The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacted and addressed the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video conferencing today. During the programme, the Prime Minister flagged off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to flag off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in the five states of  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, and remarked that the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ vehicle is now reaching all parts of the country. In its one-month journey, the Prime Minister informed that VBSY has reached thousands of villages as well as 1500 cities which include smaller cities and towns. Noting that the VBSY could not begin earlier due to the Model Code of Conduct during elections, the Prime Minister urged the newly elected governments of the five states to rapidly expand the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra in their state.

The Prime Minister underlined the Jan Andolan aspect of Viksit Bharat Yatra Sankalp. “Even though Modi has flagged off the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra, the truth is that today the countrymen have taken charge of it”, he said. He noted the enthusiasm and competition for welcoming the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee ki Gadi’ during his interaction with the beneficiaries.

Noting that it is the fourth occasion when the Prime Minister has connected with the journey of VBSY, he mentioned interacting with people from rural areas where he spoke about PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, natural farming, aspects of rural economy, and making India’s villages developed. Noting the involvement of a large number of people from urban areas in today’s program, PM Modi said that today’s focus will be on urban development.

The Prime Minister said, “Our cities have a huge role in the determination of a developed India. Whatever development took place for a long time after independence, its scope was limited to some big cities of the country. But today we are focusing on the development of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in the country. Giving strength. Hundreds of small cities of the country are going to strengthen the grand edifice of developed India.” In this regard, he gave examples of AMRUT Mission And Smart City Mission that are upgrading basic facilities in the small cities. These upgrades are directly impacting ease of living, ease of travel and ease of doing business. Poor, neo-middle class, middle class or rich people, all are getting the benefit of these enhanced facilities, said the Prime Minister.

“Government is focussed on reducing your issues as a family member”, the Prime Minister remarked. Highlighting the assistance provided by the government during the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister mentioned the disbursal of thousands of crores of rupees into the bank accounts of 20 crore women, ensuring free covid vaccine, free ration for poor families, and assistance worth lakhs of crores to small businesses. “Modi’s guarantee begins when expectations from others cease”, the Prime Minister remarked. PM Modi also mentioned connecting the street vendors and hawkers to the banking system who can now avail of loans easily under the PM SVANidhi Yojna. Noting that more than 50 lakh people have availed the bank’s assistance under PM SVANidhi Yojna so far, the Prime Minister informed that 1.25 lakh people have applied for PM SVANidhi through the VBSY. “More than 75 percent of the beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Yojana are members of Dalit, backward and tribal communities including about 45 percent women beneficiaries”, the Prime Minister said adding that Modi’s guarantee is useful for those who did not have any guarantee for the bank itself.

The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to social security for urban dwellers. He elaborated on the expanding security net for the people in the urban areas. Atal Pension Scheme has 6 crore subscribers ensuring 5 thousand rupees monthly pension after the age of 60. PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Yojana are providing life cover up to 2 lakh rupees. Claims worth 17 thousand crore have already been settled under these schemes, he informed. He requested everyone to get registered with these schemes and strengthen their security shield.

“Government is committed to saving money for urban families, be it exemption in income tax or low-cost treatment”, the Prime Minister said. Speaking about the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, the Prime Minister highlighted the inclusion of crores of urban poor where the Ayushman Card has helped them save Rs 1 lakh crore on medical expenses. He also mentioned the Jan Aushadhi Kendras where medicines are made available at an 80 percent discount, thereby helping save more than Rs 25,000 crores for the poor and middle class living in cities. The Prime Minister also informed about the government’s decision to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 25,000. Shri Modi touched upon the revolution of LED bulbs in the country under the Ujaala Scheme which has significantly reduced the electricity bills for urban families.

The Prime Minister also mentioned how the One Nation One Ration Card is helping migrant laborers. He also informed that in the last 9 years, more than 4 crore housing units have been given to poor families, one core of which was provided to urban poor beneficiaries. “Our government is also providing every possible help to middle-class families in fulfilling their dream of owning a house,” he said, mentioning the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, efforts to ensure reasonable rents for those who do not have houses of their own and special complexes for migrant laborers.

