The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in ‘Grih Pravesham’ of about 5.21 Lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin in Madhya Pradesh on 29^th March via video conferencing.

Why is it in news?

Houses under PMAY, the Prime Minister informed, are equipped with toilet, Saubhagya Yojna electricity connection, Ujala Scheme LED bulb, Ujjwala gas connection and water connection under Har Ghar Jal, saving the beneficiaries the hassle of running around for these benefits. 

Highlights

·       Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union and State Ministers, Members of Parliament and state legislators were among those present on the occasion.

·       Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the beneficiaries for their ‘Grih Pravesham’ in the upcoming new year of Vikram Samvat.

·       The Prime Minister said that earlier, political parties did not do enough for the poor despite their professed stance. “Once the poor are empowered, they have the courage to fight poverty. When efforts of an honest government and efforts of empowered poor come together, poverty is defeated”, he said.

·       The Prime Minister emphasized that “These 5.25 lakh houses built in villages under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are not just statistics. These 5.25 lakh houses are the identity of the poor getting strong in the country.”

·       Shri Modi further said that this campaign of providing “pucca” houses to the poor is not just a government scheme, but a commitment to instil confidence in the rural poor. “This is the first step of bringing the poor out of poverty”, he said. “These houses reflect the service spirit and a campaign to make women of the villages ‘lakhpati’.”, he added.

·       As against few lakh houses constructed earlier, the Prime Minister said that this government has already handed over 2.5 crore “pucca” houses out of which 2 crore are in the rural areas. Not even the pandemic could slow this campaign, said the Prime Minister. In Madhya Pradesh, 24 lakh out of the approved 30 lakh houses are already complete benefiting, among others, Baiga, Sahariya and Bhariya samaj people.

·       The Prime Minister said that among the houses constructed under the PMAY scheme, almost two crore houses are registered in the name of the women. This ownership has strengthened the participation of the women in the financial decision-making of the household.

·       Reiterating the government’s commitment to enhance the dignity and ease of living of the women, the Prime Minister said that in the last two and half years more than 6 crore households have been provided tap water connection for drinking water.

·       The Prime Minister said that the government has spent 2 lakh 60 thousand crore rupees for providing free ration to the poor. As the scheme has been extended for next 6 months, additional 80 thousand crore rupees will be spent for this.  In tune with the government’s commitment to provide full benefit to the intended beneficiaries, the government has weeded out the 4 crore fake beneficiaries from the record. Post 2014, this exercise was undertaken so that poor get their deserved benefit and money is saved from being pilfered by unscrupulous elements.

·       Through formalizing property record under the Svamitva scheme, the government is easing the business climate in the villages. In Madhya Pradesh, 50 thousand villages in all the districts are being surveyed.

·       The Prime Minister said that for a long-time, rural economy was restricted to agriculture. Along with encouragement to modern technology like drones and ancient system like natural farming, government is opening new avenues in the villages.  He complimented the Madhya Pradesh government and the Chief Minister for creating new records in MSP procurement. Madhya Pradesh Farmer also received 13 thousand crore rupees under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna.

·       The Prime Minister called for constructing 75 Amrit Sarovars (Ponds) in every districts in the upcoming new year (Pratipada). He asked these Sarovars to be new and big. He said MNREGA funds can be utilized for this and it will be greatly beneficial for the land, nature, small farmers, women and even birds and animals. He appealed to every state government, local bodies and Panchayats to work in this direction.

Integration of Ayush in Lifestyle

Ministry of Ayush has launched a composite nutritional guideline as “Ayush Dietary Advisory for Kuposhan Mukt Bharat” to improve nutritional outcomes in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers with Ayush practices and principles.

Why is it in news?

Ministry of Ayush is promoting Ayush-based diet and lifestyle and is working in convergence with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to realize the ultimate goal of “Suposhit Bharat” (nourished India)

Highlights

·       Ministry of Ayush has also provided inputs to the Department of Food and Public Distribution in revision of nutritional standards fixed under Schedule II of the National Food Security Act, 2013.

·       Ministry of Ayush is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) through State/UT Governments for overall promotion and development of AYUSH systems of medicine.

·       Under NAM, there is a provision of financial assistance to the State/UT Governments for different activities including operationalization of Ayush Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs). At Ayush HWCs, a holistic wellness model based on principles and practices of AYUSH system of medicine is being established focusing on preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative healthcare including promotion of AYUSH in lifestyle.

·       Further, under AYURVIDYA component of NAM, there is a provision for promotion of healthy lifestyle and integrative diet education encompassing dietary principles from AYUSH System for school children. Also, under AYUSH Gram component of NAM, AYUSH based lifestyles are promoted through behavioral change communication, training of village health workers towards identification and use of local medicinal herbs and provision of AYUSH health services.

·       This information was given by Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. 

President of India present 3rd National Water Awards and launches the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: catch the rain campaign 2022 

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented the third National Water Awards and launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign 2022 in New Delhi today (March 29, 2022).

Why is it in news?

Water bodies specifically rivers have special significance in the Indian culture and are worshiped as Mother. We have dedicated places for worship of the rivers - for Ganga and Yamuna in Uttarakhand, for Narmada in Madhya Pradesh and for Ganga-Sagar in Bengal.

In India, the preservation and maintenance of water resources gets even more crucial because our country has about 18 percent of the world's population, while we have only 4 percent of the fresh water resources. The availability of water is uncertain and depends to a large extent on rainfall.

