Latest news with #SanjeevKumar
Time of India
9 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
How an IFS officer used the bond of love to save trees
1 2 3 4 Ranchi: Over two decades ago, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Sanjeev Kumar was posted in Dhanbad when he started tying rakhis to trees. The objective of this unique concept was to encourage the locals to prevent rampant felling of trees and in turn, protecting the nature. What started as an experiment years ago has flourished into a silent mass movement which has spread its branches across 1,000 villages across the state today. Kumar, who is now posted as a member secretary of the state biodiversity board, maintained that he introduced this idea over the years in places wherever he got posted since. "It struck a chord with scores of villagers," Kumar, now a principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), said. "In 2004, when I was posted in Dhanbad, I first rolled out the idea of hold drives to tie rakhis to trees with villagers. There were some initial challenges, but with the counselling villagers began adopting the idea. Today, scores of villagers not just in Dhanbad, but in Jamshedpur, Chaibasa, Ranchi, Hazaribag celebrate rakhi by tying the thread to trees." Citing an example of success, he added, "In Tundi block in Dhanbad, once infamous for left wing extremism, about a dozen villagers have continued the practise of tying rakhis to trees, which resulted in greening of over 100 acres of land as they have voluntarily safeguarded Mahua trees in that area. It is also a source of livelihood for thousands of villagers dependent on mahua flowers and fruits." Since last few days, Kumar has been visiting different villages to join threat tying events wherever he is getting invitations from. "In Ranchi alone, over a dozen villages in recent days held mass programmes to tie rakhis in run up to Rakshabandhan and have committed to voluntarily save the trees. I have joined them at many places already," he said, adding that initiative's emotional appeal has touched the locals. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Farmers' library opened at Ludhiana village under NABARD project
In a step towards promoting good farming practices in the livestock and agricultural sector, a farmers' library was Tuesday inaugurated at Mushkabad FAM Dairy Producer Company Limited, Mushkabad village (Ludhiana). Dr J P S Gill, Vice-Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, said that by visiting this farm library and after reading the farm literature, one will come to know about the latest scientific recommendations of the universities, which will help in enhancing knowledge of farmers, thereby increasing productivity. This farmers' library has been opened under a research project entitled 'Promotion of Farmers Producer Organization (FPO) on dairy Farming in district Ludhiana', operational under Directorate of Extension education and funded by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Major farm publications of Vet Varsity and Punjab Agricultural University have been distributed to FPO. Farm magazines – 'Vigiyanak Pashu Palan' and 'Changi Kheti' — had already subscribed for five years to this library. Sanjeev Kumar, DDM, NABARD (Ludhiana cluster), said that that FPO is one of the major initiatives of Government of India which can help the farmers to organise themselves into a group, provides a business outlook to the farming system, links farmers with the market so as to improve their socio-economic level. NABARD is providing financial handheld support to the farming community. Dr Rajesh Kasrija, principal investigator, said that this FPO has been registered under the Indian Companies Act, 2013. This FPO is mainly working in the dairy and vegetable sector and has 170 shareholders. He said that a training regarding value addition of milk products will be organised for the Board of Directors of this FPO and value-added milk products will be made and sold by the farming community.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bhumihar community to rally in Patna on August 17; demand Bharat Ratna for Sri Krishna Singh
NEW DELHI: Patna will host a massive gathering of Bhumihar community members on August 17 for the Brahmrishi Samman Sammelan, where key demands, including a Bharat Ratna for former CM Sri Krishna Singh, will be formally presented. Dr Sanjeev Kumar, JD(U) MLA from Parbatta, Khagaria, said that thousands of Bhumihar community members from across the state will gather in Patna to demonstrate unity on various issues. 'One of our prominent demands is the Bharat Ratna for Sri Krishna Singh, the former CM who drew a comprehensive roadmap of development. It was he who laid the foundation of development in Bihar, and the Bharat Ratna is being demanded for him. The Modi government has been requested several times to consider this,' said Kumar. An estimated one lakh prominent members of the Bhumihar–Brahmrishi community are expected to attend the Sammelan. Other key demands include renaming various institutions after notable donors from the Bhumihar Brahmin community who had generously donated land in the past. The community is also urging the construction of hostels for economically disadvantaged individuals from the Bhumihar Brahmin community.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Time of India
2 held for assaulting local train passengers
Patna/Ara: Two teenagers from Bhojpur district have been arrested for attacking train passengers with sticks as a local passenger train crossed Nagri Halt, located between Piro and Garhani stations on the Ara-Sasaram section under the DDU division of East Central Railway (ECR). The assault, captured on video and widely circulated, triggered public outrage and raised fresh concerns about passenger safety. According to DDU RPF commandant Jethin B Raj, the video showed the duo hitting passengers standing at the gates of the moving train with wooden sticks. "The footage was disturbing and prompted immediate action. We tracked down the accused with the help of local intelligence and digital evidence," he said, adding that several passengers sustained minor injuries. Sasaram RPF inspector Sanjeev Kumar said the arrests were made after investigators identified the youths using photos, videos and digital traces. "Based on the material, two accused, both 19 years old from Milki Tola village under Charpokhari police station, were arrested," he said. The arrested youths have been booked under multiple sections of the Railway Act. An FIR has been lodged at the Bikramganj RPF post and further investigation is underway under sub-inspector N K Azad to trace others possibly involved. "We are working closely with the GRP and local police to ensure such incidents are not repeated. Patrolling will be intensified in vulnerable stretches," an ECR official said.
Economic Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
India's armed forces target full ammunition self-reliance by 2025-end
India's armed forces are aiming for complete self-reliance in ammunition manufacturing by the end of 2025, a move driven by critical shortages experienced during Operation Sindoor, according to a PTI report. With this target in focus, efforts are being accelerated to strengthen domestic production capacity and reduce dependence on imports for defence requirements. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking on the issue, Lieutenant General Amardeep Singh Aujla, Master General Sustenance of the Indian Army, said, 'The first phase is that by 2025 — that is, the end of this year — we should be 100% indigenous for all our needs. But everything I have spoken about does not come without challenges. These challenges today are in terms of our production capacities — what we state and what we actually produce.' He added that there are also deficiencies in critical raw materials such as propellants, explosives, and fuses. 'When we talk about propellants — whether it's NC, NG, single base, double base, triple base, or ball powder — we are falling short. The gap between our requirement and what is being produced is significant. I believe we need to scale it up by about five to six times,' he said. Other defence officials have echoed these concerns, pointing out significant shortfalls in both finished ammunition and key raw materials. They noted that these limitations present ongoing challenges to meeting the 2025 indigenization goal. Nevertheless, they reiterated the Army's aim to achieve 100% indigenization across all categories of ammunition by the end of that year. Sanjeev Kumar, Defence Secretary (Defence Production), stressed the need to focus on fundamental manufacturing requirements. 'When we interacted with the private sector and also the public sector during the month of May, one thing I realized was that many of us are not able to concentrate or focus on the primary ingredients required in manufacturing. Self-reliance is necessary, and that has been the theme of the government for more than a decade. So, self-reliance not only in platforms, not only in technology and other areas of defence requirements, but also in the field of ammunition,' he said. According to a report by the International Market Analysis Research and Consulting Group, the global ammunition market was valued at USD 25.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 36.1 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.44%. With this backdrop, India is not only aiming to meet its own military needs but also to tap into export opportunities, ensuring that the country's defence forces are never again constrained by supply limitations. (With inputs from PTI)
