The Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri presented Smart Solutions Challenge & Inclusive Cities Awards 2022, here today. These awards are an initiative of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the United Nations (UN) in India to address city-level accessibility and inclusion challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PwD), women and girls, and the elderly. The UN Resident Coordinator in India, Mr Shombi Sharp, the Joint Secretary and Mission Director, Smart City Mission, MoHUA, Shri Kunal Kumar and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Shri Puri said “I am thoroughly impressed at the creative capacity of the innovative solutions as well as their potential to change lives of persons with disabilities, women & older persons. The best solutions are always simple, cater to specific pain points, have clear benefits, and are widely accepted by users. These solutions will be instrumental in integrating universal design, which will help achieve SDG target 11.7- to provide safe, inclusive & accessible, green & public spaces for all vulnerable communities.”

The Minister said that India expanded the list of recognized disabilities from 7 to 21 after the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016. This implies that a significantly higher number of people live with some form of disability in India than earlier estimated, he added.

Shri Puri said that Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reflect the philosophy that the Modi govt had already put in place the SDG-2030 implemented by the UN. “We are moving from Sarvodaya to Antyodaya – leaving no one behind or putting farthest first, he said. The success of SDG will come because they have succeeded in India. For the success of SDG, it is important that India performs well on these goals, he added.

Shri Puri said that while strengthening fundamental rights for persons with disabilities, greater emphasis has been laid on the importance of fundamental duties and this is what the Prime Minister sought from every Indian when he spoke of the “Paanch Pran” to make India a developed country by 2047 in his recent Independence Day address. The Prime Minister encouraged Indians to perform their duties responsibly and faithfully, and develop a sensitivity within themselves to act for the betterment of fellow Indians, he added.

Shri Puri said that our cities need citizen-centric and participatory solutions that create an ecosystem where Indians are more empathetic to the needs of persons with disabilities. He further said that assistive technology, in particular, already has market viability in India. We must capitalise on these trends to build accessible and inclusive urban spaces, he added.

Saying technology is one mechanism through which we can level the field and provide and accessible and inclusive environment for persons with disabilities, the Minister said that advocacy and awareness-generation are equally essential in removing the stigma around disability. He further said that it is encouraging to see that indigenous technology has been leveraged by local entrepreneurs in developing the solutions for this Smart Solutions Challenge.  The Integrated Command and Control centres (ICCC) in all the 100 smart cities have become functional, and they are playing an important role in harnessing technology for better coordination within the cities, he added.

Launched this April, the Smart Solutions and Inclusive Cities Awards 2022 was designed with the aim of promoting people-centric design and to foster novel home-grown technological innovations and solutions.

Over 100 entries were received through an open call for applications, out of which the top 10 technology-based innovations were identified as winning solutions after an intensive round of screenings and shortlisting by an eminent 7-member jury panel. The top 10 technology-based solutions were awarded the Inclusive Cities Awards 2022;

Category 1: Early-stage Innovations

1. Fifth Sense by Glovatrix Pvt. Ltd
2. Digital Mobility Subsidy by Ola Mobility Institute
3. AxcesAble Places by AxcesAble Designs LLP

Category 2: Market-ready Solutions

1. Mouseware by Dextroware Devices
2. Signer.AI by Incluistic Pvt. Ltd. / Friends for Inclusion
3. IncluMaps by Vikas Upadhyay, Research Scholar, IIT Delhi

Category 3: Implemented Solutions

1. Multi-Dimensional Inclusiveness: Using Advanced Technologies for Education and Literacy by Belagavi Smart City Ltd.
2. myUDAAN by Tekra Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
3. ‘Moving with Pride’ (Mo Bus and Mo E-Ride) by Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), Odisha
4. Nirbhaya App by Sagar Smart City Ltd.

A ‘Compendium of Smart and Innovative Solutions for an Inclusive & Accessible Urban Future’ was also launched. The compendium compiles selected solutions that were shortlisted for Phase 2 of the evaluation process, to document and disseminate information about the available technological innovations and good practices within India which can further be used as a resource by urban practitioners in cities and countries across the world, particularly in lower-income settings.

Union Education and Skill Development Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan held a bilateral meeting with HE Dr. Bonginkosi Emmanuel “Blade” NZIMANDE, Minister of Higher Education, Science & Innovation, Republic of South Africa, in Bali, Indonesia, today.

