Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the IAS officers of the 2020 batch in the concluding session of the Assistant Secretary Programme, 2022 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi earlier today.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister said that the officers have got the opportunity to serve the country during the Amrit Kaal and help realise the Panch Pran. He said that Officers have a key role in ensuring that the target of a developed India is achieved in Amrit Kaal. He highlighted the significance of out-of-box thinking and adopting a holistic approach in their endeavours. He cited the example of PM GatiShakti Master Plan for showcasing the significance of such a  holistic approach.

Prime Minister discussed the importance of innovation and how it has become a collective effort and part of work culture in the country. He talked about the Start-up India scheme and how the number of startups in the country has witnessed a significant jump in the last few years. He noted that this has been made possible due to several Ministries coming together and working as a team through a ‘whole of government’ approach.

Prime Minister mentioned how the focus of the governance has shifted outside Delhi, to all regions of the country. He gave examples of how important schemes are now being started from places outside Delhi. Prime Minister suggested the officers develop an understanding of the local culture of the area of work and strengthen their connection with local people at the ground level. He asked them to focus on One District One Product and explore the opportunities of exporting products of their district. He also asked the officers to prepare their action plan for the Aspirational Districts Program. Speaking about MGNREGA, Prime Minister spoke about implementing the scheme in a more effective manner. He also underlined about the significance of Jan Bhagidari spirit and said that this approach can play a key role in tackling malnutrition.

Highlighting the success of Jan Dhan Yojana earlier, Prime Minister talked about the importance of digital economy and exhorted the officers to try to connect people across villages with digital economy and UPI. Further, underscoring the importance of service to the nation, Prime Minister talked about the significance of performing one’s duties, adding that the mentality of ‘Rajpath’ has now changed to the sentiment of ‘Kartavya Path’.

During the programme, eight presentations were given by the Assistant Secretaries to the Prime Minister. The topics of these presentations included Poshan Tracker: tool for improved monitoring of Poshan Abhiyaan;  Enabling multi-lingual voice based digital access through Bhashini; Corporate data management; Matribhoomi Geoportal – Integrated National Geoportal of India for Governance; Tourism potential of  Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Changing the face of post offices through India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), Development of coastal fisheries through artificial structures like reefs; and Compressed biogas – fuel for future. This year, a total 175 IAS Officers of 2020 batch have been posted as Assistant Secretaries in 63 Ministries/Departments of Government of India from 11.07.2022 to 07.10.2022.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today called upon Chartered Accountants of India to strive to make India’s Chartered Accountancy Firms global level companies. He was addressing the Convocation of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in New Delhi today.

The Minister termed Chartered Accountancy as one of the noblest professions in the world and said that the signature of a CA affixed on a document was a very powerful endorsement of the contents of the document and its veracity, integrity and truthfulness. Shri Goyal expressed satisfaction at the global footprint of ICAI with over a 168 branches, presence in 47 countries with 77 centers in difference cities of the world. Congratulating ICAI for its efforts to establish a 100 centers world over, the Minister asked the Institute to expand its presence in the continent of South America as well.

The Minister stressed that CAs must always be committed to promoting inclusive growth so that as we progress to being a developed nation, nobody is left behind. We must take along with us every section of the society, the persons at the very bottom of the pyramid, the marginalized sections of the society, he said.  Even the least privileged persons in the nation have the right to a better quality of life and collectively the CAs must work to secure these rights by promoting inclusive development, the Minister added.

Shri Goyal observed that India is now looked upon as the talent factory of the world and said that CAs were among the most competent talent produced by the nation. He expressed confidence that the CAs of India will not only live up to the expectations of their countrymen but also those of the world.

Shri Goyal asked young CAs to explore the paths of entrepreneurship too, along with auditing, accounting, management consulting. He urged Chartered Accountancy Bodies of India to engage more with ‘naari shakti’ or women power and ensure that more and more women become CAs and more and more women join the Council of ICAI to make it stronger and more inclusive.

The Minister spoke of the Panch Pran articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as India celebrated 75 years of independence and said that these principles must guide us during the next 25 years leading up to 100th anniversary of India’s independence. He said that these 5 vows were crucial to Chartered Accountants as well.

Speaking of the first vow of building a developed India, the Minister asked Chartered Accountants to work to bridge the gap between rural and urban India, the developing India and the developed India, the rich and the poor, investors and entrepreneurs and thus empower India to become a developed nation by 2047. Shri Goyal said that PM Modi also spoke of the need to remove the colonial mindset from our day to day life. The Minister said that there are several areas where we must shun the legacy of colonialism and evolve to become contemporary in our outlook.

The Minister asked youngsters to take great pride in India’s rich history, traditions, heritage, culture, its legacy ideals like vasudhaiva kutumbakam and its deep rooted commitment to nature and sustainability. India is a nation that intrinsically believed in sustainability, Shri Goyal said and added that since time immemorial, our civilization recognized the value of nature and the need to leave behind a better planet than what we inherited. India always recognized inter-generational equity, he underscored.

