of our society. Today on the birth anniversary of Hon’ble Shri Deendayal Upadhyay ji we all take pledge to move ahead on the path shown by our ideologue and follow his philosophy and principles.

PM’s address in the 93rd Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’

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My dear countrymen, Namaskar!

The topic that grabbed our attention in the last few days is the Cheetah. There have been a lot of messages to talk about cheetahs. Be it Arun Kumar Gupta of Uttar Pradesh or N. Ramachandran Raghuram ji of Telangana, be it Rajan ji of Gujarat or Subrata ji of Delhi, people from all corners of the country have expressed happiness over the return of cheetahs to India. 130 crore Indians are happy, full of pride; this is India’s love for nature. A common question posed by people about this is “Modi ji, when will we get an opportunity to see the cheetahs?”

Friends, a task force have been formed. This task force will monitor the cheetahs and see how much they have been able to adapt to the environment here. On this basis a decision will be taken after a few months and then you will be able to see the cheetahs. But till then I am assigning some work to all of you. For this, a competition will be organized on the MyGov platform, in which I urge people to share certain things. What should be the name of the campaign that we are running on cheetahs? Can we even think of naming all these cheetahs…. by what name should each of them be called? By the way, if this naming is of traditional nature, then it will be very nice since, anything related to our society and culture, tradition and heritage, draws us easily. Not only that, you should also share how humans should behave with animals! Even in our fundamental duties, emphasis has been laid on Respect for Animals. I appeal to all of you to participate in this competition. Who knows…you may be the first to get anopportunity to see a cheetah as a reward!

My dear countrymen, today the 25th of September is celebrated as the birthday of Deendayal Upadhyay ji, the brilliant humanist, thinker and great son of the country. The more the youth of any country take pride in their identity and honour, the more their original ideas and philosophies attract them. The biggest feature of Deendayal ji’s thoughts is that in his lifetime, he had seen the great upheavals of the world. He had become a witness to the struggles of ideologies. That is why, he put forward an idea of ​​’Ekatma Manavdarshan’ and ‘Antyodaya’ before the country which was completely Indian. Deendayal ji’s ‘Ekatma Manavdarshan’ is such an idea, which in the realm of ideology gives freedom from conflict and prejudice. He again put forth to the world, the Indian philosophy which considers human beings equal. It has been said in our scriptures – ‘Atmavat Sarvabhuteshu’, that is, we should treat living beings akin to us and similarlytreatthem such. Deendayal ji taught us how Indian philosophy can guide the world even in the modern, social and political perspective. In a way, he awakened our intellectual consciousness by freeing us from the inferiority complex that prevailed in the country after independence. He also used to say – ‘Our freedom can be meaningful only when it expresses our culture and identity’. On the basis of this idea, he had created a vision for the development of the country. Deendayal Upadhyay ji used to say that the measure of the progress of the country is the person at the loweststep. In the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the more we know Deendayal ji, the more we learn from him, the more we will get inspiration to take the country forward.

My dear countrymen, three days later, that is, on the 28th of September, is a special day of Amrit Mahotsav. On this day we will celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh ji, the brave son of Mother India. Just before the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh, an important decision has been taken as a tribute to him. It has been decided that the Chandigarh airport will now be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. It had been in the waiting for a long time. I congratulate the people of Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana and of the entire country for this decision.
Friends, let us take inspiration from our freedom fighters, following their ideals and build the India of their dreams… this is our tribute to them. The memorials of martyrs, the names of places and institutions named after them inspire us with a sense of duty. Just a few days ago, the country has made a similar effort by setting up the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Kartavya Path and now the name of Chandigarh Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh is another step in that direction. I wish, the way in which we are celebrating special occasions related to freedom fighters during the Amrit Mahotsav, in the same way every youth must try something new on the 28th of September.
By the way, my dear countrymen, all of you have another reason to celebrate the 28th of September. Do you know what it is? I will say only two words and I know your enthusiasm will increase fourfold.
These two words are – Surgical Strike!

Hasn’t the Josh risen!! Let us celebrate the campaign of the ongoing Amrit Mahotsav in our country with full enthusiasm, sharing our happiness with everyone.

My dear countrymen, it is said – no obstacle can stand in the way of a person who has been forged by the struggles of life. In our everyday life, we also see some friends who are coping with some physical challenge or the other. There are many people who are either unable to hear, or are unable to express themselves through speech. The biggest support for such friends is Sign Language. But a big problem in India for years was that there were no clear gestures, no standards for Sign Language. To overcome these difficulties, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center was established in the year 2015. I am happy that this institution has thus far prepared a dictionary comprising ten thousand words and expressions. Two days ago i.e. on the 23rd of September, on the Sign Language Day, many school courses have also been launched in Sign Language. A lot of emphasis has also been given in the National Education Policy to maintain a fixed standard for Sign Language. It is being further disseminated, even by making videos of the dictionary of Sign Language. On YouTube, many people, many institutions, have started their channels in Indian Sign Language, that is, the campaign that started in the country about Sign Language 7-8 years ago, is benefitting millions of my specially-abled brothers and sisters now. Pooja ji, who hails from Haryana, is very happy with the Indian Sign Language. Earlier she was not able to communicate with her son, but after going through Sign Language training in 2018, the lives of both mother and son have become easier. Pooja ji’s son also learned Sign Language and in his school he won a prize in storytelling as well. Similarly, Tinkaji has a six-year-old daughter who cannot hear. Tinkaji had made her daughter undergo a Sign Language course but she herself did not know Sign Language, and hence she could not communicate with her daughter. Now Tinkaji has also undergone sign language training and thus both mother and daughter now converse a lot among themselves. Manju ji of Kerala has also benefited a lot from these efforts. Manju jiis not able to hear since birth. Not only that, this has been the situation in the lives of her parents as well. In such a situation, sign language has become a means of communication for the whole family. Now Manju ji herself has decided to become a Sign Language teacher.

Friends, I am also discussing about this in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ so that the awareness about Indian Sign Language increases. With this, we will be able to help our specially-abled friends more and more. Brothers and sisters, a few days ago, I got a copy of the Hemkosh too written in Braille. Hemkosh is one of the oldest dictionaries of Assamese language. It was prepared in the 19th century. It was edited by eminent linguist Hemchandra Barua ji. The Braille Edition of Hemkosh is around 10,000 pages long and is going to be published in more than 15 volumes. In this, more than 1 lakh words have to be translated. I greatly appreciate this sensitive effort. Every such effort goes a long way in increasing the skill and capability of our specially-abled friends. Today India is also raising the flag of success in Para Sports. We have all been witness to this in many tournaments. Today there are many people who are engaged in promoting the fitness culture among the specially-abled at the grassroots level. This imparts a lot of strength to the self-confidence of the specially-abled.