The Prime Minister said, “Public transport is another major means of providing a better life to the poor and middle-class families in cities. The work that has been done for modern public transport in the last 10 years is incomparable” He informed that 15 new cities got Metro service in the last 10 years as work on Metro is either complete or underway in 27 cities. Under PM -Ebus Seva Abhiyan electric buses are being run in many cities. “Just two-three days ago, the Central Government introduced 500 new electric buses in Delhi also. Now the number of electric buses run by the Central Government in Delhi has crossed 1300”, he informed .

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister noted that the cities are great mediums to empower both the youth and women and said, “‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ vehicle is also empowering both youth power and women.” He urged everyone to take maximum advantage of VBSY and take the resolve of a Viskit Bharat forward.

Background

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is being undertaken across the country with the aim of attaining saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.

Thousands of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra beneficiaries from across the country joined the event. A large number of Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs and local-level representatives also joined the program.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah addressed Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Sanand, Gujarat today.

On this occasion, Shri Amit Shah said that the Vikist Bharat Sankalp Yatra is a journey to take a pledge that India will be fully developed when the country will complete 100 years of independence in 2047. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, there have been significant changes in every sector in the country in the last 10 years.

He said that the Modi government has ensured the security of the country. Home Minister said that the dream of abrogating Article 370 from Kashmir was unfulfilled since the time of Sardar Patel and Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Prime Minister Modi has worked to complete it. He said that a grand Ram temple is being built under the leadership of Modi ji. He added that during the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji our Chandrayaan reached the moon and our tricolor was hoisted.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that for the first time in 75 years after independence, the country’s economy has become very strong and industrial development has been the highest. He said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has done the work of raising the standard of living of crores of poor people of the country. Shri Shah said that even here in Changodar, the Narendra Modi government has done the work of providing tap water to every house. He said that Prime Minister Modi ji has made arrangements to connect every village by road, provide electricity to every house, provide bank account to every house and give five kg of free food grains per month to every poor.

Shri Amit Shah said that in the last 75 years, the country has made a lot of progress in many fields, but all those who sacrificed for independence had fought to make India the first in the world in every field. He said that the time has now come to build the India of dreams of the martyrs who made their supreme sacrifice for the country. Shri Shah said that when India completes 100 years of independence, there should not be a single person in the country who does not have a gas cylinder, toilet, food, electricity in house; no one should be illiterate, this program is to take a resolution to help create such a developed India.

Union Home Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set the target of creating 2 crore ‘Lakhpati Didi’ in the country. He said that once this scheme successfully reaches every village of the country, then there will be true change in India. He added that by increasing the income of the poor sisters of the country, many small problems in their lives will be eliminated and a similar system has been envisioned in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Shri Shah said that there is a ‘Modi guarantee’ for all the public welfare schemes run by the government. He said that the benefits of a double engine government have been seen in Gujarat in the form of the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Center and Bhupendra Patel in the state. Shri Shah said that the Narendra Modi government has built good roads and provided 24-hour electricity in Gujarat. He said the tradition of peace, development, prosperity and making the poorest of the poor self-reliant that Shri Narendra Modi ji has created in Gujarat, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra will carry forward the same tradition.

The Union Minister of Railways, Communications & Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday conferred the ‘Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar’ (AVRSP) on 100 Railway Employees from various Zones/Divisions, Production Units & Railway PSUs all over the country for their outstanding services. He also presented 21 Shields for promoting best practices among Railway employees. The Awards/Shields were presented at the 68th Railway Week Central Function, organised at Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. Chairperson & CEO and Members of Railway Board, General Managers of Zonal Railways and heads of Production Units of Railways and PSUs of Railways were present on the occasion.

Addressing the august gathering after conferring the awards and shields, the Union Minister for Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw congratulated all the awardees for their exceptional work and effort. He said “Transformative work is going on at full pace in Railways under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. More electrification has been done in 9.5 years than in the past 40 years. The big picture behind this transformation is, when in 2015 Prime Minister merged the Rail Budget with General Budget, interest/ capital charge which had to be paid earlier on the rail grant was not needed and it removed all financial hindrances for the railways. Lack of Investment, which was the biggest problem for railways, is now a thing of the past.”

The Union Minister asserted that “People’s expectations with the railways is being fulfilled now. PM often says this is the golden period of railways and you all are the strength behind this. This commitment of all railway employees makes everyone feel proud as we are all doing this for our nation. Railway infrastructure is being developed at record speed and scale. Several new things are happening which are helping achieve a strategic goal.”

