Latest news with #RuralDevelopment
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Priyanka urges Minister to fast-track approvals under PMGSY-IV
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Wayanad MP, has urged Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Rural Development, Agriculture, and Farmers' Welfare, to direct the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) to fast-track approvals under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV) in the district. In a letter to Mr. Chouhan, Ms. Vadra said that 331 unconnected habitations had been identified in Wayanad and approved by the Kerala State Rural Roads Development Agency. Among them, only 64 habitations in Kalpetta had been approved by the NRIDA and 267 others were yet to get the green signal on the Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS). No habitation across Sulthan Bathery, Mananthavady or Panamaram blocks, with a significant tribal population, had been approved as yet though the PMGSY-IV guidelines stipulate that tribal villages in aspirational blocks would be prioritised. Meanwhile, 25 unconnected habitations had been incorrectly categorised as connected on the OMMAS as well. Ms. Vadra requested Mr. Chouhan to ensure that the NRIDA expedited approval for the pending habitations. She also urged him to allow the authorities in Wayanad to make necessary changes on the OMMAS software about the status of the habitations so that they remain up to date and accurate.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
From crisis to boom: How Thrithala recharged its groundwater sources
PALAKKAD: In a remarkable turnaround, Thrithala constituency in Palakkad -- once flagged as semi-critical for groundwater availability -- has emerged today as a model for water conservation and sustainable development. Thanks to the pioneering 'Susthira Thrithala' project launched in 2022, the region has undergone a significant ecological transformation, proving how local governance and scientific planning can tackle one of India's most pressing environmental challenges. Spearheaded by M B Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Government, Rural Development, and Excise - and the sitting MLA of Thrithala - the innovative water conservation project has successfully addressed declining groundwater levels through a holistic approach that includes rainwater harvesting, artificial recharge systems, and integrated environmental initiatives. Over the past four years, the project has added the capacity to harvest and store over 5 crore litres of rainwater within the constituency. Notably, Thrithala also became the first Legislative Assembly constituency in the country to implement a comprehensive water budget at the constituency level, encompassing all its grama panchayats.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Policy issues of legal cannabis and marula industries discussed at festival
The fourth annual Insangu-Maganu Symposium, Expo and Culinary Festival took place on Friday, May 23. Cannabis entrepreneurs exhibited a wide range of products, with insangu (cannabis) and maganu (marula) taking centre stage. Exhibitors and cannabis enthusiasts came out in numbers to showcase their ideas and products. The symposium aimed to create awareness and build capacity for producers of legal cannabis and marula products – with a focus on cannabis policy issues, opportunities, challenges, markets and synergies – and highlighted the environmental, cultural, medicinal and economic values locked in these plants. ALSO READ: Security cluster conduct dagga busts in Pienaar schools Shiba Mashinini, a manufacturer of medicinal and industrial cannabis products, said that the cannabis industry can combat South Africa's poverty. 'I would like the government to engage with people that are already producing in the cannabis industry. Managing it wouldn't be difficult if the government simply involved the people who've been working with cannabis for years. But current regulations are holding us back from fully benefiting in the industry. We'd like to see the government ease up, so we can be more productive and help create jobs for our communities.' ALSO READ: Unutilised public buildings in Mpumalanga converted into shelters for GBV victims The event, the brainchild of the Lisango-Guma Cultural Village in Schagen, was supported by the the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, the Small Enterprise Development Agency, and other stakeholders. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Odisha govt asks collectors to complete rural drinking water projects
BHUBANESWAR: The state government on Friday asked all district collectors to ensure that rural households in their jurisdiction have access to safe drinking water. Chief secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the progress of rural drinking water projects at a high-level meeting on Friday and directed all collectors to make field visits along with other district level officers to make sure they are completed in time. The chief secretary said that problems for execution of drinking water projects like electricity connection and clearances from different departments should be solved by regular meetings of the collectors with officials of the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development departments. The chief secretary was informed that the state government has sanctioned 18,677 single village piped water supply schemes (SVPWSS), out of which 12,289 in different stages of completion. The government aims to complete 238 SVPWSS by June 2025 and 752 by December 2025. Similarly, 16 mega drinking water supply schemes are nearing completion, while 191 are still under construction. These projects are expected to be completed by March 2027. Besides, 4,855 solar based drinking water schemes have been sanctioned, with 3,652 under implementation. Ahuja said that the target of the state government is to provide piped water supply to 3,652 villages through solar-powered schemes by September 2025. The chief secretary also asked the officials of both departments to review implementation of the drinking water schemes in various districts regularly.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Broke all records, produced 270 lakh tonnes more crops than last year": Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 29 (ANI): Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that the country produced 270 lakh tonnes more crops as compared to last year, breaking all the previous records. Addressing the Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare and Rural Development programme, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, 'I am very thankful to our farmers and want to congratulate them. So far, we have broken all previous records -- this year, we have produced 270 lakh tonnes more crops than last year.' 'However, we won't stop here. We aim to produce even more and make India the food basket of the world,' said Chouhan. He expressed his gratitude to farmers and congratulated them for their outstanding contribution to India's agriculture sector. Adding further, he said, 'Today, at 2,170 different locations across India, agricultural scientists, along with state and central officials and farmers, are participating in this programme, which will continue from May 29 to June 12. We seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath in Puri so that our farmers remain in the best conditions.' 'Farmers are not just Anna Daata but also Jeevan Daata. On one side, we have the farmers of our nation, and on the other, our armed forces -- if both stand strong, then nothing can stop India from becoming a Viksit Bharat,' he said. Speaking about the campaign, Shivraj Chouhan said, 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyaan has been initiated in the entire country and teams of scientists are visiting 2170 places in over 700 districts of the country. This collaboration between farmers and scientists will give a new dimension to the welfare of farmers and agriculture... Now this campaign will run till June 12 continuously under 'One Nation, One Farmer, One Team'. Our effort is to increase production.' Earlier in the day, Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' from Sakhigopal of Puri district, Odisha today. This historic initiative launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is a concrete step towards transforming Indian agriculture and securing the food future of the country through scientific innovation and grassroots participation. During the 15-day campaign, Chouhan will travel about 20 states. State governments will play a key role in realizing this mission and all states are expected to make this campaign a success through collective ownership and dedication. In his speech, Chouhan said, 'This campaign will adopt a two-way communication approach, on the one hand scientists will share research and technical information with farmers, while on the other hand they will gather information about the challenges faced by farmers. These findings will help guide future research efforts and provide practical, location-specific solutions. To connect 'Lab to Land', scientists of our Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Krishi Vigyan Kendras will be associated with this campaign.' This campaign will be organized in more than 700 districts from May 29 to June 12. 731 KVKs, 113 ICAR institutes, state level departments and officials of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and innovative farmers will participate in this campaign. Through this campaign, an effort has been made to add a strong chapter towards the resolution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a Viksit Bharat. (ANI)