Highlighting PM Modi’s call for unity, the Minister said that India must present a united face to the world. He asked professionals to be united and organizations to reflect this spirit of unity. India is a proud country with great unity amidst tremendous diversity, Shri Goyal observed. He opined that CAs of the country played a crucial role in promoting the ideals of national integration.

Shri Goyal spoke of PM Modi’s emphasis on ‘kartavya’ or duty and said that the ‘Chartered Accountant’s Oath’ was an excellent manifestation of this concept of duty. “The impressive oath speaks about commitment to excellence, ethics, honesty, independence, confidentiality and integrity. It talks of working sincerely, looks at  a corruption-free India , gives a commitment to corporate governance and aspires for efficient and effective utilization of the nation’s resources”, the Minister said. He applauded the emphasis that the oath placed on values of humility, respect and responsiveness to needs of society.

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, inaugurated the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) Regional Office (West) in Mumbai, here today in a virtual event. Union Minister of State for Ministry of Corporate Affairs Shri Rao Inderjit Singh also graced the occasion with his presence via video conference.

The Regional Office (West) in Mumbai is the third regional office opened by CCI, after Regional Office (South) in Chennai (inaugurated in February 2021) and Regional Office (East) in Kolkata (inaugurated in April 2022).

In her address, Smt. Sitharaman, congratulated CCI for opening regional office in Mumbai and remarked that easy access of CCI to businesses is important for facilitating ease of doing business. The Finance Minister also complimented CCI for publishing its advocacy booklets in various regional languages and added that such steps empower people in having better access to the regulator. On rapidly evolving digital markets, Smt. Sitharaman stressed on the need to address the competition issues arising out of them, by benchmarking against best practices at the global level. The Finance Minister said that a proactive CCI brings in confidence in the minds of people who want to access it for relief and will help people well prior to issues going out of hand.

On this occasion, Smt. Sitharaman also released a pictorial e-publication titled “Competition Commission of India – A Journey Through the Years, 2009 – 2022”, which documents the formative years of CCI and takes stock of the various measures, events and actions that have helped shape this journey. The Finance Minister also released CCI’s competition advocacy booklets translated in Urdu and Punjabi languages. These Booklets, contain information on topics such as – How to File information with CCI, Cartels, Bid Rigging, Abuse of Dominance, Combinations, Leniency etc. Apart from Urdu and Punjabi languages, these booklets have also been earlier translated into 11 other languages i.e. Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Assamese, Gujarati, and Odia, Hindi and English.

During the event, Shri Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairperson CCI remarked that in a country as vast and diverse as India, setting up regional offices has been a key step towards competition enforcement. He highlighted that CCI’s presence at the financial hub of the country will provide ease of accessibility to numerous stakeholders, augment advocacy outreach in this region, and fulfil a longstanding demand of stakeholders.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks, delivered by Smt. Jyoti Jindgar Bhanot, Secretary (I/c), CCI.

Shri R.K Singh , Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy today unvieled the curtain raiser to  the Fifth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance along with side events to be held in New Delhi from 17th – 20th October, 2022. India holds the office of the President of the ISA Assembly. Ministers, missions and delegates from 109 Member and Signatory Countries are set to participate in this meeting. The Assembly will be presided over by Shri R.K. Singh, Union Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy.

Shri R.K Singh in his address today remarked that India’s pace of Energy Transition is the fastest in the world. International Solar Alliance is absolutely essential for our planet’s goal of Energy Transition. The Minister said that solar being the cheapest source of energy, solar and mini grids are the answer to the universal access of energy in the world.

The Minister in his address further remarked  that ISA is the essential vehicle to fulfill the international pledges on Energy Transition.

The Assembly is the apex decision-making body of ISA, in which each Member Country is represented. This body makes decisions concerning the implementation of the ISA’s Framework Agreement and coordinated actions to be taken to achieve its objective. The Assembly meets annually at the ministerial level at the ISA’s seat. It assesses the aggregate effect of the programmes and other activities in terms of deployment of solar energy, performance, reliability, cost and scale of finance.

The Fifth Assembly of the ISA will deliberate on the key initiatives of ISA on three critical issues of energy access, energy security, and energy transition. World leaders from ISA Member Countries will also discuss the strategic plan of the ISA in Programmatic Support for LDC and SIDS Member Countries, Capacity Building support to all developing Member Countries, and Analytics & Advocacy support to all Member Countries.

The 5th Assembly is expected to lead to a greater consensus among countries for promotion of solar power. Increased international cooperation will be the backbone of energy transition, propelling investment and creating millions of new green jobs in this crucial decade of climate action.

The ISA Secretariat has planned a series of technical sessions on various strategic initiatives of the ISA on October 19, 2022, and technical sessions on various emergent issues in the solar and clean energy sector in collaboration with partner organisations. Following the 5^th General Assembly, three analytical reports will also be launched, namely:

• World Solar Technology Report
• World Solar Market Report
• World Solar Investment Report

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE:

The International Solar Alliance is an international organisation with 109 member and signatory countries. It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable way to transition to a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s mission is to unlock US$ 1 trillion of investments in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing. It promotes the use of solar energy in the Agriculture, Health, Transport and Power Generation sectors. ISA member countries are driving change by enacting policies and regulations, sharing best practices, agreeing on common standards, and mobilising investments. Through this work, ISA has identified and designed and tested new business models for solar projects; supported governments to make their energy legislation and policies solar-friendly through Ease of Doing Solar analytics and advisory; pooled demand for solar technology from different countries, and drove down costs; improved access to finance by reducing the risks and making the sector more attractive to private investment; increased access to solar training, data and insights for solar engineers and energy policymakers.

