Excellencies,

मैं आप सबका स्वागत करता हूँ।

Excellencies,

दूसरी Voice of Global South समिट के उद्घाटन-सत्र में, 140 करोड़ भारतवासियों की ओर से, मैं आप सभी का, हार्दिक स्वागत करता हूँ। Voice of Global South 21वीं सदी की बदलती हुई दुनिया का सबसे अनूठा मंच है। भौगोलिक रूप से Global South तो हमेशा से रहा है। लेकिन उसे इस प्रकार से Voice पहली बार मिल रही है। और ये हम सभी के साझा प्रयासों से संभव हुआ है। हम 100 से ज्यादा अलग-अलग देश हैं, लेकिन हमारे हित समान हैं, हमारी प्राथमिकताएं समान हैं।

Friends,

पिछले वर्ष दिसंबर में, जब भारत ने जी-20 की अध्यक्षता संभाली, तोह हमने इस फोरम में ग्लोबल साउथ के देशों की आवाज को आगे बढ़ाना अपना दायित्व माना। हमारी प्राथमिकता थी कि जी-20 को ग्लोबल स्केल पर समावेशी और human-centric बनाया जाए। हमारी कोशिश थी कि जी-20 का फोकस हो – development of the people, by the people and for the people. इसी उद्देश्य से हमने इस वर्ष जनवरी में, पहली बार Voice of Global South समिट का आयोजन किया। भारत के अलग-अलग राज्यों में हुई जी-20 की 200 से अधिक बैठकों में हमने ग्लोबल साउथ की प्राथमिकताओं को प्रमुखता दी।इसका नतीजा रहा कि New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration में ग्लोबल साउथ के विषयों पर हमें सबकी सहमति हासिल करने में कामयाबी मिली।

Excellencies,

जी-20 आयोजन में, ग्लोबल साउथ के हितों को ध्यान में रखकर लिए गए कुछ महत्वपूर्ण निर्णय मैं बड़ी नम्रतापूर्वक, आप सबके साथ साझा करना चाहता हूँ। मैं वो ऐतिहासिक क्षण भूल नहीं सकता जब भारत के प्रयासों से African Union को नई दिल्ली समिट में जी-20 की स्थायी सदस्यता मिली। जी-20 में सबने माना कि Multilateral Development Banks में बड़े सुधार लाए जाएं, और विकासशील देशों के लिए sustainable फाइनेंस देने पर जोर दिया जाए।

Sustainable Development Goals, जो पिछले कुछ सालों में सुस्त पड़ गए थे, उनमें तेजी लाने के लिए एकaction प्लान भी बनाया गया। इससे ग्लोबल साउथ के देशों मे चल रहे poverty reduction कार्यक्रमों को बल मिलेगा। जी-20 ने इस बार climate finance पर अभूतपूर्व गंभीरता दिखाई है। ग्लोबल साउथ के देशों के लिए आसान शर्तों पर, climate transition के लिए फाइनैन्स और टेक्नॉलॉजी उपलब्ध कराए जाने पर भी सहमति बनी है। Climate action के लिए LiFE, यानि लाइफस्टाइल फॉर Environment, इसके High Level Principles को अपनाया गया। इसी समिट में ग्लोबल biofuel alliance लॉन्च किया गया है। यह ग्लोबल साउथ के देशों के लिए बहुत ही महत्वपूर्ण है। और हम आशा करते है, की आप सभी इससे जुड़ेंगे।

भारत मानता है कि नई टेक्नॉलॉजी, नॉर्थ और साउथ के बीच दूरियां बढ़ाने का नया स्रोत नहीं बनना चाहिए। आज Artificial Intelligence, AI के युग में, टेक्नॉलॉजी को responsible तरीके से उपयोग में लाने की बहुत जरूरत है। इसको आगे बढ़ाने के लिए, भारत में अगले महीने AI ग्लोबल पार्टनरशिप समिट आयोजित की जा रही है । जी-20 द्वारा डिजिटल पब्लिक infrastructure, यानि DPI, के Framework को अपनाया गया है, जिससे आवश्यक सेवाओं की last-mile delivery में सहायता मिलेगी और inclusivity बढ़ेगी। वैश्विक DPI repository बनाने पर भी सहमति बनी है। इसके अंतर्गत भारत अपनी क्षमताएं पूरे ग्लोबल साउथ के साथ साझा करने के लिए तैयार है ।

किसी भी प्राकृतिक आपदा से, ग्लोबल साउथ के देश, सबसे अधिक प्रभावित होते हैं। इसके लिए भारत ने Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, यानि CDRI, शुरू किया था। अब जी-20 में Disaster risk Reduction और resilient infrastructure के लिए नया वर्किंग ग्रुप भी बनाया गया है।

भारत की पहल पर इस साल को संयुक्त राष्ट्र International year of millets के रूप में मना रहा है। जी-20 के तहत सुपरफूड millets, जिसे भारत में हमने श्रीअन्न की पहचान दी है, उन पर रिसर्च करने के लिए नया initiative लिया गया है। यह climate change और resources के अभाव से उत्पन्न होने वाली फूड सिक्युरिटी की चिंतायों से लड़ने मे , ग्लोबल साउथ को समर्थ्यवान बनाएगा।

पहली बार जी-20 में sustainable और ocean based इकॉनमी पर बल दिया गया है। ये ग्लोबल साउथ के small आइलैंड developing countries, जिन्हे मैं large ocean countries मानता हूँ, उनके लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है। समिट में ग्लोबल वैल्यू चेन mapping और डिजिटल सर्टिफिकेट को मान्यता देने के लिए, अहम फैसले लिए गए। इससे ग्लोबल साउथ के देशों में, MSME sector और व्यापार के लिए नए अवसर खुलेंगे।

Excellencies,

वैश्विक समृद्धि के लिए सबका साथ और सबका विकास जरूरी है। लेकिन हम सभी देख रहे हैं कि पश्चिम एशिया क्षेत्र की घटनाओं से नई चुनौतियाँ उभर रही हैं। भारत ने 7 अक्टूबर को, इजराइल में हुए जघन्य आतंकी हमले की निंदा की है। हमने restraint के साथ ही, डायलॉग और डिप्लोमेसी पर भी जोर दिया है। इजराइल और हमास के conflict में, civilians की मौत की हम कठोर निंदा करते हैं। राष्ट्रपति महमूद अब्बास जी से बात कर हमने फिलिस्तीन के लोगों के लिए मानवीय सहायता भी भेजी है। ये समय है जब ग्लोबल साउथ के देश greater ग्लोबल गुड के लिए एक स्वर में बात करें।