The Ministers had fruitful discussions on strengthening the academic & skill development partnerships and bilateral education cooperation.

The Ministers agreed to develop institutional mechanisms for tie-ups between HEIs & skill institutions, mutual recognition of skill qualifications & capacity building in skill development.

They also decided to set up a Joint Working Group on Education between two countries to further extend the cooperation that already exists and also to realise the full potential of bilateral cooperation in education.

Shri Pradhan said that the Introduction of NEP has paved the way for the internationalisation of Indian education.

Shri Pradhan added that India and South Africa relations are close and friendly and is rooted in shared values and interests.

Shri Pradhan thanked HE Dr NZIMANDE for his keenness to deepen our engagements in education & skill development and for his support to India’s presidency in furthering the G20 EdWG agenda.

Shri Pradhan also visited the Gusti Bagus Sugriwa University in Bali, Indonesia. Minister Pradhan said that the University is a reflection of the pluralistic ethos of Indonesia and a celebration of common roots, identity and deep cultural connect between Indonesia and India.

He explored opportunities for institutional linkages with HEIs in India and academic collaboration in the field of Sanskrit language, Philosophy, Ayurveda and Yoga.

He also said that strong academic collaborations and student exchange between Sugriwa University & Indian HEIs will pave the way for broadening the understanding of Hinduism and the shared spiritual, cultural & economic ties.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also visited the International Institute of Tourism and Business (Institute Pariwisata dan Bisnis International) in Bali.

He had an overview of the training facilities, skilling programs, credit frameworks, pathways to student mobility and future plans among others.

He said that collaborations in skilling will encourage toursimpreneurship, help build capacities in emerging areas of travel, tourism, hospitality & business and boost people-to-people linkages.

The government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has always been emphasizing on increasing the income of farmers and working for their socio-economic empowerment. Besides, the Central Government has taken several initiatives for the welfare of the Agriculture sector. Among these, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme is an important initiative. Progress of this scheme was reviewed by the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a virtual meeting with the Agriculture Ministers of the States today. During the meeting, Shri Tomar said that no eligible farmer should be deprived of the benefits of this scheme. He also asked the States to complete the work of data verification and updation at the earliest.

Under the PM-KISAN, eligible farmers are given Rs. 6,000 in 3 equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each every year, so that they can meet the agricultural and allied expenses along with the domestic needs. Since its launch in February-2019, 11 instalments have been disbursed under the PM-KISAN. More than Rs. 2 lakh crore has been transferred to about 11.37 crore eligible farmers through this scheme.

The benefit of PM-Kisan is given only to the farmers with land holdings. A database is being created for quick identification of eligible farmers for PM-KISAN and other schemes and farmers’ welfare schemes to be launched in the future. It will have all the information including Aadhaar, bank account of farmers and the land records of farmers will be linked with their records. The land records of the States will have to be digitally converted to create the database. Today’s meeting was held in this regard.

Agriculture Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Bihar also presented their views in the meeting. Union Agriculture Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja and Additional Secretary Shri Abhilaksh Likhi were present in the meeting along with Ministers/senior officers of other States. Joint Secretary and CEO of PM-Kisan, Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda gave a presentation on the scheme.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for signing an MoU with the Government of Nepal on biodiversity conservation, with a view to strengthen and enhance the coordination and cooperation in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation and climate change, including restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and share knowledge and best practices, between the two countries.

The MoU would help in promoting cooperation between the Parties in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation and climate change, including restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and sharing knowledge and best practices.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;

“यतो बुद्धिरज्ञाननाशो मुमुक्षोः, यतः सम्पदो भक्तसन्तोषिकाः स्युः।

यतो विघ्ननाशो यतः कार्यसिद्धिः, सदा तं गणेशं नमामो भजामः।।

गणेश चतुर्थी की ढेरों शुभकामनाएं। गणपति बाप्पा मोरया!

Best wishes on Ganesh Chaturthi. May the blessings of Bhagwan Shri Ganesh always remain upon us.”

The Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, Shri Rajnath Singh today visited a premier radar station of the IAF, where he witnessed the functioning of the Integrated Air Command & Control System (IACCS). The system is the backbone of IAF’s march towards network centricity and is a key enabler in operations. The system’s capabilities endow its users with an enhanced situational awareness that reduces IAF’s sensor-to-shooter loop. The robust system has redundancies built into its functioning which enable seamless operations between its assets across the country.