My dear countrymen, a few days ago, I just met a girl from Surat, Anvi. My meeting with Anvi and Anvi’s yoga has been so memorable that I want to tell all the listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ about it. Friends, Anvi is afflicted with Down’s Syndrome since birth and she has also been battling with serious heart disease since childhood. She also had to undergo open heart surgery when she was only three months old. Despite all these difficulties, neither Anvi, nor her parents ever gave up. Anvi’s parents gathered all the information about Down’s syndrome and then decided on the way to reduce Anvi’s dependence on others. They started teaching Anvi how to lift a glass of water, how to tie shoe laces, how to button clothes; small things such as those. What the appropriate place of things is, what the good habits are, they tried to teach Anvi all this with a lot of patience. The way daughter Anvi showed her will to learn, displayed her talent, her parents also got a lot of encouragement. They inspired Anvi to learn yoga. The problem was so serious, that Anvi could not even stand on her own two feet…In such a situation, her parents inspired Anvi to learn yoga. When she went to the Yoga coach for the first time, the coach too was in a dilemma whether this innocent girl would be able to do yoga! But even the coach probably had no idea of ​​what stuff Anvi was made of. She started practicing yoga with her mother and now she has become an expert in yoga. Today Anvi participates in competitions across the country and wins medals. Yoga gave a new life to Anvi. Anvi assimilated yoga and imbibed life. Anvi’s parents told me that yoga has brought amazing changes in Anvi’s life… Now her self-confidence has become remarkable. Yoga has also improved Anvi’s physical health and the need for medicines is also lessening. I would like that the listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ in the country and abroad do a scientific study of the benefits of yoga to Anvi. I think Anvi is a good case study, for those who want to test the power of yoga. Such scientists should come forward with studies based on Anvi’s success and introduce the world to the power of yoga. Any such research could be of great help to children afflicted with Down’s syndrome around the world. Now, the world has accepted that yoga is very effective for physical and mental wellness. Especially in problems related to diabetes and blood pressure, yoga helps a lot. In view of such power of yoga, the United Nations had decided to celebrate the International Yoga Day on the 21st of June. Now, United Nations has recognized and honored another effort of India. This is an effort, started in the year 2017 – the “India Hypertension Control Initiative”. Under this, lakhs of people suffering from blood pressure problems are being treated in government wellness centers. The way this initiative has attracted the attention of international organizations is unprecedented. It is a matter of encouragement for all of us that out of those who have been treated, about half of them are having their blood pressure under control. I congratulate all the people working for this initiative, who made it a success with their untiring hard work.

Friends, the evolutionary journey of human life has been continuously connected with water – be it seas, rivers or ponds. India is also fortunate that due to the long coastline of more than seven and a half thousand kilometers (7500 km), our bond with the sea has remained unbroken. This coastal border passes through many states and islands. India’s culture, full of different communities and diversity can be seen flourishing here. Not only that, the cuisine of these coastal areas attracts a lot of people. But along with these interesting things, there is also a sad side. These coastal areas of ours are facing many environmental challenges. Climate Change remains a major threat to Marine Eco-Systems.On the other hand, the litter spread on our beaches is disturbing. It becomes our responsibility to make serious and continuous efforts for these challenges. Here I would like to talk about an effort of Coastal Cleaning in the coastal areas of the country ‘Swachh Sagar – Surakshit Sagar’. This campaign, which started on the 5th of July culminated on the 17thof September, the day of Vishwakarma Jayanti. This day was also Coastal Clean Up Day. This campaign which started in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav lasted for 75 days. Public participation in this was a sight to behold. During this effort, many cleanliness related programs were seen for the entire two and a half months. A long human chain was made in Goa. During the Ganpati immersion in Kakinada, people were told about the harm caused by plastic. About 5000 young friends from the NSS collected more than 30 tonnes of plastic. Within three days in Odisha, more than 20 thousand school students took a pledge that they would inspire their family and people along with them as well, for the Swachh Sagar – Surakshit Sagar initiative. I would like to congratulate all the people who took part in this campaign.

When I interact with Elected Officials, especially the mayors of cities and sarpanches of villages, I urge them to include Local Communities and Local Organizations in efforts like cleanliness as well as adopt innovative methods.

There is a team in Bangalore – Youth for Parivartan. For the last eight years, this team has been working on cleanliness and other community activities. Their motto is very clear – ‘Stop Complaining, Start Acting’. This team has so far beautified more than 370 places across the city. The campaign of Youth for Parivartan has connected 100 to 150 (150) citizens at every place. Every Sunday this program starts in the morning and continues till noon. In this task, not only is the garbage lifted, the work of painting the walls and making artistic sketches is also done. At many places, you can also see sketches of famous people and inspirational quotes by them. Following upon the efforts of Youth For Parivartan of Bangalore, I would also like to tell you about the ‘Kabaad se Jugaad’ campaign of Meerut. This campaign is related to the protection of the environment as well as the beautification of the city. The special thing about this campaign is that, in this, waste such as iron scrap, plastic waste, old tires and drums are used. This campaign is also an example of how to beautify public places at a low cost. I appreciate all the people involved in this campaign from the core of my heart.

My dear countrymen, at this time there is a festive spirit all around the country. Tomorrow is the first day of Navaratri. In this, we will worship the first avatar of Goddess ‘Maa Shailputri’. From here, there will be nine days of self discipline, restraint and fasting, then there will also be the festival of Vijayadashami. That is, if we look at it in a way, we will find that along with faith and spirituality, how a profound message is hidden in our festivals. The attainment of ‘Siddhi’ through discipline and restraint, and then the festival of victory, that’s the way to achieve any goal in life. After Dussehra, the festival of Dhanteras and Diwaliwill follow.

Friends, during the past years, a new resolution of the country has also been associated with our festivals. You all know, this is the resolution of ‘Vocal for Local’. We now include our local artisans, craftsmen and traders in the joy of festivals. On the occasion of Bapu’s birth anniversary on the 2nd of October, we have to take a pledge to intensify this campaign. Khadi, handloom, handicrafts…along with all these products, you must buy local goods. After all, the true joy of this festival is also when everyone becomes a part of it. Therefore, people associated with the work of local products also have to be supported by us. A good way is to include these type of products in whatever gifts we give during the festival.

At this time, this campaign is also special because during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are also onwards with the goal of a self-reliant India. Which, in the real sense, will be a true tribute to the freedom fighters. That’s why I request you to break all the records this time to buy these products of Khadi, handloom or handicrafts. We have seen that polythene bags are also being used a lot for packing and packaging during festivals. The harmful litter of polythene on the festivals observing cleanliness is also against the spirit of our festivals. Therefore, we should use only locally made non-plastic bags. The trend of jute, cotton, banana fibre, many such traditional bags is on the rise once again. It is our duty to promote them on the occasion of festivals, and take care of our health and environment along with cleanliness.