“One Earth One Family One Future” के लिए हम सब मिलकर 5-Cs, 5-Cs के साथ आगे बढ़ें, जब मैं 5-Cs की बात करता हूँ तब – consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity और capacity building।

Excellencies,

पहली Voice of ग्लोबल साउथ समिट में, मैंने ग्लोबल साउथ के लिए एक Centre of Excellence स्थापित करने का प्रस्ताव रखा था। मुझे खुशी है कि आज DAKSHIN – Development And Knowledge Sharing Initiative – ग्लोबल साउथ सेंटर ऑफ excellence का उद्घाटन हो रहा है। जी-20 समिट के दौरान, मैंने भारत की तरफ से ग्लोबल साउथ के लिए weather और climate मॉनिटरिंग के लिए Satellite लॉन्च करने का प्रस्ताव रखा है। हम इस पर तेजी से काम कर रहे हैं।

Friends,

इन विचारों के साथ मैं अपना वक्तव्य समाप्त करता हूं। अब मैं आप सभी के विचार सुनने के लिए बहुत ही उत्साहित हूं। और इतनी बड़ी मात्रा में, आप सबकी सक्रिय भागीदारी के लिए, मैं ह्रदय से आपका आभार व्यक्त करता हूं।

बहुत बहुत धन्यवाद!

On the second and final day of his engagements in Indonesia, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on November 17, 2023, held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Defence of Timor-Leste Rear Admiral Prof Dr Donaciano Do Rosario Da Costa Gomes in Jakarta. During the meeting, the Raksha Mantri assured India’s continued support for the development needs of Timor-Leste, particularly in the defence sector. The two Ministers discussed potential areas for future collaboration including supply of Made-in-India defence equipment, capacity building and training.

The Timorese counterpart welcomed India’s decision to open an Embassy in Timor-Leste, and offered his Ministry’s support. He also thanked Raksha Mantri for India’s support to Timor-Leste’s efforts for becoming a full member of ASEAN.

Later, Shri Rajnath Singh interacted with the members of the diverse and vibrant Indian community in Jakarta, including the leaders and members of various Indian organisations in the country. He appreciated their deep-rooted and close connect with India and highlighted Government of India’s achievements in past decade namely Digital India, New Education Policy, Women empowerment, Jal Jeevan Abhiyaan, Rural road connectivity, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin etc. He also visited Shiva Temple at Pluit, Jakarta and offered prayers.

On November 16, 2023, the Raksha Mantri had attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Jakarta.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, chaired the Education Ministers’ Session at 2^nd Voice of Global South Summit held today in New Delhi. The summit, operating under the theme ‘Together for everyone’s growth, with everyone’s trust,’ addressed critical issues, particularly in the field of education. The Education Ministers deliberated on the theme of ‘Making human resources future-ready’.

Ministers/ Dignitaries of 14 countries from the Global South – Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Georgia, Tunisia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malawi, Myanmar, Republic of Palau, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Albania, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Cameroon – participated virtually in the session and shared their insights.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, in his opening remarks, welcomed the participating Ministers and reaffirmed India’s commitment to champion the voice of the Global South under leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Highlighted India’s pivotal role in leading discussions on these issues at the G20 Education Minister’s Meeting, Shri Pradhan emphasised on the significance of collaborative efforts in developing a resilient, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable education and skilling ecosystem. The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration acknowledged the importance of investing in human capital development.

Shri Pradhan informed the participating Ministers on how India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, being implemented under the leadership of the PM Shri Narendra Modi, is bringing holistic transformation to India’s learning and skilling landscape. He also remarked that NEP as a philosophical document can act as a template for emerging economies towards developing comprehensive strategies and agile policies. Stressing on the importance of shared aspirations, Shri Pradhan, called for common strategies, leveraging the twin pillars of education and skill development.

Other Ministers in their address, shared success stories, challenges faced and strategies to address them. They unequivocally commended India’s effort to strengthen cooperation in the fields of education and skilling among the countries of the Global South.

The Education Ministers from the participating countries agreed on the need to work together for an accessible, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable future through quality education. Underlining the importance of investing in human capital development and to address the global skill divide, the Ministers agreed on the need to provide skilling, reskilling and upskilling opportunities to create a future-ready workforce aligned to the demands of the industry.

The Education Ministers also reiterated shared commitment to overcome the digital divide for all learners by addressing the barriers to technological infrastructure and work collectively to develop technology ecosystems and learning resources, including in local languages that are affordable and easily accessible. They underlined the central role of all teachers and education staff all over the world in promoting education and the need to foster an environment including through capacity building and exchange programmes that will enable teachers and staff to thrive in their profession.

The Ministers agreed to encourage collaborative solutions, innovations, sharing of best practices to promote quality teaching, learning and skilling as well as foster academic collaborations among educational institutions as well as encouraging student and faculty exchange programs.

Appreciating the fellow Ministers for their valuable ideas, Shri Pradhan expressed his confidence that with collective efforts, the South-South cooperation will grow from strength to strength. India will work ‘Together for Everyone’s Growth, With Everyone’s Trust’ for global well-being, an equitable world order and for a brighter global future, he added.

The summit builds upon the foundation laid during the Inaugural Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, which focused on uniting voices and purposes from 125 countries of the Global South, reflecting India’s commitment to addressing key priorities of the developing world, particularly in education and skill development.

The 2^nd Voice of Global South Summit aims to serve as a platform to share the outcomes of various G20 meetings, sustain momentum generated from the previous summit, and discuss ways to achieve shared aspirations for inclusive and equitable international development. Deliberations will also focus on harnessing digital technologies to bridge the digital divide and strengthening cooperation in developing life, technical, and vocational skills. The outcomes of the summit are expected to inform the deliberations at the upcoming G20 Virtual Summit hosted by India on 22^nd November 2023.

There are 8 Ministerial sessions during the Summit. The Summit, with the theme ‘Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust’ would focus on sharing with countries of the Global South the key outcomes achieved in various G20 meetings over the course of India’s Presidency. Key ideas and suggestions emerging from the members of the Global South at the 2nd VOGSS will also be informed during the next G-20 Virtual Summit, to be hosted by India on 22 November 2023.

