Latest news with #Saha
India Gazette
11 hours ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Tripura CM Manik Saha announces $85.4M ADB-funded industrial push
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 1 (ANI): In a move to attract more investment to Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that significant developments are underway to strengthen the state's industrial infrastructure through an $85.4 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said a release. According to the release, he said that the funding is being utilised to develop power, roads, plug-and-play infrastructure, warehousing facilities, and more. CM Saha said this while addressing delegates at a Stakeholder Consultation under the initiative of the High-Level Task Force on Investment Promotion in the North Eastern Region. 'With the mandate of formulating a strategic roadmap to position the Northeast as a preferred investment destination, we are organising this Stakeholder Consultation in collaboration with the Ministry of DoNER. I warmly welcome all participants to today's consultation. I believe that the insights and suggestions of all stakeholders will greatly aid us in shaping our strategy report,' he said. CM Saha shared that the High-Level Task Force has already held two meetings, during which the esteemed members provided valuable suggestions and feedback. 'We have agreed upon a six-month action plan to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for investment promotion in the region. Work has already begun to devise both long-term and short-term strategies to attract investment across various promising sectors. With investment promotion agencies now active in almost all states, policy decisions related to investments are expected to be more efficient and streamlined,' Dr. Saha stated. Referring to the recent Rising Northeast Investor Summit 2025 held on May 23 and 24, Dr. Saha said the summit resulted in significant investment commitments. 'For Tripura alone, 64 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 15,823 crore were signed during the summit. Prior to this, with joint efforts alongside the Ministry of DoNER, Tripura had signed 184 MoUs with an investment potential exceeding Rs 15,000 crore through roadshows, investment summits, and business conclaves. To date, over 25% of those MoUs have been grounded. I am confident that such consistent collaborative efforts will yield positive outcomes in the near future. The Northeast has several state-specific niche sectors that can be leveraged for economic development. Each state has unique resources and comparative advantages that can be capitalised upon,' he added. CM Saha emphasised that Tripura is fully committed to contributing proactively to the formulation of progressive, inclusive, and outcome-oriented roadmaps to achieve the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat. 'We have successfully implemented all 387 business reforms mandated under the Business Reforms Action Plan 2024. I would also like to inform you that we are one of the first states to pass the Tripura Jan Vishwas Ordinance 2025, which decriminalizes provisions in various state acts and rules and repeals obsolete laws. Under the guidance of the Task Force on Deregulation set up by the Cabinet Secretariat, we are working to reduce compliance burdens in state laws, as well as in regulations of local bodies, industrial corporations, and utility providers,' he said. The Chief Minister also announced amendments to the Tripura Industrial Investment Promotion Incentives Scheme 2022, introducing additional customised incentives for mega projects. 'Significant developments are underway to boost the state's industrial infrastructure through the $85.4 million ADB loan. The Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) is executing a robust expansion plan, including the development of over 1,500 acres of new industrial zones, the creation of sector-specific industrial parks, and the development of land parcels along key transport corridors to meet investor demands,' Dr. Saha stated. Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, TIDC Chairman Nabadal Banik, Industries and Commerce Secretary Kiran Gitte, Director Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, secretaries from other northeastern states, directors, and other senior officials were also present at the event. (ANI)
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Business Standard
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Tripura CM Manik Saha announces $85.4 mn ADB-funded industrial push
The CM said that the funding is being utilised to develop power, roads, plug-and-play infrastructure, warehousing facilities, and more ANI In a move to attract more investment to Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that significant developments are underway to strengthen the state's industrial infrastructure through an $85.4 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), said a release. According to the release, he said that the funding is being utilised to develop power, roads, plug-and-play infrastructure, warehousing facilities, and more. CM Saha said this while addressing delegates at a Stakeholder Consultation under the initiative of the High-Level Task Force on Investment Promotion in the North Eastern Region. "With the mandate of formulating a strategic roadmap to position the Northeast as a preferred investment destination, we are organising this Stakeholder Consultation in collaboration with the Ministry of DoNER. I warmly welcome all participants to today's consultation. I believe that the insights and suggestions of all stakeholders will greatly aid us in shaping our strategy report," he said. CM Saha shared that the High-Level Task Force has already held two meetings, during which the esteemed members provided valuable suggestions and feedback. "We have agreed upon a six-month action plan to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for investment promotion in the region. Work has already begun to devise both long-term and short-term strategies to attract investment across various promising sectors. With investment promotion agencies now active in almost all states, policy decisions related to investments are expected to be more efficient and streamlined," Dr. Saha stated. Referring to the recent Rising Northeast Investor Summit 2025 held on May 23 and 24, Dr. Saha said the summit resulted in significant investment commitments. "For Tripura alone, 64 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 15,823 crore were signed during the summit. Prior to this, with joint efforts alongside the Ministry of DoNER, Tripura had signed 184 MoUs with an investment potential exceeding Rs 15,000 crore through roadshows, investment summits, and business conclaves. To date, over 25% of those MoUs have been grounded. I am confident that such consistent collaborative efforts will yield positive outcomes in the near future. The Northeast has several state-specific niche sectors that can be leveraged for economic development. Each state has unique resources and comparative advantages that can be capitalised upon," he added. CM Saha emphasised that Tripura is fully committed to contributing proactively to the formulation of progressive, inclusive, and outcome-oriented roadmaps to achieve the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat. "We have successfully implemented all 387 business reforms mandated under the Business Reforms Action Plan 2024. I would also like to inform you that we are one of the first states to pass the Tripura Jan Vishwas Ordinance 2025, which decriminalizes provisions in various state acts and rules and repeals obsolete laws. Under the guidance of the Task Force on Deregulation set up by the Cabinet Secretariat, we are working to reduce compliance burdens in state laws, as well as in regulations of local bodies, industrial corporations, and utility providers," he said. The Chief Minister also announced amendments to the Tripura Industrial Investment Promotion Incentives Scheme 2022, introducing additional customised incentives for mega projects. "Significant developments are underway to boost the state's industrial infrastructure through the $85.4 million ADB loan. The Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) is executing a robust expansion plan, including the development of over 1,500 acres of new industrial zones, the creation of sector-specific industrial parks, and the development of land parcels along key transport corridors to meet investor demands," Dr. Saha stated. Industries and Commerce Minister Santana Chakma, TIDC Chairman Nabadal Banik, Industries and Commerce Secretary Kiran Gitte, Director Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, secretaries from other northeastern states, directors, and other senior officials were also present at the event.
