Latest news with #VibrantVillage
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
NITI Aayog meet: CM Mann seeks special package for Punjab border districts
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday sought a special industrial package for the state's six districts that share borders with Pakistan and also demanded a cash incentive for maize cultivation to replace the water-guzzling paddy crop. At the meeting of the 10th governing council of the NITI Aayog in Delhi, Mann said to develop Punjab as an industrial hub in the country, the state government has strengthened the unified regulator model under 'Invest Punjab'. Seeking a special industrial package for border districts, Mann said industries in these districts are disadvantaged due to their proximity to Pakistan. Seeking parity with Jammu and Kashmir incentives for industries, Mann sought a PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme, freight subsidy, tax relief, agro-zones and others for the state. The chief minister also asked for infrastructure grants for border resilience to ensure a comprehensive development of six border districts -- Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Pathankot. 'Border areas lack support despite high risk and only 101 villages are covered under the Centre's 'Vibrant Village' scheme. Special grants should be given for trauma centres, bunkers, cyber security and resilient infrastructure,' Mann said and sought upward revision of compensation to farmers having land between fence and border to ₹30,000 per acre per year against the current compensation of ₹10,000 per acre. Mann also opposed unilateral borrowing limit deductions under Article 293 and urged the inclusion of cess, surcharges and select non-tax revenue in the Centre's divisible pool, adding he proposed increasing vertical devolution to 50%. The CM affirmed Punjab's full alignment with the vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047', and said that his government is committed to building a 'Rangla Punjab' -- a vibrant, inclusive, and progressive state, according to an official statement. 'We reaffirm Punjab's dedication to cooperative federalism and to building a Viksit Bharat by 2047 through mutual collaboration' he added. Seeking a grant of ₹2,829 crore for the state, Mann said it is necessary to check drug trafficking and upscale border security. He said these funds will be utilised for upgrading infrastructure, jail security, de-addiction and others, citing that over 53,000 arrests have been made and 3,579 kg of heroin has been seized so far in anti-drug operations. He further said to revitalise Punjab's economy, it is proposed to develop an economic corridor along the Delhi-Katra Expressway which will pass through Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Gurdaspur, Patiala, Sangrur, and Malerkotla. 'This corridor will serve as a strategic industrial and logistics hub, connecting key regions and facilitating seamless movement of goods and services,' Mann said. Batting for crop diversification to make agriculture a profitable venture, Mann sought a cash incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare for maize to replace paddy. Mann demanded adequate representation of Punjab officers and officials in the Chandigarh Administration in the ratio of 60:40. Raising the issue of release of pending arrears under the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Caste students for academic sessions 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, Mann said Punjab has the highest percentage of Scheduled Caste population (31.94%) in the country. Mann also batted for the desilting of Harike head works, located at the confluence point of rivers Sutlej and Beas. He said over the years the sedimentation of suspended silt or sand particles in the reservoir has drastically reduced the capacity of the reservoir and the backwater effect of the water required for optimal operation of canals is now being felt up to Kapurthala district. 'Large swaths of agricultural land along the Sutlej and Beas rivers are becoming susceptible to flooding,' he said, adding that there is an urgent need for carrying out de-silting of the reservoir at a cost ₹600 crore approximately.
India Gazette
19-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand: Border villages to supply poultry products, meat to Indian Army
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], May 19 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on Monday, stressed a historic initiative started from Chamoli district, in which sheep, goat and poultry products are being supplied to the Indian Army by local farmers and cattle rearers. The CM called the initiative 'a strong step towards building a self-reliant India'. He said that the cattle rearers of our border villages will get a permanent and assured market. This initiative will prove to be helpful in giving a new direction to the 'Vibrant Village' scheme as well as in stopping the migration from villages. It is worth noting that another achievement has been added to the Uttarakhand governemnt's efforts to improve the livelihood of the farmers and tenants of the state. The Indian Army will now purchase poultry products from the local farmers of the state through the Animal Husbandry Department. On Monday, the first consignment of supplies was dispatched to the forward posts of the Indian Army, Mana and Malari in Chamoli district. Chief Development Officer Dr. Abhishek Tripathi flagged off the supply vehicles. Under this initiative of the Animal Husbandry Department, a target has been set to ensure the supply of locally produced sheep, goat and poultry products to the forward posts of the Army in Uttarakhand. Poultry products are being supplied in the first phase. In the first consignment dispatched from Joshimath, poultry was supplied to Mana Post and Malari Post of the Indian Army, which was provided by local animal breeders Mr. Gulshan Singh Rana and Mr. Saurabh Negi. Its objective is to increase production as well as provide a strong market system to the local animal breeders at the local level. Through this, the right price and regular payment of their products will be ensured. It is worth noting that the Animal Husbandry Department had earlier signed an MoU with the ITBP. As a result, the local market has become available to the animal breeders. Similarly, the possibility of a new market-for supplying live sheep, goat and poultry to the army- will provide additional means of income to the livestock farmers of Vibrant Villages. Additionally, the arrangement of employment at local level has also been ensured for the youth. This initiative will also prove helpful in ending migration issues from Vibrant Villages. (ANI)
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
At Adi Kailash, BJP chief JP Nadda reviews border security
DEHRADUN: Union minister and BJP national president JP Nadda on Sunday visited Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh district, where he met soldiers deployed on the international border with China. Nadda spent the night at a homestay in Gunji , a small village near the India-China border in Dharchula tehsil of Pithoragarh where he will review development initiatives under the Centre's Vibrant Village scheme . "Visiting Adi Kailash is a truly blessed experience," the Union minister said, adding, "I also had the privilege of meeting our brave soldiers. Adi Kailash, along with sacred sites such as the Om Parvat in Vyas Valley, embodies our eternal culture and remains a centre of faith for millions of devotees of lord Shiva," he added. Nadda arrived at Gunji helipad around 11.45am and then proceeded to the Army Guest House, where he interacted with soldiers from the Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). He was also apprised about the weapons and equipment deployed for border security . Nadda lauded the soldiers' courage and commitment to safeguarding the nation's borders under challenging conditions. District administration officials presented a report to Nadda on the progress of ongoing schemes and proposed programmes under the Vibrant Village scheme. He was also briefed about the state tourism department's initiatives to promote tourism in the district, including arrangements for the 'Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra'. Nadda was accompanied by state BJP president Mahendra Bhatt, Almora MP and minister of state for road transport and highways Ajay Tamta and BJP MLA Bishen Singh Chaufal.