With the signing and ratification of the ISA Framework Agreement by 15 countries, on 6 December, 2017, ISA became the first international intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in India.  ISA is partnering with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development financial institutions (DFIs), private and public sector organisations, civil society, and other international institutions to deploy cost-effective and transformational solutions through solar energy, especially in the least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said that the success of 75-day long Beach Cleaning drive vindicates the “whole of Government” approach.

Chairing a review meeting on the recently concluded “Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar” campaign from 5^th July to 17^th September which is observed as “International Coastal Clean Up Day”, Dr Jitendra Singh acknowledged the support of over a dozen Union Ministries for its grand success.

Dr Jitendra Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in his latest “Mann ki Baat” broadcast, mentioned the “Swachh Sagar – Surakshit Sagar” campaign and the mass public participation in it. Modi had congratulated all the people who took part in many cleanliness related programs for the entire two and a half months, he said.

Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M. Ravichandran, Secretary, DARPG, V.Srinivas, DG, CSIR, Dr N.Kalaiselvi, DG Coast Guard, V.S.Pathania, Shri Gopal Arya from Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi and representatives of Environment Ministry and senior officials joined the review meeting.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India’s 7500 km-long coastline will play a vital role in shaping up India’s Vision @ 2047 and added that we need to leverage our underutilised oceanic resources in order to advance the economic growth of our nation. The Minister said, a high-level team constituted to organise yearlong activities on coastal clean-up will also coordinate in India’s Deep Sea Mission.

Referring to the Swachh Bharat Mission launched on 2^nd October, 2014 after the Prime Minister’s announcement from the Red Fort during his first Independence Day address on 15^th August, 2014, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the whole of government approach has combined with whole of nation approach to make swachhata a true Jan Andolan by bringing about the largest behavioural change in the world. He said, the SBM’s emphasis on behavioural change in rural sanitation at the grassroots level also led to rigorous verification and sustainability of the benefits accrued to rural communities.

Dr Jitendra Singh lauded the role of the Ministry of Earth Sciences in executing such a mammoth task of simultaneous coastal clean-up and sea beach cleaning across all the sea beaches along 7,500 km long coastline of India. The Minister pointed out that Governors, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, MPs, film artists and celebrities participated in beach clean-up activities along with lakhs of volunteers from all walks of life. The Minister informed that more than 45 Deputy Commissioners/District Magistrates from 9 Coastal States made special efforts to make the campaign a grand success.

Dr Jitendra Singh particularly thanked the cooperation from the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Jal Shakti, Health and Family Welfare, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, External Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, organisations and associations like National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Seema Jagran Manch, SFD, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi (PSG), along with other social organisations and educational institutions in the clean-up campaign.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Kullu Dussehra celebrations at the Dhalpur Ground of Kullu, Himachal Pradesh today.

The Prime Minister was welcomed and facilitated upon his arrival. This was followed by the arrival of Bhagwan Raghunath Ji and it marked the commencement of the Rath Yatra. A huge crowd had gathered at the occasion to welcome the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister walked to the main attraction with lakhs of other devotees and paid his tributes to Bhagwan Raghunath. The Prime Minister greeted everyone present on the occasion with folded hands and witnessed the divine Rath Yatra along with the grand assembly of the deities in the historic Kullu Dussehra celebrations. A historic occasion, this was the first time ever that the Prime Minister of India had participated in the Kullu Dussehra celebrations.

The International Kullu Dussehra Festival is to be celebrated from 5th to 11th October 2022 at Dhalpur Ground of Kullu. The festival is unique in the sense that it is the congregation of more than 300 Deities of the Valley. On the first day of the Festival, the Deities in their well-decorated palanquins pay their obeisance at the temple of the Chief Deity Bhagwan Raghunath Ji and then proceed to the Dhalpur Ground.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Jai Ram Thakur, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Shri Anurag Thakur, and BJP State President, Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap among others.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister had dedicated to the nation, AIIMS, Bilaspur. He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects in Himachal Pradesh in Luhnu, Bilaspur.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of around 31 km long project for four laning of the National Highway from Pinjore to Nalagarh on NH-105, worth over Rs. 1690 crore today. The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation, AIIMS, Bilaspur. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Medical Device Park at Nalagarh, which will be built at a cost of about Rs 350 crores. The Prime Minister further inaugurated the Government Hydro Engineering College at Bandla.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister greeted everyone on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashmi. He said this auspicious festival will give new energy to everyone to walk on the path of the pledged ‘Panch Pran’ while overcoming every obstacle. He said that good fortune of getting the opportunity to be in Himachal for Vijaya Dashmi augurs well for every future victory.