Talking about the massive potential savings in logistics costs through Railways, Shri Vaishnaw said “Such transportation, if done by road, involves higher costs along with fuel cost. As per an estimate, there will be 3000 million tonnes of new cargo, and if railway gets half of it then it will potentially save 16,000 crore litre of fuel and Rs. 1,28,000 crore will be saved through this which will be a big achievement and saving for the nation.”

Elaborating on the economic growth of the nation, the Union Minister said that in 2014, India was on 10th spot in global economies while in 2004, India was already in the 10th spot and therefore, it was a lost decade. Now, India is at the 5th spot and in the coming years, under the leadership and vision of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, India will soon achieve the position of 3^rd largest economy in the world. He further added “We should all change the colonial mindset and by 2027 we will become one of the top three. Railways will play a vital role in India’s growth journey. We are saving huge amounts in logistics costs alone. We are all lucky that we have a PM who is so emotionally attached with railways. PM has often shared so many experiences with me, that it can only come from someone who has in depth knowledge about the functioning of the Railways. He has so much commitment towards the railways, and all railway employees are part of a very committed, dedicated team which will continue to work towards development of the nation. You are all contributing highly to the building of the nation and I hope you will continue working like this with the same efficiency, motivation and dedication in the future too.” Shri Vaishnaw concluded.

In her welcome remarks, the Chairperson, Railway Board, Ms. Jaya Varma Sinha said that Indian Railways has achieved remarkable feats in the past few years, such as 34 new Vande Bharat trains for transporting passengers, 1309 stations redevelopment under Amrit Bharat which will improve overall experience and save time for passengers. Talking about Rail safety, the CRB said advance technology is being used by railways to improve overall safety including kavach which is being implemented with speed and scale. Talking about the future, she said there are lots of novel initiatives for the future which we will implement, including Mission 3000 million tonnes of freight; increasing speed in GQGD; all Unconnected regions to be connected soon including north east and Jammu Kashmir. Congratulating the awardees, Ms. Sinha said that “Excellence and commitment of all these awardees is taking railways to new heights”. “Railways will play a key role in making India ‘Viksit bharat’ or a developed nation” she added.

A short documentary on the transformation journey of Indian Railways was played and a cultural programme was also organised including a mesmerizing dance performance.

Click Here to View the List of Shield Winners – 2023:

Click Here to View the Final List of Awardees:

Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda paid a visit to the Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology at Garh Khatanga in Ranchi, and was accorded a traditional welcome upon arrival by tribal children. Shri Arjun Munda also visited ICAR research complex for Eastern Region and interacted with Agro entrepreneurs and agricultural scientists at the National Institute of Secondary Agriculture.

At the Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Shri Arjun Munda reviewed the various activities of the Institute for better agricultural production along with Member of Parliament representing Ranchi Lok Sabha Constituency Shri Sanjay Seth and Director Dr. Sujay Rakshit.

In his address Shri Arjun Munda said that our country resides in its villages and agriculture is a major source of livelihood for rural people. Agricultural growth has an intimate connection with rural development. He said that the Institute is working with a broader vision of harnessing the potential of microbial biotechnology in an integrated manner to accelerate the pace of agricultural growth.

At ICAR research complex for Eastern Region, minister interacted with the Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO’S) and the local Farmers and expressed his gratitude to the farmers who contribute a lot towards the country’s economy. The country has become self-reliant in food production due to the hard work of our farmers and technologies developed by the agricultural scientists like the introduction of agricultural drones being utilised for additional activities like crop spraying and crop monitoring.

Shri Munda urged the farming community to take advantages of several important schemes launched by the Government like, PM Fasal Bima and PM Kisan Samridhi.

While  interacting  with Agro entrepreneurs and agricultural scientists at the National Institute of Secondary Agriculture, Shri Munda had a detailed discussion about the different activities of the Institute regarding the challenges and opportunities of Lac cultivation, processing and export to other countries.

