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Hans India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
'Party Workers Are the Backbone of BJP': Bhagat Reddy Highlights Grassroots Strength and Central Welfare Schemes
Gadwal: In a press conference held at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Aij town, BJP town president Kampati Bhagat Reddy, along with party leaders, emphasized the pivotal role played by party workers in strengthening the organization at the grassroots level. Speaking to reporters, Bhagat Reddy stressed that booth-level empowerment and welcoming new members into the BJP are top priorities for the party. He firmly stated that there is no distinction between new and old members within the BJP, asserting that 'every worker is a BJP soldier, and party workers are the backbone of our organization.' He hailed the strength and enthusiasm of the workers as a source of inspiration and paid tribute to those who have dedicated decades of their lives to building the party. He also addressed misinformation being spread by political rivals, particularly Congress leaders, who claim that those joining the BJP would lose access to government schemes. 'These statements are misleading and inappropriate,' he said, asserting that people are free to join the BJP voluntarily. Criticism of the Congress Government Bhagat Reddy came down heavily on the ruling Congress government in Telangana, accusing it of making false promises and misleading the public with schemes that are neither practical nor implementable. He referred to the Congress' much-publicized '6 Guarantees' as '66 deceptions' that brought them to power. He questioned the delay and lack of transparency in implementing welfare schemes, insisting that all eligible citizens should receive the benefits they are entitled to. Highlighting Central Government Welfare Schemes Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government has implemented numerous development and welfare programs that directly benefit the people of Telangana, Bhagat Reddy said. He highlighted the following schemes: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi: Eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 per year in three equal installments, credited directly into their bank accounts. This is fully funded by the Central Government. Soil Health Card Scheme: Provides farmers with critical information about soil health to reduce the use of harmful chemicals and improve crop yield. Ayushman Bharat: Offers free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakhs annually for poor families. Bhagat Reddy noted that this scheme has not been fully implemented in Telangana due to the state's preference for continuing its own Aarogyasri scheme. Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: Focuses on protecting the rights of girl children and promoting their education through awareness programs. Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: A joint initiative of the central and state governments aimed at improving educational standards from primary to intermediate levels. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: Provides assistance to build homes for the urban and rural poor through joint funding by the central and state governments. Skill Development Initiatives: Programs like Startup India and Standup India are aimed at empowering youth through free skill training, financial assistance, and mentorship, encouraging entrepreneurship and self-reliance. Party Unity and Future Vision Bhagat Reddy reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to inclusive growth and transparent governance, stating that the party is focused on reaching every eligible citizen with development programs. He reiterated that no genuine beneficiary would be left behind, and the BJP remains committed to a development-driven agenda. Leaders Present at the Event The press meet was attended by several key party members including District Council Member Pradeep Kumar, Aij Town Vice Presidents Lakshman Goud and Bellankonda Nagaraju, and senior leaders like Raghu, among others. The event concluded with a call to all BJP workers to intensify their outreach, educate the public about government schemes, and continue working at the grassroots level to strengthen the party further.
Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
To improve both crop and human nutrition, India needs a paradigm shift
Who would have imagined that India, which lived from 'ship to mouth' with heavy dependence on food aid under the US PL-480 programme in the 1960s, would emerge as the world's largest rice exporter? In 2024-25 (FY25), India exported 20.2 million tonnes (MT) of rice in a global market of 61 MT. The country also runs the world's largest food distribution programme, the PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), which provides 5 kg of free rice or wheat per person per month to more than 800 million people. Yet, the Food Corporation of India holds about 57 MT of rice — the highest stock in 20 years and nearly four times the buffer norm of 13.54 million tonnes as of July 1, 2025. Poverty, too, has receded significantly. The extreme poverty head count (those earning less than $3/day at 2021 PPP) dropped from 27.1 per cent in 2011 to just 5.3 per cent in 2022. Notwithstanding these achievements, malnutrition amongst children remains a challenge. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS 5) (2019–21) reports that 35.5 per cent of children under five years of age are stunted, 32.1 per cent are underweight, and 19.3 per cent are wasted. Food security in India has evolved beyond merely ensuring caloric sufficiency; it must now encompass nutritional security as well. One critical, and often overlooked, factor here is the health of soils. Soil micronutrient deficiencies not only impair agricultural productivity but also degrade the nutritional quality of crops. Crops grown on nutrient-deficient soils often mirror those deficiencies, leading to a silent but pervasive form of malnutrition in humans. Take zinc. Its deficiency in soils translates into low zinc content in cereals like wheat and rice, which in turn is linked to childhood stunting — a condition that affects the physical development, long-term cognitive health, as well as the professional life of a person. Let us now turn to the status of Indian soils. Of more than 8.8 million soil samples tested under the Soil Health Card Scheme in 2024, less than 5 per cent have high or sufficient nitrogen (N), only 40 per cent have sufficient phosphate (P), 32 per cent have sufficient potash (K) and just 20 per cent are sufficient in soil organic carbon (SOC) (see graph). Importantly, SOC is a critical parameter defining the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil — these govern its holding capacity and nutrient use efficiency. There is also a debate as to how much SOC is considered sufficient. As per the Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISC), SOC in the range of 0.50- 0.75 per cent is adequate. But the World Food Laureate, Rattan Lal, who has worked on soil health throughout his career, prescribes that the carbon content in soils should be at least 1.5 to 2 per cent. Our soils also suffer from a deficiency of sulphur, as well as micronutrients like iron, zinc and boron. These deficiencies range from moderate to severe. It won't be an exaggeration to say that many parcels of Indian soils need to be immediately taken to an intensive care unit (ICU) to restore them to normal health so that they can produce nutritious food on a sustainable basis. We have also observed that in some parts of the country, nitrogen (N) is overused while phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are underused. For example, in Punjab, nitrogen use exceeds recommendations by 61 per cent, while potassium use is short by 89 per cent, and phosphorus use is short by 8 per cent. Telangana also mirrors this imbalance — it overuses N by 54 per cent but its use of K is 82 per cent less, and that of P is 13 per cent less. The situation is similar in several other states. The highly imbalanced use of N, P and K and the neglect of micronutrients leads to suboptimal agricultural productivity. Nationwide, the fertiliser-to-grain response ratio has declined significantly from 1:10 in the 1970s to a mere 1:2.7 in 2015. Moreover, the application of granular urea results in substantial nitrogen losses, with only 35-40 per cent of the nitrogen being absorbed by the crops. The remaining nitrogen is either released into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide — a greenhouse gas that is 273 times more potent than carbon dioxide — or leaches into groundwater, contaminating it with nitrates and making it unsafe for consumption. So, in a way, the imbalanced use of N, P and K is also increasing the pollution, rather than increasing grain yields. Additionally, a significant portion of urea is diverted to non-agricultural uses and also finds its way to neighbouring countries. This needs to change. To restore soil health and improve both crop and human nutrition, India needs a paradigm shift — from indiscriminate use of fertilisers to tailored and science-based soil nutrition management. This calls for more precise and customised fertilisation strategies, which are informed by rigorous soil testing and aligned with the nutritional needs of different soils and crops. Only when soils receive the nutrients do they produce food that nourishes rather than merely fills stomachs. This is no longer just an agricultural issue; it is a public health imperative. Recognising the urgency of this challenge, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and OCP Nutricrops have committed to collaborating to improve soil health in India and beyond. OCP Nutricrops brings cutting-edge expertise in soil nutrition and fertiliser solutions aimed at addressing global challenges in sustainable food production. The collaboration aims to develop, implement, and scale region-specific, data-driven soil nutrition solutions that enhance crop productivity while improving their nutritional profile. Thus, to truly move from plate to plough — and back to plate — we must start by healing Mother Earth. Only then can we walk as a healthy nation. Gulati is distinguished professor at ICRIER, Vergutz is chief scientific officer at OCP Nutricrops, and Juneja is research fellow at ICRIER. Views are personal
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
New Delhi: CM Yogi Adityanath pays courtesy visit to Union home minister Amit Shah
UP CM Yogi Adityanath pays courtesy visit to Union home minister Amit Shah (Image credit: ANI) Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath paid a courtesy visit to Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday in New Delhi. While referring to the same, home minister office wrote on X, "Uttar Pradesh chief minister Shri @myogiadityanath met Union Minister of Home Affairs @AmitShah." CM Yogi also shared a post on X about his visit. The chief minister wrote, "Today I had a courtesy call on the Honorable Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah ji in New Delhi. Thank you very much for providing your valuable time!" Earlier on Sunday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the Kisan Samman Samaroh in Auraiya, highlighting the government's efforts to support farmers. He emphasised that farmers have become a crucial part of the government's political agenda since 2014 thanks to prime minister Narendra Modi 's initiatives. Adityanath did an aerial survey of the maize crop on his way from Lucknow to Auraiya. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Kisan Samman Samaroh, said, "You must have seen for the first time in 2014 that the farmer who provides food can also become a part of the political agenda of a government, when PM Modi started the Soil Health Card Scheme." He highlighted various initiatives of the central government to secure farmers' future - Soil Health Card Scheme; Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme; Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme against crop failures and Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, 12 crore farmers nationwide benefit from this scheme, receiving financial support. "After the Soil Health Card, the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme and then the Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme were implemented and the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme was implemented," said the UP CM. The government's efforts have shown positive results, with PM Kisan Samman Nidhi emerging as the world's largest direct benefit transfer scheme. Over Rs 3.25 lakh crore have been transferred into farmers' bank accounts, benefiting crores of farmers. "12 crore farmers in the country benefit from the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. This double-engine government is also working towards making the future of its farmers beautiful and secure in the state. When our government came in 2017, farmers were committing suicide. There were no facilities anywhere," he added. Yogi Adityanath also said that in 2017, the government implemented a Rs 36,000 crore loan waiver program for 86 lakh farmers. "In 2017, when we came, first of all, we took forward the loan waiver program of Rs 36000 crore for 86 lakh farmers, and after the loan waiver, we resorted to the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme to develop the irrigation capacity in the state," said the UP CM.
