Jammu: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said the Technology Exhibition at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally will motivate Start-Ups and help create awareness about enormous new avenues of livelihood being availed across the country, but not receiving enough attention in this region due to lack of awareness.

Soon after arriving here from New Delhi this morning, Singh held a thorough review of more than a dozen stalls being put up by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology for Exhibition during the Prime Minister’s visit to Jammu to grace the nationwide “Panchayati Raj Diwas” celebrations on this Sunday.

He said the Stalls put up by various departments and wings of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology will display latest technologies and innovations beneficial for rural areas and farming.

The Minister had already inspected the 500 KV Solar Plant and other Exhibition themes on Tuesday at the Palli Panchayat of Samba District, which was completed in record time.

Singh said the carbon-free solar plant has been installed on a total area of 6,408 square metres and was completed in a record time of 18 days and will provide clean electricity and light to 340 houses in the Panchayat.

It was built by Central Electronics Limited, PSE under Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Union Ministry of Science and Technology, the Minister added.

.Singh informed that some of the themes identified for the Exhibition are: poverty and enhanced village livelihood, Healthy village, Child-friendly village, Water sufficient village, Clean and green village, Self-sufficient infrastructure in village, Engendered development in village to be implemented by different departments of Science Ministries will bring about revolutionary transformation in augmenting the household income of the rural populace.

Similarly, the Minister said, Stalls showcasing integration of Science and Technology with the themes of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj will be put up for the benefit of common man. He added that instead of having conventional stalls at the event, efforts are being made to showcase latest technology which can add value to farmers’ income and science-based demonstration with Panchayati Raj features.

Singh also reviewed with senior scientists of CSIR the Aroma Mission and the overall impact of Purple Revolution in augmenting income resources of common man. He said “Purple Revolution” is Jammu and Kashmir’s contribution to “Start-ups India”.

The Minister informed that the CSIR had, to begin with, introduced high-value essential oil bearing lavender crop through its Jammu based laboratory, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicines (IIIM) for cultivation in districts Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and later also in the other districts including Ramban and Pulwama.

In a brief span of time, aroma/lavender cultivation has become a popular option in farming for agricultural Start-up, he said.

Singh said there was a need for widespread publicity that IIIM Jammu was helping the Start-ups in aroma and lavender farming to sell their produce. Prominent companies like Mumbai-based Ajmal Biotech Private Limited, Aditi International and Navnaitri Gamika were the primary buyers, he added.

Aroma Mission is attracting Start-ups and agriculturists from across the country, and during Phase-I CSIR helped cultivation on 6000 hectares of land and covered 46 Aspirational districts across the country. More than 44,000 persons have been trained and several crores of farmers’ revenue generated.

In the second Phase of Aroma Mission, it is proposed to engage over 45,000 skilled human resources with the aim of benefitting more than 75,000 farming families across the country.

He also expressed satisfaction that more and more technocrats are leaving lucrative jobs in corporate sector and taking up DBT promoted Dairy Start-ups. He said, over 10 thousand dairy units were set up in the last two years in Jammu and Kashmir.

Recently, the Minister met Dinkar Kaushal, a B Tech, who quit his job in Bengaluru and launched a start-up with Sahiwal cattle dairy under Department of Biotechnology and making handsome earnings. The Minister said, such initiatives must be replicated across the UT for giving decent earning opportunities for the youth.

He said there was huge scope in Dairy Start-up to promote the setting up of modern dairy farms for the production of clean milk, encourage heifer calf rearing, and generate self-employment.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said becoming stronger is the only option India has in a fast changing world, and stressed on the need for developing indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities. Speaking at the inauguration of DefConnect 2.0, a seminar to discuss indigenous innovations for the Indian armed forces, Singh talked about the changing global scenarios, with Russia-Ukraine war coming as the most recent even which impacted India. “The way times and the world order are changing, we have no other option apart from becoming stronger,” Singh said. “Every new threat is becoming more complex and challenging than the previous one. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is now witnessing the Ukrainian conflict. We have also witnessed instability in the Middle East, in Afghanistan and now in Pakistan,” he said. He said events around the world are impacting India. “One way or the other, such events impact our country as well. There is a need to equip the country in every area to ensure peace and stability. The development of disruptive technology is a key requirement to handle new threats and challenges of the future,” he said. The Minister said challenges for India will only grow in the future and development of ‘disruptive technologies’ is important. Disruptive technology is an innovation that significantly alters the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate. .The Defence Minister also congratulated the Department of Defence Production (DDP) for receiving the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2021 under the ‘Innovation (General) – Central’ category for the iDEX initiative. He lauded iDEX for providing an important platform for start-ups to showcase innovations and technological developments. “iDEX has provided an opportunity to our science and technology professionals to understand futuristic technologies such as AI, Augmented Reality, Block-chain and Space technologies. The start-up ecosystem has also been promoted and encouraged through order placement,” he said. Singh listed out a number of steps taken by the Government to create an eco-system that strengthens the domestic industry, start-ups & innovators, equip the Armed Forces with latest equipment and help the Government achieve the ultimate aim of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. The third edition of Innovate4Defence internship (i4D) was also launched on the occasion, inviting applications from students all over India. In addition, a DIO e-Brochure and the ‘Runway for Innovations’ e-Coffee Table Book was launched during DefConnect 2.0. UNI AO SHK1638