The state of Jharkhand ranks first in the country for production of lacquer, and the weather in Jharkhand is also suitable for Lac cultivation.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Surat in Gujarat and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on 17-18 December. On 17th December, at around 10:45 AM, Prime Minister will inaugurate the New Integrated Terminal Building at Surat Airport. At around 11:15 AM, Prime Minister will inaugurate the Surat Diamond Bourse. Thereafter, he will travel to Varanasi, and at around 3:30 PM, he will participate in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. At around 5:15 PM, he will inaugurate Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 at Namo Ghat.

On 18th December, at around 10:45 AM, Prime Minister will visit Swarved Mahamandir, which will be followed by its inauguration in a public function at around 11:30 AM. At around 1 PM, Prime Minister will participate in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. Thereafter, in a public function, at around 2:15 PM, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs. 19,150 crores.

PM in Surat

Prime Minister will inaugurate the New Integrated Terminal Building of Surat Airport. The Terminal building is equipped to handle 1200 Domestic passengers and 600 International passengers during peak hours and has provision for further increasing the peak hour capacity to 3000 passengers with annual handling capacity increasing to 55 lakh passengers. The terminal building, as it is the gateway to Surat City, has been designed with its local culture and heritage ensuring that the essence should reflect both in interior and exterior, creating a sense of place for the visitors. The façade of the upgraded terminal building aims to enrich the passenger experience with the rich and traditional woodwork of the old houses of the ‘Rander’ region of Surat City. The GRIHA IV compliant New Terminal Building of the airport is equipped with various sustainability features like Double Insulated Roofing System, Canopies for energy saving, Low Heat Gain Double Glazing Unit, Rain Water Harvesting, water treatment plant, Sewage treatment plant and use of recycled water for landscaping and solar power plant among others.

PM will also inaugurate Surat Diamond Bourse. It will be the World’s largest and modern centre for international diamond and jewellery business. It will be a global centre for trading of both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery. Bourse will comprise state of the art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for Import – Export; Jewellery mall for retail jewellery business and  facility of International Banking and Safe Vaults.

PM in Varanasi

On 17th December, Prime Minister will participate in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra at Cutting Memorial School ground, Varanasi. There, Prime Minister will interact with the beneficiaries of various government schemes such as PM Awas, PM SWANidhi, PM Ujjwala among others

In line with his vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Prime Minister will inaugurate Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 at Namo Ghat. On the occasion, Prime Minister will  also flag off the Kanyakumari – Varanasi Tamil Sangamam train.

On 18th December, Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly built SwarVed Mahamandir in Umaraha, Varanasi.  He will also address devotees of Mahamandir on the occasion

After that, Prime Minister will participate in Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Sewapuri, a rural area of his constituency. He will also witness some live sports events by participants of Kashi Sansad Khel Pratiyogita 2023. After that, he will also interact with the winners of the event. He will also interact with beneficiaries of various government schemes during the event.

In the last nine years, Prime Minister has put a special focus on transforming the landscape of Varanasi and enhancing the ease of living for the people living in Varanasi and adjoining regions. Taking another step in this direction, Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects costing around  Rs. 19,150 crore.

Prime Minister will inaugurate New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar-New Bhaupur Dedicated Freight Corridor Project built at a cost of  around Rs. 10,900 crore. Other railway projects which will be inaugurated include Ballia-Ghazipur City rail line doubling project; Indara-Dohrighat rail line gauge conversion project, among others.

Prime Minister will  flag off Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train and a pair of Long Haul goods trains at the newly inaugurated Dedicated Freight Corridor. He will also flag off the 10,000th locomotive made by Banaras Locomotive Works.

Prime Minister will inaugurate green-field Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara road along with two ROBs at a cost of more than Rs 370 crore. It will ease the traffic moment between north and south part of Varanasi city and will enhance visitors convenience. Further key projects to be inaugurated by Prime Minister include strengthening and widening of 20 roads; Sangam Ghat road in Kaithi village and construction of residential buildings in Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital.

Additionally, to cater the housing needs of police personnel, two 200 and 150 bed multi-storey barrack buildings in Police line and PAC Bhullanpur, smart bus shelters built at 9 locations and 132 KW substation built at Alaipur will also be inaugurated by Prime Minister.

Under the Smart City Mission, a website for detailed tourist information and the Unified Tourist Pass System will be launched by Prime Minister. The unified pass will provide single platform ticket booking for Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Ganga Cruise, and Sarnath’s light and sound show, offering integrated QR code services.

Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of various projects worth more than Rs. 6500 crore. In order to increase the production of non-renewable energy resources, Prime Minister will lay the foundation of an 800 MW solar park in Chitrakoot district at a cost of around Rs. 4000 crore. To augment the petroleum supply chain, he will lay the foundation of the construction of a new petroleum oil terminal at Mirzapur to be built at a cost of over Rs. 1050 crore.

Other projects whose foundation stone will be laid by Prime Minister include widening of Varanasi-Bhadohi NH 731 B (Package-2) at a cost of over Rs. 900 crore; 69 rural drinking water schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission at a cost of Rs. 280 Crore; construction of 150 bed capacity Critical Care Unit in BHU Trauma Center; redevelopment work of 8 Ganga Ghats, construction work of Divyang residential secondary school among others.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today called Kashi Tamil Sangamam forum  a testament to the unity and diversity of India, strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

Kashi once again is preparing to welcome people for Kashi Tamil Sangamam, in a celebration  of the rich cultures, Shri Modi further added.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam is to be held from 17th to the 30th of December 2023 in Varanasi.

Responding to the X post of Kashi Tamil Sangamam, the Prime Minister posted on X;

There is immense enthusiasm as Kashi once again prepares to welcome people for @KTSangamam, a celebration of rich cultures. This forum is a testament to the unity and diversity of India, strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.’”

“காசி மீண்டும் ஒருமுறை   பழமையான கலாச்சாரங்களின் கொண்டாட்டமான @KTSangamam திற்கு மக்களை உற்சாகமாக வரவேற்க தயாராகிறது. இந்நிகழ்வு இந்தியாவின் ஒற்றுமை மற்றும் பன்முகத்தன்மைக்கு ஒரு  சான்றாகவும் ‘ஒரே பாரதம் உன்னத பாரதம்’ உணர்வையும் வலுப்படுத்துகிறது.”

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda inaugurated ASEAN-India Millet Festival today at New Delhi. Ministers of States for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Kailash Choudhary and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje and Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Manoj Ahuja were also present in the occasion. In line with the International Year of Millets, the festival aims to increase awareness and establish a larger market for millet and millet based products.

Addressing the delegates from India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam attending the festival, Union Minister Shri Arjun Munda highlighted the government policies and market innovations to promote the production and consumption of grains. Shri Munda said that millet provides innumerable benefits to farmers, consumers and the environment and makes an important contribution to global food-nutrition security.  Highlighting the socio-economic, nutritional and climate benefits associated with its increased consumption, Shri Munda stated that this program reflects the vibrancy of millets and its immense potential in transforming agriculture and nutrition. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has played an important role in organizing the mega event of International Millets Year 2023. This concerted effort transcended boundaries and transformed the event into a global milestone of unparalleled significance. Prime Minister Shri Modi’s deep understanding of sustainable agriculture and nutrition security has been the driving force behind India’s proactive progress in placing food at the forefront of the global agenda. Celebration of the International Year of Millets has been important in creating awareness about millet to ensure food security and better nutrition. This has led to investment in extension services along with research and development, which motivates stakeholders to increase the productivity, quality and associated production methods of grain. In the face of global challenges of climate change, the importance of grains increases even more. Millet is an ancient grain, the specialty of millet is that it is small, but nutritious and provides strength to the body. Millet has the power to revolutionize our approach to agriculture, climate and food security.

Union Minister Shri Munda said that millet is not only the bearer of a rich cultural heritage but also offers a sustainable solution that matches our current concerns. The ability of grains to address key Sustainable Development Goals, including zero hunger, good health and well-being, sustainable consumption and production, and climate action, positions it as indispensable resources for developing countries. He said that millet has the ability to thrive in diverse environments, requiring minimum resources while providing maximum nutritional benefits. Adopting millet in the diet is not just about nourishing yourself; rather, it is about nourishing the earth, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and ensuring a healthier, more secure future for future generations. Shri Munda said that we should recognize the impact it has on our farmers, because grains are not just crops; they are a beacon of hope for our farming communities, which provides stability in uncertain climate and empowers our farmers with favorable yields and sustainable income. Known for its minimal water requirements, low carbon footprint and ability to thrive in drought conditions, buck wheat truly meets the criteria of climate friendly crops. In view of the increasing demand for vegetarian, gluten free food, millet offers alternative food systems. Millet is nature’s gift to humanity, as well as a promising source of food for a sustainable future.