“Building upon the momentum generated by the First Voice of Global South Summit, India has identified three key Health priorities, that is, health emergencies Prevention, Preparedness and Response, strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, and digital health innovations and solutions which reflects a continued commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by countries in the Global South, thereby infusing inclusivity in global health discussions and solutions”. This was stated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare during his virtual address at the Health Ministers’ Session of the 2^nd Voice of Global South Summit, an event organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. He was joined by Ministers and Representatives of Health from Argentina, Belize, Chad, Grenada, Guatemala, Republic of Guyana, Haiti, Mauritania, Kingdom of Morocco, Nicaragua, Somalia, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Republic of Yemen, Costa Rica, Commonwealth of Dominica, Benin and the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Addressing the audience, Dr. Mandaviya noted the “unprecedented challenges facing the countries of the Global South” and emphasized India’s “commitment to seeking reform of global governance structures to make them more responsive to contemporary realities and global challenges of the 21st century, especially the needs of the Global South.”

Underlining the importance of the One Health concept, the Union Health Minister stated that “it is recognized as an effective approach to complex public health problems involving multiple disciplines, closely linking human health, animal health, and environmental health.” He said that it is imperative to recognize that the majority of epidemics and pandemics threatening global health, from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) to COVID-19, have roots in zoonotic origins. “Committees of the International Health Regulations have consistently highlighted the inadequacy and fragmentation of efforts, leaving populations vulnerable to fend for themselves. It is also deeply concerning that the ongoing crises have exacerbated unequal access to healthcare and education. Hence, it is necessary to reverse learning loss & transform education and implement the One Health approach, enhance pandemic preparedness, and strengthen health systems”, he further stated.

Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by India to address the concept of One Health, Dr Mandaviya said that “the National Centre for Disease Control is at the forefront of significant One Health-related endeavors, implementing programs grounded in One Health as a fundamental principle. India’s One Health Program diligently monitors and investigates emerging infectious diseases, particularly those originating from wildlife spaces, with a focus on fostering coordination among diverse groups for early detection and response.” He also highlighted the launch of the National One Health Mission which adopts an integrated approach to observe the interconnected aspects of humans, animals, and the environment to monitor and prevent diseases. “This mission also facilitates coordination across various ministries and departments, aiming to achieve comprehensive pandemic preparedness and integrated disease control against priority diseases in both humans and animals”, he said.

Dr Mandaviya stressed on the need for a collective effort on bolstering resilience across economies, societies, healthcare systems, education systems and infrastructure. In this regard, he said that it is crucial to acknowledge the central role of women in sustainable development. He also underscored the importance of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a promising tool for propelling public health initiatives in the Global South. He said that “digital platforms, networks, and services have the potential to play a pivotal role in tackling healthcare challenges and fostering equitable access to medical resources.”

The Union Health Minister underscored that in today’s time, collaboration is not just an option; it is a necessity. On this note, he assured India’s unwavering commitment to the implementation of a One Health approach as demonstrated by the emphasis on the One Health-based approach in the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration of the G20 Summit. He also highlighted the ongoing dedicated focus on prioritizing efforts to address the critical issue of Antimicrobial Resistance, including research and development, infection prevention and control, as well as antimicrobial stewardship efforts within respective national action plans.

The Union Minister concluding his address by exhorting the delegates to steadfastly uphold our commitment to the One Health Approach, in harmony with India’s cultural ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, signifying “the World is One Family” and emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life. Our combined efforts should be directed towards nurturing collaboration, trust, and growth in the Global South, acknowledging the significance of inclusive and sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by nations in the Global South.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal chaired a mid term review meeting here today. The meeting was held to determine a comprehensive approach towards swift and smooth execution of the ‘PM Maritime Amritkaal Vision’ with an ultimate goal to make India the global maritime leader by 2047.

Major programmes of the Ministry including its flagship programme Sagarmala as well as other prominent programmes were reviewed. The meet also inquired about the progress of 162 projects with an investment outlay of Rs.1 trillion. The Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur also participated in the deliberations along with the senior officials of major Indian ports, various PSUs, as well as other senior officials of the Ministry.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sonowal said, “India is standing at an extremely important stage towards becoming a global leader of maritime sector. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Maritime Amritkaal Vision, 2047 was launched exactly a month ago at the Global Maritime India Summit in Mumbai. The document is a manifestation of Modi ji’s vision towards enabling India’s ports, empowering shipping sector and rejuvenating waterways with an ultimate goal to turn India into global power in the maritime sector. We are working to make our ports break into the top 25 ports of the world. We must stick to the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ while aiming to execute the letter and spirit of the Vision Document towards realising the goal of India becoming the global leader in the maritime sector by 2047.”

The meeting opens up an opportunity to review the holistic progress made under the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ announced during the ‘Chintan Shivir’ in May 2023. It is to be noted that during Chintan Shivir 2023 Shri Sonowal promised to take review of mid-year targets and today he acted upon on his promise.

Under the Panch Karma Sankalp announced during Chintan Shivir held JNPA, VOCPA, PPA, and DPA are in the process of finalizing Commercial Terms and Technical Specification with Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) for awarding the contract for building the Green Tugs.

Adding further, the Minister said, “After a tremendous outcome at the GMIS, 2023, where we successfully closed 360 MoUs with an investment of Rs.10 trillion, it is now time for their speedy and smooth execution. We are setting up a monthly review mechanism to keep a tab on the progress of all these initiatives as well as timely review of Maritime India Vision 2030 as well as Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are focussing on scale and speed of achievements in the Sagarmala programme. Following on the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp,’ we are moving closer towards building ‘Made In India’ Green Tugs at Cochin Shipyard, opening a new vista of opportunities for export. We have also received encouraging response to set up Green Hydrogen Hubs at Deen Dayal port and VO Chidambaranr ports. Similarly, powering our waterways remains a major focus for the ministry as Modi ji direction to revive and rejuvenate inland waterways system to power the economy to reach its next logical destination of becoming world’s top 3 economies.”

While highlighting the efforts of the Government in the sector, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur said “India’s shipbuilding and repair sector is poised for monumental growth. With the aim to be among the top five global players by 2047, we will foster policy support and financial assistance to boost this industry”.

Deendayal Port Authority is setting up Green Hydrogen Hubs in which port has received prominent responses from 13 prospective developers against Global EoI. A total of more than 7 MMTPA capacity green Ammonia production has been offered by prospective Developers. The offered development will cater to the domestic and international demand of 1.4 MMTPA of Green Hydrogen.