New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom have decided to conclude a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries by the end of this year.
The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a joint press conference with his United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson following delegation level talks in Hyderabad House on Friday. “We had launched an ambitious Roadmap 2030 to give direction to our relationship in this decade. In our conversation today, we reviewed the progress made in this roadmap, and set some targets for the times to come. “Teams of both countries are working on the Free Trade Agreement and good progress has been made in the negotiations. We have decided to conclude the FTA by the end of this year,” said Modi. The Prime Minister said that in the last few months, India has concluded FTAs with the UAE and Australia. “At the same pace, with the same commitment, we would like to move forward on the FTA with the UK as well,” he said. Johnson said: “We are telling our negotiators to get the FTA done by Diwali.” Extending a warm welcome to Johnson, Modi called his visit “historic”. “We have also agreed to enhance cooperation in the defense sector. We welcome the UK’s support for ‘Self-reliant India’ in all areas, including manufacturing, technology, design and development in the defense sector,” he said. India and the UK also reiterated their commitment on maintaining a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. “We also discussed the many developments taking place at the regional and global level. We emphasized on maintaining a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. India welcomes the UK’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative,” Modi said. Modi said the two leaders also discussed infrastructure modernization plan and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. “We welcome the growing investment in India by UK companies. And we got to see a great example of this yesterday in Halol in Gujarat.” The Prime Minister said the conclusion of the implementation arrangements of the Global Innovation Partnership between the two countries will prove to be an important initiative. “This will further strengthen our development partnership with other countries. India and the UK will co-finance up to $100 million for transfer and scaling-up of ‘Made in India’ innovations to third countries,” he said. He said that the two countries have decided to deepen climate and energy partnership. “We invite the UK to join India’s National Hydrogen Mission. I heartily welcome the establishment of Strategic Tech Dialogue between us,” Modi said. Russia’s war on Ukraine also featured in the talks between Modi and Johnson. The two leaders called for an immediate ceasefire and a return to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the problem. “We also reiterated the importance of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries,” Modi said. The two countries reiterated their support for a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan and for an inclusive and representative government. Afghanistan should not be used to spread terrorism to other countries, both Modi and Johnson said in the joint press conference.

Bhopal: Taking the Centre’s detractors head on, Union Home Affairs and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah emphasised on Friday that – over a period of eight years – the Narendra Modi dispensation firmly dealt with three ‘sores; namely the Kashmir issue, Left-wing extremism and the narcotics scourge in the North-East.

During a day’s visit to the Madhya Pradesh capital, the erstwhile BJP president addressed a Forest Committees’ convention, inaugurated the 48th All India Police Science Congress, staged a road show and had an apparent ‘council of war’ at the party’s state office in the context of next year’s Assembly election.

“The Modi government has resolved to universally provide basic facilities such as dwellings, toilets and electricity. A project (the Jal Jeevan Mission) is underway for supplying water to every abode. This is nothing short of a historic day in the context of tribal well-being as 827 of Madhya Pradesh’s 925 forest villages have been converted into revenue ones,” Mr Shah averred at the immense Jamboree Ground while addressing the convention.

Earlier, at the Kanhasaiya-based Central Academy for Police Training, the Minister stressed on modernisation of the law-enforcement apparatus and minced no words while saying that it is no longer the era of the lathi-wielding British Raj police and – in view of fresh challenges posed by crime – knowledge-based policing is the need of the hour.

“During the pandemic, the entire country witnessed the police’s humane countenance. Earlier, their work never earned plaudits but that has transformed into universal appreciation,” he said while

paying tributes to 2,712 personnel who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty while combatting circumstances spawned by the contagion.

“These officers and men became infected while conveying food to patients, rushing victims to hospitals or while performing funerals,” Mr Shah underlined.