During his visit, the Hon’ble RM was demonstrated various networked operations conducted at varied locations across the country. These included the networked and synergised operations of fighter, transport and Remotely Piloted aircraft. He was also briefed about the nuances of peacetime Command & Control functions which include ensuring the air defence of critical areas on a day-to-day basis, as well as during large events. In his address, the Hon’ble RM complimented the air warriors for keeping the nations’ skies safe throughout the year.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal today called for the integration of One District One Product (ODOP) initiative with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). The Minister said that ONDC would help in further expanding the frontiers of ODOP by bringing buyers and sellers together on a democratic platform. He was delivering his address after unveiling the unabridged ODOP Gift Catalog containing 300 plus products and ODOP Storefront on GeM in New Delhi today.

Terming ODOP as an earnest effort to highlight the tremendous potential that the rich culture and tradition that India has to offer, Shri Goyal said that India’s districts and villages are home to crores of talented weavers, artisans and craftsmen.

The Minister observed that for many decades, the fruits of development were asymmetric and confined to some regions. He underscored that there has been a fundamental shift in thinking of the government in the last 8 years and said that ODOP is aligned with this vision of taking prosperity to each and every part of the country.

Shri Goyal stressed that India can’t develop unless remotest corners of the nation are also equal stake holders in development and benefits equally from fruits of progress.  He expressed confidence that ODOP would help bring prosperity to those at the bottom of the pyramid.

Quoting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, Shri Goyal said that ‘each district of our country has a potential equal to that of one country…We need to understand this power and channelize this potential’.

Referring to the success that ODOP has seen in several states like Uttar Pradesh, the Minister said that convergence or ‘samanvay’ is a critical factor that would propel the success of ODOP.  Shri Goyal asked that flagship programs of the government such as Startup India, Make in India, district as export hubs etc. be converged with the vision of ODOP. He asked all the Ministries of GoI to help further expand the mandate of ODOP through complementary initiatives.

The Minister asked Ministries, Departments and other government bodies to consider ODOP products exclusively for gifting purposes both within and outside India. He opined that the G20 summit which is set to take place in India soon is a great opportunity to showcase ODOP Products. He suggested that the delegates of G20 be given an exposure to ODOP products through well curated exhibitions of good quality ODOP products and tours of craft villages.

Shri Goyal also called upon students of eminent institutions like NIFT, NID and IIFT to find creative methods to amplify ODOP. The Minister also dwelt upon the need to brand ODOP products, most of which are natural and eco-friendly as sustainable and good for the planet.  In this context, Shri Goyal also called for expansion of the list of GI tagged products by simplifying, streamlining and fast tracking the GI tagging process.

The Minister also called for the expansion of availability of genuine ODOP products to counter fakes in the market and said that strict action must be taken against those who sell counterfeit products. For arts and crafts that are in crisis because of the less number of artisans engaged in their production, Shri Goyal said that more and more artisans must be trained to take up these crafts so that they may be safeguarded.

Shri Goyal proposed 5 action agendas to make ODOP a true game changer. He asked that the ODOP catalog be made exhaustive to serve as a one stop gifting destination for Ministries, Missions, State Governments and Industry. He added that the catalogue must serve as a high quality database of high quality suppliers. He asked states to get ODOP products catalogued in a manner that it improves access and selection and to undertake Search Engine Optimization.

Speaking of the need to improve packaging, Shri Goyal said that each ODOP product has a unique story and characteristics which should be highlighted.  Shri Goyal said that there was a need to hold training sessions to help weavers/artisans with GeM onboarding and cataloguing. He opined that Common Service Centres and Post Offices could be leveraged to provide this training.

Calling for greater international engagement, the Minister said that ODOP must form a part of international exhibitions, events, meetings and conferences. He asked Indian Missions to ensure that ODOP products received international attention.

The Minister asked that for festivals and celebrations, people of the nation must consider gifting atleast one ODOP product to friends and family. I believe this is an opportune time to plan and execute this project, in order to realize our collective vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in this Amrit Kaal, he said.

The ODOP storefront on GeM went live with 75 categories covering products acrossStates and UTs. The purpose of the storefront is to enable direct procurement of ODOP products for gifting/ office use by various line ministries, government bodies, and foreign missions abroad. This will enable an international audience for India’s rich and diverse products.

Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mr. Anurag Jain, who was also present at the launch, highlighted the ways in which the ODOP initiative is working to transform the lives of artisans, women, craftsmen, and farmers. He also spoke about the various programs being undertaken including exhibitions, buyer-seller meets, and registration drives.

Several Secretaries to the Government of India, senior State and UT government officials, several Industry Associations and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.

Union Minister of Chemical and Fertilizers, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya addressed the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), here today. Shri Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers and New & Renewable Energy graced the occasion as guest of honour.

Addressing the event, Dr Mandaviya congratulated NPPA for working more as a facilitator, not merely as a regulator. He highlighted their noteworthy contribution towards ensuring availability and affordability of medicines in the last 25 years.

The Union Minister also praised the Indian Industries for continuously producing quality products. He urged them to produce medicines and bring innovative research with the goal of ensuring good health and well-being of the people, not only for commercial purpose.

Dr Mandaviya assured Indian pharma companies of continuous support from the govt. He highlighted the PLI 1 and PLI 2 schemes for the industries, which has helped in bringing about indigenous manufacturing of many critical APIs in the country. He also recalled the positive contribution of Indian pharma companies during the Covid crisis and highlighted the importance of cooperation and collaboration between the govt and industry in bringing quality healthcare to the masses

Shri Bhagwanth Khuba praised NPPA for being in service of the country and the Pharma sector successfully for the last 25 years. He stated that “NPPA ensures availability of affordable medicines without harming the interests of the industry”. He also expressed his optimism that with the launch of the two applications today, NPPA is expected to further carry on its work in a smooth and efficient manner in the coming years”.

At the inaugural session, Integrated Pharmaceutical Database Management System 2.0 (IPDMS 2.0) and Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App were launched.

IPDMS 2.0 is an integrated responsive cloud based application developed by NPPA with technical support from Centre for Advance Computing (C-DAC). It is envisaged to optimize synergies in operations in order to promote Government’s thrust on ‘Ease of Doing Business’ as it would provide a single window for submissions of various forms as mandated under Drug Price Control Order (DPCO),2013. It would also enable paperless functioning of NPPA and facilitate the stakeholders to connect with National Pharma Pricing Regulator from across the country.

Pharma Sahi Daam 2.0 App will have updated features like speech recognition; availability in Hindi and English; share button and bookmarking medicines.  This version of Pharma Sahi Daam also has facility for launching complaints by consumer through the consumer complaint handling module. The App will be available in both iOS and Android versions.

A publication titled ‘An overview of Drug Pricing @ NPPA 25 year Odyssey’was also launched at the inaugural session.  The publication chronicles not only the 25 year journey of NPPA but also highlights the evolution of the drug regulatory system in the country with special emphasis on pricing regulation.

Earlier, Shri Kamlesh Pant, Chairman, NPPA had delivered the welcome address. Ms S Aparna, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals,and Dr. Vinod Kotwal, Member Secretary, NPPA were present in the event.

Stakeholders from the pharmaceutical and MedTech devices industry, Central and State Governments, Price Monitoring and Resource Units, Civil Society, patient advocacy groups, Pharmaceutical Research and Academic Institutions, Think-Tanks and media representatives from all over the country were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 4400 crore in Bhuj. Earlier, he also inaugurated Smriti Van Memorial in Bhuj district.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that Smriti Van Memorial in Bhuj and Veer Bal Smarak at Anjar are the symbols of shared pain of Kutch, Gujarat and the entire country. He recalled when the concept of Anjar Memorial came up and a resolution was taken for completing the memorial via voluntary work, ‘Kar Seva’. He said that these memorials are being dedicated with a heavy heart in the remembrance of the lives lost in the devastating earthquake. He also thanked the people for their warm welcome today.

He recalled many emotions that went through his heart today and said with all humility that in commemorating the departed souls, Smriti Van Memorial is at par with 9/11 memorial and Hiroshima Memorial. He asked people and school children to keep visiting the memorial so that the balance and behaviour of  nature remains clear to everyone.

The Prime Minister recalled the eve of the devastating earthquake. He said “I remember when the earthquake happened, I reached here on the second day itself. I was not the Chief Minister then, I was a simple party worker. I didn’t know how, and how many people I would be able to help. But I decided that I will be here among you all in that hour of grief. And, when I became Chief Minister, the experience of service helped me a lot.” He recalled his deep and long association with the region, and remembered and paid tribute to people with whom he worked during the crisis.

