The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today lauded the enthusiasm shown by the senior citizens for the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card.
In a post on X, he wrote:
“आयुष्मान वय वंदना कार्ड के लिए हमारे वरिष्ठ नागरिकों ने जो उत्साह दिखाया है, वो बहुत संतोषप्रद है। उनके बेहतर स्वास्थ्य और सुदीर्घ जीवन के लिए हम कोई कोर-कसर नहीं छोड़ने वाले हैं। मेरा आग्रह है कि ज्यादा से ज्यादा सीनियर सिटीजन इस सुविधा का लाभ लें।”
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh called on the President of the Russian Federation Mr Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 10, 2024, on the margins of the 21st session of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). Raksha Mantri conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to President Putin.
Shri Rajnath Singh discussed various issues of bilateral defence cooperation. Both leaders expressed that partnership between both countries holds immense potential and combined efforts will pave way for remarkable outcomes.
During the meeting, Shri Rajnath Singh said “Friendship between our countries is higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean.” India has always stood by its Russian friends and will continue to do so in future, he added.
The 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) was co-chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Russian Defence Minister Mr Andrey Belousov in Moscow on December 10, 2024. Raksha Mantri emphasised that the India-Russia relationship is very strong, and has lived up to the responsibilities of a special and privileged strategic partnership. He added that the ties have further strengthened with the recent exchanges including two visits of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Russia during 2024.
Shri Rajnath Singh voiced the Government of India’s determination to extend the capabilities of its domestic defence industry across domains and industrial collaboration. He stressed on new opportunities for enhancing participation of Russian industries in the ‘Make in India’ projects. He reiterated India’s commitment towards Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership with Russia.
The Russian Defence Minister emphasised on deepening relationship between both the countries which is based on mutual trust. He congratulated Raksha Mantri on the commissioning of INS Tushil. He further stated that the operationalisation of Military Technical Cooperation agreement for 2021-31 will give necessary impetus to ‘Make in India’. Shri Rajnath Singh invited Minister Belousov to visit India to co-chair the 22nd session of IRIGC-M&MTC in 2025. The invitation was accepted.
At the end, the two Ministers signed the protocol of the 21st IRIGC-M&MTC meeting highlighting the ongoing and prospective areas of cooperation.
Prior to the meeting, Raksha Mantri inspected the Guard of Honour at the Russian Defence Ministry in Central Moscow. Earlier, he laid a wreath at ‘The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to honour the memory of the Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War.
The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Mohan Yadav, met the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The Prime Minister’s Office handle on X wrote:
“Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri @DrMohanYadav51, met Prime Minister @narendramodi.
@CMMadhyaPradesh”
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched the ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’ of Life Insurance Corporation, in line with his commitment to women empowerment and financial inclusion, in Panipat, Haryana. During the occasion, he also laid the foundation stone of the Main campus of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal. Addressing the gathering, Shri Modi said that today India was taking another strong step towards women empowerment. He added that today being the 9th day of the month was special as number 9 was considered auspicious in our scriptures and was associated with the nine forms of Nav Durga, worshipped during the Navratri. He remarked that today is also a day of worship of Nari Shakti.
The Prime Minister recollected that it was on 9th December, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was held and today when the country was celebrating 75 years of the Constitution, the date inspires us to ensure equality and holistic development.
Lauding Haryana as a great land that gave the world the knowledge of ethics and religion, Shri Modi was pleased that at this time, the International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav was also being held in Kurukshetra. He paid respects to the land of Gita and greeted all the patriotic people of Haryana. Shri Modi lauded the people of Haryana for adopting the mantra of ‘Ek hain to Safe hain’, which had become an example for the entire country.
Expressing his unflinching relationship and attachment with Haryana, the Prime Minister thanked the people for electing them to power for the third time in a row. He added that the newly formed state Government was being praised from all quarters despite being formed recently. He further added that the country has witnessed the way thousands of youth have got permanent jobs here without corruption after the formation of the government. Thanking the women of Haryana, Shri Modi remarked that he had launched the Bima Sakhi scheme, which provides employment to the women of the country and congratulated all for the same.
Recounting his privilege of launching the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign from Panipat, a few years ago, the Prime Minister underlined that it had a positive impact in Haryana as well as the entire country. He added that in Haryana alone, lives of thousands of daughters’ were saved in the last decade. Shri Modi remarked that now after a decade, the Bima Sakhi Yojana for sisters and daughters was being launched from this very land of Panipat. He added that Panipat had become a symbol of women power.
Highlighting that India was treading forward with the resolution of Viksit Bharat by 2047, Shri Modi said that from 1947 till today, the energy of every class and region has taken India to this height. He added that however, to achieve the resolution of a developed India by 2047, India needs many new sources of energy. North-East India being one such source, Shri Modi said Nari Shakti of India was another important source of energy in the form of women self-help groups, insurance sakhi, bank sakhi, agriculture sakhi which would bolster the resolution of developed India.
The Prime Minister stressed that it was imperative to ensure ample opportunities and remove every obstacle in their way to empower women. He added that when women were empowered, new doors of opportunities opened for the country. Highlighting that the Government opened up many jobs which were forbidden for women, Shri Modi remarked that the daughters of India were being deployed in the front lines of the army today. He added that India’s daughters, in large numbers, were becoming fighter pilots, recruited in police and heading corporate companies too. The Prime Minister noted that there were 1200 producer associations or cooperative societies of farmers and cattle rearers in the country, led by women. He added that girls were moving ahead in every field from sports to education. He further added that lakhs of daughters have also benefited from increasing the maternity leave for pregnant women to 26 weeks.
The Prime Minister remarked that the foundation of the Bima Sakhi programme, launched today, was also based on years of hard work and penance. Noting that most women lacked bank accounts after 6 decades of independence, he said that women were cut off from the entire banking system. Expressing pride over 30 crore women accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana, Shri Modi said that his Government opened the Jan Dhan accounts for women to ensure the subsidies like Gas subsidy reach the responsible hands of the family. He added that Jan Dhan Yojana has also helped in ensuring the transfer of money from schemes like Kisan Kalyan Nidhi, Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, funds to build own houses, funds to set up shops for hawkers, Mudra Yojana and others.