VO Chidambaranar Port Authority has earmarked 500 acres of land for Green Hydrogen Hub. MoU has been signed between VoCPA and NGEL (Subsidiary of NTPC) for installation of Green Hydrogen/ Derivative Production Facility. Proposal for Grant for developing the common infrastructure to support the green Hydrogen Projects has been submitted to MNRE.

The Global Maritime India Summit, 2023, held in October, at Mumbai emerged as one of the world’s largest maritime summits, attracting an investment of ₹10 lakh crore. This significant achievement aligns with the goals of the ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,’ a vision document launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the event. Building upon the legacy of its predecessors, the third edition of GMIS unveiled broader prospects for domestic and international maritime stakeholders.

During this grand event a total of 360 MoUs were signed with a total value of Rs. 8.35 Lac Crore and along with the Investible Projects of Rs. 1.68 Lac Crore, the total monetary value was more than Rs. 10 Lac Crore. The themes of the various MoUs are Green Initiatives worth Rs. 3.8 Lac Crore; Port Modernization worth Rs. 1.5 Lac Crore; Port Led Industrialization worth Rs. 0.75 Lac Crore; Trade & Business worth Rs. 0.70 Lakh Crore; Knowledge exchange and Innovation, Ship Repair etc. worth Rs. 1.6 Lakh Crore.

The discussion on major port projects, including Vadhavan Port, Multi Cargo Berths at Tuna Tekra, International and Domestic Cruise Terminals, and the Development of Outer Harbour at VoCPA, marked the beginning of the meeting. Shri Sonowal urged ports to make optimal efforts to secure a spot in the top 25 World Port Ranking, emphasizing that remaining competitive requires improving positions in the annual “Global Ranking” published by the World Bank. All ports and agencies under the Ministry were directed to showcase their “Green Initiatives” on international and relevant forums. In FY-2022-23, a total of 177 projects were completed at Major Ports, while currently, 162 projects are at various stages of implementation with an investment exceeding Rs 1 Lakh Crore.

Currently, 800+ projects are worth more than Rs. 5.74+ lakh Crore are being monitored under the Sagarmala Programme, for implementation by 2035. Out of these, 237 projects worth Rs. 1.22 Lakh Crore have already completed 262 projects worth Rs. 2.44 lakh Crore are under implementation and 310 projects worth Rs. 2.08 Lakh Crore are under various stages of development. Further, under holistic development of coastal districts, a total of 567 projects with an estimated cost of around Rs. 58,000 Crore have been identified. Under the Sagarmala Programme, 94 Projects worth Rs. 31,597 Crore have been completed resulting in capacity addition of more than 230 MTPA.

Over the last 9 years, the number of seafarers has increased by 140%. In 2014, the total count of active Indian Seafarers was 117,090 which is 280,000 in 2023. The Directorate General of Shipping had approximately 1,699 women seafarers registered in 2014 which has now increased in 2023 to 10,440 reflecting an increase of 514% in the registered women Indian Seafarers.

The Third Dry Dock Project at Cochin Shipyard Limited with a total cost of Rs. 1,799 Crore will serve dual purposes i.e., ship building and ship repair. Once completed this dock is capable of handling capsize and suez max vessels, 174K LNGC, Oil Rigs and Semi Subs & Large Aircraft carriers. An International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) worth Rs. 970 Crore is also being built. CSL is also building “Zero Emission, Zero Noise Vessel” with home grown technology.

With a vision of people to people connect between India and Sri-Lanka an international ferry service was flagged off from Nagapattinam, India to Kenkesanthurai, Sri Lanka on 14th October. A fair-weather vessel was engaged by Shipping Corporation of India for this international ferry service. HSC Cheriyapani successfully completed 4 round voyages between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai on 14th, 16th, 18th& 20th Oct 2023 safely and has catered to the requirements of passengers of both countries.

The Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) is being implemented with the technical and financial assistance of the World Bank at a revised cost of Rs. 4,633.81 crore for the capacity augmentation of National Waterway-I (river Ganga) to enable movement of 1500-2000 tonne vessels. For development of IWT infrastructure in the North-East Region, Govt. sanctioned projects at a total cost of Rs. 1010 Crore including comprehensive development of NW-2 (the Brahmaputra). Projects for construction of elevated road for enhancing connectivity of Multi-Modal Terminal Pandu and construction of only inland ship repair facility are also approved and under implementation. Development of 16 more NWs have been approved worth Rs. 267 Crore for the period 2022-23 to 2025-26 by the Government. To boost green technology, a proposal for electric propelled technology vessels and hydrogen powered catamaran pax has also been made.

DGLL to promote lighthouse tourism 75 Lighthouses have been earmarked in which tourism facilities are scheduled to be completed by December 2023. The Coffee Table Book of these 75 lighthouses will be launched by PM Modi in January 2024.

Over the years, the Indian maritime sector witnessed a remarkable transformation because of the strong efforts of the government, industry stakeholders and the unwavering support of our maritime community. MoPSW has embarked on a journey of progress, embracing technological advancements, improving infrastructure, enhancing efficiency, and fostering a conducive business environment. The programs and reform initiatives have been instrumental in enhancing port capacity, facilitating port-led industrialization, enhancing coastal shipping, reviving inland waterways, and making India Atmanirbhar in shipbuilding, repair & recycling. Today’s review meeting held under the leadership of Shri Sonowal has provided the roadmap for better performance of the Ministry and its subsidiaries.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh attended the 10^th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Jakarta, Indonesia on November 16, 2023. In his address, he affirmed the ASEAN centrality and appreciated its role in promoting dialogue & consensus in the region. He also reiterated India’s commitment to freedom of navigation, overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the international waters in accordance with international laws, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

The Raksha Mantri called for regional security initiatives that are consultative and development-oriented to reflect the larger consensus among various stakeholders. He committed towards nurturing practical, forward-looking and result-oriented cooperation with ADMM-Plus for enhancing maritime security in the region.

Highlighting that the conflicts extract a terrible toll in terms of human lives lost and livelihoods destroyed, disturb the stability at regional as well as global level and have adverse implications for food security, energy security etc, Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s commitment to work with ASEAN and Plus countries to ensure peace, prosperity and security, which is an apt theme for this year’s ADMM Plus. He cited Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote on peace “there is no way to peace, peace is the only way”.