The Prime Minister continued “Kutch has always had one specialty, which I often discuss. Even if a person sows a dream while walking on the way here, then the whole of Kutch gets involved in making it a banyan tree. These sacraments of Kutch proved every apprehension, every assessment wrong. There were many who said that now Kutch will never be able to stand on its feet. But today the people of Kutch have completely changed the scenario here.” He recalled that the first Diwali after the earthquake, he and his state cabinet colleagues spent in the area in solidarity with the people. He said that in that hour of challenge, we proclaimed that we will turn disaster into opportunity (‘aapda se awasar’). “When I say from the ramparts of the Red Fort that India will be a developed country by 2047, you can see that amidst death and disaster, we made some resolutions and we realized them today. Similarly, what we resolve today, we will surely realize in 2047”, he said

Highlighting the incredible work done since its complete devastation in 2001, the Prime  Minister said that Krantiguru Shyamji Krishnavarma University was formed in 2003 in Kutch, while more than 35 new colleges have also been established. He also talked about earthquake proof district hospitals and more than 200 functional clinics in the area and every household gets clean water of holy Narmada, a far cry from the days of water scarcity in those days. He elaborated on the steps of ensuring water security in the region. He said that due to the blessings of the people of the Kutch, all the key areas have been connected with Narmada water. “Kutch Bhuj Canal will benefit the people and farmers of the region”, he said. He also congratulated Kutch for becoming number one fruit producing district of entire Gujarat. He lauded the people for making unprecedented strides in cattle rearing and milk production. “Kutch has not only picked itself up but has taken the entire Gujarat to new heights”, he added.

The Prime Minister recalled the time when Gujarat  was hit with one crisis after another. He said, “While Gujarat was dealing with the natural calamity, the period of conspiracies started. In order to defame Gujarat in the country and in the world, one after another conspiracy was hatched to stop the investment here.” The Prime Minister highlighted how even with such a situation at hand, Gujarat became the first state in the country to enact a Disaster Management Act. “With the inspiration of this act, a similar law was made for the whole country. This act helped every government in the country during the pandemic”, he added. He continued that ignoring all the efforts for defaming Gujarat and defying the conspiracies, Gujarat charted a new industrial path. Kutch was one of the big beneficiaries of that.

He said that Kutch has the largest cement plants in the world today. Kutch is second in the world regarding welding pipe manufacturing. World’s second largest textile plant is in Kutch. Asia’s first SEZ came up in Kutch. Kandla and Mundra ports handle 30 per cent of India’s cargo and it produces 30 per cent salt for the country. Kutch produces 2500 MW power generated by solar and wind energy and the largest solar hybrid park is coming up in Kutch. The Prime Minister further added that Gujarat has a big role to play in the Green House campaign that is going on in the country today. Similarly, when Gujarat makes its mark as the Green House Capital of the world, Kutch will contribute a lot to it.

Recalling one of the Panch Pran – pride in our heritage, that he proclaimed from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister highlighted the prosperity and richness of Kutch. The Prime Minister remarked upon the expertise in city building of the Dholavira. He said, “Dholavira has been given the status of World Heritage Site only last year. Each brick of Dholavira shows the skills, knowledge and science of our ancestors.” Similarly, honouring the freedom fighters who were ignored for long is also part of taking pride in one’s heritage. He recalled the privilege of bringing back the remains of Shyamji Krishna Varma. Memorial at Mandvi and Statue of Unity are also major steps in this regard, he said.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the development of Kutch is a perfect example of a meaningful change with ‘Sabka Prayas’. “Kutch is not just a place, but it is a spirit, a living feeling. It is this spirit which shows us the way to the fulfillment of the colossal resolutions of the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal”, the Prime Minister said.

Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, Member of Parliament, Shri C R Patil and Shri Vinod L Chavda, Speaker of Gujarat Legislative Assembly, Dr Nimaben Acharya, State Ministers Kiritsinh Vaghela and Jitubhai Chaudhary were among those present on the occasion.