Lauding the women for having played a major role in providing banking facilities in every village, the Prime Minister said that those who did not even have bank accounts are now connecting the villagers to banks as Bank Sakhi. He added that the Bank Sakhis have started teaching people how to save money in a bank, how to get a loan and lakhs of such Bank Sakhis are providing services in every village today.
Recollecting that women of India were not insured earlier, Shri Modi remarked that today a campaign was started to make lakhs of women insurance agents or Bima Sakhi. He added that now women will also lead the expansion of sectors like insurance. The Prime Minister stressed that the target was to provide employment opportunities to 2 lakh women under the Bima Sakhi Yojana. He added that girls who had completed their class 10 would be trained and given financial help for three years under the Bima Sakhi Yojana. Citing data related to the insurance sector which showed that a LIC agent earns an average of 15 thousand rupees every month, Shri Modi said that our Bima Sakhis would earn more than 1.75 lakh rupees every year which would give additional income to the family.
Noting that the contribution of Bima Sakhis would be much more apart from earning money, the Prime Minister said ‘Insurance for All’ in India was the aim at the end of the day. He added that it was necessary for social security and to eradicate poverty from its roots. He further emphasised that the Bima Sakhis will strengthen the mission of Insurance for All.
Underlining that when an individual is insured, the benefit gained is immense, Shri Modi said the Government was implementing Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojanas. He added that an insurance of Rs 2 lakh was provided at a very low premium under these schemes. Shri Modi noted that more than 20 crore people of the country who could never even think of insurance, have been insured. He added that under these two schemes, a claim amount of about Rs 20 thousand crore has been given so far. Shri Modi remarked that Bima Sakhis would be working to provide social security cover to many families of the country, a kind of a virtuous work.
Emphasising that the revolutionary policies made for rural women in India in the last 10 years along with the policy decisions undertaken was indeed a subject of study, the Prime Minister said even though the titles of Bima Sakhi, Bank Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi, Pashu Sakhi, Drone Didi, Lakhpati didi sound simple and common, they are transforming the fate of India. He added that India’s Self Help Group Abhiyaan would be scripted in golden letters in history considering the empowerment of women done by it. Shri Modi remarked that the Government had made women self-help groups a big medium to bring about change in the rural economy. He added that 10 crore women across the country are associated with self-help groups and more than 8 lakh crore rupees of help to the women of self-help groups in the last decade.
Lauding the role and contribution of the women, associated with Self Help Groups across the country, as extraordinary, the Prime Minister remarked that they were working to make India the third largest economic power in the world. Noting that women from every society, class and family were associated with this, he added that every woman was getting opportunities in this. He further remarked that the movement of Self Help Groups was also strengthening social harmony and social justice. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Self Help Groups were not only increasing the income of one woman, but also increasing the confidence of a family, and the entire village. He lauded all of them for the good work being carried out.
Shri Modi also recounted his announcement made from the ramparts of Red Fort to make 3 crore Lakhpati Didis and so far more than 1 crore 15 lakh Lakhpati Didis have been made across the country. He added that these women have started earning more than one lakh rupees every year. The Prime Minister remarked that the Lakhpati Didi campaign was also getting much needed support from the Government’s Namo Drone Didi Yojana, which is discussed even in Haryana. Shri Modi narrated the account of a Namo Drono Didi from Haryana and said that this scheme was transforming both agriculture and the lives of women.
The Prime Minister highlighted that thousands of Krishi Sakhis were being trained to raise awareness about modern farming and natural farming in the country. He added that about 70 thousand Krishi Sakhis had already received certificates and these Krishi Sakhis had the capacity to earn more than 60 thousand rupees every year. Discussing about the Pashu Sakhis, Shri Modi said more than 1.25 lakh Pashu Sakhis are today a part of the awareness campaign about animal husbandry. He added that these were not just a means of employment but doing a great service to humanity. He remarked that Krishi Sakhis were not only working to save the earth for future generations, but also serving the soil and our farmers by spreading awareness about natural farming. Similarly, he added that our Pashu Sakhis were doing a pious work of serving humanity by serving animals.
Emphasising the love and affection received from the sisters and mothers of the country, Shri Modi said his Government built more than 12 crore toilets in the country in the last 10 years which helped many women whose houses had no toilets. Similarly, he added, free gas cylinder connections were given to crores of women who had no gas connection 10 years ago. He further added that tap water connections, pucca houses were also ensured to women who lacked them. The Prime Minister highlighted that the legislation ensuring 33 percent reservation for women in the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha was also enacted. He added that the blessings of mothers and sisters would be ensured only when such honest efforts are made with the right intentions.
Touching upon the work being done for the welfare of the farmers by their Center and State Governments, the Prime Minister underscored that in the first two terms, the farmers of Haryana had received more than 1.25 lakh crore rupees as MSP, while after the formation of the government for the third time in Haryana, 14 thousand crore rupees was given to paddy, millet and moong farmers as MSP. He added that more than 800 crore rupees was also given to help drought affected farmers. Recounting the major role played by Chaudhary Charan Singh University in making Haryana the leader of Green Revolution, Shri Modi said that now in the 21st century, the role of Maharana Pratap University would be imperative in making Haryana a leader in the field of horticulture. He added that today, the foundation stone of the new campus of Maharana Pratap Horticulture University was laid and it would provide new facilities to the youth studying in this university.
Concluding his address, Shri Modi assured the women of Haryana that the state would develop rapidly and the Governments at the Center and State would work three times faster in their third term. He expressed confidence that the role of women power in Haryana would continue to grow stronger.
The Governor of Haryana, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Shri Manohar Lal, Minister of State for Cooperation, Shri Krishan Pal and other dignitaries were present at the event.
Background
The ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’ initiative of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is designed to empower women aged 18-70 years, who are Class X pass. They will receive specialized training and a stipend for the first three years to promote financial literacy and insurance awareness. After training, they can serve as LIC agents and the graduate Bima Sakhis would have the opportunity to qualify for being considered for Development Officer roles in LIC.
The Main campus of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University, Karnal and six regional research stations, spread over 495 acres, will be established at a cost of over Rs 700 crore. The University will have one College of Horticulture for Graduate and Post-Graduate studies and five schools covering 10 horticulture disciplines. It will work towards crop diversification and world class research for development of horticulture technologies.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 and the Rajasthan Global Business Expo at Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said today was another special day in the journey of success of Rajasthan. He congratulated all the industry and business leaders, investors, delegates to the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 at the Pink City – Jaipur. He also congratulated the Government of Rajasthan for organising the grand event.
