Latest news with #DeepikaPandeySingh
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health & hygiene prog expands to 263 blocks
Ranchi: The Food Nutrition Health and Wash initiative, which started in just four blocks in 2014, has now expanded its coverage to 263 blocks across the state in 2025, underscoring the growing role of women's collectives in grassroots health and sanitation initiatives. T his figure was highlighted during a two-day regional workshop on "Towards a Healthy Future: Food, Nutrition, Health and Wash (FNHW)" which concluded on Wednesday. Jointly hosted by the ministry of rural development (MoRD) and the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), the workshop brought together delegates and officials from 14 states including Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana and others. On the occasion, minister Deepika Pandey Singh said, "The 3.2 million rural women associated with SHGs in the state are becoming the real agents of change in villages. Women's health is not just a social indicator but a mirror of economic development." Pandey emphasised empowering women through schemes like Sarvajan Pension Yojana, Maiyyan Samman Yojana, and Abua Awas, implemented at scale via women's groups. The minister called for integrated efforts among schemes like MGNREGA, Jal Jeevan Mission, Anganwadi Services, and Panchayats to maximise the impact on health, nutrition, and sanitation. Deputy secretary of MoRD, Monika, discussed innovative approaches such as nutrition gardens, peer counselling, the Jashn initiative, and documentation techniques, offering insights for better programme implementation at the state level. Joint secretary, MoRD, Smriti Sharan, said, "Nearly 2,00,000 FNHW cadres are now active across the country, with Jharkhand making significant strides. Participants undertook field visits to 14 districts to observe model interventions which would help replicate impactful practices across states." Secretary, rural development department, K Sreenivasan, said, "Key initiatives such as Phulo-Jhano Ashirwad Yojana, Dakiya Yojana (for doorstep delivery of rations to PVTGs), and Johar Project, are helping transform women's lives."
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Month-long Shravani Mela starts in Deoghar, Dumka
Dumka: Shravani Mela, one of the largest religious congregations in the country, was inaugurated by the state minister for tourism, Sudivya Kumar, and his cabinet colleagues, Deepika Pandey Singh and Sanjay Prasad Yadav, at the Dumma interstate border in Deoghar on Thursday, the day of 'Asarh Purnima'. A total of 11 priests chanted Vedic mantras while assisting the ministers in performing rituals to mark the beginning of the month-long event. Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad pay offerings at the Baidyanath Dham, which is one of the Dwadash Jyotirlingas and Shaktipeeths, in Deoghar during this period. Sudivya said, "The state govt plans to construct a foot-over-bridge between Khijuria and Mansarovar for the ' kanwariyas ' travelling to Babadham. The facility would also help to manage traffic movement in the temple town throughout the year." AI-chatbot, radio-frequency identification, face recognition cameras, and other AI-based electronic gadgets being used by the local administration to ensure a smooth event was highlighted. Ministers Deepika and Sanjay wished that the devotees have a pleasant experience. At Basukinath in Dumka, which is also home to another famous Shiva temple, Jarmundi BJP MLA and his JMM counterpart from Jama, Lois Marandi, inaugurated the Shravani Mela in the presence of senior administrative and police officials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Relaxare la pensie, cu NN Pensia Facultativă NN Vezi oferta Undo They expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made by the district administration for the devotees' amenities. Devotees will start arriving at both shrines from Friday when the holy month begins. They start their journey from Sultanganj in Bihar and reach Babadham by undertaking a 100 km journey on foot, as a vast section of them also prefer to visit the Basukinath temple to mark the completion of their pilgrimage.
NDTV
10-07-2025
- NDTV
Shravani Mela Begins, Lakhs Of Kanwariyas Embark On 108 Km Pilgrimage
Deoghar: The world-renowned Shravani Mela commenced on Thursday at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, with lakhs of Kanwariyas thronging the sacred town to begin their month-long pilgrimage during the holy month of Sawan. The fair was formally inaugurated at Dumma, on the Jharkhand-Bihar border, in a traditional ceremony marked by Vedic chants. Jharkhand ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav jointly inaugurated the event. Baba Baidyanath Dham houses Kamna Mahadev, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, making it one of the holiest Shaivite shrines. As per custom, Kanwariyas fetch holy water from the Uttarvahini Ganga in Sultanganj, Bihar, and walk 108 km barefoot to offer it at the Deoghar shrine. This annual religious procession is considered the longest religious fair in Asia, covering a 108 km route from Sultanganj to Deoghar. The pilgrimage, which began on Thursday, coinciding with Guru Purnima, saw thousands of Kanwariyas filling the roads chanting "Bol Bam", creating a spiritual spectacle. The Jharkhand government has estimated that 50 to 60 lakh devotees from across India and abroad are likely to attend the fair this year. To manage the massive footfall, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for accommodation, safety, sanitation, and information dissemination. Tent cities equipped with essential amenities have been established at Kothiya and Baghmara along the Deoghar-Sultanganj route, providing rest areas for thousands of pilgrims. Facilities such as bathing rooms, toilets, medical camps, and information centres have been set up at key locations across the mela zone. The fair has adopted a digital format, allowing devotees to access real-time information through QR codes on their mobile phones. A dedicated chatbot service is also available for assistance. Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh said that keeping in view the heavy influx of devotees, all VIP, VVIP, and out-of-turn darshan privileges have been suspended for the entire month of Sawan to ensure smooth crowd flow and fairness. Additionally, touch worship of the Jyotirlinga is not permitted. Devotees can offer holy water through Argha -- a ritual vessel placed inside the temple to facilitate offerings. To help pilgrims, shuttle services have been started for those arriving by bus. Holding points, clean drinking water, accommodation facilities, toilets, healthcare camps, and sanitation services are being closely monitored. Officials, magistrates, and police personnel deployed in the area have been instructed to perform their duties.