The Prime Minister remarked that Bilaspur has received a double gift of health and education. He expressed gratitude to have got the opportunity to participate in the Kullu Dussehra and said that he will pray to Bhagwan Raghunath Ji for the welfare of the nation. The Prime Minister also reminisced about old times when he and his associates used to work and live in the area. He said, “I am fortunate to have been a part of Himachal Pradesh’s development journey”.

Remarking on the developments that have happened over the past years in Himachal Pradesh, the Prime Minister said that it is the vote of the people that are solely responsible for all the developments. He gave the credit to people’s confidence in the state and the centre that has propelled all the development work.

He said that for a very long time the thinking was that facilities like education, roads, industries, hospitals  are meant for big cities only. As far as hilly areas were concerned, even the basic facilities reached there last. This, the Prime Minister said, created a huge imbalance in the development of the country. He continued, that people of Himachal Pradesh were forced to go to Chandigarh or Delhi for small issues. However, in the last 8 years, the double-engine government changed all that. The Prime Minister said that today Himachal Pradesh is equipped with Central universities like IIT, IIM and IIIT. Shri Modi further added that AIIMS, Bilaspur being the apex of medical education in India will add to the glory of Bilaspur. “In the last eight years, Himachal Pradesh has scaled new heights of development”, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister highlighted the changed style of functioning in the government as now foundation stones are laid with a clear timeline of dedication of projects.

Talking about the contribution of Himachal Pradesh to nation-building, the Prime Minister informed that the state plays a crucial role in ‘Rashtra Raksha’, and now with the newly inaugurated AIIMS at Bilaspur, it will also play pivotal role in ‘Jeevan Raksha’. The Prime Minister complimented the Health Ministry and the state government for timely completion despite the challenge of the pandemic.

The Prime Minister observed that it is a moment of pride for the people of Himachal Pradesh as it is one of the three states that have been selected for the Bulk Drugs Park. Himachal Pradesh is also one of the four states that have been selected for Medical Devices Park and the Nalagarh Medical Device Park is part of this. “This is the land of the brave and I am indebted to this land”, the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting the medical tourism aspect, the Prime Minister said that Himachal Pradesh has endless opportunities. The Prime Minister said that the air, the environment and the herb of the state can be a source of a plethora of benefits for the state.

Highlighting the efforts of the government to ensure Ease of Living for the poor and middle class, the Prime Minister remarked that efforts are being made to make hospitals available at remote locations and minimize the expenses of medical bills.  That is why we are working on a seamless connectivity from AIIMS to critical care in district hospitals and wellness centers in the villages.  Ayushman Bharat scheme is providing most of the families in the state  free treatment upto 5 lakh rupees. More than 3 crore patients all over the country and 1.5 lakh beneficiaries have come from Himachal. Government has spent more than 45,000 crore all over the country, saving about 90,000 crore rupees of the patients.

The Prime Minister said that the foundations of the double-engine government are laid on providing happiness, accessibility, dignity, protection and health to our mothers, sisters and daughters.“Ensuring dignity of life for all is our government’s priority”, the Prime Minister said. He listed measures like toilet construction, free gas connection, sanitary pad distribution scheme, Matru Vandana Yojana and Har Ghar Jal campaign for the empowerment of mothers and sisters.

The Prime Minister complimented the Chief Minister and his team for implementing the central schemes with spirit and speed and also expanding their scope. He praised the speed of implementation of schemes like Har Ghar Jal, and social security schemes like pension.  Similarly, many families in Himachal have benefited greatly from One Rank One Pension.  He lauded the state for being the first state to complete a cent per cent Corona vaccination.

“Himachal is a land of opportunities”, the Prime Minister remarked. He informed everyone that the state produces electricity, has fertile land and has endless employment opportunities due to tourism. The Prime Minister interjected that it was the lack of better connectivity that acted as the biggest hurdle in front of these opportunities. “Since 2014, efforts are being made to reach the best infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh from village to village”, he added. The Prime Minister pointed out that the work of widening the roads of Himachal is also going on all around. “At present, about 50 thousand crore rupees are being spent on connectivity works in Himachal”, he added, “When the work of four laning of Pinjore to Nalagarh highway will be completed, then industrial areas of Nalagarh and Baddi will not only be benefitted but passengers going from Chandigarh and Ambala towards Bilaspur, Mandi and Manali will also get avail the benefits. “A network of tunnels is also being laid to free the people of Himachal from the winding roads”, the Prime Minister added.

Pointing out the latest developments in Digital India, the Prime Minister said that unprecedented work has also been done in Himachal regarding digital connectivity. “In the last 8 years, Made in India mobile phones have also become cheap and have also brought the network to the villages”, he added. Himachal Pradesh is also moving very fast in digital transactions due to better 4G connectivity. “If anyone is benefiting the most from Digital India, then it is you, the people of Himachal”, he said. The Prime Minister informed that due to this paying bills, bank-related work, admissions, applications etc take only minimal time.