The Prime Minister remarked that business experts and investors were buoyed by the business climate in India. He added that the progress that India has seen with the mantra of Perform, Transform and Reform, is visible in every field. Shri Modi highlighted that India was able to rise to 11th largest economy in the world after 7 decades of Independence, but in just the last decade, India has risen to 5th largest economy in the world. “India’s economy and exports have nearly doubled in the last 10 years”, exclaimed Shri Modi. He added that even the Foreign Direct Investment had increased more than two times in the last decade in comparison with the decade before 2014. He further noted that the infrastructure expenditure of India had increased to Rs 11 Trillion from nearly Rs 2 trillion.
“India’s success showcases the true power of democracy, demography, digital data and delivery”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. He added that the success and empowerment of Democracy in a diverse country like India is a great achievement in itself. The Prime Minister remarked that the welfare of humanity while being a democratic nation is at the core of the philosophy of India. He added that it was the basic character of India. He lauded the people of India for exercising their democratic rights and ensuring a stable Government in India. Shri Modi hailed the demography that is the youth power for taking forward these ancient traditions of India. He remarked that India was going to be among the youngest countries in the world for many years to come and India will have the largest pool of youth as well as the largest skilled youth group. He further added that the government was undertaking several positive steps in this direction.
Shri Modi noted that in the last decade, India’s youth power has added another dimension to our strength and this new dimension was India’s tech power and data power. Emphasising the importance of technology and data in every sector in today’s world, Shri Modi said “This century is tech-driven and data-driven”. He noted that in the last decade, the number of internet users in India has increased by almost 4 times. He further added that new records were being made in digital transactions. The Prime Minister underlined that India was showcasing the world its real power of democracy, demography and data. “India has demonstrated how the democratisation of digital technology is benefiting every sector and community”, said Shri Modi. Citing various digital initiatives of India like the UPI, Direct Benefit Transfer System, Government e-Marketplace (GeM), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDVC), he said that there are so many such platforms which showcased the power of the digital ecosystem. He added that their huge impact would be evident in Rajasthan as well. Shri Modi expressed his firm belief that development of the country was through the development of the state and when Rajasthan reaches new heights of development, the country will also reach new heights.
Noting that Rajasthan was the largest state in India in terms of area, Shri Modi lauded the people of Rajasthan for their large-heartedness, hard working nature, honesty, will to achieve the toughest goals, their belief in nation first, their inspiration to do anything for the country. He added that the priority of the post-independence governments was neither the development of the country nor the heritage of the country and Rajasthan bore its brunt. He further assured that his government was working on the mantra of development as well as heritage which would benefit Rajasthan greatly.
Highlighting that Rajasthan was not just a rising state, but also a reliable one, the Prime Minister remarked that Rajasthan was receptive and knew how to refine itself with time. He added that Rajasthan was also another name for facing challenges and for creating new opportunities. Shri Modi said a responsive and reformist government elected by the people of Rajasthan was the new aspect added to the R-Factor of Rajasthan. He lauded the Chief Minister of Rajasthan and his entire team had done a great job in a short span of time. Noting that the state government was going to complete its first year in a few days, Shri Modi commended the Chief Minister for his efficiency and commitment in in the rapid development of Rajasthan in various fields like welfare of the poor and farmers, creation of new opportunities for the youth, developmental works like road, electricity, water works. He also added that the promptness of the government in controlling crime and corruption had brought new enthusiasm among citizens and investors.
Emphasising that it was important to realize the real potential of Rajasthan, the Prime Minister remarked that Rajasthan has a storehouse of natural resources, a network of modern connectivity along with a rich heritage, a very large landmass and a highly capable youth force. He added that Rajasthan had a lot to offer from roads to railways, from hospitality to handicrafts, from farms to forts. This potential of Rajasthan, Shri Modi said, makes the state a very attractive destination for investment. Adding that Rajasthan has the quality of learning and the quality of increasing its potential, Shri Modi remarked that that is why now even in the sandy dunes here, trees are laden with fruits and the cultivation of olives and jatropha is increasing. He highlighted that the Blue pottery of Jaipur, Theva Jewellery of Pratapgarh and textile innovation of Bhilwara had a different glory while Makrana marble and Kota Doria were well known all over the world. He added that the fragrance of Paan Methi of Nagaur was also unique and the state government was working to recognize the potential of every district.
Noting that the large part of India’s mineral reserves was in Rajasthan like zinc, lead, copper, marble, limestone, granite, potash, the Prime Minister said these were the strong foundation of self-reliant India and Rajasthan was a major contributor to India’s energy security. Reminding that India had set a target of creating 500 gigawatt renewable energy capacity by the end of this decade, Shri Modi said Rajasthan was playing a great role in this too with many of India’s largest solar parks being built here.
Remarking that Rajasthan connected two big centers of economy, Delhi and Mumbai, the ports of Maharashtra and Gujarat with Northern India, Shri Modi noted that 250 kilometers of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor wass in Rajasthan. This, he added, would greatly benefit districts of Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bundi and Kota of Rajasthan. Noting that 300 km of modern rail network like Dedicated Freight Corridor was in Rajasthan, Shri Modi said that this corridor passed through Jaipur, Ajmer, Sikar, Nagaur and Alwar districts. Highlighting that Rajasthan being the center of such big connectivity projects, the Prime Minister said it was an excellent destination for investment with immense possibilities especially for the dry ports and logistics sector. He added that the Government was developing multi-model logistics parks, about two dozen sector specific industrial parks, and two air cargo complexes were being built. This, he further said, would make it easier to set up industry in Rajasthan with further improvement in the industrial connectivity.