The Raksha Mantri stressed the role of dialogue and diplomacy to have enduring peace, and in ensuring global stability. He reaffirmed India’s message to the world at large, that “this is not an era of war”, and spoke about the imperative to give up the “us versus them” mindset.

Shri Rajnath Singh appreciated ASEAN Member States’ enthusiastic participation in India-ASEAN activities, particularly the Initiative for Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations, and Initiative for Marine Plastic Pollution Response. He also appreciated ASEAN Member States’ active participation in the maiden ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise held in May this year, as well as in the Expert Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) activities, of which India and Indonesia are co-chairs in the current 2020-2023 cycle.

Recognising that terrorism is a serious threat to international peace and security, including in the ASEAN region, India proposed to co-chair the EWG on Counter-Terrorism. This proposal was endorsed by ADMM-Plus as terrorism remains a serious concern to countries in the region.

Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman gave a virtual address on the occasion of Bhoomi Pooja and Foundation Stone laying ceremony of GST Bhavan, Tirupati CGST Commissionerate, today. The new GST Bhawan reflects the Central Government’s commitment to bolstering infrastructure and efficiency in tax administration.

Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary, Department of Revenue, also attended the event virtually. Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC); Shri Vivek Ranjan Zonal Member, CBIC; Shri Sanjay Pant, Chief Commissioner CGST & Customs, Vishakhapatnam Zone; Shri Shishir Bansal, ADG, CPWD Hyderabad Region, and other senior officers of the Department, State Government and Senior Management of Trade and Industries were also present.

In her address during the occasion, Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the CGST and Customs Vizag Zone for the Bhoomi Pooja and creation of infrastructure and encouraged the zone to continue the positive trends in revenue earning. The Union Finance Minister highlighted the need for facilitating taxpayers and announced that the approval for biometric-based Aadhar authentication through GST Seva Kendras has been given for the State of Andhra Pradesh. Tirupati Commissionerate has collected GST Revenue of Rs. 8,264 crore last year and Rs. 5,019 crore upto September 2023. The Commissionerate has seen much progress in the recent past few years posting an impressive growth of about 300% in the GST regime. The major contributor for this striking growth is from manufacture of passenger vehicles, cement, and automotive batteries.

During his virtual address, Shri Malhotra, while appreciating the Bhoomi Pooja of the Tirupati Commissionerate and also acknowledging the various infrastructure-related projects being taken up by CBIC, said that revenue growth and law enforcement should work hand-in-hand and all the matters related to prosecution should be expedited and brought to logical conclusion in time. Shri Malhotra also exhorted all the officers to continue to focus on grievance redressal mechanism for the taxpayers.

During his address on the occasion, Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal appreciated the hard work being done by departmental officers and highlighted the efforts being undertaken by CBIC to create infrastructural assets for the benefit of officers. Complimenting the CBIC team in augmenting the revenue of the Government, Shri Agarwal said that the buoyant GST and Customs revenues are testament to their commitment to curb evasion of taxes and plug leakages in revenue, especially by detecting fake ITC.

On infrastructure creation by CBIC, Shri Agarwal said in the past five years, 54 proposals for construction of offices amounting to about Rs. 2,200 crore has been sanctioned and 9 proposals for construction or revamping of residential quarters amounting to Rs. 640 crore has been sanctioned. These are significant numbers and the CBIC is monitoring the projects closely for timely completion.

In his address, while emphasising on the need for a new GST Bhawan, Zonal Member Shri Vivek Ranjan said revenue for CGST Tirupati Commissionerate has grown from the annualised figure of Rs. 2,815 crore for the FY 2017-18 to Rs. 8,275 crore during 2022-23 reflecting impressive increase of nearly 3 times and CAGR of 19.7%. Similarly, the taxpayer base has increased significantly from 22,400 (as on 31.10.2017) to 57,481 (as on 30.10.2023) during these six years registering an increase by 2.5 times or magnificent CAGR of 17%.

Shri Ranjan said that Commissionerate’s contribution to the Zonal revenue collection has increased from 26% to 36% during these six years. Similarly, the taxpayer base of Tirupati Commissionerate as a percentage of zonal base has increased from 29% to 33% during these six years.

Tirupati Central GST Commissionerate, covering Tirupati and its surrounding regions, plays a vital role in facilitating economic activities and ensuring compliance. The new office building will not only provide a state-of-the-art workspace for the dedicated officers but also enhance the overall taxpayer experience.   The construction of the office building of Tirupati CGST Commissionerate at an estimated cost of Rs. 36.11 crore will be undertaken by CPWD and would be completed in 18 months. The building consisting of basement, ground plus five floors, after the completion of the construction will host Tirupati CGST Commissionerate Office, Tirupati CGST Divisional Office along with local ranges, Tirupati Audit Circle, Customs Preventive Division, and PAO Office along with the departmental officers Guest House.

Chief Commissioner Shri Sanjay Pant also highlighted the revenue growth of the zone and its focus on infrastructure building.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal, interacted with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists (VCs) of Indian origin on the third day of his US visit. During the interaction, the Union Minister encouraged the participants to share their ideas to make India a better investment avenue for investors from around the world. The Minister also shared his vision for Indian startup ecosystem and urged the entrepreneurs and VCs present to contribute and help India’s young talent working in critical and emerging technological areas such as Artificial Intelligence.

Thereafter, Shri Goyal participated in a roundtable discussion with prominent academicians at Stanford University, where members of various universities, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, Fresno State, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, and University of Silicon Andhra, deliberated on various relevant global issues. The roundtable saw an active exchange of ideas on how India can collaborate and set up joint-campuses with foreign universities, institutions like Stanford.

He also participated in the event “Charting New Horizons: CAs as Catalysts in the US-India Partnership” which was hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accounts of India (ICAI) San Francisco Chapter. The event consisted of an interactive session with members of ICAI where the Minister emphasised on the role that CAs can play in enhancing the collaboration between India and US.

In the later part of the day, Shri Goyal held one-to-one meetings with Mr. Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO Micron Technology and Mr. Neil Mohan, CEO YouTube Inc. As part of these bilateral meetings, the Minister discussed prospects of these companies with respect to their India presence and offered his support in their expansion to Indian markets. In his discussion with Micron, the Minister highlighted how India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem presents vast opportunities for companies to collaborate & expand their businesses. While discussing with Mr. Neil Mohan, the Minister emphasised on how India’s potential lies in its thriving digital ecosystem, growing content space, and young & diverse demography.