India Today
a day ago
- Health
- India Today
From trend to trap: The silent vaping crisis gripping India's teenagers
The steady infiltration of vaping into teenage lives in India has become a growing concern among public health experts. Though cigarette use among adolescents shows a gradual decline, the threat posed by e-cigarettes, discreet and dangerously misunderstood, looms large."In many parts of India, especially urban centres and even small towns, more and more teenagers are picking up their first cigarette or vape without realising they've started a habit that's notoriously hard to shake," Dr. Gautam Saha, a leading neuropsychiatrist and founder of Clinic Brain Neuropsychiatric Institute & Research Centre in Kolkata told the government's proactive step in 2019 to ban e-cigarettes under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, loopholes persist. Traditional tobacco use still commands a greater share of the problem. According to Global Youth Tobacco Surgery 2019, around 2-3% of Indian adolescents are cigarette smokers (additional bidi smokers), with some northeastern states reporting smoking rates as high as 58%. Despite the government's proactive step in 2019 to ban e-cigarettes under the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, loopholes persist. (Photo: Reuters) However, experts warn that vaping, though less prevalent, is a rapidly emerging threat."The relatively low figures for vaping today should not breed complacency, they reflect a situation that could change quickly," Dr. Saha warned. The rising use of e-cigarettes among Indian teens may be subtle now, but it bears the potential of reversing decades of hard-won progress in tobacco VAPING APPEALS TO TEENSWhat makes vaping particularly insidious is its deceptive reputation."Many teenagers believe that vaping is a 'safer' or more benign alternative to smoking cigarettes. This is a dangerous misconception," Dr. Saha asserted. Unlike cigarettes, vapes don't emit telltale smells or smoke, allowing them to slip under the radar in schools and some variants pack a heavier nicotine punch than traditional cigarettes. "Vaping might not have tar or smoke, but it brings its baggage. Many vapes provide high doses of nicotine, sometimes more than a cigarette," he added. Nicotine, especially during adolescence, wreaks havoc on the developing brain. (Photo: Generative AI) Nicotine, especially during adolescence, wreaks havoc on the developing brain."Nicotine works like a con artist, it hijacks the teen brain by mimicking natural reward chemicals. With repeated hits, it changes how young people feel joy, focus, or even boredom," the neuropsychiatrist mood disturbances, nicotine exposure can impair memory, learning, and impulse control, traits essential for adolescence and adulthood POLICY ARSENAL: GOOD ON PAPER, GAPS ON THE GROUNDadvertisementThe national policy framework is not lacking. As Malavika Kaura Saxena, chief marketing officer at Rusan Pharma, outlineed: "India's approach is multi-pronged: strong laws (no e-cigs, no sales to minors), school-based interventions (ToFEI guidelines, curriculum integration), public education, and enforcement efforts have been initiated.'These efforts include the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), and public awareness campaigns specifically aimed at engaging the implementation remains inconsistent across states and school systems. "Until every school is truly tobacco-free and every parent knows a USB-stick could be an e-cigarette, we have work to do," Saxena stated. Many teenagers believe that vaping is a 'safer' or more benign alternative to smoking cigarettes. While some schools conduct bag checks, awareness sessions, and parent-teacher dialogues, others remain in the dark. "Irrespective of the type of school or board, awareness around smoking, tobacco and vaping needs to be part of our curriculum and sensitisation should be mandatory at all levels," she THE SIGNS EARLYBeyond regulation, the fight must also be cultural and emotional."To counter this belief, we need stories more than stats. Let students hear from peers who got hooked. It's crucial to talk more about what withdrawal looks like or how a vape pen leads to chronic wheezing. Facts help, but emotion drives it home," said Dr. shift in narrative, from abstract statistics to relatable, visceral accounts, could make the difference in reaching impressionable teens. Unusual smells, subtle gadgets, and shifting social circles often provide the first clues. (Photo: Generative AI) Spotting the signs of addiction early is equally critical. "The signs aren't always loud. A kid who suddenly gets edgy, snaps easily, or takes frequent 'breaks' alone could be feeding a new habit. Teachers might notice a drop in focus or more restroom breaks than usual.," Dr. Saha fruity smells, subtle USB-like gadgets, and shifting social circles often provide the first some teens are beginning to recognise the dangers and speak out. The good news is that this issue is getting higher priority than before, the experts continuous pressure from courts, public health officials, and citizen groups, enforcement is being tightened,' Saxena challenge now is to maintain this momentum and ensure that the regulations are not just laws on paper but active shields protecting India's youth.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
AI making education more accessible and effective: Tripura CM Saha
Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 30 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said that the use of technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made education more effective and accessible. He was addressing MBB University's first convocation ceremony at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala, in the presence of Governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu. A total of 9,642 students, including those from three affiliated colleges, have completed their Graduate/Post-Graduate Degrees and Post-Graduate Diploma courses from this university. Among them, 135 meritorious students were awarded gold medals. Speaking at the event, Saha, who is also the Education Minister of the state, said that the state government has taken the initiative to develop Maharaja Bir Bikram University as an advanced university with overall quality, and in this regard, the government is moving forward with a far-reaching plan. He said that the convocation ceremony is a special moment in the lives of degree-winning students. 'Our country has had a tradition of education systems since ancient times. Earlier, students from abroad used to come to study at Nalanda University in our country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously trying to revive this tradition of education. Based on the traditional culture and values of our country, a new National Education Policy has been launched after many years,' he said. Saha said that the new National Education Policy is also being implemented in state educational institutions. India's contributions to mathematics, science, yoga, and philosophy are still recognised worldwide. The new National Education Policy-2020 has incorporated this glorious tradition into the modern curriculum. In line with this vision, a course on the Indian Knowledge System has been introduced at M.B.B. University. To further broaden the career opportunities of students, the Chief Minister also mentioned the plan to introduce B.B.A., M.B.A., B.C.A., M.C.A., and courses in Biotechnology at M.B.B. University,' he said. The Chief Minister reiterated that the use of technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made education more effective and accessible. 'Assistant Professors have already been appointed for colleges. New colleges are being opened under government initiatives. Tuition fees have been waived for girls. Schemes like the Mukhyamantri Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Yuva Samachar Yojana have also been launched. Free scooties are being distributed to eligible students,' he said. The Chief Minister told the degree graduates that as they step into the next stage of life, they will have to face various challenges. 'However, one has to face every challenge with competence and skill and move forward in life.' He urged the students to show respect to everyone and remain humble, he added. (ANI)
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
Tripura farmers to benefit from AI and Drone Tech: CM Manik Saha
Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 30 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said that the primary goal of his government is to achieve food self-sufficiency through the use of advanced technology. 'The state government is working with special emphasis on increasing the income of farmers. Farmers' income has increased significantly compared to the financial year 2015-16. The aim is to achieve food self-sufficiency through the use of advanced technology,' he said. Saha was speaking at the Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan held at Bishramganj in Sepahijala district on Thursday, organised as part of a nationwide campaign. He was accompanied by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath. 'This campaign has been launched with the objective of empowering farmers through advanced technology. The government is committed to ensuring the welfare of farmers through technological advancement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given special emphasis on financially empowering farmers, and our state government is working in the same direction,' the Chief Minister said. 'One of the key goals of this Abhiyan is to raise awareness among farmers about modern agricultural technologies. As a result, the agricultural sector will witness further improvement, enabling the cultivation of high-quality crops,' he added. Saha also highlighted the Rising Northeast Investors Summit held recently in New Delhi, where all eight northeastern states participated. 'MoUs worth Rs 30,000 crore were signed at the summit, out of which Tripura alone accounted for over Rs 15,600 crore. This clearly shows that investors are now willing to come to Tripura,' he stated. He asserted that the development of farmers is essential for the overall progress of the state and the country. 'In various districts across the state, farmers are being supported through the adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology. Work is in progress in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Union Ministry of Agriculture to improve the AI-based crop advisory system under the Digital Agriculture Mission in Tripura. This initiative has already yielded notable benefits,' the Chief Minister said. He further noted that since the BJP government came to power in Tripura, paddy has been procured from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP). 'Over Rs 446 crore has been disbursed so far, with paddy being purchased at Rs 23 per kilogram. Soil Health Cards have been distributed to more than 2.06 lakh farmers, and one Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) has been formed in each of the 58 blocks,' he informed. The program was attended by Sepahijala Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Dutta, Agriculture Department Secretary Apurba Roy, Sepahijala District Magistrate Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, and other senior officials. (ANI)