Emphasising the huge potential of tourism in India’s prosperous future, the Prime Minister stressed that there were immense possibilities for nature, culture, adventure, conference, destination wedding and heritage tourism in India. He added that Rajasthan was a major centre on India’s tourism map and it had history, heritage, vast deserts and beautiful lakes with diverse music and cuisine which would suffice the needs of Tour, Travel and Hospitality Sector. He further added that Rajasthan was one of those select places in the world where people would want to come for weddings and to make life’s moments memorable. Shri Modi noted that there was a lot of scope for wildlife tourism in Rajasthan and cited Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills, Keoladeo and many such places which are a treat for wildlife enthusiasts. The Prime Minister was pleased that the Rajasthan government was connecting its tourist destinations and heritage centres with better connectivity. He added that the Government of India had also started schemes related to different theme circuits and noted that around 5 crore foreign tourists came to India between 2004 and 2014, whereas more than 7 crore foreign tourists have come to India between 2014 and 2024 despite the Covid affected period for three to four years.Shri Modi stressed that despite Tourism coming to a standstill during the Covid pandemic period, the number of tourists coming to India had increased to a great extent. He noted that the facility of e-visa to India extended to the tourists of many countries had helped the foreign guests a lot. Noting that today the domestic tourism in India was also creating new records, the Prime Minister said that schemes like Udan Yojana, Vande Bharat trains, Prasad scheme had benefited Rajasthan. He added that Rajasthan also benefited from programs like Vibrant Village of the Government of India. Shri Modi urged the citizens to Wed in India which would also benefit Rajasthan. He said that there was a huge potential to expand Rajasthan’s heritage tourism, film tourism, eco-tourism, rural tourism, border area tourism. The Prime Minister urged the investors that their investment in these areas would strengthen Rajasthan’s tourism sector and also help them grow their business.
Touching upon the existing challenges related to global supply and value chain, the Prime Minister said that today the world needed a system which would function unhindered and uninterrupted even during the biggest crisis. For this, he added, that it was imperative to have a large manufacturing base in India which was not only necessary for India, but also for the world economy. Shri Modi remarked that India had taken a pledge of self-reliance in manufacturing, understanding this responsibility. He added that India was emphasizing on low cost manufacturing under its Make in India program and India’s petroleum products, medicines and vaccines, electronics goods and the record manufacturing benefited the world a lot. Shri Modi noted that about eighty four thousand crore rupees worth of exports have been made from Rajasthan in the last year which included engineering goods, gems and jewellery, textiles, handicrafts, agro food products.
Emphasising the continuously increasing role of the PLI scheme in increasing manufacturing in India, the Prime Minister said that today there was a lot of enthusiasm in the sectors of Electronics, Specialty Steel, Automobiles and auto components,Solar PVs, Pharmaceutical drugs. He added that the PLI Scheme had led to an investment of about Rs 1.25 lakh crore, products worth about Rs 11 lakh crore being made and an increase in exports by Rs 4 lakh crore. He noted that lakhs of youth were employed newly. The Prime Minister stressed that Rajasthan too had prepared a good base for the automotive and auto component industry with a lot of potential for electric vehicle manufacturing. He added that necessary infrastructure required for electronics manufacturing was also available in Rajasthan. Shri Modi urged the investors to definitely explore the manufacturing potential of Rajasthan.
Highlighting that Rising Rajasthan was a great strength, the Prime Minister said that Rajasthan was one of the top 5 states in India in terms of MSMEs. He added that a separate conclave was also going to be held on MSMEs in the ongoing summit. Shri Modi noted that there are more than 27 lakh small and micro industries in Rajasthan with more than 50 lakh people working in small industries. He added that this had the potential to change the fate of Rajasthan. Shri Modi was pleased that a new MSMEs policy was introduced by the Government within a short time. He added that the Government of India was also continuously strengthening MSMEs through its policies and decisions. “India’s MSMEs are not only strengthening the Indian economy but are also playing a significant role in empowering the global supply and value chains”, said the Prime Minister. Recollecting the pharma-related supply chain crisis during the Covid pandemic, Shri Modi underscored that India’s pharma sector helped the world due to its strong base. Similarly, he urged to make India a strong base for manufacturing of other products and said that our MSMEs would play a major role in this.
Underling the Government’s efforts to change the definition of MSMEs so that they get more opportunities for growth, Shri Modi said the central government had linked about 5 crore MSMEs to the formal economy, which had eased their access to credit.
Adding that the Government had also started a Credit Linked Guarantee Scheme, the Prime Minister said small industries were given assistance of about Rs 7 lakh crore under the scheme. Stressing that in the last decade, the credit flow for MSMEs had more than doubled, Shri Modi said while it was about Rs 10 lakh crore in 2014, today it was more than Rs 22 lakh crore. He added that Rajasthan had also been a big beneficiary of this and this growing strength of MSMEs would propel Rajasthan’s development to new heights.
“We have embarked on a new journey of self-reliant India”, said the Prime Minister. He added that the vision of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan was global and the impact was also global. Shri Modi underscored that they were moving ahead with a whole of Government approach at the Governmental level. He added that the Government was promoting every sector and every factor for industrial and manufacturing growth. Shri Modi expressed confidence that this spirit of Sabka Prayas will create a developed Rajasthan and a developed India.
Concluding his address, Shri Modi urged all the investors to take up the resolution of Rising Rajasthan. He also urged the delegates from across the globe to explore Rajasthan and India, which would be an unforgettable experience for them.
The Governor of Rajasthan Shri Haribhau Kisanrao Bagde, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, Ministers, MPs, MLAs, industry leaders and other dignitaries were present at the event.
Background
The theme of the Investment Summit to be held from 9th to 11th December this year is ‘Replete, Responsible, Ready’. The Summit will host 12 sectoral thematic sessions on the themes of water security, sustainable mining, sustainable finance, inclusive tourism, agri-business innovations and women-led Startups among others. Eight Country sessions will also be held during the Summit with participating countries on the themes like ‘Water Management for Livable Cities’, ‘versatility of Industries- manufacturing and beyond’ and ‘Trade & Tourism.’
Pravasi Rajasthani Conclave and MSME Conclave will also be held in three days. The Rajasthan Global Business Expo will feature thematic pavilions such as the Rajasthan Pavilion, Country Pavilions, Startups Pavilion among others. Over 32 countries, including 16 partner countries and 20 international organizations will participate in the Summit.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the event at Ramakrishna Math in Gujarat via video conferencing today. Addressing the gathering, Shri Modi extended his greetings to the revered Shrimat Swami Gautamananda Ji Maharaj, revered saints of Ramakrishna Math and Mission from India and abroad, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel and other dignitaries. Shri Modi paid his respects to Goddess Sharada, Gurudev Ramakrishna Paramhans and Swami Vivekananda. He added that today’s program was organized on the birth anniversary of Shrimat Swami Premananda Maharaj and paid respects to him.