Throwing light on 5G developments in the country, the Prime Minister said, “Now for the first time in the country, Made in India 5G services have also started, and the benefits will be made available to Himachal very soon.” He further informed that after the change of drone rules in India, their use for transportation is going to increase a lot while the education, health, agriculture and tourism sectors will also reap great benefits from this. He praised Himachal Pradesh for being the first state to come out with a drone policy. “We are striving for a type of development that increases the convenience of every citizen, and every citizen is connected with prosperity. This will prove the resolve of a developed India, and a developed Himachal Pradesh”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Jai Ram Thakur,  Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Union Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur, Member of Parliament and BJP National President, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda and Member of Parliament and BJP State President, Shri Suresh Kumar Kashyap were those present on the occasion.

Background

Multiple Projects in Himachal Pradesh

31 km long project for four laning of the National Highway from Pinjore to Nalagarh on NH-105 for which the foundation stone was laid today, is worth over Rs. 1690 crore. The project road is a major connecting link for the traffic from Ambala, Chandigarh, Panchkula and Solan /Shimla going towards Bilaspur, Mandi and Manali. About 18 km stretch of this four-lane national highway falls under Himachal Pradesh and the remaining portion falls in Haryana. This highway will ensure better transport facilities in Nalagarh-Baddi, the industrial hub of Himachal Pradesh, and will also give a fillip to further industrial development in the region. It will also boost tourism in the state.

AIIMS Bilaspur

The Prime Minister’s vision and commitment to strengthening health services across the country are being showcased again through the dedication of AIIMS Bilaspur to the nation. The foundation stone of the hospital was also laid by the Prime Minister in October 2017 and is being established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.

AIIMS Bilaspur, constructed at a cost of more than Rs 1470 crore, is a state-of-the-art hospital with 18 speciality & 17 super speciality departments, 18 modular operation theatres, and 750 beds with 64 ICU beds. Spread over 247 acres, the hospital is equipped with 24 hours emergency and dialysis facilities, modern diagnostic machines like ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI etc, Amrit Pharmacy & Jan Aushadhi Kendra and also a 30 bedded AYUSH block. The Hospital has also set up the Centre for Digital Health to provide health services in the tribal and inaccessible tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh. Also, specialist health services will be provided by the hospital through health camps in the inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan regions like Kaza, Saluni, and Keylong.  The hospital will admit 100 students for MBBS courses and 60 students for nursing courses every year.

Government Hydro Engineering College, Bandla

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Government Hydro Engineering College at Bandla. Costing about Rs 140 crores, the college will help make available trained manpower for hydropower projects, in which Himachal Pradesh is one of the leading states. It will help in upskilling the youth and providing ample job opportunities in the hydropower sector.

Medical Device Park, Nalagarh

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the Medical Device Park at Nalagarh, which will be built at a cost of about Rs 350 crores. MoUs of more than Rs. 800 crores have already been signed for setting up industries in this Medical Device Park. The project will significantly enhance employment opportunities in the region.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited AIIMS, Bilaspur today.

The Prime Minister arrived at the C-Block of the hospital building. Then, he observed a demonstration of the 3D model of the AIIMS, Bilaspur campus and proceeded to the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the inauguration of the institution. The Prime Minister walked through the CT Scan Centre and Emergency & Trauma areas of the hospital.

The Prime Minister’s vision and commitment to strengthening health services across the country are being showcased again through the dedication of AIIMS Bilaspur to the nation. The foundation stone of the hospital was also laid by the Prime Minister in October 2017 and is being established under the Central sector scheme Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.

AIIMS Bilaspur, constructed at a cost of more than Rs 1470 crore, is a state-of-the-art hospital with 18 speciality & 17 super speciality departments, 18 modular operation theatres, and 750 beds with 64 ICU beds. Spread over 247 acres, the hospital is equipped with 24 hours emergency and dialysis facilities, modern diagnostic machines like ultrasonography, CT scan, MRI etc, Amrit Pharmacy & Jan Aushadhi Kendra and also a 30 bedded AYUSH block. The Hospital has also set up the Centre for Digital Health to provide health services in the tribal and inaccessible tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh. Also, specialist health services will be provided by the hospital through health camps in the inaccessible tribal and high Himalayan regions like Kaza, Saluni, and Keylong. The hospital will admit 100 students for MBBS courses and 60 students for nursing courses every year.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Jai Ram Thakur, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Union Minister, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and Member of Parliament and BJP National President, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 240 development projects of about Rs. 2,000 crore in Srinagar.

Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several development projects worth crores of Rupees in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir and addressed a public meeting in the region.

Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh were also present on the occasion.