My dear countrymen, it is said in our scriptures –  ‘Parhit Saris Dharam Nahi Bhai’

That is, there is no other Dharma like doing good to others, serving others, doing charity. Recently, in the country, another glimpse of this spirit of social service was seen. You must have also seen that people are coming forward and are adopting one TB patient or the other, taking the lead in ensuring a nutritious diet. Actually, it is a part of the TB Free India campaign, whose basis is public participation; a sense of duty. It is possible to cure TB with the right nutrition, with the right medicines at the right time. I believe that with this power of public participation, India will definitely be free from TB by the year 2025.

Friends, I have also come to know such an example from the Union Territories of Dadra-Nagar Haveli and Daman-Diu, which touches the heart. Jinu Rawatiya ji, who lives in a tribal area here, has written that under the ongoing village adoption program, students of the medical college have adopted 50 villages. It also includes the village of Jinu Ji. These medical students make the people of the village aware to avoid illness, also help in the recuperation, and also impart information about the schemes of the government. This spirit of philanthropy has brought new joy in the lives of the people living in the villages. I congratulate all the students of the medical college for this endeavor.

Friends,a variety of  new topics are being discussed in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Many times, through this program, we get an opportunity to delve into the depth of some old subjects. Last month in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, I discussed about coarse cereals, and celebrating the year 2023 as ‘International Millet Year’. People are very curious about this topic. I have received many such letters in which people have written how they have made millets a part of their daily diet. Some people have also referred to traditional dishes made from millets. These are signs of a big change. Seeing this enthusiasm of people, I think that we should prepare an e-book together, in which people can share their experiences and dishes made from millets, so that, before the start of the International Millet Year, we will have a publicencyclopediabased on millets which can be published on the MyGov portal.

Friends, that’s all this time in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, but before I leave, I want to tell you about the National Games as well. National Games are being organized in Gujarat from the 29th of September. This is a very special occasion, because the National Games are being organized after many years. The previous events had to be canceled due to the Covid pandemic. My very best wishes to every player who takes part in this sports meet. To raise the enthusiasm of the players on this day, I will be in their midst. All of you must also follow the National Games and encourage our players. I now take leave of you. We will meet again next month with new topics in ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

Dhanyavaad, Namaskar!

Union Agriculture Minister lays the foundation stone of NSC’s organic seed farm in Morena

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The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, today laid the foundation stone of an organic seed farm of the National Seed Corporation (NSC) at Morena. Upon its completion, new organic seeds of oilseeds will be available to the farmers of Madhya Pradesh. With this farm, farmers will be introduced to modern techniques, they will get high yielding seeds and their socio-economic status will improve. On this occasion, Shri Tomar announced that the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has has taken a big decision to recommend de-notification of 207 hectares land in the National Wildlife Sanctuary of Chambal. Due to this sanctuary area being a revenue land, the availability of sand will be at the local level, which will also increase employment.

Shri Tomar said that the Central Government has decided to establish a farm in Morena (MP) for the production of organic seeds by improving the land in the rugged area. For this, the M.P. Government has allotted 885.34 hectares of land in 4 villages (Gadora, Jakhauna, Rithora Khurd & Gorakha) of Morena to the Union Ministry of Agriculture. This land is a rugged area of ​​Chambal and farming was not possible due to ravines in the area. As NSC is committed to provide quality seeds to the farmers and is producing 15 lakh quintals of quality certified seeds and making them available to the farmers, hence the Agriculture Ministry has entrusted the responsibility of developing a farm in Morena to the NSC for the production of organic seeds. The production of seeds in the Ravines of Morena will improve the land and the land will turn fertile. Inspired by land reforms, local farmers will be able to improve the land in their fields and produce seeds with the latest scientific method and get high economic benefits from low cost of farming. Farmers will get to learn the latest techniques of seed production here. Local and state farmers will be taught the latest seed production techniques through training by NSC experts. Local workers of Morena will get employment through land reforms and seed production in the farm. Farmers will get good production by getting latest and genetically and physically pure organic oilseed seeds from Morena Farm, which will not only improve the socio-economic status of the farmers of the state, but will also provide nutritional security to the farmers.

Shri Tomar said that India’s stature has improved worldwide due to all-round work in the agriculture sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, our country is working in the spirit of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. PM’s slogan is “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan”, Morena’s seed farm will make full use of science and research for the progress of farmers. Seed is the basis and main input of agriculture. Shri Tomar said that the availability of good seeds for agriculture benefits the agri-eco-system and the economy as a whole, apart from increasing production & productivity and resulting in higher income for the farmers. Along with ensuring seed availability to  the states, the central government helps in the distribution of seeds through various schemes. The Union Agriculture Ministry has implemented Seeds and Planting Material sub-mission from 2014-15 to increase quality seed production and multiplication of crops, so that farmers get superior seeds in adequate quantity. Seed quality control is being strengthened by the state and public sector seed organizations through various seed related activities. In the last 8 years, 304 varieties have been notified for commercial cultivation.

De-notification in part of Chambal National Wildlife Sanctuary will have many benefits:

Due to the de-notification with the efforts of Union Minister and local MP Shri Tomar, this area will be outside the sanctuary area, due to which the sand from here will be available at cheaper prices for construction/development works at the local level and it will also result in new employment opportunities. Shri Tomar had urged the Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Shri Bhupendra Yadav, regarding the de-notification. The proposal regarding this was discussed in the 69th meeting of the Standing Committee of National Wildlife Board under the chairmanship of Minister Shri Yadav and the committee has decided to recommend de-notifying 207.05 hectare area of the sanctuary,  as follows- Barodia Bindi (9.49 ha in Sabalgarh range of Distt. Sheopur), 118.66 ha in Barwasin (Range-Dewari, District Morena). and 78.90 ha in Rajghat (Piprai) (Range- Dewari, Jaura, District-Morena). With this de-notification, illegal sand mining will be curbed. More than 4 lakh population directly depends on the various products of the protected area. There will be an increase in employment due to sand mining at the local level.

On the occasion of foundation stone laying ceremony of the seed farm, Madhya Pradesh Horticulture and Food Processing Minister Shri Bharat Singh Kushwaha and Shri Andal Singh Kansana, Shri Raghuraj Kansana, Shri Girraj Dandotia, Shri Subedar Singh Sikarwar along with other public representatives and district officials and farmers and workers were present. Initially, Shri Ashwini Kumar, MD of NSC and Joint Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, delivered the welcomed address. On the occasion, seeds were distributed to the farmers by Shri Tomar.