“The energy of great personalities continues in building and creating positive work in the world for centuries”, remarked the Prime Minister. He added that on the birth anniversary of Swami Premanand Maharaj, the construction of the newly built prayer hall and a Sadhu Nivas in Lekhamba would nourish the saint tradition of India. Shri Modi remarked that a journey of service and education was starting, which would benefit many generations to come. He added that the noble works like Shri Ramakrishna Dev temple, hostel for poor students, vocational training center, hospital and traveler’s residence would serve as a medium for spreading spirituality and serving humanity. Expressing that he cherished the company of saints and a spiritual environment, the Prime Minister congratulated and extended his best wishes.
Reminiscing the memories associated with Sanand, Shri Modi remarked that the region was now witnessing the much needed economic development after years of neglect. He remarked that the blessings of the saints and the Government’s efforts and policies had led to this development. Noting the changes in needs of the society with time, Shri Modi expressed his wish that Sanand should become a center of spiritual development along with economic development. He added that for a balanced life, spirituality along with money was equally important. Shri Modi was pleased that under the guidance of our saints and sages, Sanand and Gujarat were moving ahead in this direction.
Remarking that the the potential of a fruit from a tree is identified by its seed, the Prime Minister said Ramakrishna Math was such a tree, whose seed contains the infinite energy of a great ascetic like Swami Vivekananda. He added that this was the reason behind its continuous expansion and the impact it has on humanity was infinite and limitless. The Prime Minister underlined that to understand the idea that lies at the core of Ramakrishna Math, one needs to understand Swami Vivekananda and live his ideas. He added that he experienced the guiding light himself when learnt to live those ideas. He further added that the saints of math were aware of how Ramakrishna Mission and its saints along with the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda had given direction to his life. Shri Modi underlined that with the blessings of the saints, he had also been instrumental in many works related to the Mission. Recollecting the memories of handing over Dilaram Bungalow of Vadodara to Ramakrishna Mission, under Pujya Swami Atmasthanand ji Maharaj’s leadership, in 2005, Shri Modi said that Swami Vivekananda had also spent his time there.
Acknowledging the privilege of being a part of the programs and events of the Mission over time, Shri Modi noted that today, the Ramakrishna Mission has more than 280 branches across the world and about 1200 ashram centers associated with the Ramakrishna philosophy in India. He added that these ashrams were working as the foundation of the resolve to serve humanity and Gujarat had been a witness to the service works of the Ramakrishna Mission since a long time. He recounted events when people associated with the Ramakrishna Mission have come forward and held the hands of the victims like floods in Surat decades ago, after the dam accident in Morbi, after the devastation caused by the earthquake in Bhuj and whenever disaster has struck Gujarat. The Prime Minister recollected the significant contribution by Ramakrishna Mission in rebuilding more than 80 schools destroyed during the earthquake and added that the people of Gujarat still remember the service and also draw inspiration from it.
Noting Swami Vivekanda’s spiritual relationship with Gujarat, the Prime Minister said that Gujarat played a major role in his life journey. He added that Swami Vivekananda had visited many places in Gujarat and it was in Gujarat that Swami ji first came to know about the Chicago World Religion Conference. He further added that it was in Gujarat that he studied many scriptures in depth and prepared himself for the propagation of Vedanta. Shri Modi remarked that during 1891, Swami ji stayed for several months in Bhojeshwar Bhavan in Porbandar and the then Gujarat government had given this building to the Ramakrishna Mission to build a memorial temple. Shri Modi also recounted that the Gujarat government celebrated Swami Vivekanand’s 150th birth anniversary from 2012 to 2014 and the closing ceremony was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar which witnessed participation of thousands of disciples from India and abroad. Shri Modi expressed satisfaction that the Gujarat government was now preparing a blueprint for the construction of Swami Vivekanand Tourist Circuit, in memory of Swami ji’s relationship with Gujarat.
Highlighting that Swami Vivekananda was a great supporter of modern science, the Prime Minister said Swami Vivekanada believed that the importance of science was not limited to the description of things or events, but the importance of science was in inspiring and taking us forward. Emphasizing India’s growing dominance in the field of modern technology today, Shri modi remarked that India’s identity was being recognized by many achievements like world’s third largest startup ecosystem, steps towards becoming the world’s third largest economy, modern construction in the field of infrastructure and providing solutions to global challenges being given by India. He added that today’s India was moving forward based on its knowledge, tradition and centuries-old teachings. “Swami Vivekananda believed that youth power is the backbone of the nation”, said Shri Modi. Reciting a quote by Swami Vivekananda about the power of the youth, the Prime Minister said that now was the time and we must take up that responsibility. He added that India had started a new journey of Amrit Kaal today and had taken an infallible resolution of developed India. Stressing that we need to achieve the goal within a stipulated time frame, Shri Modi highlighted “India is the youngest nation in the world”. He added that today the youth of India had proved its capability and capacity in the world and it was the youth power of India that was leading the world’s biggest companies and had taken charge of India’s development. Underscoring that today the country has time as well as the opportunity, Shri Modi stressed the need to prepare the youth for leadership in every field of nation building. He added that there was a need for our youth to lead the country in politics just like technology and other fields. In this direction, the Prime Minister announced that on 12 January 2025, on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, celebrated as Youth Day, the Government was organising the Young Leaders Dialogue in Delhi. He added that two thousand selected youth from the country would be invited while crores of youth will join from across India. He further added that the resolution of a developed India from the perspective of the youth would be discussed and a roadmap to connect the youth with politics would be prepared. Shri Modi highlighted the Government’s resolution to bring 1 lakh talented and energetic youth into politics in the coming times. He added that these youth would become the new face of 21st century Indian politics and the future of the country.
Stressing on Spirituality and sustainable development, the two important ideas to be remembered to make the earth better, the Prime Minister remarked that by harmonizing these two ideas, we could build a better future. He added that Swami Vivekananda used to emphasize on the practical side of spirituality and wanted such spirituality which could fulfill the needs of the society. He further added that along with purity of thoughts, Swami Vivekananda also used to emphasize on keeping the surroundings clean. Shri Modi emphasised that the goal of sustainable development can be achieved by maintaining a balance between economic development, social welfare and environmental protection. He stressed that Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts would guide us in reaching this goal. Acknowledging that balance is important in both spirituality and sustainability, Shri Modi said that one creates balance within the mind, while the other teaches us to maintain balance with nature. Shri Modi expressed belief that institutions like Ramakrishna Mission can play an important role in accelerating our campaigns like Mission Life, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam which can be further expanded with their support.