He stressed on linking the force with modern technique and the requirement for making it part of training.

“Narcotics, counterfeiting, hawala and cyber crime cannot be solved without such technique. Measures such as beat patrolling generate satisfaction among the populace. However, the police machinery ought to rejuvenate the informers’ system, dog squad, etc. Process and perfection are imperative for success but ultimately passion is the essential ingredient,” he added.

Earlier, a special plane conveyed him here at about 1030 hrs.

A lunch banquet was hosted at Mr Chouhan’s residence.

During the convention, Mr Shah distributed Rs 67 crore as bonus to tendu leaf collectors in addition to Rs 55 cr as wood and bamboo dividends by symbolically disbursing amounts to some beneficiaries.

He departed for Delhi after 1900 hrs.

Bhopal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that the British-era ‘danda-based’ policing is over and should be replaced with technology-driven policing.

Addressing the Akhil Bhartiya Police Vigyan Congress in Bhopal, the Home Minister asserted that police need to stay two steps ahead of criminals by becoming tech-savvy.

“Time of British era danda-based policing is over. Now, it’s imperative that policing is based of knowledge, evidence, and logic. We have to change the science of policing,” the Home Minister said.

He further added that untill knowledge of technology percolates to bottom level of the system, it won’t be possible to tackle modern-day criminals.

Addressing a gathering of police in Bhopal, Shah stated that there were problems like the Kashmir issue, Left-wing extremism, narcotics, and armed groups in the Northeast.

“They were a threat to our internal security. Our government addressed the issue and took measures to improve policing system,” he added.

Srinagar: General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based sensitive 15 Corps Lt Gen DP Pandey on Friday said rest of Kashmir must draw lessons of peace from frontier district Kupwara which was once a hotbed of militancy.

Pandey was visiting Dardpora village, also known as ‘village of widows’. Set close to the Line of Control, Dardpora is home to large number of widows from the initial years of militancy.

“Rest of the Kashmir should take lessons of peace from Kupwara, which has been a victim of terrorism and the population here has just been used by the terror nexus in past.

“Dardpora is an example of the misery that terrorism can wrought upon innocent population and their lives,” the Corps Commander told the media on the sidelines of a function in the village.

“Kupwara district had been the hardest-hit and the people here have suffered the most.

“However, they now understood and it is a lesson for the rest of the people in the union territory,” he added.

Pandey appealed to the youth, who have picked up arms, to return to mainstream.

“The youth who have taken up arms should return to the national mainstream and work for the development of the country and the nation,” he said.

Lt Gen Pandey said militant recruitment has come down in Kashmir.

“Last year there was a drop in recruitment and this year greater decline is expected. The society and media have understood that there is no need of this (taking up arms),” he said.

In Dardpora, a project plan was drawn up by the Army focusing on empowerment of women and youth. A total of nine skill-centres were being run in Kralpura, Panzgam, Warsun and Dardpora.

Two hundred students, including 160 girls, have qualified from the skill centres in the last one year amid Covid outbreak.

Lt Gen Pandey distributed the qualification certificates for the students.

Widows of Dardpora were also given out Iftar gifts, stitching machines and solar lights, the Army said.

The Corps Commander interacted with the villagers and applauded them for their positive outlook, high motivation and strong national spirit and assured them of all possible help from the Army.

Srinagar: Senior security officials on Friday directed all the officers to maintain the highest-level of alertness and ensure proper access control at transit and base camps for the upcoming Shri Amarnath ji Yatra, police said.

A police spokesman said a joint security review meeting was held in Kashmir in which threadbare discussions were made regarding overall security arrangements to be adopted for Yatra.

The meeting was held at 3 Sector Manasbal in Ganderbal district which was attended by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Kashmir Sujit Kumar, Commander 3 Sector Brigadier Atul Rajput, DIG CRPF North Randeep Kr. Rana, senior police, Army and CRPF officials.

“During the meeting, a detailed security review of all locations enroute including transit camps, base camps at Baltal and Domail were taken,” the spokesman said.

Senior officers also reviewed traffic management for smooth passage of Yatra convoys and availability of parking places. Disaster management plan was also reviewed.

SSP Ganderbal briefed in detail about security arrangements to be put in place on yatra route, transit camps and base camps for smooth upcoming yatra 2022 and he also highlighted various challenges and issues of concern.

Senior officers directed all the officers to maintain highest level of alertness and ensure proper access control at transit and base camps. They also insisted on laying joint check posts for checking/frisking of all vehicles on Yatra route to curb the evil designs of anti national elements