In his address, the Union Home Minister said that the hills of Pir Panjal and Chenab and this region of Kashmir Valley are among the most beautiful areas of the world. The development ushered in Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jammu and Kashmir is clearly reflected through the happy faces of the people in the region. He said that earlier, the three families who used to rule in the region hardly worked for the development of the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has completed a huge task of ensuring that democracy reaches every village of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, the meaning of democracy in Kashmir was restricted within the three families, 87 MLAs and 6 MPs, but after August 5, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has connected 30,000 people with democracy by taking it to the level of Panch, Sarpanch, BDC and Zilla Panchayat of the village. Earlier, due to corruption, the money of the poor was being misused, but now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ensuring that the money of the poor will reach the poor. He said, under the rule of three families, only Rs. 15,000 crore investment came in Jammu and Kashmir in 70 years, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, an investment of Rs. 56,000 crore has come in just three years. Shri Amit Shah added, earlier the region was a Terrorist Hotspot but now it has become a Tourist Hotspot. Earlier, maximum of six lakh tourists used to visit the Kashmir Valley every year, whereas this year alone till now, 22 lakh tourists have visited the region, giving employment to thousands of youth, and this process will be further strengthened.

Shri Amit Shah said that earlier stones and guns were given in the hands of the youth of the Valley, but now Prime Minister Narendra Modi has replaced them with mobiles and laptops and provided employment to the youth by setting up industries in the region. The Union Home Minister said that terrorism has not led to any good in the world. From 1990 till today, 42,000 people of Jammu and Kashmir have succumbed to terrorism. He said that now terrorism is slowly being weeded out. Shri Shah said that now electricity has reached every village in Kashmir and Prime Minister Modi has ensured complete treatment up to Rs. five-lakh free of cost. He said that 77 lakh people have been given health cards so that they do not have to spend a single penny for their treatment. Earlier there were one lakh people without a pucca house to live even in the icy winds in the region, but Prime Minister Modi has provided housing to these people in Jammu and Kashmir from 2014 to 2022. The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided gas cylinders to about 12 lakh families, tap water in the homes of 58% people under the Jal Jeevan Mission and depositing Rs. 6,000 annually in the accounts of about 11.87 lakh farmers.

The Union Home Minister said that he wants to reach out to the Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis of Baramulla, and the youth of Kashmir. He said that the people of Kashmir should think with an open mind that no good was ever done by the people who spread terror in the region, and Kashmir should now move forward with all the States of the country. Shri Shah said that we should not go down the path of terrorism but that of development. It is the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the youth of Kashmir should help develop the country, get jobs by educating themselves, and contribute to the development of the country by connecting with industries. He said that there are two models, one is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model of development, peace, harmony and employment and the other which leads to Pulwama attack. Prime Minister Modi has constructed a hospital in Pulwama with an expenditure of Rs. 2,000 crore. The second model consists of stones and machine guns and closed colleges for the youth, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model has IIMs and IITs. Shri Shah said that youth should get education and not have stones in their hands and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stones from the hands of the youth and inspired them to educate themselves.

Shri Amit Shah said that the government has initiated the political process and he wants to assure the people that as soon as the task of preparing the electoral rolls by the Election Commission is over, elections will be held within Kashmir for the people with complete transparency. The elected representatives will rule in the region. He said that earlier the delimitation was done to benefit only the people of three families, but now as a result of the delimitation, the representatives of the people will win and they will rule. The Union Home Minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that Kashmir is now almost free from terror. He advised people that if someone in their village supports terrorists, then they must be reasoned with and brought back into the mainstream because terror and terrorism cannot benefit Kashmir, only democracy, industrialization, AIIMS, IIM and IIT, can benefit Kashmir.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that during the rule of three families, the budget of Jammu and Kashmir was merely Rs. 132 crore, while in 2022-23, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi the budget has been increased from Rs. 132 crore to Rs. 1,515 crore. Rs.10 crore have been allotted separately for DDC and PDC. Shri Shah said that five new degree colleges are also being opened in different areas of Jammu and Kashmir and the work of setting up a residential school with 100-bed capacity for Gurjar-Bakarwal girls of Baramulla has also been undertaken by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A Government Medical College is also being set up in Baramulla, which will enable the children in the region to become doctors and help them serve the people of Kashmir. He said that only four medical colleges were built in Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 till 2014, whereas from 2014 till 2022 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India has built nine new medical colleges and 15 nursing colleges. Whereas earlier only 500 doctors used to pass out of Jammu and Kashmir, now 1,300 doctors will complete their studies and serve the country and Jammu and Kashmir. Shri Shah said that AIIMS, NEET, B.Sc Nursing College and two Cancer Institutes have also been set up in Kashmir. New medical colleges have been set up at Anantnag and Baramulla and two cluster universities have been built in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shri Amit Shah said that the expressway from Nangal to Baramulla and from Baramulla to Uri has been built at a cost of Rs. 850 crore. A 43-km road has been built connecting Baramulla to Gulmarg at a cost of Rs. 85 crore to help tourists travelling from Gulmarg to Baramulla. He said that over one lakh families are being brought under the ambit of education through a scheme of Rs. 847 crore. Two stadiums have been built in 402 panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir along with one playground in each panchayat. Additionally, two indoor stadiums are also being built at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. Shri Shah said that in the month of September this year, 13 lakh tourists visited Gulmarg. He said that installation of power plants and irrigation projects worth thousands of crores of Rupees will bring prosperity to the valley of Kashmir. In order to improve the rail network, the work on rail link from Udhampur to Baramulla has been initiated. Under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana, 119 new roads worth Rs.,3167 crore have been built. The Union Home Minister said that under the Prime Minister’s Industrial Package, an investment of Rs. 56,000 crore has come from across the country in Kashmir, which is likely to provide employment to five lakh people.