Hans India
10-07-2025
- Hans India
World-famous Shravani Mela begins in Deoghar, lakhs of Kanwariyas embark on 108 km pilgrimage
Deoghar: The world-renowned Shravani Mela commenced on Thursday at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, with lakhs of Kanwariyas thronging the sacred town to begin their month-long pilgrimage during the holy month of Sawan. The fair was formally inaugurated at Dumma, on the Jharkhand-Bihar border, in a traditional ceremony marked by Vedic chants. Jharkhand ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav jointly inaugurated the event. Baba Baidyanath Dham houses Kamna Mahadev, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, making it one of the holiest Shaivite shrines. As per custom, Kanwariyas fetch holy water from the Uttarvahini Ganga in Sultanganj, Bihar, and walk 108 km barefoot to offer it at the Deoghar shrine. This annual religious procession is considered the longest religious fair in Asia, covering a 108 km route from Sultanganj to Deoghar. The pilgrimage, which began on Thursday, coinciding with Guru Purnima, saw thousands of Kanwariyas filling the roads chanting "Bol Bam", creating a spiritual spectacle. The Jharkhand government has estimated that 50 to 60 lakh devotees from across India and abroad are likely to attend the fair this year. To manage the massive footfall, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for accommodation, safety, sanitation, and information dissemination. Tent cities equipped with essential amenities have been established at Kothiya and Baghmara along the Deoghar-Sultanganj route, providing rest areas for thousands of pilgrims. Facilities such as bathing rooms, toilets, medical camps, and information centres have been set up at key locations across the mela zone. The fair has adopted a digital format, allowing devotees to access real-time information through QR codes on their mobile phones. A dedicated chatbot service is also available for assistance. Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh said that keeping in view the heavy influx of devotees, all VIP, VVIP, and out-of-turn darshan privileges have been suspended for the entire month of Sawan to ensure smooth crowd flow and fairness. Additionally, touch worship of the Jyotirlinga is not permitted. Devotees can offer holy water through Argha -- a ritual vessel placed inside the temple to facilitate offerings. To help pilgrims, shuttle services have been started for those arriving by bus. Holding points, clean drinking water, accommodation facilities, toilets, healthcare camps, and sanitation services are being closely monitored. Officials, magistrates, and police personnel deployed in the area have been instructed to perform their duties.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Deoghar readies for Shravani mela
1 2 Dumka: With two days left for this year's Shravani Mela, the temple town of Deoghar is decked up to welcome lakhs of devotees who are expected to pay offerings at the Babadham during the month-long religious event from July 11. State minister for tourism Sudivya Kumar, with his cabinet colleagues Deepika Pandey Singh and Sanjay Prasad Yadav, who represent Mahgama and Godda assembly seats of Godda district, respectively, will inaugurate celebrations at the Dumma-based interstate border with Bihar on Thursday, the day of 'Ashar Purnima'. The religious event will start on Friday when the city will witness the footfall of around 50 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad. The administrative stakeholders are ensuring foolproof security arrangements and smooth passage for the devotees to the Babadham temple, with technology-based preparations to cope with the footfall, numbering 1.5 to 2 lakh on an average daily. Senior administrative and police officials, including Deoghar deputy commissioner Aman Priyesh Lakda and SP Ajit Peter Dungdung, are supervising the last-minute arrangements to ensure the safety and convenience of the devotees. AI-based technologies and facilities have been introduced by the district administration as part of the crowd control management. "Devotees will be able to lodge complaints by scanning a QR code, and they will be responded to by the agencies concerned within 15 minutes. The facility will also give a boost to the security forces in swiftly handling any unexpected situation, " said an official. Similar arrangements have also been put in place at Basukinath temple, which is another famous Shiva temple in Dumka district. Godda BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, his Dumka counterpart from JMM Nalin Soren, along with MLAs Suresh Paswan (RJD), Uday Shankar Singh alias Chunna Singh (JMM), and Devendra Kunwar (BJP), respectively representing Deoghar, Sarath, and Jarmundi (Dumka) assembly seats, have also been invited by the district administration as distinguished guests of the inaugural event. The entire town is adorned with welcome gates and colourful lights. A vast section of the devotees are the kanwariyas , who walk barefoot carrying the holy gangajal from the north-flowing Ganga at Sultanganj in Bihar.