PM pays homage to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on his Jayanti

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on his Jayanti.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;

“I pay homage to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Jayanti. His emphasis on Antyodaya and serving the poor keeps inspiring us. He is also widely remembered as an exceptional thinker and intellectual.”

Union Home Minister visited the Fatehpur BOP on the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar

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Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah visited the Fatehpur BOP on the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar and observed Pillar No. 151 and 152 and also conducted review of various activities of the border area with Sashastra Seema Bal(SSB). Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the BOP buildings of Fatehpur, Pektola, Beria, Amgachi and Raniganj at Fatehpur BOP and interacted and had refreshments with personnel there. Shri Shah also visited and offered his prayers at Budhi Kali Mata Temple.

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On the occasion of the inauguration of new buildings of five border outposts in different areas of Bihar, the Union Home Minister said that the security of the country’s borders is ensured by the soldiers of the country’s security forces even in difficult situations. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided many facilities for the security forces of the country, some of which are being inaugurated today. Shri Shah said that the security forces of the country play an important role in maintaining law and order, relief and rescue operations during disasters and conducting  fair elections.

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Shri Amit Shah said that the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working in a time bound and phased manner to provide residential facilities for security forces personnel deployed along the border, for their families in the last eight years. Under this national program, five buildings are being inaugurated today at a cost of Rs 25 crore. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government believes that the personnel of our security forces spend the golden years of their lives in difficult conditions on the borders for the security of the country, it is the duty of the Government of India to take care of their wellbeing and convenience. Shri Shah said that under this, the residence of Jawans, NCO barracks, outpost in-charge residence, mess, armoury, storage and solar power plant of about 10 kilowatt capacity are being inaugurated today. Along with this, buildings have been constructed on 5 acres of land in Pekatola at a cost of Rs 7.50 crore, in Beriya at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore and in Araria and Raniganj at a cost of about Rs 3.5 crore.

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The Union Home Minister said that the Sashastra Seema Bal has a history and since the policy of one nation and one border security force was adopted by the Government of India from the time of former Prime Minister Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, since then important responsibility of the security of the open borders of Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan has been given to the Sashastra Seema Bal and this force has fulfilled its responsibility very well. He said that the open borders need to be guarded  more tactfully and carefully and SSB has been successful in preventing any kind of illegal activity by doing this work efficiently. He said that in such a situation, our communication with the villages, network of information and our behaviour with villagers through service is important in securing the borders. That is why the slogan of Service, Security and Brotherhood has been given to the Sashastra Seema Bal with great care.

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Shri Amit Shah said that when Left Wing Extremism was at its peak in Bihar and Jharkhand, the SSB Jawans have made a huge contribution in the fight against Left Wing Extremism, which the country can never forget. SSB Jawans fought a tough battle against Naxalism and  rooted it out in the Eastern region of the country by making supreme sacrifices and as a result of this, today Naxalism in Bihar and Jharkhand is almost on the verge of ending. He said that when the border is open, the use of technology becomes very important. Be it CCTVs or drones, the security of borders should be ensured by adopting a variety of technologies. He said that all the forces should adopt technology by adopting each other’s good practices as technology can become a great medium to secure borders.

The Union Home Minister said that when the Union Home Ministry started the tree plantation drive in 2019, SSB was the first among the security forces to achieve their target. He said that recently, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the country celebrated Amrit Mahotsav, launched Har Ghar Jhanda campaign and kept an aim to further ignite the spirit of patriotism, especially in the villages of the border areas. Under this, SSB personnel distributed 10 lakh tricolours door-to-door and also did the work of hoisting them. Shri Shah said that all the SSB Jawans are protecting such a huge international border connecting two nations with devotion and patriotism. He said that the area under SSB is close to the Siliguri Corridor which is a very sensitive area for our country. We have West Bengal, Sikkim and Assam on one side and on the other side Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. This whole border area is very sensitive and especially in the the sensitive corridor like Siliguri you have to act more cautiously while performing your duties.

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Shri Amit Shah said that after the formation of the government under leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, in 2014, no stone has been left unturned in enhancing the infrastructure on the border areas. Between 2008 and 2014, around Rs 23,700 crore was spent. But after the formation of Government under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the amount of Rs. 23,700 crore has been increased to  Rs 44,600 crore. Earlier the expenditure which was Rs 4,000 crore per year is now Rs 6,000 crore per year. The construction of roads has been increased by almost three and a half times and this reflects the priority of the Government of India to protect the borders. The security of the borders of the country cannot be ensured without the tireless work and sacrifice of the security forces.

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Sustainable biofuels play key role to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions : Dr Jitendra Singh

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Dr Jitendra Singh, who is leading a high-level Joint Indian Ministerial Delegation of Ministry of Power, New & Renewable Energy and Ministry of Science & Technology at the “Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022” at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States said that sustainable biofuels play key role to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector. He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently encouraging and monitoring Net Zero endeavours.

Addressing the Main Stage Summit Event on “International Collaboration to Accelerate the Clean Energy Transition” at Pittsburgh, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India, through the Department of Biotechnology, has been supporting R&D innovations in Advanced Biofuels and Waste to Energy technologies. He also informed the Energy Ministers from 30 countries taking part in the conference that India has established 5 Bioenergy Centers with an interdisciplinary team working on advance sustainable biofuels using modern biotechnology tools.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, in April this year, when India hosted the MI Annual Gathering at New Delhi, the Mission Integrated Biorefineries was launched by Co-leads India and Netherlands, uniting key members, international organizations, the corporate sector, academic institutions, and civil society to accelerate innovation for renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials for a low-carbon future.

At another side event on “India Clean Energy Showcase” at Pittsburgh, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India being one of the founding members of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) will be hosting CEM-14 in 2023 in Bengaluru along with its Presidency of G-20 in the same year. He said, in fact, this will mean hosting the CEM meeting during the first year in the new third phase (July 2022 to June 2026) to push major acceleration in clean energy deployment, consistent with achieving the clean energy goals of its members and putting the world on track to achieve clean, affordable, reliable energy for all.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, India is among the few countries in the world to design a Cooling Action Plan (CAP) with a long-term vision (spanning a 20-year period from 2017-18 to 2037-38) that addresses cooling requirements across sectors. He said, it identifies possible actions to reduce cooling demand arising from residential and commercial buildings, cold chains, etc., covering aspects of building design and technological innovations that do not compromise on energy efficiency.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, India stands at the forefront of addressing the global challenge of climate change and has committed to an ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of reducing emission intensity by 33-35% in 2030 against the levels of year 2005. He added that India has remained steadfast in its transition towards clean energy achieving the fastest pace of renewable capacity addition amongst all major economies and ambitious transition goals articulated by Prime Minister Modi, in India’s Panchamrit declaration at COP26.