Shri Munda said that the Government of India has launched massive campaigns and positioned millet as a better solution to tackle malnutrition, mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and promote the adoption of sustainable farming practices.  Ministry of Agriculture is actively implementing Millets Sub-Mission under National Food Security Mission in all the States and Union Territories to promote millets and meet the increasing demand. The Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with various ministries and states, has played an important role in the promotion of millets in the country. The launch of several State Millet Missions and Projects is a testimony to our commitment. The International Year of Millets has brought widespread awareness of millet and increased consumption of millet in India and on the global platform through a series of impactful initiatives and strategic commitments. Shri Arjun Munda said that our commitment is not just in words, but goes beyond this. By nominating millets as “One Country-One Priority Product” in the Food and Agriculture Organization and expanding it to “One District-One Product” in 21 districts, we have harnessed the potential of millets, their nutritional value and Economic feasibility. He said that the announcement made by Prime Minister Shri Modi during the Global Millets Conference in March 2023 regarding converting the Indian Millets Research Institute into a Global Center of Excellence for Millets is a step towards promoting millet cultivation and global research cooperation and innovation. It is a symbol of our dedication. IIMR has played an important role in setting up 25 seed hubs, 18 centers in various institutions and has developed more than 200 improved varieties of grains in collaboration with other agricultural institutions. This has ensured surplus availability of high quality cereal seeds, with the aim of increasing the annual seed replacement ratio to 10%.

Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Manoj Ahuja, emphasized the festival’s significance in fostering India’s diplomatic ties with ASEAN nations for promotion and adoption of millets. During the ceremony, a short video presentation showcased the journey of International Year of Millets 2023 initiatives, emphasizing the Indian government’s interventions for enhanced millet production, usage, and accessibility.

The inaugural day featured two enlightening panel discussions, The first panel, ‘Issues of Hunger and Malnutrition in Southeast Asia – Millets as a Solution,’ moderated by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, Shri Sanjeev Kumar. It brought out interesting insights on the nutritional merits of millets, its potential to address world hunger and the many ways to turn them into nutrient-packed culinary delights to fight nutritional deficiency. The second panel, titled, ‘History and Culture of Millets in Southeast Asia,’ moderated by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Ms. Lily Pandeya delved into the historical and cultural ties between the regions, emphasizing millets’ role in reviving traditional connections.

The festival will conclude on 15^th December 2023. The event followed a preceding festival held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 22-26 November 2023. On day two of the festival, a Business-to-Business (B2B) meeting is organized by APEDA. This meeting is curated to serve as an interactive platform fostering engagement between businesses from India and the ASEAN member states, specifically those involved in trading millets and millet-based products. The objective is to facilitate participants in exploring synergies and commercial opportunities across geographic boundaries. This moment will be crucial for numerous startups and farmer-led organizations to assess the appeal and viability of their products for an international audience.

Additional Secretary Ms. Maninder Kaur and Joint Secretary Ms. Shubha Thakur welcomed the guests. In the festival, along with panel discussions on food security, business cooperation and other topics, an exhibition of millet based products has also been organized by FPOs and Startups. Policy makers, entrepreneurs, expert startups and officials from ASEAN countries including India are participating in this two-day festival organized by the Indian Mission in ASEAN in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

“Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan – research and innovation will create a robust health research ecosystem and will be twin engines to drive our global competitiveness. Jai Anusandhan is a very important principle in the endeavour towards making India self-reliant.” This was stated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare while inaugurating five new facilities at the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR-NIMR) here today. The facilities included a Test Research Laboratory, an Innovation Complex, a Conference Hall Complex and a 300-seat Auditorium. He was joined by Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare.

During the inauguration, Dr Mandaviya said, “this inauguration is indicative of the focus of the government on research and innovation in every field of health.” “Over the last four decades, these centres have conducted important research in many areas including emerging and re-emerging Viral Infections, Diarrheal disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes, AMR surveillance, Zoonotic diseases and other health problems. These are not just buildings but temples of health that the country needs today to make its health ecosystem self-reliant”, he stated.

