Union Minister Raksha Nikhil Khadse spearheads 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' in Maharashtra's Jalgaon
The event was led by Raksha Nikhil Khadse, MoS Youth Affairs and Sports. Sanjay Savkare, Maharashtra Minister of Textiles, was among those present.
The afforestation drive was jointly organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the District Administration of Jalgaon, and My Bharat, Jalgaon, saw the plantation of over 2,000 native saplings by enthusiastic students and volunteers, a release said.
Species such as Kadu Badam, Tamarind, Neem, Amla, and Shisham were planted to enhance local biodiversity and combat environmental challenges like soil erosion, depleting groundwater levels, and rising temperatures caused by low forest cover.
Speaking at the event, Raksha Khadse emphasised the cultural and ecological importance of tree planting. Quoting the revered Saint Tukaram Maharaj, she said, 'Vrukshavalli Aamha Soyare, He Vishwachi Maze Ghar' (Trees are our kin, this world is my home), and urged all citizens to 'Plant trees, save trees! Cultivate a life of joy!'
A key highlight of the initiative was the active participation of National Service Scheme (NSS) units from several educational institutions in Bhusawal, a release said.
These included P.O. Nahata College, P.K. Kotecha Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Chaitanya Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya Sakegaon, D.D.N. Bhole College, Godavari Nursing College, Industrial Training Institute, Biyani Military School, and Rajaram Dhondu Secondary Vidyalaya.
Their active involvement contributed to strengthening the region's green infrastructure and community-driven environmental efforts.
'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0' concluded with a renewed commitment to sustainable living, climate action, and collective ecological responsibility, reinforcing the message that honouring our mothers includes protecting Mother Earth. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Parl panel flags concrete highway failures; calls out design flaws, weak oversight, and rampant subcontracting
Prayagraj, Aug 03 (ANI): A road caves in following heavy rainfall, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. NEW DELHI: The road transport and highways ministry has admitted design failures, weak quality assurance and over-reliance on highway builders as some of the factors for certain newly built highway stretches with concrete pavement collapsing in rain-prone and low-lying areas, according to the latest report of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. Raising concerns over the 'indiscriminate shift' from bituminous to concrete roads without adequate assessment, the committee said this has led to poor-quality outcomes, delays, and potential wastage of public funds. The panel has recommended the ministry and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) adopt a mandatory, evidence-based framework for selecting pavement materials — bituminous, concrete, or otherwise — based on site-specific technical and environmental assessments. This, it said, should be integrated into the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). The panel referred to specific instances, including a section on Delhi–Vadodara Expressway that got damaged. 'These roads, which were expected to offer long-term service with minimal maintenance are found to have developed premature cracks, surface distress, and failures in pavement quality concrete (PQC), often within a short period of completion,' the report mentioned. The committee also took note of how the entire task of project preparation, execution and even supervision are left to contractors and consultants while NHAI's internal role is limited to formal approvals. It observed that such 'delegation of responsibility weakens accountability', especially when supervision consultants also fail to flag design deficiencies. It referred to the Kooriyad collapse in Kerala which was attributed to inaccurate geotechnical assessments and poor oversight by both highway builder and the supervision consultant. 'The committee are of the view that the methodology being followed by NHAI could help it escape responsibility but this brings bad repute to NHAI as an design scrutiny is important, implementation of approved design should also be ensured and no short cut measures to reduce costs by the concessionaire/ sub contractors may be permitted,' the panel said. The PAC has also called out the ministry on the practice of subcontracting in NH projects — primary contractor assigns or outsources its work to other parties. Taking note of ministry's submission that much of road infrastructure is executed by sub-contractors, who might not be accountable under the primary contract framework, the committee said 'unchecked layering of contractors and sub-contractors' has led to 'diffusion of accountability', where NHAI has limited leverage to enforce quality standards or timely delivery It has recommended the ministry to discourage subcontracting beyond one level — contractor to one subcontractor. 'If further subcontracting is absolutely necessary, it should only be allowed with special approval from NHAI. NHAI must ensure that all subcontractors are registered, get prior approval, and are clearly documented,' it said.