The Minister also reiterated that India is also implementing the largest Renewable Energy (RE) expansion program in the world envisaging a 5-fold increase in the overall RE capacity in the country from 32 GW in 2014 to 175 GW by 2022, and further to 500 GW of renewable power in the country by 2030.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, as seen in the climate negotiations in recent times both the governments and non-governmental entities are making commitments to help countries implement their net-zero pledges. He, however, cautioned that despite these commitments, the global average temperature in 2100 is expected to rise to around 2.1°C above pre-industrial levels. The Minister pointed out that this falls short of the goals stipulated in the Paris Agreement, which calls for limiting the global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial-era levels by the end of the century. He added that in the light of this, a pivotal move to bend the global emissions curve becomes imperative and immediate climate action is especially critical for a post-pandemic future through renewable energy transition, which is vital to building a resilient and secure future energy system.

Dr Jitendra Singh concluded by saying that the CEM setup has been able to provide a unique opportunity for India to showcase its contribution to clean energy development both within and outside the country. He further added that India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and has witnessed rapid increase in the energy consumption mainly due to rapid economic growth, access to affordable energy, increased industrialization, building infrastructure and other end uses of energy.

G. Kishan Reddy launches Virtual Conference ‘SymphoNE’ to boost Tourism Sector in NE

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SymphoNE is the start of a series of dialogues on North Eastern Region’s Development  Conference comprised of a broad range of Policy Thinkers, Stakeholders & Influencers with the aim to boost Tourism Sector in North Eastern Region.

North East India is blessed with amazing food, culture, stunning landscapes, heritage and architecture and ranks among the most beautiful places on the earth.  But, there are grand opportunities that can be filled to boost Tourism Sector in the Region.

With this vision in hand, Minister for DoNER, Tourism & Culture Shri G. Kishan Reddy launched the two-day virtual conference ‘SymphoNE’ today in the presence of Secretary, MDoNER, Shri Lok Ranjan, NEC, Shri Lok Ranjan Senior Officers of the Ministry & 8 States, Senior Officers from Tourism Boards, Important Stakeholders, Tourist Operators And Digital Influencers.

The Virtual Conference ‘SymphoNE’ being organized on 24th & 27th September 2022 by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region on the occasion of World Tourism Day. This two day conference will aim to create a roadmap to showcase the unexplored beauty of North East India & boost the tourism Sector in North Eastern Region. It would ideate, discuss & formulate the ideas & suggestions by Thought Leaders, Policy Thinkers, Social Media Influencers, Travel & Tour Operators And The Senior Officials of Ministry of DoNER and State Departments.

Terming as a ‘Traveller’s Unexplored Paradise’, Minister Shri G. Kishan Reddy Ji said that “North East India is a rare combination of Scenic Beauty, Unique Cultures and abundant in Natural Resources and Government of India under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is committed towards the rapid and accelerated development of North Eastern Region. Shri Reddy believed that SymphoNE will serve as a great platform to deliberate and work together to unleash the tourism potential of North Eastern Region.

Respected Secretary, MDoNER, Shri Lok Ranjan, while addressing the session of ‘SymphoNE’ said that the conference will be a game-changer for real ideas & opportunities to unleash the tourism potential of North Eastern Region. Terming ‘SymphoNE’ as a ‘great beginning’, Shri Ranjan assured all stakeholders that the suggestions & feedbacks by Partners & Stakeholders will be noted & Ministry would work on a mission mode to fulfill all the expectatio

Shri K. Moses Chalai, Secretary, NEC, while addressing ‘SymphoNE’ opined that GoI (full form) is working towards the next level of tourism growth in the North Eastern Region. Tourism has surged in recent years & with technology and digitization, tourism in the region will receive a significant boost.

Brig. R.K Singh (Retd.) MD, NEHHDC said that harnessing the collective spirit of all stakeholders, GoI is making efforts towards creating a tourism friendly climate in the North East. Efforts would be undertaken for the promotion of special tourism expos that showcases the mastery and magnificence of NER’s handicrafts & the master artisans.

Shri PVSLN Murthy, CMD of NEDFi opined that upcoming Startups related to Tourism Sector have transformed the tourism landscape in North Eastern Region.

Today’s session of ‘SymphoNE’ also oversaw the participation of Folk Music Band ‘Summersault’ from Shillong. Band Member Kit Shangpliang underlined the importance of ‘Music’ that would set the context for sustainable growth of Tourism Northeast India.

Group of Bikers-Team Wanderers shared their beautiful experiences of travelling to the North Eastern Region. Team member Mr. Pawan shared his suggestions at the platform.

Today’s session of ‘SymphoNE’ comprised the presence of several eminent personalities like Thought Leaders, Policy Thinkers, State Tourism  Boards, Social Media Influencers etc, Travel & Tour Operators etc. The sessions included Senior Tourism Officials of State Governments and the local Tour operators of the respective states.

SymphoNE aims to develop one-stop solution to eliminate all obstacles that are being faced by the tourists, and the tour operators while carrying out the operations for the visitors while solving logistics & infrastructural facilities, lack of awareness about the locations among the tourist and to spread necessary information among the people, and marketing/promotional activities.

The concluding session of ‘SymphoNE’ will be held on 27th September, 2022 and will be addressed by  MoS, MDoNER, Shri B.L. Verma.

PM inaugurates the National Conference of Environment Ministers of all States in Gujarat

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Conference of Environment Ministers in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat via video conferencing today.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed one and all to Ekta Nagar and the National Conference of Environment Ministers. The Prime Minister highlighted that the conference is being held when India is setting new goals for the next 25 years. Talking about the significance, the Prime Minister said that the holistic development of Ekta Nagar is a prime example of an environmental pilgrimage when it comes to forests, water conservation, tourism and our tribal brothers and sisters.

Giving examples of the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and LiFE movement, the Prime Minister remarked that India is not just taking huge strides in the field of renewable energy, but also guiding other nations of the world. The Prime Minister said, “Today’s new India is moving ahead with new thinking, new approach.” The Prime Minister further went on to add that India is a rapidly developing economy, and it is continuously strengthening its ecology as well. “Our forest cover has increased and wetlands are also expanding rapidly”, he added.

The Prime Minister remarked that today the world is joining India because of its track record of fulfilling its commitments. “Lions, tigers, elephants, one-horned rhinos and leopards have increased in numbers over the years. New excitement has returned from the homecoming of Cheetah in Madhya Pradesh a few days ago”, the Prime Minister added.

Drawing everyone’s attention to the net zero target for the year 2070, the Prime Minister said that the focus of the country is on green growth and green jobs. He stressed the need to maintain equilibrium with nature. He also highlighted the role of the environment ministries of the states in achieving these goals. The Prime Minister said, “I urge all environment ministers to promote a circular economy as much as possible in the states.” Shri Modi supplemented his statement by mentioning that it will significantly strengthen the Solid Waste Management campaign and will free us from the clutches of single use plastic.