“Swami Vivekananda wanted to see India as a strong and self-reliant country”, said Shri Modi and added that the country has now moved forward in the direction of realizing his dream. Concluding his speech, he stressed that this dream should be fulfilled as soon as possible and a strong and capable India should once again give direction to humanity. He added that for this, every citizen of the country would have to imbibe the thoughts of Gurudev Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda.
INS Tushil (F 70), the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia on December 09, 2024. Raksha Mantri, in his address, described the commissioning as a proud testament to India’s growing maritime strength and a significant milestone in the long-standing friendship between India & Russia, which are bound together by shared values, mutual trust, and special & strategic privileged partnership.
Shri Rajnath Singh termed Russia’s support to India’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ as another important example of deep friendship between India and Russia. “Made in India content is continuously increasing in many ships including INS Tushil. The ship is a big proof of the collaborative prowess of Russian and Indian industries. It exemplifies India’s journey towards technological excellence through jointmanship,” he added.
Highlighting the deep ties between the Navies of India and Russia, Raksha Mantri stated that technical & operational collaboration is constantly touching new heights under the holistically growing relations between the two countries under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin. He reasserted the Indian Navy’s commitment to peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). “Our Navy has foiled the designs of piracy, arms and drug smugglers and non-state actors in various hotspots. From the Gulf of Oman to the Gulf of Aden, from Suez to Malacca & from Australia to Madagascar, the Indian Navy is playing the essential role of a net security provider in IOR. India, along with its friendly countries, believes in ensuring that maritime trade in the region remains safe and secure, thereby promoting unhindered trade across the sea,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh added that, as a first responder, the Indian Navy is always prepared to provide quick and timely humanitarian assistance & disaster relief to its friends in the region.
Reiterating the Indian Navy’s commitment to realising the Prime Minister’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), Raksha Mantri termed the vision as the backbone of India’s maritime policy, which aims to promote peace, stability & economic prosperity in IOR. “SAGAR is a symbol of India’s commitment towards collective security, maritime cooperation & sustainable development. In this commitment, we have always received Russia’s support,” he said.
Shri Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that, with new energy & enthusiasm, India and Russia will realise the full potential of its cooperation in the coming times. He emphasised that the two countries will not only strengthen the existing areas of collaboration, but also give priority to working in new and unexplored areas. “India and Russia will enter a new era of cooperation by taking advantage of each other’s expertise in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Space Exploration and Counter-Terrorism,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi congratulated all those involved in the project, especially the shipyard workers and all Russian and Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers for their exceptional work, flawless integration of Indian systems with Russian systems and contribution to the quality capability upgrades achieved in this project.
The event was also attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin; Governor of Kaliningrad Mr Alexey Sergeyevich Besprozvannykh; Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev; Ambassador of India to Russia Shri Vinay Kumar, and other senior officials from the Indian & Russian Governments, Navies, and industries.
The event was also attended by Russian Deputy Minister of Defence Mr Alexander Vasilyevich Fomin; Governor of Kaliningrad Mr Alexey Sergeyevich Besprozvannykh; Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Aleksandr Alekseyevich Moiseyev; Ambassador of India to Russia Shri Vinay Kumar; Commander Baltic Fleet of the Russian Navy Vice Admiral Vladimir Vorobyov, other senior officials from the Indian & Russian Governments, Navies, and industries.
About INS Tushil
INS Tushil is an upgraded Krivak III class frigates of the Project 1135.6 of which, six are already in service – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard, St. Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad. INS Tushil, the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships, the contract for which was signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Government of India.
INS Tushil is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic. It is armed with a range of advanced weapons, including the jointly-developed Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles, vertically-launched Shtil Surface-to-Air Missiles with enhanced ranges, upgraded medium-range anti-air and surface gun with advanced stealth features, optically-controlled close-range rapid fire gun system, anti-submarine torpedoes and rockets and advanced electronic warfare and communication suite.
The ship is also capable of embarking the upgraded anti-submarine and airborne early warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31, which are formidable force multipliers in themselves. The ship is powered by an advanced gas turbine propulsion plant with state-of-the-art controls and is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots. High degree of automation and stealth features further enhance its combat capability and survivability. The ship is commanded by Captain Peter Varghese a gunnery and missile specialist.
The ship’s keel was laid on July 12, 2013 and was launched in water in October 2021. The ship sailed out for her maiden sea trials on January 25, 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of Factory trials followed by State Committee Trials and finally the Delivery Acceptance Trials, both in harbour and at sea, by September 24, 2024. The ship has successfully carried out firing trials of all her Russian weapon systems and would reach India in near combat-ready condition.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Karyakar Suvarna Mahotsav in Ahmedabad via video conferencing today. Addressing the gathering, he welcomed the Param Pujya Guru Hari Mahant Swami Maharaj, revered saints and members of the Satsangi family and other dignitaries and delegates. Shri Modi bowed to the feet of Lord Swami Narayan on the occasion of the Karyakar Suvarna Mahotsav and remarked that today was also the 103rd birth anniversary of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He added that the teachings of Lord Swami Narayan, the resolutions of Pramukh Swami Maharaj are bearing the fruit today with the hard work and dedication of Param Pujya Guru Hari Mahant Swami Maharaj. Shri Modi was pleased to witness such a mammoth programme including around one lakh workers along with cultural programmes by youth and children and added that though he is not present physically at the venue, he could feel the energy of this event. He congratulated the Param Pujya Guru Hari Mahant Swami Maharaj, all the saints for the grand divine function.
Emphasising that Karyakar Suvarna Mahotsav was an important milestone in the journey of 50 years of service, Shri Modi remarked that 50 years ago, the process of registering volunteers and connecting them to service work began which he said was a novel initiative. The Prime Minister said it was pleasing to see that lakhs of BAPS workers were engaged in service with utmost devotion and dedication. Lauding it as a huge achievement for the organization, Shri Modi congratulated and extended his best wishes to BAPS.
