Govt to supply fortified rice to poor by 2024: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that the government will fortify the rice distributed to the poor via different schemes such as Midday Meal in a bid to address the problem of malnutrition.

“Malnutrition and lack of micro-nutrients are affecting the growth of poor children. Looking at this, it has been decided to fortify the rice given to the poor via different government schemes,” Modi said in his Independence Day speech.

Modi, who hoisted the tricolour at the historic Red Fort before the speech, said whether through ration shops or the Midday Meal scheme, the rice made available under every government programme will be fortified by the year 2024.

Currently, out of the 15 states identified for the ‘Central scheme on fortified rice and its distribution via public distribution system (PDS)’, five are implementing it in one district each on a pilot basis.

Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh have started distributing fortified rice — mixed with nutrients — in their respective identified district.

Sainik schools now open for girls also: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that all Sainik Schools in the country will now be open for girls also.

At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country.

During his Independence Day speech Sunday, the prime minister said that two-and-a-half years ago, the maiden experiment of admitting girls in Sainik schools was carried out in Mizoram.

“Now, the government has decided that all the Sainik schools in the country will also be open for the daughters of the country,” he said.

Sainik schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.

The aim of establishing Sainik schools was to prepare the students from an early age for their entry into the Indian armed forces.

Modi sets 2047 target for becoming ‘energy independent’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday set a target of becoming ‘energy independent’ by 2047 through a mix of electric mobility, gas-based economy, doping ethanol in petrol and making the country a hub for hydrogen production.

Delivering his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he said India spends over Rs 12 lakh crore on energy imports every year.

“For India to progress, for Atmanirbhar Bharat, energy independence is the call of the hour,” he said. “India has to take a pledge that it will be energy independent by the year we celebrate 100th year of Independence.”

The roadmap for that is to increase usage of natural gas in the economy, setting up a network of CNG and piped natural gas network across the country, blending 20 per cent ethanol in petrol and electric mobility, he said.

The country has achieved the target of 100 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity ahead of the target, Modi added.

100 per cent India

PM pitched for a 100 per cent India and said it is essential to fully utilise the country’s capabilities to take it to new heights in the 21st century.

He said, “Now we have to move towards making 100 per cent efforts. We have to make sure that 100 per cent of villages have roads, 100 per cent of households have a bank account, 100 per cent of beneficiaries should have Ayushman Bharat cards and 100 per cent of eligible people should have a gas connection under the Ujjwala scheme.”

‘can-do generation’, can achieve every goal

Stressing that he has full faith in the youth of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said this is a “can do generation” which can achieve every goal.

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 75th Independence Day, Modi said he is not a soothsayer, but believes in action.

Underlining his faith in the youth of the country, Modi said, “This is a Can Do Generation and it can achieve every goal.”

The prime minister said he has full faith in the sisters and daughters, the farmers and the professionals of the country.

Stating that no obstacle can stop India from fulfilling its 21st century dreams and aspirations, Modi said, “Our strength is our vitality, our strength is our solidarity. Our life force is the spirit of nation first.”

Modi said that to fulfil the resolutions the country has taken, every person will have to join hands and every countryman own them.

The prime minister also cited a poem which emphasised making most of the current times.

shrinking farm sizes in villages a challenge

Stressing that shrinking farm sizes is a challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said there is a need to give maximum benefits of government schemes to small farmers who account for more than 80 per cent of the farming community.

“We need to focus on major challenges facing the agriculture sector. One challenge is that shrinking farm sizes in villages,” Modi said during his Independence Day speech here.

The farm land is shrinking because of increasing population and division of families, he said.

Stating that more than 80 per cent farmers in the country have less than 2 hectares of farm land, the Prime Minister said, “Earlier the policies did not focus on small farmers. Now keeping farmers in mind, farm policies and reforms are being made.”

Be it reforms in Fasal Bima Yojana, increasing the minimum support price (MSP) by 1.5 times (the cost of production), linking farmers with Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for cheaper farm loans, taking solar power schemes till farm land or setting up of Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) — all these efforts will strengthen small farmers, he said.

Keeping small expenses in mind, the government is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) under which more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore has been transferred in the bank accounts of over 10 crore farmers, he added.

The annual financial benefit of Rs 6,000 is provided to eligible beneficiary farmer families, payable in three equal four-monthly installments of Rs 2,000 each, under the PM-KISAN scheme.

That apart, Modi said Kisan rails are being operated to ensure farmers are able to transport at less cost to different parts of the country.

Farm produce like black rice, turmeric, chilli, litchi are being transported to different regions of the country, and even the farm produce is being exported, he added.

Stating that his dream is to make small farmers the pride of the country, the Prime Minister said, “In the coming years, we will have to increase the collective power of the small farmers of the country. They have to be given new facilities.”

During the COVID-19 period, Modi said, everyone has seen the strength of technology and scientists.

“In every sphere, scientists are working with acumen. Time has come in agriculture sector also, the scientists’ efforts and suggestions are engaged. We cannot wait anymore. We have to take full benefit….” he said.

This will not only help in ensuring food security but also enhance production of fruits, vegetables and grains. This will also help move ahead strongly at the global level, he added.

The Prime Minister also said that the government is implementing ‘Swamitva Yojana’, under which land records are being digitalised, helping farmers getting loans easily.

In 75 weeks of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’, 75 Vande Bharat trains

PM said that in the 75 weeks of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’, that the country is celebrating to mark the journey of 75 years of independence, the Indian Railways will be launching 75 Vande Bharat trains to connect India’s far-flung areas.

e-commerce platforms for products by SHGs

The government will establish e-commerce platforms to provide a market for the products made by self help groups (SHGs), said PM Modi.

National Hydrogen Mission

National Hydrogen Mission to be set up to make India the new global hub of Green Hydrogen, as well as its largest exporter, PM announced.

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

Pradhan Mantri Gati Shakti National Master Plan to be launched soon to provide holistic approach in infrastructure development, PM said. He said Indian Railways will become net zero carbon emitter by 2030.