Continuing with the role of the environment ministries, the Prime Minister said that this role should not be seen in a restricted manner. He lamented the fact that for a long time the Environment Ministries got shaped more as a regulator. However, the Prime Minister said, “I think that the role of the Environment Ministry is more as a promoter of the environment rather than as a regulator.” He asked the states to own the measures like Vehicle Scrapping policy, and biofuel measures like ethanol blending and strengthen them on the ground. He asked for healthy competition as well as collaboration among the states to promote these measures.

Throwing light on the groundwater issues, the Prime Minister said that the states with abundant water are also facing water shortages nowadays. The Prime Minister remarked that the challenges and measures like chemical-free natural farming, Amrit Sarovar and water security, are not limited to the individual departments and the environment department will also have to consider these as an equally pressing challenge. “It is critical to work with a participative and integrated approach by the environment ministries. When the vision of the environment ministries changes, I am sure, nature will also be benefitted.”

While stressing that this work is not just limited to Information Department or the Education Department, the Prime Minister said that public awareness is another important aspect of protecting the environment. “As you all are well aware that in the National Education Policy that has been implemented in the country, a lot of emphasis has been laid on experienced-based learning”, Shri Modi added. The Prime Minister remarked that this campaign should be led by the Ministry of Environment. This will create awareness about biodiversity among the children and will also plant the seeds of protecting the environment. “Children who live in our coastal areas should also be taught how to protect the marine ecosystem. We have to make our children, and future generations sensitive toward the environment”, the Prime Minister added. The universities and laboratories of our states should give top priority to innovations related to environmental protection, following the mantra of Jai Anusandhan. The Prime Minister also underlined the adoption of technology in protecting the environment. “Study and research on the conditions of forests in the forests are equally important”, Shri Modi added.

Focussing on the alarming rate of forest fires in the western world, the Prime Minister remarked that India’s share in global emissions may be negligible due to wildfire, but we have to stay alert at all times. The Prime Minister emphasised that the forest fire fighting mechanism in every state should be technology driven and robust. Shri Modi also stressed the training of our forest guards, should be given special emphasis when it comes to forest fire fighting.

Pointing out the complications involved in getting environmental clearance, the Prime Minister said that the development of modern infrastructure and efforts to improve the standard of living of the countrymen is hindered. The Prime Minister gave the example of Sardar Sarovar Dam which was initiated in 1961 by Pandit Nehru. He pointed out that it took decades to complete its construction due to the conspiracies carried out in the name of the environment. The Prime Minister also identified the role of urban naxals in hindering the development of India by taking crores of rupees from different global organizations and foundations. The Prime Minister also pointed out the conspiracies of such people due to which the World Bank had refused to give a loan to increase the height of the dam. “It took some time to thwart these conspiracies, but the people of Gujarat came out victorious. The dam was being described as a threat to the environment, and today the same dam has become synonymous with protecting the environment”, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister also urged everyone to stay alert from such groups of urban naxals in their respective states. The Prime Minister reiterated that more than 6000 proposals for environmental clearance and 6500 applications for forest clearance are lying with the states. “Efforts should be made by the states to clear every proper proposal soon. You can guess that due to this pendency, projects worth thousands of crores of rupees will be stuck.”, he added. The Prime Minister also emphasised the need to bring about a change in the work environment so that the pendency goes down and clearance is expedited. The Prime Minister further added that in giving environmental clearance, we also take care of the rules and give priority to the development of the people of that area. “It is a win-win situation for both the economy and ecology”, he said. “It should be our endeavour that by raising the name of the environment unnecessarily, no obstacle should be allowed to be created in the quest of Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. We have to remember that the faster the environment clearance is available, the faster the development will also take place.”

The Prime Minister gave the example of the Pragati Maidan Tunnel in Delhi that was dedicated to the nation a few weeks ago. “Due to this tunnel, the trouble of the people of Delhi getting stuck in the jam has reduced. Pragati Maidan Tunnel will also help in saving more than 55 lakh litres of fuel every year”, he added. This will reduce carbon emissions by about 13 thousand tonnes every year which is equivalent to more than 6 lakh trees, according to experts. “Be it flyovers, roads, expressways, or railway projects, their construction helps in reducing carbon emissions equally. At the time of clearance, we should not ignore this angle” Shri Modi said.

The Prime Minister emphasised the use of the Parivesh Portal, a single-window mode for all types of clearances related to the environment while stressing its transparency and efficacy in reducing the rush for getting approvals. “Where environment clearance used to take more than 600 days 8 years ago, it takes 75 days today”, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the coordination in infrastructure projects has escalated while many projects have gained momentum since the implementation of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is also a great tool for protecting the environment. He also stressed the need for disaster-resilient infrastructure. Shri Modi said that we have to make good use of every emerging sector of the economy while facing the challenges related to climate change. “Both the central and the state government together have to move towards a green industrial economy”, the Prime Minister added.

In concluding his address the Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Environment is not just a regulatory body but also a great medium for economic empowerment of the people and creating new means of employment. “You will find a lot to learn, see and do in Ekta Nagar. Sardar Sarovar Dam, which gives Amrit to crores of people of Gujarat, is present here itself,” he added, “Such a huge statue of Sardar Saheb inspires us to stick to the pledge of unity.”

Pointing out the learning opportunities in Kevadiya, Ekta Nagar, the Prime Minister remarked that solutions to issues like the simultaneous development of ecology and economy, strengthening of the environment and creation of new employment opportunities, bio-diversity being a medium to increase eco-tourism, and how the wealth of the forest goes up with the wealth of our tribal brothers and sisters can be addressed here.

Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel and Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupendra Yadav were those present on the occasion.

Background

Taking forward the spirit of cooperative federalism, Conference is being convened to create further synergy amongst the Central and State Governments in formulating better policies on issues such as Elimination of Plastic Pollution through a multi-pronged approach, State Action Plans to combat Climate Change with a focus on LiFE effectively- Lifestyle for Environment. It will also focus on increasing the forest cover with particular emphasis on restoration of degraded land and wildlife conservation.

The two day Conference being organised on the 23rd and 24th of September will have six thematic sessions with topics focusing on LiFE, Combating Climate Change (Updating State Action Plans on Climate Change for Mitigation of Emissions and Adaptation to Climate Impacts); PARIVESH (Single Window System for Integrated Green Clearances); Forestry Management; Prevention and Control of Pollution; Wildlife Management; Plastics and Waste Management.