India Gazette
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi expresses grief over Saharanpur mishap, orders relief, treatment for injured victims
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 10 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday took cognisance of the tragic accident that occurred in Saharanpur district during bathing in a canal and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased. The Chief Minister directed officials to promptly reach the accident site and expedite the relief and rescue operations. He has also instructed that the injured be immediately admitted to the hospital and given proper medical care. CM Yogi further wished for the speedy recovery of the injured. Meanwhile, on Monday, The Chief Minister visited the national capital on Monday, paying a courtesy call on Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Home Minister's Office confirmed the meeting through a post on social media platform X, which read, 'Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri @myogiadityanath met Union Minister of Home Affairs @AmitShah.' Yogi Adityanath also shared details of the meeting on his official X handle, writing, 'Today I had a courtesy call on the Honourable Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah ji in New Delhi. Thank you very much for providing your valuable time!' The Chief Minister's Delhi visit came a day after he addressed the Kisan Samman Samaroh in Auraiya on Sunday, where he underscored the central government's farmer-centric policies. During the event, he pointed to a significant shift in political priorities since 2014, asserting that farmers have become central to governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. 'You must have seen for the first time in 2014 that the farmer who provides food can also become a part of the political agenda of a government, when PM Modi started the Soil Health Card Scheme,' Adityanath said. He detailed various schemes aimed at strengthening agricultural sustainability and farmer welfare, including the Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, the crop insurance programme under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, under which over 12 crore farmers receive financial assistance nationwide. Before reaching Auraiya, CM Yogi also conducted an aerial survey of maize crops en route from Lucknow, highlighting the government's focus on field-level review of agricultural conditions.(ANI)
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
New Delhi: CM Yogi Adityanath pays courtesy visit to Union Home Minister Amit Shah
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid a courtesy visit to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday in New Delhi. While referring to the same, Home Minister Office wrote on X, 'Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Shri @myogiadityanath met Union Minister of Home Affairs @AmitShah.' CM Yogi also shared a post on X about his visit. The chief minister wrote, 'Today I had a courtesy call on the Honorable Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri @AmitShah ji in New Delhi. Thank you very much for providing your valuable time!' Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed the Kisan Samman Samaroh in Auraiya, highlighting the government's efforts to support farmers. He emphasised that farmers have become a crucial part of the government's political agenda since 2014 thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives. Adityanath did an aerial survey of the maize crop on his way from Lucknow to Auraiya. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while addressing the Kisan Samman Samaroh, said, 'You must have seen for the first time in 2014 that the farmer who provides food can also become a part of the political agenda of a government, when PM Modi started the Soil Health Card Scheme.' He highlighted various initiatives of the central government to secure farmers' future - Soil Health Card Scheme; Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme; Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme against crop failures and Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme, 12 crore farmers nationwide benefit from this scheme, receiving financial support. 'After the Soil Health Card, the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme and then the Prime Minister's Agricultural Insurance Scheme were implemented and the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme was implemented,' said the UP CM. The government's efforts have shown positive results, with PM Kisan Samman Nidhi emerging as the world's largest direct benefit transfer scheme. Over Rs 3.25 lakh crore have been transferred into farmers' bank accounts, benefiting crores of farmers. '12 crore farmers in the country benefit from the Prime Minister's Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme. This double-engine government is also working towards making the future of its farmers beautiful and secure in the state. When our government came in 2017, farmers were committing suicide. There were no facilities anywhere,' he added. Yogi Adityanath also said that in 2017, the government implemented a Rs 36,000 crore loan waiver program for 86 lakh farmers. 'In 2017, when we came, first of all, we took forward the loan waiver program of Rs 36000 crore for 86 lakh farmers, and after the loan waiver, we resorted to the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme to develop the irrigation capacity in the state,' said the UP CM. (ANI)