The Union Health Minister stated that “the government is working to develop India’s health sector completely and make it self-reliant.” Highlighting the importance of “Jai Anusandhan”, he stated “during the time of Covid, it would have taken months for India to get the vaccine. But we not only developed the vaccine in the country itself, we provided the best quality vaccine at the cheapest price to the world. Similarly, there are 14-15 medicines for rare diseases like Hydroxy-urea that earlier used to cost tens of thousands of rupees. Today, these medicines are made in India and cost only a fraction of the earlier amount.”

On the health sector, Dr Mandaviya said that health is a very dynamic sector where new research, development and innovation happens every day. He stated that “the facilities we are inaugurating today in the service of the country show that India is ready to keep pace with the world. Institutions like ICMR are becoming increasingly strong today and are gaining a distinct place on the strength of their work all over the world.”

Dr Mandaviya stated that it is the aim of the Union Government to take India to the forefront in the field of health and scientific evidence-based treatment and noted the need for high-quality laboratories to fight the emerging variants of diseases like COVID. He urged the scientists, innovators and other people of the country who are developing new technologies in the field of health to use their new ideas, new thoughts, new innovations and new technologies to fulfil the dream of New India.

The Union Health Minister highlighted the century-long journey of ICMR and its role in shaping India’s medical research landscape. He informed that “with ICMR’s support, India provided COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostic kits, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to over 110 countries, reflecting the nation’s commitment to global health and solidarity”.

Dr. Mandaviya also commended ICMR-NIMR for pioneering India’s research towards tackling malaria. He said that “strengthening the institute’s infrastructure is a step towards moving to malaria elimination in the country by 2030”. He stressed on the need to put collective efforts not only on eradicating malaria but also other vector-borne diseases like dengue, Japanese Encephalitis, chikungunya, filariasis.

The Union Health Minister focused on the integration of technologies like Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence in healthcare. He emphasized the importance of innovative use of drones for vaccine and drug delivery and the exploration of organ transfer via drones, which would signify a major leap in healthcare accessibility and efficiency.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Mandaviya reiterated the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach, recognizing the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health in addressing future health challenges.

Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and DG, ICMR; Dr Anup Anvikar, Director, ICMR-NIMR and senior officials of the Union Health Ministry were also present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Excellency Donald Tusk on being elected as Prime Minister of Poland.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Congratulations, Excellency Donald Tusk on your appointment as Prime Minister of Poland.

I look forward to working together to further deepen the longstanding and friendly relations between India and Poland.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on taking oath as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. Shri Modi also congratulated Shri Arun Sao and Shri Vijay Sharma on taking oath as Deputy Chief Ministers of the state.

The Prime Minister posted on X;

“छत्तीसगढ़ के मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ लेने पर विष्णु देव साय जी और उप मुख्यमंत्री अरुण साव जी एवं विजय शर्मा जी को बहुत-बहुत शुभकामनाएं! मेरा यह दृढ़ विश्वास है कि सांस्कृतिक विरासत से समृद्ध इस राज्य की भाजपा सरकार जन आकांक्षाओं को पूरा करने के लिए निरंतर प्रयासरत रहेगी। प्रदेशवासियों के जीवन में समृद्धि और खुशहाली लाने के लिए डबल इंजन सरकार पूरी तरह से प्रतिबद्ध है। @vishnudsai @ArunSao3”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Dr. Mohan Yadav on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. He also congratulated Shri Jagdish Deora and Rajendra Shukla on taking oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers of the state.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“देश के हृदयस्थल मध्य प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ लेने पर डॉ. मोहन यादव जी और उप मुख्‍यमंत्री जगदीश देवड़ा जी एवं राजेंद्र शुक्‍ला जी को हार्दिक बधाई! मुझे विश्वास है कि आपके नेतृत्व में राज्य में डबल इंजन सरकार दोगुने जोश के साथ काम करेगी और विकास के नए प्रतिमान गढ़ेगी। इस अवसर पर यहां के अपने सभी परिवारजनों को भी मैं ये भरोसा देता हूं कि भाजपा सरकार आपके जीवन को आसान बनाने में कोई कोर-कसर नहीं छोड़ेगी।”