BJP National President addresses the Booth Presidents of the Shivagangai Parliamentary Constituency in Tamil Nadu

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Salient points of speech of the BJP National President Shri J.P. Nadda given today while addressing the Booth Presidents of the Shivagangai Parliamentary Constituency in Tamil Nadu

  • The Bharatiya Janata Party is the only political party today which has an ideology and which fulfills its responsibilities to the nation and the society. It is only the BJP which has a service motto and a humane touch.
  • During the Covid pandemic, all other parties were in isolation and their leaders were in self quarantine who were visible on virtual platforms. On the other hand, crores of our BJP workers were serving people as part of “Seva Hi Sangathan” initiative under the leadership and guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.
  • After Covid, the BJP has won a series of assembly elections and local body polls all over the country because of our service and humane approach. We have won the trust and support of the people across the country.
  • We have won 4 MLA seats in Tamil Nadu, but now I urge you to get ready to make the BJP government in Tamil Nadu under the leadership and guidance of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.
  • From Ukraine, our dynamic and decisive Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji evacuated all Indian students safely back home during the war. Our cadres visited their families. I have been told that hundreds of students from Tamil Nadu were also brought back from Ukraine.
  • The Bharatiya Janata Party is a unique party, we are a party with a difference. Though we are a political party, we have a strong social side of it and at its core is ‘seva’, our passion and commitment to serve humanity.
  • BJP is a party with programmes and policies that take care of marginalised, women, youth, farmers, the poor and people belonging to weaker sections of our society.
  • Before our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji formed the Bharatiya Janata Party government, the number of bank accounts in the country was very less, though Indira Gandhi nationalised banks in the 1970s in the name of helping the poor. Today, 45 crore people have bank accounts due to Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Because of this financial inclusion and PM Narendra Modi Ji’s vision, we were able to transfer Rs.30,000 crores to 20 crore women through DBT as part of Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana.
  • To safeguard rights and privileges of backward classes, the Narendra Modi Government gave constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) and OBCs were accorded constitutional safeguards. These two l historic decisions were made by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji.
  • In the past we have seen that in India more people died during pandemics and epidemics due to hunger rather than the disease itself. To ensure that no one goes hungry during the Corona pandemic, our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji ensured that 80 crore poor and needy people are given free rations over the past two and a half years.
  • The Narendra Modi Government has been providing free health insurance coverage to poor and needy people. In Tamil Nadu over 77 lakh families are benefiting from PM Ayushman Bharat scheme.
  • Unlike other parties, our SC and OBC Morcha should work on a wider canvas, enlist every caste in OBCs, SCs and see that every caste is represented in the party’s Morcha teams. This is part of our “Sabka Saath” principle.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya interacts with the beneficiaries of AB-PMJAY from across the country

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“Cashless, paperless and portable healthcare and treatment facility provided by Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY scheme for poor and underserved families has substantially reduced their out-of-pocket expenditure and in turn financial bankruptcy due to severe and prolonged illness, and expensive treatment”. Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya stated this as he interacted virtually with some beneficiaries from different part of the country, here today, as Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) completes four years of implementation today. Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar was also present. Shri Rishikesh Patel, Health Minister of Gujarat attended the event virtually.

The Union Health Minister shared the travails and pain of the beneficiaries and their families who narrated their experience of severe health crisis, and their inability of meeting the healthcare expenditure on their own. They also relived their joy on receiving financial support under AB-PMJAY which enabled them to seek quality tertiary treatment in PMJAY empanelled hospitals.

Dr. Mandaviya elaborated on the various features of the scheme and stated  that “Ayushman Bharat has strengthened the Government’s mission to ensure Health for All”. He further urged States who are still to onboard the scheme to join in this national mission of providing affordable healthcare aimed towards citizen welfare. “With co-branding of the Ayushman Cards, we shall soon provide all eligible beneficiaries with the card”, he said. So far, more than 19 crore AB-PMJAY cards have been created and more than 3.8 cr beneficiaries have availed of free treatment under the scheme.

Highlighting the salient features of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), he noted that ABHA Health ID will prove to be a game changer in the health sector. Few beneficiaries narrated the ease of creating the health ID and benefits of storing their health records on one platform. The heath accounts are highly helpful in identifying, authenticating and easily accessing one’s health records without any hassle or charge, they informed. Union Health Minister appreciated the beneficiaries who have made their online accounts and stated that the youth are ambassadors of government’s schemes and can help senior citizens in accessing benefits of such digital interventions.

Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar highlighted that the scheme has brought major changes in the healthcare sector and has made it accessible for the poor families. AB PMJAY has been successful in providing quality health services to the beneficiaries who come from weak financial backgrounds and might have not been able to afford expensive treatment. Apart from providing healthcare services to the needy, the scheme is also educating the beneficiaries about their healthcare rights. She gave the clarion call for building upon this foundation of robust physical and digital infrastructure by increasing coverage of the scheme.

Book ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas’, a collection of selected speeches of PM released

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Former Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today unveiled the book Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas”, a collection of selected speeches of Prime Minister, along with Governor of Kerala Shri Arif Mohammed Khan and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur in a function organized by Directorate of Publications Division. The book is a compilation of 86 speeches of the Prime Minister from May 2019 to May 2020 on various subjects

Speaking on the occasion the former Vice President said that the book is a significant contribution to widen the understand of the challenges being faced by the nation and the concerted efforts being made to overcome them. The current government he said is working under the broader philosophy of ‘Sarve Jana Sukhino Bhawantu’. He further said that good schemes have been launched earlier also he said, but only the current Prime Minister, leading from the front, is ensuring all programmes adhere to set timelines and targets, he is hands on and ensures continuous monitoring and eventual delivery. With his gift of enormous communication skills, Shri Naidu said, PM Modi can connect with all the people of the country alike.

Shri Naidu recalled the time the vision of opening crores of bank accounts appeared unattainable, but under the able leadership of PM Modi, the target was achieved very quickly. Counting Direct Benefit Transfer as the biggest achievement of the Government, Shri Naidu said it freed people from the shackles of middlemen, ensuring endpoint delivery of welfare measures. When previously schemes were identified either as Government or political, PM Modi understood that realization of a goal depended hugely on the involvement of people. Swachha Bharat Abhiyan was thus envisioned by the Prime Minister as a Jan Andolan (people’s movement).

Shri Naidu summed up commenting that “for long people have said that India does not speak from a position of strength and stature. With the advent of PM Modi, India is now a force to reckon with and India’s voice is heard by all.”

Governor of Kerala, Shri Arif Mohammed Khan has said that a common thread runs through the book and that is the Prime Minister’s concern for marginalized section and women empowerment. He highlighted that the twin issues of availability of toilets and water connectivity had needed urgent Government intervention for very long but had been lagging even as many Governments came and went. It was the only the current Government that took up this mission on war footing from the beginning.