The Union Home Minister said that earlier due to Article 370, Gujjar-Bakarwal and Pahari people could not get the benefit of Reservation in education, elections and jobs, but now after its removal, they will all get the benefits. For this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi constituted the Justice Sharma Commission and once again an attempt has been made to connect the different communities by conducting a scientific survey of ST, SC and OBC. While Reservation will now be provided to the Pahari people, the Gujjar people will continue to enjoy the benefits of Reservation that they had till now, and it will not make any difference to their share. The steps taken by the Prime Minister will pave the way for reforms in Jammu and Kashmir.

Shri Amit Shah said that 42,000 people have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir, and all of them were children of the poor. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants that separatism and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir should end and Jammu and Kashmir should remain the paradise of India. The Union Home Minister appealed to the people to annihilate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. Shri Amit Shah said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not tolerate terrorism at all. Be it the Valley or Jammu, Srinagar or Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the government is bringing all round development work everywhere. He appealed to the people to join the mainstream of the country and empower the process of development and move forward.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh today celebrated Vijaya Dashami with Jawans of Armed Forces and ITBP personnel in Auli, Uttarakhand. Raksha Mantri performed Shastra Puja during his visit and applauded the contribution of Armed forces and paramilitary forces in ensuring the security and economic progress of the nation.

In an impromptu address to the jawans, Shri Rajnath Singh said that interacting with the men and women in uniform is always a source of motivation. He reaffirmed that the entire nation has pride and faith in the capabilities of our Jawans, and their contribution towards safeguarding the country. Raksha Mantri applauded the role of our forces in securing the nation against external threats. He said, “This secure environment, has enabled India to pursue economic development and achieve new heights of progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Raksha Mantri also hailed the unparalleled bravery and courage of our jawans during the incident in Galwan. He said that India believes in the principle “the whole world is one family” but gives a befitting response if any outsider casts an evil eye. Because of such bravery the whole world acknowledged India’s growing stature and, India emerged as one of the key decision makers on all issues of international importance, he added. India is heard with respect in international fora.

Shri Rajnath Singh also spoke of the significance of Shastra Puja and highlighted the traditions and uniqueness of Indian culture, which emphasises the unity of all things. They teach us that we must acknowledge the contribution of all things that contribute to our lives, both living and non-living, including “shastra” (arms), which aid us to defend ourselves, he added.

Raksha Mantri then interacted with the Jawans who enthusiastically celebrated Vijaya Dashami and participated in the ceremony. Jawans also sang patriotic songs on the occasion.

Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande, GOC-in-C Surya Command Lt. Gen. Yogendra Dimri, senior officials and jawans of Armed forces and ITBP were present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation today with His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.

The leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of hostilities and the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy. He expressed his firm conviction that there can be no military solution to the conflict and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to any peace efforts. Prime Minister also reiterated the importance of respecting the UN Charter, International Law, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

Prime Minister emphasized the importance India attaches to the safety and security of nuclear installations, including in Ukraine. He underlined that  endangerment of nuclear facilities could have far-reaching and catastrophic consequences for public health and the environment.

The two leaders also touched upon important areas of bilateral cooperation, following up on their last meeting in Glasgow in November 2021.

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah addressed a public meeting in Rajouri, in Jammu and Kashmir today. On the auspicious occasion of Navmi, Shri Amit Shah offered his prayers at the Vaishno Devi temple and prayed for the progress and prosperity of the country. Several dignitaries including the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Shri Manoj Sinha and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh were also present on the occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that this massive rally in Rajouri is a response to those who claimed that if Article 370 is removed, there will be violence in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the immense love and trust of the people towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi motivates the government to work for the welfare of the people in J&K. He said that the people of Pahari and Gurjar-Bakarwal community have always stood like a rock to protect India and all Indians sleep peacefully because of the existence of such an impenetrable wall of security.

The Union Home Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha has remembered the contribution of Maharaja Hari Singh and declared his birthday as a State holiday. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put the development of the region as his top priority. Shri Shah said that for 70 years, three families ruled in J&K and restricted democracy within their families. But, since 2014, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Panchayat elections were conducted in 2014 and thereafter Tehsil and District Panchayat elections were conducted in 2019, and now the governance of Jammu and Kashmir, which was earlier restricted within three families, now includes 30 thousand people.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Modi took an important decision on August 5, 2019 and removed Article 370 and 35A. He said that with the removal of Article 370, depressed classes, Dalits, Tribals and hill people have got their rights in J&K. The Home Minister said that now no one can suppress the rights of people as Prime Minister Modi has ensured that democracy is not restricted within three families, but 30 thousand people become part of it. Shri Shah said that after the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Modi had promised that elections will be held at the earliest and for this delimitation was necessary. The earlier delimitation was not done as per the rules of the commission, but to benefit only the three families. But now for the first time after Independence, a real delimitation has been completed and seats have been increased in the hill areas. By initiating the delimitation process, Prime Minister Modi has ensured justice to the people in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar. He said that the three families left no stone unturned in indulging in corruption during their rule. Shri Shah said that Prime Minister Modi is giving free health facilities up to Rs.five lakh to 27 lakh families of Jammu and Kashmir, which these three families never provided in the last 70 years as they were corrupt and grabbed money coming from Delhi.