To conclude the day’s engagements, the Union Minister participated in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) welcome reception for leaders of APEC and guest economies, including India. The reception was hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. APEC membership includes Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; the Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; the United States of America; and Vietnam.

“CITIIS 2.0 will complement the Smart Cities Mission and converge with the Swachh Bharat Mission to enable innovation throughout the value chain of waste management in our cities”, said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum & Natural Gas. Speaking at the launch of CITIIS 2.0 Challenge, he noted that the programme also aims to tie up with the Gobar Dhan mission to generate bio-fuels from organic waste. He urged all 100 Smart Cities under the Smart Cities Mission to apply for the challenge and assured them of the full support and guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

CITIIS 2.0 was approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on 31 May 2023. The CITIIS 2.0 Challenge was launched by Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri here today i.e. on 16 November 2023. H.E. Shri Hervé Delphin, Ambassador of the European Union to India, and Shri Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) also attended the event.

The Minister thanked the international partners who have supported the CITIIS programme and the Smart Cities Mission. The total funding for CITIIS 2.0 includes a loan of Rs. 1,760 crores, or EUR 200 million, from AFD and KfW (EUR 100 million each). The programme will also receive a technical assistance grant of Rs. 106 crores (EUR 12 million) from the EU.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Puri highlighted the achievements of CITIIS 1.0, which include introduction of over 1,000 new electric vehicles; development of over 100 kilometers of non-motorized transport corridors; creation of over 750 acres of green open spaces; and construction of 1,400 affordable housing units; operationalization of  350 educational facilities and 51 health facilities. The CITIIS project in Hubballi-Dharwad won the Smart City Award–2022 under the Innovation category from the Hon’ble President of India recently, the Minister noted.

Drawing attention to the increased focus of Government on growth and development of Urbanization sector in India, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri said that the country is now undertaking the world’s largest planned urbanisation programme in the world. Since 2014, he highlighted that the total investments in urban development have risen 10-fold to more than 18 lakh crores in comparison to the 10-year period between 2004 and 2014.

Speaking about the efforts of government towards achieving circular economy in country’s urban areas, the Minister noted that, under the Swachh Bharat Mission, we have already set up 112 bio-methanation plants, 2,391 waste-to-compost plants, 55 waste-to-energy plants, 2,281 material recovery facilities, 972 construction and demolition waste management plants, and 335 solid and liquid resource management plants. “AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0 have made transformational progress in making our cities water secure. SBM-U 2.0 will make our cities garbage free and remediate all legacy waste in the country”, he added further.

CITIIS 2.0:

CITIIS 2.0 is a significant step in the direction of achieving India’s commitments to combating the challenges posed by climate change. During COP26 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Glasgow in November 2021, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi presented the five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India’s climate actions, including achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070. Furthering this vision, MoHUA has also undertaken varied measures to address climate change through its ongoing missions, including the Smart Cities Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission, AMRUT and Urban Transport, among others. CITIIS 2.0 program envisages to supplement such climate initiatives of the Government of India and MoHUA through its unique model of action at all three levels of the government.

CITIIS 2.0 is the second phase of the City Investments To Innovate, Integrate and Sustain (CITIIS) program. It has been conceived by MoHUA in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD), KfW Development Bank, the European Union and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) with the aim to:

1. Drive investments into urban climate action through competitively selected projects promoting a circular economy with focus on integrated waste management.
2. Foster climate-sensitive planning and action in states and cities through evidence-driven approaches.
3. Build institutional mechanisms, leverage partnerships and anchor capacity building for all urban local bodies in India.

CITIIS 2.0 will be funded through an external funding of INR 1,866 crore (EUR 212 million). This includes a loan of EUR 100 million each from AFD and KfW, i.e., a total loan of INR 1,760 crore (EUR 200 million), and a technical assistance grant of INR 106 crore (EUR 12 million) from EU. The program will be managed by the CITIIS Program Management Unit at NIUA.

All 100 SPVs under the Smart Cities Mission are eligible to seek assistance under CITIIS 2.0 program. Up to 18 innovative projects promoting circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management shall be selected for assistance. The CITIIS grant amount for each project under will be limited to 80% of the total project cost, up to INR 135 Crore (90% of the total project cost, in the case of North-Eastern and Hill States). The additional funds, i.e., 20% of the total project cost will be mobilised by the selected city through own source funding by the State/ Local Governments (10% of the total project cost, in case of North-Eastern and Hill States).

Smart City SPVs will be required to submit their applications through the CITIIS Management Platform (CMP) by 28 February 2024.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today said, India’s global supremacy will be determined by its scientific prowess.

He said that the recent twin achievements of Chandrayaan-3 and Covid vaccine have placed India’s scientific community at par with international benchmarks.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh was briefing the media about the upcoming 9^th India International Science Festival (IISF) – 2023 to be held in Faridabad in January 2024.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, in the last over 9 years under the Government headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, scientific breakthroughs have been used to bring ‘Ease of Living’ for the common man.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, IISF is an outreach festival for those who could get benefitted by Science, Technology and Innovation. The role of science & technology has permeated in every aspect of our lives as almost all Ministries and Departments are having STI applications for sectoral development, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, whether it is the Roads, Railways, Smart City project, Telemedicine, Deep Sea Exploration, Ground Water Mapping, Crop Imaging, the applications of S&T are quite visible to all.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Science Festival will be celebrated at three levels, – first, the number of success stories which are of global implications, will be shared with key stakeholders like Startups, Industry bodies, Innovators, Researchers, Students and scientific community from India and abroad; second, we are at the same page now in major global scientific breakthroughs as the National Quantum Mission recently announced, is having the R&D with an elite league of six other countries.

The Third reason mentioned by the S&T Minister is that India has set an example before the world that scientific research is meant for development purposes and more so, in the last almost ten years, almost all the Flagship Schemes have the footprint of Science, Technology and Innovation.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal Scientific Advisor to Govt of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood said that IISF will kindle the spirit of entrepreneurship in our young people and will provide an opportunity to showcase the marvels of science around us through exhibitions and Startup conclave.

Secretary, DST, Dr Abhay Karandikar said that more than 10,000 school children will participate in IISF, apart from 500 young researchers who will deliberate on new initiatives and cutting edge technologies. More than 100 Startups will exhibit their achievements and it is expected that over 12,000 delegates will be part of this grand event.

