Pib

Pib

1. PM dedicates Dr. Ambedkar International Centre to the Nation

The Prime Minister recalled Dr. Ambedkar's words, that we should make our political democracy, a social democracy as well. He said that over the last three to three and a half years, the Union Government has worked towards fulfilling this vision of social democracy. In this context, he mentioned initiatives taken by the Government such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, insurance schemes, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and the recently launched Saubhagya Yojana. He said the Union Government is making every effort to complete schemes and projects within their intended duration, and the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre represents one illustration of this. He spoke at length about other schemes including distribution of soil health cards, Mission Indradhanush and progress towards rural electrification targets, to show the speed and commitment of the Union Government in implementing public welfare initiatives. The Prime Minister also mentioned the Stand-Up India scheme for generating self employment.

The Prime Minister asserted that his call of "New India", is the India which Dr. Ambedkar envisioned, where everyone has equal opportunity and rights, free from caste oppression, and progressing through the strength of technology. He exhorted everyone to work towards fulfilling the vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar; and hoped that we would be able to accomplish it by 2022.

2. Shri Singh addresses farmers at Kisan Goshthi Sah Prakshetra Bhraman in Patna

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that the Agriculture Ministry is constantly working towards increasing farmers’ income, creating employment opportunities in the agrarian sector and ensuring farmers earn maximum profit. Shri Singh said “Kisan Goshthi Sah Prakshetra Bhraman” is also being organized for the welfare of farmers. The Agriculture was speaking at the “Kisan Goshthi Sah Prakshetra Bhraman” organized at ICAR in Patna today.

Shri Singh said that agriculture sector’s contribution is important for economic growth of the country. Agriculture contributes around 14 percent in the country's GDP and the contribution is 19 percent in Bihar. With the growth of the economy, the contribution of agriculture sector to the country's GDP is decreasing, but the population’s dependency on agriculture is not decreasing in the same proportion. It poses a challenge for inclusive growth. Compared to the rest of the country, there is more pressure on agriculture in Bihar. The state’s share in land holdings in the country is 3.8 percent, whereas Bihar's share in the country's population is 8.6 percent. The population density of the state is 1106 people per sq. Km, whereas the national average is only 382 persons per sq. Km. In the state, 91 percent of the farmers are marginal while the national average is 68 percent. Keeping this in view, the population of the state is under heavy pressure and the number of marginal farmers and agricultural laborers in the farming families is higher.

3. Shri Shekhawat inaugurates EIMA AGRIMACH INDIA 2017

The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated three-days EIMA AGRIMACH INDIA 2017 in New Delhi, today. H.E. Mr. Maurizio Martina, Minister of Agricultural, Food & Forestry Policies, Italy, H.E. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India, Shri S.K. Pattanayak, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were also present on this occasion.

The Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated three-days EIMA AGRIMACH INDIA 2017 in New Delhi, today. H.E. Mr. Maurizio Martina, Minister of Agricultural, Food & Forestry Policies, Italy, H.E. Lorenzo Angeloni, Ambassador of Italy to India, Shri S.K. Pattanayak, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were also present on this occasion

Shri Shekhawat said that Agriculture is a labour intensive activity. The labour intensive crops entails high manpower requirement, which is fast depleting and posing a big challenge to crop productivities. This has resulted in shift from labour - intensive to mechanization intensive techniques.

Shri Shekhawat said that the government is therefore promoting farm mechanization by subsidising purchase of equipment through scheme of Sub-Mission of Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) that promotes models of custom hiring as well.

4. Border Protection Grid to be set up in Border States, says Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers of the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) States, in Kolkata today The Home Minister, giving highest priority to making borders secure, had earlier conducted border specific review meetings for Indo-China, Indo-Myanmar, Indo-Pakistan borders.

The areas to be covered by non-physical barriers are those where fencing is not feasible like rivers or nullahs etc. In these areas technological solutions of a networked combination of electronic gadgets like radar, day-night cameras, various types of sensors etc. all integrated in a command and control architecture will be used.

He highlighted the concept of Border Protection Grid (BPG) for multi-pronged and foolproof mechanism to secure our border. The grid will comprise of various elements namely physical barriers, non-physical barriers, surveillance system, Intelligence agencies, State Police, BSF and other State and Central agencies. BPG will be supervised by a State level Standing Committee under the Chairmanship of respective Chief Secretaries. BPG will ensure greater help for the States in the overall border security. For putting in place the BPG, he sought active participation of all stakeholders including State Governments.