The Union Home Minister said that to control corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau was created in Jammu and Kashmir, Whistleblower Act was implemented, complaint registration via mobile was initiated through UMANG, ‘SatarkNagrik’ mobile application was launched, Vigilance offices have been opened and Electronic Vigilance Clearance System has also been installed. He said that tourism is the biggest source of employment in Jammu and Kashmir and since January, 2022 till date, 1.62 crore tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir, which is the highest in 75 years of Independence. He said that tourism has generated maximum employment in various regions of Jammu and Kashmir including Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu and the Valley. Shri Shah said that for 70 years the people had been demanding international flights from Jammu and Kashmir. Fulfilling this popular demand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started direct flight from Srinagar to Sharjah. Earlier there was no flight during the night from Srinagar and Jammu, Prime Minister Modi has started night flights from the city.

Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a continuous campaign against terrorists and separatists, as a result of which the number of terrorist incidents in Jammu and Kashmir has come down drastically. The number of terrorist incidents between 2006 and 2013 was 4,766 whereas after the abrogation of Article 370, terrorist incidents in the period from 2019 to 2022 have come down from 4,766 to just 721. Along with this, there is a decrease in the casualties of the security personnel. This shows that Jammu and Kashmir is now safe. The Union Home Minister said that earlier there were reports of stone pelting, but now this does happen because the Prime Minister has replaced stones in the hands of the youth with laptops, has provided them employment and this change is very important for Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that earlier no one could have imagined a medical college in Rajouri. But, today by opening a medical college here, Prime Minister Modi  has not only given an opportunity to the youth of this place to become doctors, but has also  provided free healthcare to all the residents of this place, so that the people in the region would no longer have to go to Jammu for treatment. Along with this, medical colleges have also been opened in Kathua, Doda, Anantnag, Baramulla. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the Government of India spent Rs. 139 crore for the medical college in Rajouri only. With an expenditure of Rs. 480 crore the work of construction of Rajouri, Dhannamandi and Surankot Road has also been furthered. Under the Border Area Development Execution Plan, the Prime Minister has allocated Rs. 21 crore and initiated 28 schemes. Under the Pradhan MantriGraminSadakYojana, 3,167 km of roads have been constructed. Prime Minister Modi has also allocated Rs. 1,337 crore for the four laning of the Jammu-Poonch highway.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that Prime Minister Modi has provided electricity for the first time to more than 20,000 houses in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir. After 75 years, electricity has reached homes in the region. Electricity has been ensured to 3.80 lakh houses across Jammu and Kashmir. A lot of work has been done under the Prime Minister’s Development Package. These include 624 MW Kiru HEP project, 540 MW Kar HEP project and ShahpurKundi Irrigation and Power Project. Shri Shah said that AIIMS, IIT, Indian Institute of Management, Indian Institute of Mass Communication etc. have been set up in Jammu. Medical colleges and GMC institutions have also been built here. The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that in the first 72 years of Independence, industrial investment of Rs. 15,000 crore came into Jammu and Kashmir, whereas due to the announcement of anIndustrial Policy by Prime Minister Modi, in just 3 years from 2019 till now an investment of Rs. 56,000 crore has been ensured and this will provide employment to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Many support groups, more than 4,500 youth clubs and many other plans have also been formed. About two lakh people have been provided homes in Jammu and Kashmir. Work has been done to ensure tap water to five lakh houses. PoshanAbhiyan, MatruVandanaYojana and Health Mission have also been taken forward.

Shri Amit Shah said that the development of Jammu and Kashmir region is a priority for Prime Minister Modi. He said that earlier injustice was meted out to the Pahari people of Jammu and Kashmir, as they did not get any Reservation. The Prime Minister cleared the way for reservation by removing Article 370. Justice Sharma’s commission was formed to consider Reservation, which has sent its recommendations to give reservation to the Pahari, Bakarwal and Gurjar people. As soon as the administrative process of these recommendations is over, Gurjar, Bakarwal and Pahari people are going to get the benefits of reservation. The Union Home Minister said that the energy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is boosted by the love of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Home Minister said that a few people do not want peace in the region. He said that Prime Minister Modi wants to develop this region as he knows that these hills of PirPanjal have been protected by the people for centuries, and their ancestors have shed their blood to protect the borders of India. Today, like the rest of the country, the youth of Rajouri and Poonch should also be employed, entrepreneurship should be promoted in the region, people should get the benefit of Reservation and MLAs and MPs should be elected from the region. He said that Prime Minister Modi wants holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir. Shri Amit Shah called upon the people to liberate Jammu and Kashmir from the rule of three families and support the vision of Prime Minister Modi.