“Karyakar Suvarna Mahotsav is a celebration of the humanitarian teachings of Bhagwan Swami Narayan”, said Shri Modi. He added that it is the glory of those decades of service, which changed the lives of millions of people. Expressing happiness over his good fortune to have witnessed the service campaigns of BAPS at close quarters, Shri Modi said that he has had the opportunity to join them on multiple times like after the devastation caused by the earthquake in Bhuj, the reconstruction of Naranarayan Nagar village, the floods in Kerala, the pain of landslides in Uttarakhand and even during the recent disaster of a global pandemic Corona. Lauding the Karyakars for standing besides people as a family and serving everyone with compassion, Shri Modi said that everyone had witnessed how the BAPS temples were transformed into service centres during the Covid period. The Prime Minister also narrated how the BAPS workers helped the Government and people who were evacuated from Ukraine to Poland when the hostilities of war increased in Ukraine. He lauded them for their swift organization of bringing together thousands of BAPS workers from all over Europe overnight and helping the large number of Indians who were reaching Poland. Highlighting this power of organization of BAPS, Shri Modi said their contribution in the interest of humanity at the global level was commendable.Expressing his gratitude to all the BAPS workers on the occasion of Karyakar Suvarna Mahotsav, the Prime Minister remarked that today BAPS workers were bringing about a change in the lives of crores of people through their tireless service across the world. He added that they were touching crores of souls with their service and empowering every single person of the society be it at the remotest places. Shri Modi expressed that they were an inspiration and were worthy of worship and respect.
Highlighting that the work of BAPS was strengthening India’s potential and influence in the world, Shri Modi said that there were 1800 temples of Lord Swami Narayan across 28 countries of the world and more than 21 thousand spiritual centers across the world. He added that they were undertaking multiple projects of services across all the centers and this bore a witness to the world as India’s spiritual heritage and identity. Adding that the BAPS temples were the cultural reflection of India, Shri Modi remarked that they were the centers of the world’s oldest living culture. Shri Modi said that he was fortunate to participate in the consecration ceremony of Lord Swami Narayan temple in Abu Dhabi, a few months ago and it was discussed world wide. He added that the entire world witnessed India’s spiritual heritage and cultural diversity. Shri Modi remarked that it was through such efforts the world came to know about India’s cultural glory and human generosity and he congratulated all the BAPS workers for their efforts.
The Prime Minister remarked that it was the result of the penance of Lord Swami Narayan which had helped in fulfilling the resolutions of the workers with ease. He added that Lord Swami Narayan cared for every living being, every suffering person and dedicated every moment of his life to human welfare. He further said that the values established by Lord Swami Narayan were being spread across the world by BAPS. Shri Modi recited a few lines of a poem to express the work of BAPS.
Acknowledging that it was his good fortune to be associated with BAPS and Bhagwan Swami Narayan since his childhood, Shri Modi said that the love and affection he received from Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the capital of his life. He added that there were many personal incidents with Pramukh Swamiji which has become an integral part of his life. Shri Modi said that Pramukh Swamiji guided him every moment through his journey before becoming the Chief Minister of Gujarat and later the Prime Minister of India. Shri Modi recollected the historic occasion when Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Ji himself came down when the water of Narmada came to Sabarmati. He also recollected the unforgettable moments of organisation of Swaminarayan Mahamantra Mahotsav and Swami Narayan Mantra Lekhan Mahotsav under the guidance of Swami Ji. He added that the Spiritual affection of Swamiji towards him gave him the warm feeling of a son. Shri Modi said that he always got the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the works of public welfare.
Reciting the Sanskrit saying, ‘Seva Param Dharma’, meaning service is considered as the greatest religion, the Prime Minister remarked that these were not just words, but our life values and Service was placed much higher than devotion, faith and worship. Noting that public service was equal to service to the people, Shri Modi said that Service is that in which there is no sense of self and it gives direction to one’s spiritual journey and strengthens it over time. He added that when this service was done in an organized form with lakhs of workers as an institution, then amazing results were achieved. He noted that such kind of institutional service had the potential to solve the major problems and eradicate many evils of the society and the country. He added that when lakhs of workers were connected with a common purpose, it would transform as a great strength of the country and society. Shri Modi remarked that today when the country is moving ahead with the goal of a developed India, then naturally the people are coming together and the spirit of doing something big is being seen in every field. Citing the examples of Swachh Bharat Mission, natural farming, awareness about the environment, education of daughters, the issue of tribal welfare, Shri Modi was pleased that the people of the country were coming forward and leading the journey of nation building. He urged all the Karyakars to take up a resolution and work with dedication. He urged them to work across a plethora of options like natural farming, spreading the feeling of unity in diversity, fight against drug abuse to protect the youth, reviving the rivers, or sustainable lifestyle to save the future of the earth. Shri Modi urged the Karyakars to prove the authenticity and impact of the vision of Mission LiFE that India had given to the whole world. He added they could also actively promote the campaigns like Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, Fit India, Vocal for Local, Millets that accelerate India’s development.
Shri Modi said the youth of India will give their ideas and prepare the outline of their contribution to fulfill the resolve of developed India during the ‘Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ to be organised in January 2025. He urged all the young Karyakars to participate in it.
Highlighting that the Revered Pramukh Swami Maharaj had a special emphasis on the family culture of India, the Prime Minister underlined that he strengthened the concept of joint family in the society through ‘Ghar Sabha’. Shri Modi urged the Karyakars to take these campaigns forward. Adding that today India was working towards the goal of development by 2047, he said that the journey of the country for the next 25 years was as important for India as it is for every BAPS worker. Concluding the speech, Shri Modi expressed confidence that with the blessings of Lord Swami Narayan, this service campaign of BAPS workers would continue to move forward at this uninterrupted pace.
Emphasising that India’s fight against TB just got stronger, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the starting of a special 100 day campaign today with a focus on the high burden TB districts. He also urged the citizens to read an article written by Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda.
In a post on X, Shri Modi said:
“Our fight against TB just got stronger!
Powered by a collective spirit to defeat TB, a special 100 day campaign is starting today with a focus on the high burden TB districts. India is fighting TB in a multi-pronged manner with:
(1) Doubling support to patients
(2) Jan Bhagidari
(3) Newer drugs
(4) Use of tech & better diagnostic tools.
Let us all come together and do our bit to eliminate TB.”
