Govt plans to install 400 new BSNL towers in Naxalite-affected and remote areas in Chhattisgarh
'The Central government is working on a plan to install 400 new BSNL towers in the Naxal-affected and remote areas of Chhattisgarh to strengthen digital communication,' said Minister Pemmasani.
According to the agency report, the Minister said that the towers will be installed in phases after the required approvals from the security forces and the forest department are obtained.
Pemmasani, the Minister of State for Rural Development and Telecommunications, conducted a high-level review meeting in Raipur, which was attended by senior officials from various departments and from the telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
'BSNL is currently providing high-quality 4G services across the country, and with this expansion, we are realising the mission of delivering digital connectivity to the last village in the country,' Pemmasani said, according to the agency report.
Minister Pemmasani also highlighted that the government is conducting development work in the LWE-affected areas (Left-Wing Extremist) in a 'mission mode' and said that the government is coming up with a strategy to deliver services at people's doorsteps who are living in these regions.
Digitising schools to enable students to prepare for competitive exams like JEE and NEET, providing special facilities for differently-abled students under a sensitive and inclusive initiative, are among the development measures according to the agency report.
'Rapid development and transformation are now being seen in deprived, tribal, and remote areas as well,' he said, cited by the news agency.
The Minister in the meeting also expressed his satisfaction over the fast and effective implementation of flagship schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G), and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Chhattisgarh.
Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani also appreciated the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) while acknowledging initiatives like the 'Pink Auto' scheme to make women self-reliant, which could become a role model for other states.
'The SHGs are being linked with various schemes for providing them financial assistance, training, and marketing opportunities. This is helping women become self-reliant and increasing opportunities for self-employment,' he said, reported the news agency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
24 minutes ago
- The Print
Haryana CM Saini says Rahul Gandhi's allegations on Arun Jaitley exposes his ‘politics of lies'
'The late Shri Arun Jaitley ji passed away in 2019, while the (now repealed) agricultural laws were introduced in 2020. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi is claiming that Jaitley ji came to threaten him not to oppose the agricultural laws. Addressing an event recently, Gandhi claimed that Arun Jaitley had threatened him to not speak against the farm laws, else he would face action, a charge rubbished by the BJP as 'fake news'. Chandigarh, Aug 3 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Sunday said Rahul Gandhi's allegations against former finance minister Arun Jaitley on the farm laws issue expose the Congress leader's 'lack of political understanding and his politics of lies'. 'This statement by Rahul Gandhi is not only laughable but also exposes his lack of political understanding and his politics of lies. By fabricating falsehoods in the name of deceased leaders, he is trying to regain his lost credibility, which is extremely shameful and condemnable,' the Haryana CM posted on X in Hindi Sunday evening. Saini added that people will not be 'misled by such false statements'. The BJP slammed Gandhi over the comments, saying he was rewriting timelines to 'suit narratives'. Congress leader Pawan Khera had responded, saying the farm laws of 2020 were the culmination of a long, deliberate, anti-farmer agenda of the BJP government. In a post on X on Saturday, Khera, chief of Congress' media and publicity department, wrote: 'For the uninitiated who have been jumping since the morning, sit down and listen: The Farm Laws of 2020 were not the only anti-farmer legislations of the BJP government. They were the culmination of a long, deliberate, anti-farmer agenda that the BJP government had been cooking up in its cauldron of destructive policy.' He said the 'first blow came in December 2014 itself, when Modi resorted to diluting the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill of 2013. Then in 2017 came the so-called Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act – another backdoor assault on farmers' rights'. Khera said the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, 'vehemently opposed these anti-farmer laws'. It is in this context that the late Arun Jaitley came to 10 Janpath to meet Rahul Gandhi, carrying a threat, he claimed. PTI SUN SKY SKY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
24 minutes ago
- The Print
From ideology to income: The new social media game in Kashmir