Highlights

·       Speaking on the occasion, the President said that presentation of National Water Awards for exemplary work in the field of water management, and expansion of water campaign to underline the importance of water in our daily life and on the planet Earth, is commendable.

·       The President said that it gives him immense pleasure to launch 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2022'. He urged everyone to work on the focused interventions of this edition of the campaign.

·       He said that district magistrates and village sarpanchs would have to play a crucial role in motivating the local populace for active participation of each individual in water conservation work.

·       He urged everyone to take a pledge that just as the largest vaccination drive in history is being carried out in India, in the same way we all would make this campaign the biggest water conservation campaign in the history.

·       The President said that it is quite appropriate to say that 'water is life'. Nature has blessed humanity with water resources. It has provided us with vast rivers, on whose banks great civilizations flourished. Such religious practices kept us connected with nature. 

·       The construction of ponds and wells were considered a virtuous act. Unfortunately with the advent of modernity and industrial economy, we have lost that connect with nature. Population growth is also one of the factors. We find ourselves cut off from nature that has sustained us. We make the difficult journey to Yamunotri to express our gratitude and offer prayers to the Yamuna. But when we return to the capital Delhi, we find that the same river has become extremely polluted, and is no longer useful in our city life.

·       The President said that water sources like ponds and lakes, which provide water to cities throughout the year, have also disappeared under the pressure of urbanization. It has turned water management upside down.

·       The quantity of ground water is decreasing and its level is also going down. On one hand, cities have to draw their water from faraway places and, on the other hand, streets are flooded in monsoons. He said that scientists and activists have also been expressing their concern about this paradox of water management during the last few decades.

·       The President said that the issue of water is a part of an even larger crisis of climate change. As climate changes, flood and drought conditions are becoming more frequent and more severe. The Himalayan glaciers are melting, and the sea level is rising. The serious consequences of such changes are coming to the fore, which are having an even worse impact on the lives of farmers, women and the poor.

·       The President said that today the water crisis has became an international crisis and it can take dire forms. Some defense experts have even said that in future it can become a major cause of international conflict. We all have to be alert to save humanity from such situations. He expressed happiness that the Government of India is taking effective steps in this direction.

·       The President said that facing the impact of climate change and protecting our Earth is an epic challenge before all of us. To meet this challenge, Government of India has adopted a new approach and methodology. The Government of India gave an early indication of change in 2014 by renaming the Ministry of Environment and Forests and incorporating 'Climate Change' in it. Moving forward in this direction, in the year 2019, by merging two ministries, the Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed to work in an integrated and holistic manner on the issue of water and to give it the highest priority.

·       The President was happy to note that India has taken effective steps to reduce the effects of climate change and ensure water security through efficient use of water, conservation of water sources, minimizing pollution and ensuring sanitation. He said that in recent years, the policies of the Government have included rejuvenation of rivers, holistic management of river basins, expeditious completion of long pending irrigation projects to strengthen water security in a sustainable manner and rejuvenation of existing dams.

·       The President said that in order to make water everyone’s business and to make the Jal Andolan a Jan Andolan - a mass movement, the Government of India in 2019 launched the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’. And in the same year 'Jal Jeevan Mission' was also launched. Last year on 22nd March, on 'World Water Day', the 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain' campaign was launched by the Prime Minister which was taken up in all districts in rural as well as urban areas of the country during the pre-monsoon and monsoon period. He appreciated state governments for their commendable contribution in the success of this campaign amidst the challenges of the corona pandemic.

·       Noting the exemplary work done by the National Water Award-winners for water management in their respective fields, the President said that on the basis of such examples, we could find hope for a water-secure future. He congratulated all of them and urged them to continue being exemplars and source of motivation for all of us. He expressed confidence that these Awards would usher in a water consciousness in the minds of people of India and would help in bringing about a behavioural change.

PM addresses Ahimsa Yatra Sampannata Samaroh Karyakram

Praises Terapanth for expanding the tradition of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ and propagating the mantra of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ as an spiritual pledge

Why is it in news?

At the outset, the Prime Minister recalled the thousands years old tradition of Indian saints that emphasizes constant movement. He specially noted that the Shwetambar Terapanth has made abdication of lethargy into a spiritual pledge. He complimented Acharya Mahashraman ji for completing 18 thousand kilometre ‘padyatra’ in three countries.

Highlights

·       The Prime Minister lauded the Acharya for expanding the tradition of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ and propagating the mantra of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ as a spiritual pledge. The Prime Minister also recalled his long association with the Shwetambara Terapanth.

·       The PM said,  “Real self-realization is possible only in the absence of any kind of addiction”, he further added,
“India’s tendency has never been to do everything through government; here government, society and spiritual authority always had an equal role.”

·       The Prime Minister underlined the importance of the ‘padyatra’ that was flagged off from the Red Fort in 2014 and noted the coincidence that he himself started his new journey as Prime Minister of India in the same year and embarked on the journey of public service and public welfare.

·       Shri Modi also praised the theme of the padyatra i.e. harmony,morality and dadiction. He said real self-realization is possible only in the absence of any kind of addiction. Freedom from addition leads to merging of self with the universe and welfare of all is realized.

·       The Prime Minister said that amidst Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, the country is calling for duty towards society and the nation transcending the self. The country is  moving with the feeling of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas aur Sabka Prayas”, he said.