News18
8 hours ago
- News18
Opinion: How PM Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission Became A Boon For India's Poorest Villages
Last Updated: The Jal Jeevan Mission is more than a water supply programme — it's a lifeline for India's poorest villages, redefining rural life with dignity, health, and opportunity jal jeevanIn rural India, where the rhythm of life has long been dictated by the daily struggle to fetch water, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), launched on August 15, 2019, has emerged as a transformative force. Envisioned as a movement to deliver safe and reliable tap water to every rural household by 2024, JJM is not just about water—it's about dignity, health, and opportunity. With a staggering outlay of Rs 3.6 lakh crore, this flagship initiative reflects PM Modi's unwavering commitment to uplifting India's poorest villages, addressing a challenge that should have been tackled decades ago but required his visionary zeal to become reality. The Vision and Objective of Jal Jeevan Mission The thought behind JJM stems from a deep understanding of rural India's water crisis, where millions, especially women and children, spend hours daily fetching water from distant rivers, wells, or ponds. PM Modi, drawing from his experience as Gujarat's Chief Minister, where he prioritised water conservation through initiatives such as the Jal Mandir campaign, recognised that access to clean water is foundational to development. JJM's objective is ambitious yet clear: to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to all 19.36 crore rural households, ensuring 55 litres per capita per day of safe drinking water. Beyond infrastructure, the mission promotes source sustainability through rainwater harvesting, greywater management, and community-driven water governance via Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs). By aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6.1, JJM aims to bridge the rural-urban divide, empower communities, and transform lives by freeing them from the drudgery of water collection. Since its inception, JJM has made remarkable strides, transforming water access from a distant dream to a tangible reality. As of October 2024, over 15.5 crore rural households—80.39% of the total—have tap water connections, up from just 3.23 crore (17%) in 2019. This translates to an average of 85,000 households connected daily, a testament to the mission's relentless pace. Eleven states and Union Territories—Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Haryana, Telangana, Puducherry, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram—have achieved 100% coverage, setting a benchmark for others. In aspirational districts, home to some of India's poorest communities, tap connections have risen from 31 lakh to 1.16 crore, with 123 districts and 1.53 lakh villages now fully covered. However, progress is uneven. States like Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Kerala lag significantly behind the national average. Challenges in these states include uneven terrain, scattered habitations, groundwater contamination, and delays in state funding. To address these, the government has intensified monitoring, with technical support from UNOPS and Denmark in water-scarce regions like Bundelkhand and Vindhya. Despite these hurdles, JJM's focus on prioritising difficult terrains (30% funding weightage) and SC/ST-dominated areas (10% weightage) ensures that the poorest and most remote communities are not left behind. A Boon for Hilly Areas In India's hilly regions, where geography poses unique challenges, JJM has been a game-changer. In states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Ladakh, the mission has overcome rugged terrain and seasonal water shortages to deliver tap water. For instance, Leh in Ladakh achieved 100% household coverage by October 2024, with winter-proof pipelines preventing freezing—a critical adaptation for high-altitude areas. In Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, 31,371 households across 320 villages now have FHTCs, reducing the time spent fetching water from distant sources. Women in these regions, who once navigated treacherous paths to collect water, now benefit from doorstep access, saving hours daily. Community-driven initiatives, supported by organizations like Himmotthan Society, have trained locals to maintain water infrastructure, ensuring sustainability despite climatic barriers. These efforts demonstrate JJM's ability to tailor solutions to the unique needs of hilly areas, bringing dignity and ease to remote communities. Enhancing Rural Life: Education, Health, and Beyond The ripple effects of JJM extend far beyond water access, reshaping education, health, and socio-economic conditions in rural India. By providing tap water to 15.5 crore households, the mission has freed women and girls from the backbreaking task of fetching water, which previously consumed hours daily—40 minutes one way in Jharkhand, 33 in Bihar, and 38 in Uttar Pradesh. In Tripura, 95% of women and adolescent girls reported relief from this drudgery, allowing them to pursue education and livelihoods. An SBI Research report notes an 8.3% decline in households fetching water outside, correlating with a 7.4% increase in women's participation in agriculture, with states like Bihar and Assam seeing over 28% growth in female workforce engagement. This shift empowers women financially and redefines gender roles, fostering independence and dignity. Health outcomes have also improved dramatically. JJM's focus on water quality, through Field Testing Kits and Iron