Pib

Pib

1. India is committed to provide all support to Cambodian Agriculture: Vice President

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India is committed to provide all support to the agricultural sector in Cambodia, which has a great potential. He was interacting with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Mr. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, here today. Senior officials from Cambodia and India were present on the occasion.

The Vice President conveyed his best wishes to the visiting Cambodian Prime Minister who is the longest serving Prime Minister in the world. He further complimented Cambodian Prime Minister’s son Mr. Hun Money for being bestowed with the Padma Shri Award, India's fourth highest civilian honour, by the Indian Government.

The Vice President recalled fond memories of his personal visit along with his family to the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia few years back, which is the largest religious monument in the world. He further said that India is committed to continue its assistance in capacity building, developmental and social projects as well as preservation of historical and cultural heritage of Cambodia and the restoration and conservation of Angkor Wat temple and the continued work by Archaeological Survey of India at Ta Prohm temple was an evidence for the same. India is proud to become the co-chair of International Coordinating Committee for Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Preah Vihear, he added.

2. In the year 2016-17, coconut products worth Rs.2084 crore has been exported: Shri Singh

Shri Singh said that the country has witnessed an increase in coconut export. During the period 2013 -15, coconut production was 42,104 million nuts whereas 44,405 million nuts were produced during the period of 2015-17. The export value of coconut products has increased from Rs.3017.30 crore during 2011-14 to Rs. 4846.36 crore, which is 60.62% more, which is an achievement. In the year 2016, we started exporting coconut oil to Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the countries from where we were importing earlier. For the first time, desiccated coconut is being exported to the US and Europe in large quantities from India.

The Minister said that the coconut cultivation can be taken up even in homesteads in Bihar with proper management. Currently, 14,900 hectare is under coconut cultivation. As per the Board’s estimation, a nearly 50,000-hectare area in Bihar is suitable for coconut cultivation under irrigated condition. Consider this, the farmers who train at the Farmers Training Centre can consider coconut cultivation. In addition, an increase in coconut production will lead to employment generation. More people will get employment through the production of various coconut based products like coconut chips, coconut milk, coconut sugar, coconut water, tender coconut water, coconut honey, coconut jaggery, coconut milkshake, coconut snacks, virgin coconut oil, coconut natural cream, more nee cookies and other products.

Shri Singh informed that CDB had sanctioned Rs.409.01 lakh for the implementation of coconut related schemes in Bihar for the year 2014 to 2017. To increase the area under coconut cultivation in Bihar, the focus is on ‘Expansion of area under coconut’ scheme and financial assistance is being provided under the scheme for the new plantations. For the demonstration of the scientific coconut cultivation, Rs. 46.25 lakh has been allocated for the scheme ‘Laying out of Demonstration Plot’ for the period of 2017-18.

3. India’s rich ‘Guru-Shishya’ tradition to be hallmark of Khelo India School Games (KISG) Opening Ceremony

The legendary Indian tradition of ‘teacher-and-student’, referred to as the “Guru-Shishya Parampara” will be celebrated in grand style at the Opening Ceremony of the inaugural Khelo India School Games (KISG) at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on January 31. Depictions of numerous coach-athlete combinations in sports ranging from archery to wrestling and from across the country will be part of the spectacle.

A poignant part of the ceremony will train the spotlight on some wonderful and well-known combinations of coaches and athletes from the disciplines that form a part of the Khelo India School Games (KISG) programme. This will ensure that the coaches, who teach basics to their students, and help them become elite athletes are given their due recognition.

The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was very keen that society honours the coaches who work tirelessly to ensure India a place in the sporting firmament. “We have some wonderful examples of coaches playing a big role in the rise and success of Indian sportspersons and it will be great to bring the tradition back in focus,” he said.

4. Secretary Telecom Reviewed the Benefits to Rural People under GoI’s High-speed Broadband Project, BharatNet in Remote Rural Areas of Rajasthan

Hamira is one among the one lakh Gram Panchayats (GP) covered under BharatNet Phase 1, which was completed by 31 Dec 2017. In Rajasthan 8117 GPs are service ready under BharatNet Phase 1.

As part of Government’s focus on utilizing the BharatNet infrastructure created in different GPs to provide high-speed broadband internet and internet-based services, Telecom Secretary Ms Aruna Sundararajan visited various GPs in Jaisalmer district and held interactions with the GP authorities and the public to understand the appetite for the last mile connectivity.

Reviewing the activities at Hamira, Ms Sundararajan told that schools, railway station, public distribution system, various services under e-mitra etc can be made stronger using the 100 mbps broadband connectivity provided through BharatNet. Ms Sundararajan also added that this connectivity will be helpful for the entire panchayat, especially for women and children, when services like telemedicine and e-education facilities are provided.