Speaking on triple talaq, he said that getting rid of this evil, which had been thriving for centuries, is no small achievement. Frustrating as it was, married Muslim women lived under constant threat of divorce. Recalling an anecdote when the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had counted as his biggest failure, his inability to give Muslim women the same rights as Hindu women, Shri Mohammed said that the effect of this historic decision will be felt many years later when political and sociological thinkers analyse this decision and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be remembered as the emancipator of Muslim women. He credited the Prime Minister for braving all odds and opposition and yet delivering on this promise.

He further added that before PM Modi, development of the country was only the responsibility of the Government and its bureaucracy. However, PM Modi has ensured that development of the country becomes a programme of Jan Bhagidari, where people of the country become equal stakeholders in the process and the results, and this has realized the concept of true democracy.

Union Minister Shri Anurag Thakur speaking about the book remarked that the book has compiled 86 speeches of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 10 chapters and elucidates his deep understanding of complex societal issues and his clear vision. The compilation, he said, is going to be very useful for future historians.

He further said that in these speeches, one can find his thoughts and his leadership on complicated national issues, which resulted in actions due to which India stands as the fifth largest economy in the world. It is these actions along with his passion to serve and ensure last mile delivery, bereft of middlemen, that have caused people to have unwavering faith in him.

Crediting Shri Narendra Modi for his uncanny ability to connect with people from all walks of life, Shri Thakur said that from students to women, from farmers to soldiers on the borders, from sportspersons to businessmen, anyone who listens to the Prime Minister can identify with his speeches and various international surveys have called PM Modi the most favorite Prime Minister in the world. Powerful world leaders have delved in detail on what it means to be Narendra Modi.

This book contains his speeches on foreign relations, his thoughts on the economy and his consideration to restoration of our cultural heritage such at Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath Dham, Ayodhya, Deoghar etc. The book, he said, will inform the reader on his ideas on India’s environment and the steps taken to create a green India, achievements of various Ministries, mainstreaming of fitness, Yoga and sports, achievements of the Government in the field of science and technology, agriculture and agro-businesses, employment, from Gramoday to Rashtroday, India’s journey to becoming self-reliant.

This book is an encyclopedia of Shri Narendra Modi’s ideas on various Government schemes. In this compilation, readers will find speeches given on historical occasions – such as the 250th session of the Rajya Sabha, the speech given on the completion of 100 years of ASSOCHAM, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after the removal of Article 370 on 8 August 2019. His address to the nation, message given to the nation on 19 March 2020 regarding Covid, address given at the launch of Fit India Movement, his message to the nation after the Supreme Court’s decision on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya etc.

The Minister said that the book has a response to the catastrophic prophecies by various political leaders who had said that India will not be able to survive the abrogation of Article 370, that not one person would hoist the Indian tricolour in Kashmir. Today Har Ghar Tiranga campaign has seen equal success in Kashmir as in other parts of the country and Kashmir is witnessing development like never before.

Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Apurva Chandra, Director General, Directorate of Publications Division, Ms Monideepa Mukherjee and several other senior officers of different media units of the Ministry were also present on the occasion.

About the book Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas’

The book focuses on 86 speeches of the Prime Minister from May 2019 to May 2020 on various subjects. Divided into ten thematic areas, these speeches reflect the PM’s vision for ‘New India’. These well-distributed sections are – Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Economy, People-First Governance, Fight Against Covid-19, Emerging India: Foreign Affairs, Jai Kisan, Tech India-New India, Green India-Resilient India-Clean India, Fit India-Efficient India, Eternal India-Modern India: Cultural Heritage, and Mann ki Baat.

The book portrays the PM’s vision of a new India, which is self-reliant, resilient and capable of converting challenges into opportunities. The Prime Minister combines leadership qualities, visionary thinking, andforesight with excellent communication abilities to connect with masses throughhis exceptional oratory style. The same is reflected in this book.

The English as well as Hindi books are available at the sales outlets of Publications Division and the Books Gallery at Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, New Delhi. They can also be purchased online through Publications Division’s website as well as Bharatkosh platform. The e-books are also available on Amazon and Google Play.

Dr Jitendra Singh addresses the Roundtable on “Net Zero Built Environment with Connected Communities”

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India’s Science and Technology Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is leading a high-level Joint Ministerial Delegation of S&T and Ministry of Power, New & Renewable Energy today said that Decarbonizing of cities and buildings should be the highest priority for the public and private sectors and it needs to be done at scale, pace, and by using an integrated and digitalized approach to bring systemic efficiency.

In his address at the Roundtable on “Net Zero Built Environment with Connected Communities” at Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022 at Pittsburgh, in the United States, Dr Jitendra Singh said, we cannot solve climate change without transforming our cities and buildings and this requires massive efforts from the private and public sectors, but it is possible with today’s technologies.

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that increasingly, cooling is recognized as a developmental need that is linked with achieving many Sustainable Development Goals. He said, Demonstration and Deployment, investment, technology are the key challenges to achieve net zero connected communities at a global level.

Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that the development of a robust R&D innovation ecosystem will, inter alia, involve further development of scientific manpower in the area, requisite academic and R&D institutional capacities, support for R&D activities on various facets of cooling, including but not limited to refrigerants, cooling equipment, passive building design interventions, not-in-kind technologies and new emerging technologies; and industry preparedness to assimilate new technologies.

India called for important actions to address these challenges like a global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with respect to enhancing the R&D, and Deployment, Knowledge and technology sharing related to demand driven solutions, a tailored financing plan that would look into feasible funding sources and aggregating member countries’ demand for the potential designing of a global tender/ procurement process.

Dr Jitendra Singh informed the Ministers and Delegates that his Ministry of Science and Technology has actively engaged several industry players, especially for demonstration and deployment and today we have over 78 industries participating in the Building Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Program.

The Minister, however, acknowledged that the decarbonization of cities is a multifaceted challenge and requires a holistic approach and systemic efficiency. He said, alongside buildings, the electrification of private and public transport plays a pivotal role in not only achieving net zero emission targets, but also improving urban air quality. The public and Private sectors need to work closely to ensure the implementation of research outcomes, the Minister added.

Dr Jitendra Singh said that three major actions for which public and private sectors can come together to achieve planning and demonstrations of net zero connected communities are- Catalysing effective capital reallocation and new financing structures, including through scaling up climate finance, Lowering technology costs with R&D, nurturing industrial ecosystems, collaborating across value chains to reduce cost, and Establishing compensating mechanisms to address socioeconomic impacts, through economic diversification programs, reskilling and redeployment programs.

Highlighting the measures taken by India, Dr Jitendra Singh concluded that the Ministry of Science and Technology has supported research development and deployment of technologies with an investment of 34.3 million USD during the last decade. We have strengthened the R&D infrastructure and forced bilateral and multilateral collaborations through R&D programs in the field of Building Energy Efficiency and Smart Grids, the Minister emphasised.