The 9^th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2023 will be held at Faridabad, Haryana from January 17^th-20^th, 2024.

India’s mega Science Fair will be held at the Campus of Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) of Department of Biotechnology in Faridabad.

The theme of the present edition is ‘Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal’. IISF 2023 aims to provide a platform for inspiring the public at large and individuals with diverse levels of interests like students, educators, scientists, researchers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and science communicators.

IISF 2023 will have a total of 17 themes to showcase scientific achievements offering diverse benefits to participants and the general public.

During the IISF-2023, IISF Challenge will be a unique event wherein a new record will be created and put up at global level as a challenge. This year nearly 500 Satellites (WeMoSat) will be developed by the team of two students from Class 9^th. All such meteorological satellites will measure pressure, temperature, humidity etc. upto the height of 200 meter. All the assembled satellites will be taken to such height by paramotor.

Nearly 100 women scientists and successful entrepreneurs will participate in the festival and will showcase their achievements and successful stories among the delegates. Besides, nearly 40 to 50 international experts are likely to visit the festival and will deliver talks and interact with various stakeholders for the possible collaboration in various streams of S&T.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the program marking the celebrations of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, 2023 in Khunti, Jharkhand. During the programme, the Prime Minister launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ and Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission. He also released the 15th installment of PM-KISAN. Shri Modi also laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects in Jharkhand worth Rs 7200 crores in multiple sectors like rail, road, Education, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas. He also took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion.

A video message from the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu was played on the occasion.

The Prime Minister also led the Viksit Bharat Sankalp pledge on the occasion.

The Prime Minister began his address by recalling his visit to Ulihatu Village, the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda as well as the Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi earlier today. He also mentioned inaugurating the Freedom Fighter Museum two years ago on this day. Shri Modi congratulated and conveyed his best wishes to every citizen on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. He also conveyed his greetings on the occasion of the Foundation Day of Jharkhand and highlighted the contributions of Former PM, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee in its formation. He also congratulated the people of Jharkhand for the development projects of today in various sectors of rail, road, Education, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas. He expressed delight that Jharkhand now has 100 percent electrified rail routes in the state.

Referring to the inspiring struggle of Bhagwan Birsa Munda for tribal pride, the Prime Minister mentioned the association of the land of Jharkhand with the innumerable tribal heroes. He mentioned that many heroes like Tilka Manjhi, Sidhu Kanhu, Chand Bhairav, Phulo Jhano, Nilambar, Pitambar, Jatra Tana Bhagat and Albert Ekka have made this land proud. The Prime Minister said Adivasi warriors took part in the freedom struggle in every nook and corner of the country and mentioned Govind Guru of Mangarh Dham, Tantya Bhil of Madhya Pradesh, Bhima Nayak, Martyr Veer Narayan Singh of Chhattisgarh, Veer Gundadhur, Rani Gaidinliu of Manipur, Veer Ramji Gond of Telangana, Alluri Sitaram Raju of Andhra Pradesh, Rani Durgavati of Gond Pradesh. Lamenting the neglect of such personalities, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on remembering these heroes during the Amrit Mahotsava.

Dwelling on his personal connection  with Jharkhand, the Prime Minister recalled that Ayushman Yojana was started from Jharkhand. The Prime Minister said that two historic initiatives are being launched from Jharkhand today. First Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra which will be a medium of saturation goals of the government and PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan which will protect the tribes on the verge of extinction and nurture them.

Shri Modi emphasized the need to focus on the four ‘Amrit Stambhs of Viksit Bharat’ or pillars of a developed India namely, women power or Nari Shakti, food producers of India, youth of the country and lastly India’s neo-middle class and the poor. He said that the degree of development in India depends on our capability to strengthen these pillars of development. PM Modi expressed satisfaction with the amount of effort and work done to strengthen the four pillars in the last 9 years of the present government.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the government’s momentous achievement in uplifting more than 13 crore people out of poverty. “Our seva kaal began when our government came to power in 2014”, he said pointing out that a large population of the country was deprived of basic amenities. He said that the poor had lost all hope due to the careless approach of the then governments. “The present government began work with a spirit of service”, he remarked as he highlighted that the poor and the deprived became the top priority of the government by delivering the amenities to their doorstep. He credited the approach of the government for the transformation. Before 2014, the Prime Minister informed that the scope of cleanliness in villages was merely 40 percent whereas today, the nation is aiming for saturation. Throwing light on other achievements post-2014, the Prime Minister informed about LPG connections rising from 50-55 percent of villages to approximately 100 percent today, administration of live-saving vaccines to 100 percent of children from 55 percent, tapped water connections to 70 percent of households from 17 percent in the ten decades after independence. “Modi has made the deprived his priority”, he remarked. The Prime Minister conveyed his affinity for the deprived people due to his personal experience with poverty and deprivation and said they have become the priority for the government. “I have come to this land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda to repay the debt that I owe to the deprived”, he said.

Shri Modi said that the government has resisted the temptation of going for the low-hanging fruits and attended to long pending issues. He gave the example of the electrification of 18,000 villages which were cursed to live in the dark ages. The electrification was done in a time-bound manner as per the declaration made from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Key parameters of education, health and ease of living were raised in 110 districts which were branded as backward. Aspirational District Programmed brought transformative changes in these districts. These districts had the maximum tribal population, he informed. “Success of the Aspirational District Programme is being expanded through the Aspirational Blocks programme”, he said.

The Prime Minister reiterated, “True secularism comes only when all possibilities of discrimination against any citizen of the country are eliminated”, adding that social justice is ensured only when the benefit of all the government schemes reaches everyone in the same measure. This is the spirit behind ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ which will continue till 26th January next year starting today on the Jayanti of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. “In this journey, the government will go to every village of the country in mission mode and will make every poor and deprived person a beneficiary of government schemes”, the Prime Minister emphasized.

The Prime Minister recalled organizing the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan in 2018 where one thousand government officers were sent to the villages to create awareness about seven prime government schemes and expressed confidence that Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra will become equally successful. “I look forward to the day when every poor will have a ration card for free raion, gas connection from Ujjwala scheme, electricity supplied to the homes, tapped water connection, Ayushman Card and pucca house”, he said. PM Modi further elaborated on his vision of every farmer and labourer joining the pension schemes and the youth availing the Mudra Yojna to realize their dreams. “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is Modi’s guarantee for the poor, deprived, women, youth and farmers of India”, he said.