Details of the projects

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Smriti Van Memorial in Bhuj district. Envisioned by the Prime Minister, Smriti Van is a one of its kind initiative. It has been built in an area of around 470 acre to celebrate the spirit of resilience shown by the people after the death of around 13,000 people who had lost their lives during the 2001 earthquake which had its epicentre in Bhuj. The Memorial carries names of the people who had lost their lives during the earthquake.

The state of the art Smriti Van Earthquake Museum is segregated in seven blocks based on seven themes: Rebirth, Rediscover, Restore, Rebuild, Rethink, Relive and Renew. The first block is based on the theme Rebirth depicting Earth’s evolution and ability of the earth to overcome every time. The second block showcases Gujarat’s topography and various natural disasters that the state is vulnerable to. The third block  takes one back to the immediate aftermath  after the 2001 earthquake. Galleries in this block address the massive relief effort undertaken by individuals as well as organisations. The fourth block showcases Gujarat’s rebuilding initiatives and success stories post 2001 earthquake. The fifth block prompts the visitor to think and learn about different types of  disasters and future readiness for any type of disaster at any time. The sixth block helps us to relive the experience of an earthquake with the help of a simulator. The experience is designed in a 5D simulator and is meant to give the visitor the ground reality of an event at this scale. The seventh block provides people with a space for remembrance where they can pay homage to the lost souls.

The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs 4400 crore in Bhuj. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Kachchh Branch Canal of Sardar Sarovar Project. The total length of the Canal is around 357 km. A part of the canal was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in 2017 and the remaining part is being inaugurated now. Canal would help in providing irrigation facilities in Kachchh and drinking water in all 948 villages and 10  towns of the Kachchh district. Prime Minister will inaugurate various other projects as well including New Automatic Milk Processing and Packing Plant of Sarhad Dairy; Regional Science Centre, Bhuj; Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Convention Centre at Gandhidham; Veer Bal Smarak at Anjar; Bhuj 2 Substation at Nakhatrana etc. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various projects worth over Rs. 1500 crores as well, including the Bhuj- Bhimasar Road.

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah addressed the First convocation of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar today. He also inaugurated various facilities at the NFSU campus. On this occasion the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court Justice Arvind Kumar, the Minister of Law of Gujarat Shri Rajendra Trivedi, the Union Home Secretary and the Vice Chancellor of the NFSU Dr. J.M. Vyas and many other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Congratulating the students attending the Convocation, Shri Amit Shah said this day is very important for the students as they are going into society after receiving their Degrees from the world’s first Forensic Science University. He said 1,132 students including 91 foreign students from 21 countries are going into society as experts in different fields of forensic science. The Union Home Minister expressed confidence that students pursuing their Degree would play an important role in fulfilling the purpose for which the Forensic Science University was established.

The Union Home Minister said along with the Convocation ceremony, a new campus and three Centres of Excellence were inaugurated. The way in which the University’s acceptance is increasing around the world, within a decade, this University will ensure that it becomes the best in the world. Shri Shah said the three Centres of Excellence that have been set up will strengthen students, as well as the judicial system. The Centre of Excellence in DNA will emerge as the world’s most updated DNA centre and the Criminal Justice System will greatly benefit from the Centre of Excellence in Cyber ​​Security and the Centre of Excellence in Investigative and Forensic Psychology. These three centres will become major centres for teaching, training and consultancy along with research and development and India will be the world’s hub in forensic science research. He said students studying at this University through these three centres and those receiving their degrees today shall have a big opportunity to conduct research.

Shri Amit Shah said when Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002-2003, it was his vision that evidence for conviction and punishment should increase  and conviction rates will not increase so long as forensic science evidence is not placed before courts. That is why he decided to make the Gujarat Forensic Science Laboratory independent from the Police Department as well as strengthen it and made it the best forensic science lab in the country. Later the Gujarat Forensic Science University was established fortrained man power and from that the National Forensic Science University was started. When Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he once again decided to open the National Forensic Science University to strengthen the criminal justice system across the country and to provide the required number of experts in forensic science.

The Union Home Minister said under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India will be making radical changes in the IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act, as after Independence no one has seen these laws from an Indian perspective. He said these laws need to be remade from the point of view of an Independent India, and therefore the government will be bringing changes to these three Acts after discussing these with a number of people. Forensic visits and forensic evidence in all offenses punishable with more than 6 years will be made mandatory and legal. He said for this, trained man power and their training would also have to be arranged. Shri Shah said the National Forensic Science University has been established with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and within a short period this University has opened its campuses in many States. Apart from Gujarat, its campuses have been opened in Bhopal, Goa, Tripura, Manipur and Guwahati, while discussions are on going in Pune and Karnataka and when all these campuses work together, the nation will have trained manpower.