During interrogation, the youngsters allegedly admitted that the employment of inflammatory imagery — such as that of slain terrorist Burhan Wani of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen — was a calculated plan to gain a high and active fan base. Srinagar police, which has been making every effort to track social media sites to counter the radicalisation process, found out about this modus operandi after detaining some youth behind such accounts. Srinagar, Aug 3 (PTI) Security agencies have uncovered a new trend among some youngsters in the Kashmir Valley of using social media to glorify separatist and terrorist figures not out of ideological conviction, but as a calculated tactic to gain followers and earn money from advertisers. This engagement farming subsequently enabled them to capitalise on their social media accounts by receiving payment from advertisers for endorsements. After gaining a number of followers, especially from across the border and overseas, the account handlers used to replace these pictures with other images such as mountains or Chinar trees, the officials said. The officials added that the emerging trend may be unsettling as the online propaganda environment within the region is blurring the lines among political opposition, radical elements and opportunists seeking online renown and wealth. While the police are determined to intensify their surveillance and take strict action against those who exploit sensitive security situations for personal gain, efforts are also being made to make the families understand about the implications of this on the future of their children. As many as seven children, who had been detained recently by police, were released after counselling in front of their parents, the officials said. Officials feel that the motivations behind the rise of social media influencers using provocative imagery in the Kashmir Valley are financial, and in the digital landscape, where monetising content is the new goal, the pursuit of engagement and revenue has led to a murky grey area. The officials said most of these influencers relied on brand partnerships on social media platforms, where they either promote products or integrate them into their content. According to two prominent influencers operating on three social platforms, the revenue-sharing model remains opaque despite its blue-tick verification system. One influencer, requesting anonymity, described the process as 'unclear,' noting that the factors determining the frequency and amount of payments are a mystery. While understanding the digital gold rush as to how social media monetisation works, the probe into young Kashmiris using separatist imagery for follower growth shows a deeper, more complex story about the modern digital economy. The quest for online celebrity is frequently overtly linked with the aim of monetisation — a process that is sometimes easy or not necessarily guaranteed. Monetisation on large platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and YouTube is a combination of direct advertising income, subscriptions and brand deals with their own regulations and barriers. While another social media demands to have a professional account and ought to have 10,000 followers and thousand minutes of watched content within 60 days. The strategy of using provocative content to boost follower counts in Kashmir, therefore, appears to be a direct consequence of this unstable digital economy. PTI SKL RT RT RT This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Cooperative taxi launch: ‘Bharat' service to rival Ola, Uber; app rollout by December
AI image India's cooperative sector is preparing to challenge ride-hailing giants Ola and Uber with the launch of a new taxi service under the brand 'Bharat' by the end of 2025, backed by a Rs 300 crore authorised capital. The initiative, fully funded by leading cooperatives, has already enrolled 200 drivers across four states, according to news agency PTI. The new venture, Multi-State Sahakari Taxi Cooperative Ltd, was registered on June 6 and brings together eight major cooperatives, including the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO), and Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). According to PTI, NCDC deputy managing director Rohit Gupta said, 'The key objective is to ensure better returns to drivers and provide quality, safe and affordable services to passengers.' The cooperative model will operate without any government stake. Founding members include Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon | Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret Paras The Florett Book Now Undo The platform has already onboarded 50 drivers each from Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Expansion efforts are ongoing, with the cooperative reaching out to other cooperative bodies to widen its driver base. The ride-hailing service will function through a single app nationwide. A tender has been issued to finalise a technology partner for developing the app, which is expected to be ready by December. 'We will finalise the technology partner in a few days,' Gupta said, as quoted by PTI. To drive national-level marketing and strategic planning, the cooperative has engaged a technology consultant and the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. The Bharat taxi service will adopt a cooperative pricing model aimed at affordability for customers while improving driver incomes. Membership drives are underway to strengthen the platform's footprint across the country. Last month, cooperation minister Amit Shah had confirmed that a cooperative taxi service would be operational by the end of 2025, while unveiling a comprehensive cooperative policy for the sector. The initiative marks a bold step by India's cooperative movement to leverage its collective power in the highly competitive ride-hailing market, traditionally dominated by private players like Ola and Uber. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