Responding to a post on X by Union Minister Shri JP Nadda, Shri Modi wrote:
“Health Minister Shri JP Nadda Ji gives an insightful picture of the steps we are continuously taking to make India TB-free. Do read.
@JPNadda”
In a landmark moment in India’s TB elimination efforts, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the intensified 100 Day TB elimination campaign in the presence of Shri Nayab Singh Saini, Chief Minister, Haryana, and Smt. Arti Singh Rao, Health Minister of Haryana, in Panchkula, Haryana, today. Shri Prataprao Jadhav and Smt. Anupriya Patel, Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare also joined the event virtually. The goal of this campaign, which will be implemented in 347 districts across the country is to find and treat missing TB cases, especially in high-risk groups, and reduce TB deaths significantly.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Health Minister highlighted the government’s unwavering commitment to end TB and stated that this campaign is launched with the intention to give a new momentum to the goal of TB-Mukt Bharat (TB free India). Noting that this will be a focused campaign of 100 days, he stated that the effort will be to quickly detect and treat TB patients in the 347 most affected districts.
Shri Nadda highlighted the long struggle that the country has faced in its fight against TB. “There was a time when TB was considered as a ‘slow death’ and even family members suffering from TB were separated and isolated to prevent its spread. And since 1962, there have been many campaigns against TB, but, in 2018 the Hon’ble Prime Minister made the vision to end TB much before the 2030 deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Union Health Minister informed that many new strategies were taken to make TB services patient-friendly and decentralized. He noted that today TB is detected early, thanks to the network of over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country. He also highlighted that the government has significantly scaled up diagnostic services by increasing the number of laboratories from 120 in 2014 to 8,293 laboratories today. “The Union Government introduced daily regimen of drugs sensitive TB including a new shorter and more effective regimen which has improved the TB treatment success rate to 87%”, he further stated.
Shri Nadda highlighted that Ni-kshay support worth Rs 3,338 crore has been provided through direct benefit transfer to over 1.17 crore TB patients. He also stated that the government recently increased the Ni-kshay poshan amount from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000 and added energy boosters for the nourishment support for TB patients.
Shri Nadda informed that the government has now made it mandatory for even private practitioners to notify any new TB patients so that their treatment can be followed up immediately. “This might look like a small step but it has led to an 8-fold increase in the rate of TB notifications in the private sector”, he stated.
He also highlighted that the rate of TB decline in India has doubled from 8.3% in 2015 to 17.7% today which is much ahead of the global average. He also informed that deaths due to TB has also reduced significantly in India by 21.4% in the last 10 years.
The Union Health Minister ended his address by encouraging all the stakeholders to reiterate their commitment to end TB.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Nayab Singh Saini expressed his elation at the fact that the intensified 100-day TB campaign has started from Haryana and assured that Haryana would strive to play a prominent role in the fight against TB in India. He said that India has fought against TB through the medium of successful campaigns like Jan Bhagidari, Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, Fit India and Khelo India which are admired across the world.
Shri Nayab said that the government is working on “4Ts” to eliminate TB which are test, track, treat and technology. He noted that intensified testing in the last 10 years has led to the discovery of new TB cases which are being treated for free. He urged everyone to upload the data of every new TB case in the Ni-kshay portal which also provides timely updates to TB patients. He also stated that the government is working with NGOs and civil society to further bolster its TB elimination efforts.
Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary assured the government’s commitment to ensure that there would be no shortage of either medicines or consumables. She appealed to all sections of civil society to participate actively and make the campaign a success.
During the launch event, Shri Nadda unveiled national guidelines for the implementation of the new drug-resistant TB regimen, BPaLM. These guidelines are designed to standardize and streamline the administration of this advanced treatment, which offers improved outcomes for patients struggling with drug-resistant TB. Additionally, he launched campaign materials, including a comprehensive concept note and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) resources in various regional languages. The Union Health Minister also honored TB Champions and Ni-kshay Mitras, and distributed food baskets during the event.
“Ni-kshay Vahaan” were also launched today from Haryana which are mobile vans that will detect and treat patients all over the country.
Background:
The campaign underscores the government of India’s commitment to achieving the goal of end-TB by addressing the challenges of tuberculosis (TB) notification and mortality in India under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The event has garnered the attendance of other government dignitaries, officials from the Union Health Ministry, the Haryana state government, and representatives from the civil society.
Given the differing levels of challenges across geographies, the NTEP has designed a stratified approach to implement this campaign. The 347 districts across 33 States/UTs have been selected based on indicators such as death rate, presumptive TB examination rate, and incidence rate as compared to the national average. This campaign is designed to strengthen programmatic activities to improve TB outcomes across the country.
The objectives of the campaign are to increase case detection through intensified case finding drives using advanced screening and diagnostic technologies to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation. Parallelly, to reduce mortality due to TB, the programme will expand access to novel initiatives such as the Differentiated TB Care to provide specialised care for high-risk patients and increased nutritional support through Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana.
Some highlights of the campaign will include deployment of mobile ultraportable, AI-enabled X-ray units and molecular tests to bring advanced diagnostics closer to people, especially in remote areas. In addition to screening vulnerable people for TB symptoms, the NTEP will be screening all high-risk groups for TB, irrespective of whether they display symptoms or not. This is considering the recent findings in the Lancet and through the sub-national TB Prevalence surveys. Given the recent announcements of monthly support under NPY increasing from the existing ₹500 per month to ₹1000 per month for all TB patients as well as expansion of the ambit of PMTBMBA to cover all household contacts of TB patients, the campaign will ensure expanded access to nutritional support as both an enabler of TB treatment and tool of prevention. Lastly, the programme will leverage the vast reach of Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs, through which TB services have been decentralized, bringing quality care closer to people’s homes.
Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Addl. Secretary, Union Health Ministry and senior officers of the Union Health Ministry and Government of Haryana were present at the event.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today on the occasion of Armed Forces Flag Day remarked that it is about saluting the valour, determination and sacrifices of our courageous soldiers. He urged everyone to contribute to the Armed Forces Flag Day fund.
In a post on X, he wrote:
“Armed Forces Flag Day is about saluting the valour, determination and sacrifices of our courageous soldiers. Their bravery inspires us, their sacrifices humble us and their dedication keeps us safe. Let’s also contribute to the Armed Forces Flag Day fund.”
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