The Union Home Minister said that to strengthen forensic science in, the government is laying the main emphasis on research on the four pillars of forensic infrastructure, forensic expert man power, forensic technology and forensic science so that India can be the world leader in this field. He said in order to strengthen the infrastructure of forensic science, the Government of India under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi is supporting many States and it is expected that by 2025, the setting up of a campus of the National Forensic Science University in every State will be completed. The Union Home Minister said much work has also taken place to provide forensic science lab technology. Realizing the vision of a self-reliant India, two forensic science mobile labs have been established, and both labs have been made by Indian companies and they are completely indigenous. These labs are also the most modern in the world. He said such mobile labs would become available in every district. Shri Shah said it is only by setting up forensic science laboratories in every State, changes in IPC, CrPC and Evidence Act would be taken to a decisive conclusion. The Union Home Minister said this is not the age of third degree, and the guilty will be given punishments on the basis of scientific evidence, and the proof of conviction will also increase.

Shri Amit Shah said one of the main points of the New Education Policy announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to connect the youth with the development of the country by creating new types of programmes in universities by keeping the future needs of the country in mind. The National Forensic Science University fulfils this point. He said the New Education Policy lays great emphasis on imparting both knowledge and skills to the youth based on future needs. He said the National Forensic University has been given the status of an Institution of National Importance so that it is accepted across the country and students from all States receive equal educational opportunities. He said more than 70 countries and many organizations have signed more than 158 MoUs with the Forensic Science University, which is a matter of great pride.

The Union Home Minister said the National Forensic Science University is not only creating experts in forensic science, but is also making preparations for training all organs of the criminal justice system including police officers, public prosecutors and persons working in the judiciary. He said till now the training more than 28,000 officers associated with the Criminal Justice System has been completed at this University. Shri Shah said we are moving forward with the goal of a US $ 5 trillion economy and under the leadership of Shri Naarendra Modi, and India is going to be a global manufacturing hub.  In this situation, many challenges such as narcotics, counterfeit currency and cyber attacks are emerging. Forensic science will have to be strengthened and forensic science students will have a very important contribution in dealing with these challenges. He said the government aims to integrate the criminal justice system with the Forensic Science University so that conviction rates can be made better than those of developed countries.

Shri Amit Shah said a legal framework would be created to provide forensic mobile investigation facilities in every district and to maintain independence and impartiality of investigation. He said the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken several initiatives in forensic science from the Directorate of Forensic Science Service, the National Forensic Science University to the launch of National Judicial Science. Simultaneously, strengthening of the CFSL, laying an infrastructure web for DNA tests across the country and establishment of the Indian Cyber ​​Crime Coordination Centre have also been taken. Under the NAFIS, the fingerprint data of about 2 crore criminals across the country have been made available online, the Nirbhaya Fund has created a variety of facilities in cases of sexual abuse and atrocities against women.

The Union Home Minister said this is also an important day for the students as they are receiving their Degrees in the year Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. As beautiful, interesting and contemplative as our journey of 75 years is, even more painful was our struggle for Freedom. He said that the youth should not forget even for a moment, our great Freedom Fighters who sacrificed everything for India’s Freedom. If students remember this, then they will be able to contribute significantly to nation’s development as well as their own development. Shri Shah said the Degrees awarded today will not only benefit students, but if they are used to bring improvement of society and social reform, then it will benefit the country. Shri Shah quoting Mahatma Gandhi, said the importance of education is only when its fragrance spreads all around and makes society fragrant as a whole.

Shri Amit Shah told the students present at the Convocation ceremony that they must keep working for up-gradation of society and the system. The top priority for students receiving their Degrees should be to work for themselves as well as for others and the country as this gives more satisfaction and joy. Urging the students and youth to never forget their Mother Tongue, the Home Minister said one should study in any language but should speak their Mother Tongue at home, and this effort will help the country a long way. He said the government is now promoting education in Mother Tongues in technical courses including medical and engineering. Shri Shah said students and the youth should preserve their Mother Tongues ​​and speak, write and read in their own languages at home.