Removal Plants in high-contamination areas like Tripura, has reduced waterborne diseases by 93% in some regions. In Leh, disease incidence dropped from 4% to 1.3%, while Karnataka villages reported lower healthcare costs due to cleaner water. Schools, too, have benefited from the scheme: 12 states have achieved 100% tap water coverage in schools, ensuring better hygiene and reducing absenteeism, particularly among girls. These improvements enhance educational outcomes and create healthier, more productive communities. Economically, JJM stimulates rural growth by fostering local ownership through VWSCs, with over 50% women members in Assam and Tripura. Awareness campaigns, such as 560 training sessions in Karnataka and tariff collection in Leh and Himachal Pradesh, ensure long-term sustainability. By reducing time spent on water collection, JJM unlocks opportunities for income-generating activities, positioning India's rural economy to grow from 2% to 8% of the global space market by 2033. PM Modi's Visionary Zeal: A Long-Overdue Revolution The success of JJM reflects Prime Minister Modi's visionary zeal and unrelenting drive to execute transformative change on a war footing. Decades ago, India's rural water crisis should have been addressed, but it languished under leaders disconnected from the ground realities of village life. PM Modi, shaped by his experiences in drought-prone Gujarat, understood the 'agony of life without water". His insistence on decentralization—empowering Gram Panchayats and Pani Samitis with over ₹2.25 lakh crore—has made JJM a village-driven, women-led movement. The mission's scale, covering 600,000 villages and connecting 85,000 households daily, is unprecedented, surpassing seven decades of prior efforts in just five years. PM Modi's personal commitment is evident in his words: 'The value of water is understood by those who face scarcity." By prioritising water as a national mission, he has turned a basic need into a catalyst for social revolution. The Jal Jeevan Mission App and Water Quality Monitoring Framework ensure transparency, while partnerships with states, UNOPS, and Denmark amplify impact. This resolve, coupled with innovative solutions like IoT-based sensors and climate-resilient infrastructure, positions JJM as a global model for sustainable development. What should have happened generations ago took PM Modi's will to transform rhetoric into reality, ensuring no rural family is left behind. A Legacy of Transformation top videos View all The Jal Jeevan Mission is more than a water supply programme —it's a lifeline for India's poorest villages, redefining rural life with dignity, health, and opportunity. From the hills of Ladakh to the plains of Assam, JJM has delivered tap water to 15.5 crore households, empowered women, reduced disease, and unlocked educational and economic potential. While challenges remain in laggard states, the mission's progress—driven by PM Modi's visionary leadership—sets a new standard for public welfare. As India moves toward universal water access, JJM stands as a testament to what is possible when a nation unites with purpose, proving that clean water is not just a resource but a foundation for a brighter, more equitable future. The writer is a well-known author and national spokesperson of BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 13, 2025, 20:00 IST News opinion Opinion: How PM Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission Became A Boon For India's Poorest Villages Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Indian Army strengthens veteran bonds through outreach programmes in Upper Assam
Assam [India], August 13 (ANI): In its ongoing efforts to reach out to veterans and reaffirm its enduring commitment to their welfare, the Indian Army has conducted a series of programmes across Upper Assam, including Lekhapani, Digboi and Rupai. These initiatives stand as heartfelt tributes to the selfless service of ex-servicemen and Veer Naris, while addressing their key needs and programme at Lekhapani brought together veterans and their families, offering a range of services including a medical and dental camp, a grievance redressal cell and a daily essentials stall. On-the-spot medical check-ups, dental consultations, advice and medication were provided. A special interaction was held with Assam Rifles veterans, many of whom did not possess Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) cards; they were briefed on its benefits and encouraged to obtain them at the Digboi and Rupai, the outreach saw participation from veterans, including Veer Naris, reflecting the spirit and unity within the military fraternity. A dedicated Help Desk (Information Counter) was set up at all venues to guide attendees on welfare schemes, including those specifically for Veer Naris, assist with documentation such as Pension Payment Order (PPO) and System for Pension Administration (Raksha) (SPARSH), provide information on employment opportunities for ex-servicemen, and address grievances in a time-bound programmes also served as platforms for regular interaction between serving personnel and veterans, facilitating constructive feedback and strengthening the support network for ex-servicemen. Veterans were briefed on the latest medical schemes vis-a-vis older ones, enabling them to make informed decisions for their health and enthusiasm, camaraderie and gratitude expressed by the attendees underscored the unbreakable bond between the Indian Army and those who once wore the uniform with pride, reaffirming the motto: Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier. (ANI)