The Prime Minister underlined that a major foundation of the resolve for a developed India is PM JANMAN or PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan. He noted that it was Atal ji’s government which created a separate ministry for the tribal society and allocated a separate budget. He informed that the budget for tribal welfare has been increased by 6 times as compared to earlier. Under PM JANMAN, the Prime Minister said that the government will reach out to tribal groups and primitive tribes most of whom still dwell in the forests. He stated that the government has identified 75 such tribal communities and primitive tribes with a population of lakhs who reside in more than 22 thousand villages in the country. “Earlier governments did the work of connecting the figures, but I want to connect the lives, not the figures. With this goal, PM JANMAN has started today”, the Prime Minister said. He informed that the central government is going to spend Rs 24,000 crores on this mega campaign.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude towards President Droupadi Murmu for her steadfast commitment to the development of the tribal communities. He called her an inspiring symbol of women-led development. The Prime Minister narrated the measures taken to ensure women-led development in recent years. “Our government made schemes for women, keeping in mind every stage of their lives”, he said and informed that initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, separate toilets for girls in schools, PM Awas Yojana, opening up Sainik School and Defence Academy, 70 percent Mudra beneficiaries are women, record assistance to self-help groups and Narishakti Vandan Adhiniyam are transforming lives. “Today is the holy festival of Bhai Dooj. This brother guarantees to all the sisters of the country that our government will continue to remove every obstacle in the development of our sisters. The Amrit Stambh of women power will play an important role in building a developed India”, the Prime Minister said.

Shri Modi said that PM Vishwakarma Yojana indicates that the Central Government is committed to harnessing the potential of every individual in the journey to a developed India. He said that the scheme will provide modern training and tools to the Vishwakarma friends. “13 thousand crore rupees will be spent on the scheme”, he informed.

Speaking about the 15th installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi which was released today, the Prime Minister informed that more than Rs 2,75,000 crores have now been transferred to the accounts of farmers so far. He also mentioned the Kisan Credit Card for cattle farmers and fishermen, the government expenditure of Rs 15,000 crores on free vaccination of livestock, financial assistance under Matsya Sampada Yojana to promote fish farming, and the formation of 10 thousand new Farmer Produce Unions in the country leading to a reduction in costs for farmers by making the market more accessible. PM Modi also touched upon the year 2023 being celebrated as the International Millet Year and the efforts of the government to take Shri Anna to foreign markets.

The Prime Minister credited the overall development of Jharkhand for the reduction in Naxalite violence in the state. Underling that the state will complete 25 years of formation soon, the Prime Minister urged to work towards the target of saturation of 25 schemes in Jharkhand. He said that it will give new impetus to the development of the state and boost ease of living. “Government is committed to expanding education and providing opportunities to the youth”, Shri Modi said as he highlighted the modern national education policy which enables the students to study medicine and engineering in their mother tongue. He informed that in the last 9 years, more than 300 universities and 5,500 new colleges have been established across the country. He also touched upon the Digital India campaign and India becoming the third largest ecosystem in the world with more than one lakh start-ups. PM Modi also mentioned the inauguration of new hostels at the IIM Campus in Ranchi and IIT-ISM, Dhanbad.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the four Amrit Stambhs of Amrit Kaal i.e. India’s women power, youth power, agricultural power and the power of our poor and middle class will take India to new heights and make India a developed India.

Governor of Jharkhand, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Hemant Soren, and Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra

 It has been the constant endeavor of the Prime Minister to attain saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner. In a major step towards the attainment of this aim of saturation of schemes, the Prime Minister launched ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas.

The focus of the Yatra will be on reaching out to people, creating awareness and providing benefits of welfare schemes like sanitation facilities, essential financial services, electricity connections, access to LPG cylinders, housing for the poor, food security, proper nutrition, reliable healthcare, clean drinking water, etc. Enrolment of potential beneficiaries will be done through details ascertained during the Yatra.

The Prime Minister flagged off IEC (Information, Education and Communication) vans in Khunti, Jharkhand, marking the launch of  ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’. The Yatra will start from districts with significant tribal populations initially and by 25th January 2024 and will cover all districts across the country.

PM PVTG Mission

During the programme, the Prime Minister also launched the first of its kind initiative – ‘Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM PVTG) Development Mission’. There are 75 PVTGs in 18 States & UTs living in 22,544 villages (220 districts) having a population of around 28 lakhs.

These tribes stay in scattered, remote & inaccessible habitations, often in forest areas and hence a mission with a budget of about Rs 24,000 crore is planned to saturate PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as road and telecom connectivity, electricity, safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

In addition, separately, saturation will be ensured for  PMJAY, Sickle Cell Disease Elimination, TB Elimination, 100% immunization, PM Surakshit Matritva Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Poshan, PM Jan Dhan Yojana etc.

15th installment of PM-KISAN and other development initiatives

In a step that will showcase yet another example of the commitment of the Prime Minister towards the welfare of farmers, the 15th installment amount of about Rs 18,000 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), was released through direct benefits transfer to more than 8 crore beneficiaries. Under the scheme, till now, more than Rs. 2.62 lakh crores have been transferred to farmers’ accounts in 14 installments.

The Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of projects worth around Rs. 7200 crores in multiple sectors like rail, road, Education, Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas.

The projects whose foundation stones were laid by the Prime Minister include four laning of 52 km stretch of Mahagama – Hansdiha section of NH133; four laning of 45 Km stretch of Basukinath – Deoghar section of NH114 A; KDH-Purnadih Coal Handling Plant; new academic and administrative building of IIIT Ranchi.

The projects that will be inaugurated and dedicated to the nation include the new campus of IIM Ranchi; new Hostel of IIT ISM Dhanbad; Petroleum Oil and Lubricants (POL) depot in Bokaro; several railway projects viz doubling of Hatia-Pakra Section, Talgaria – Bokaro Section, and Jarangdih-Patratu section. Further, the achievement of 100% Railway Electrification in Jharkhand State was also dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi visited the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park cum Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi, Jharkhand today. Shri Modi paid floral tribute at the statute of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

The Prime Minister tweeted:

“रांची में भगवान बिरसा मुंडा संग्रहालय जाकर उन्हें पुष्पांजलि अर्पित की।”

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Governor of Jharkhand, C. P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Shri Hemant Soren, and Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun Munda