India

Ghaziabad, Dec 11 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed the 'Smart India Hackathon 2024' organised across the country through video conferencing, students from the KIET Group of Institutions in Ghaziabad also participated in this hackathon.

After PM Modi's address, students were filled with enthusiasm regarding this hackathon event and showcasing innovation and putting use of their technical knowledge and skills.

Preeti Bajaj, Director General, KIET Group of Institutions, said, "Today's generation is called Gen Z. This hackathon is a great medium to solve the biggest problems of the country through innovation. Prime Minister Modi has been giving this opportunity for the last eight years. This hackathon event is the world's biggest platform to solve your everyday life problems. Children who are just 17 or 18 years old are already learning how to solve the biggest problems in the country. Many success stories have come up as a result of this event. As of now, 51 ministries have given their respective statements. These ministries are increasing every year.

"It's a success story that kids are involved," Bajaj added.

Rishabh Bhingade, a student from the engineering college located in Ghaziabad, said, "We got a lot of inspiration after listening to PM Modi. From this hackathon, we have been inspired that our innovation should benefit the entire country. Our imagination is that whatever innovation we do, it will help the country."

Deepika Gaikwad, another student from the institute, said, "This speech of the Prime Minister was quite inspiring. After this hackathon, we will work on the projects given to us by the college. With this effort, we will become a part of India's growth story."

Another student Prathamesh Tiwari said, "We are doing innovative work on carbon dioxide. Among the many gases present in the atmosphere, we are especially taking carbon dioxide, which is polluting our environment a lot. We have just seen that pollution has increased considerably in Delhi. The amount of carbon dioxide in the air has increased a lot. We are creating such a system that we will take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it somewhere else."

Manoj Goyal, Joint Director, KIET Group of Institutions, said, "Smart India Hackathon is the biggest hackathon in the entire country. This is quite a big and good platform for the youth. Through this medium, they can showcase their innovative ideas. The government has done a lot of work to make this event. Today more than 50,000 children from across the country have participated in this hackathon. Around 13 nodal centres have been created for this hackathon event. Around 50,000 children have to solve the problems given by the industry in three days which will give them a lot of self-confidence. This is a live learning platform for children across the country."

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 11 (IANS) An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) died while several people including four policemen were injured after a rashly driven car collided with the convoy of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in Jaipur on Wednesday.

The accident took place at the Akshaya Patra intersection of Jagatpura. The policemen injured in the accident are being treated in a hospital.

According to officials, the convoy left the Chie Minister’s residence at 3 p.m. as the CM was going to participate in the inauguration programme of Sohan Singh Smriti Skill Development Center by Laghu Udyog Bharti.

Eyewitnesses said that a rashly driven taxi came from the wrong side when the CM's convoy was passing from there. When ASI Surendra Singh posted tried to stop the taxi, the driver hit it. Soon after, the taxi collided with the vehicles of the CM's convoy.

Meanwhile, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma condoled the death of ASI Singh and said, "The death of Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shri Surendra Ji and injuries to other citizens in an unfortunate vehicle accident in Jaipur is extremely sad."

"In this hour of immense grief, our sensitive government stands with the family of the deceased and the injured. After this accident, the concerned officials have been directed to ensure proper medical treatment of the injured. My condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to provide complete recovery to the injured citizens as soon as possible," he added.

Earlier, it was reported that seven people were injured in the accident involving the convoy of Rajasthan Chief Minister.

The incident took place when a car travelling on the opposite side collided with two vehicles in the Chief Minister's convoy. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) officials told IANS that the rashly driven car coming from the opposite side collided with a Bolero which was part of the Chief Minister's convoy. It slightly hit another vehicle too, they added.

Following the accident, CM Sharma immediately moved out of his vehicle to assist the injured. The Chief Minister personally ensured that the injured persons were taken to nearby hospitals.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Amid the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) public outreach programme ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Delhi, the people of Mehrauli Assembly constituency claim that no developmental works have been undertaken since the last five years in the national capital under the current government's tenure led by Chief Minister Atishi.

Sharpening its attack on the Delhi government over its failure to undertake any development in the constituency area, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a scathing attack on the AAP government as Naresh Yadav is currently the MLA from Mehrauli Assembly constituency.

Several residents of Mehrauli constituency told IANS about the lack of basic civic amenities such as electricity, water, roads, sewage, etc.

A local resident Suraj said, "No work has been done here. The promise of providing Ganga water has also not been fulfilled yet. No development has taken place for the last 10 years, even the water lines have not been laid. The old water line which was laid down during the previous Congress government is still being used. There is no water and sewer facility, with sewage water overflowing in the streets. But no one tried to get it fixed. The promises made by Aam Aadmi Party have not been fulfilled till now. In mohallas and settlements, senior citizens were not even paid monthly pensions on time. As the elections are coming near, pension applications are being distributed and many more announcements are being made now only for electoral gains."

Another local resident Ram Prakash said, "I am not happy with the work of the present AAP government and the local MLA. The condition of roads in our area are in pathetic condition, drinking water woes also persist. The AAP MLA in our area is Naresh Yadav. He has been a legislator from here for the last 10 years, but he has not done any development. He only comes asking for votes at the time of elections. There are potholes on the roads, dirty water is emanating from the water taps, due to which people are falling ill."

He further added: "Accidents often happen on the roads and people get injured. The promise made to build roads like those in foreign countries was also not fulfilled. The condition of Mohalla clinics is so bad that they have become garbage heaps and some Aam Aadmi Party people sit there, drink alcohol and have fun. If you want, I can take you to Lado Sarai or Mukhiya Colony and show that no developmental work has been done there. The AAP only spends money on promotions through advertisements with their party posters being printed, but the reality is that no substantial work has been done here. We and the entire people of Mehrauli are not happy with them."

Another local resident Mahendra said, "The promises made by the Aam Aadmi Party in our area, like building beautiful roads and providing facilities like in foreign countries have not been fulfilled till now. There was talks of ending water shortage but that, too, has not been resolved yet. There was no improvement in terms of roads, water and other basic facilities. The MLA has not done any special work, and I am not at all satisfied with him. Nothing concrete has been done here, only promises were made which have not been fulfilled till now."

A local resident Tara Devi said, "There is a lot of water shortage in my area. We do not get water at all during summers. Some water still comes in winter. The roads in our area are also in very bad condition. Even the drains keep overflowing on the roads. There is no one to see and resolve our problems. Drain water keeps flowing till the entire street. We live with a lot of suffering."

--IANS

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Karnal, Dec 11 (IANS) The women from self-help groups who had set up their stalls in the exhibition organised at ICAR-IIWBR in Karnal, Haryana, shared how they have become self-reliant and how their earnings have increased.

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the Natural Agriculture Laboratory at the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), in Karnal, Haryana.

Women from various districts of Haryana who came to participate in the exhibition are doing their own work with the support of the government and getting increased income. These women have now become 'Lakhpati Didi' as their annual incomes have exceeded Rs 1 lakh. By doing different jobs, they gained confidence and now they manage their living on their own. Along with this, they also take care of their family.

These women run different groups in their villages. Some women are making bags, some are doing sewing work. Some women are making pickles, jams, and chutney without chemicals and are earning money by selling them through different mediums.

There are some women who make earthen pots and earn money by selling them. The work started by the women through self-help groups has reached new heights today. Along with increasing their income, they are becoming 'Lakhpati Didi'.

'Lakhpati Didi' Balbiro said, “We are associated with a group. We do the work of making and stitching bags. 400 women are associated with our group. Our group is in Ambala district. The name of our group is 'Upkar'. Ten women from our group have come here.”

Another woman Savitri said that she works in making earthen pots. We make cups, plates and bowls. We are from the Nuh district. Our group is called 'Chand'. We are 12 women who work in making earthen pots. We have received assistance from the government and our incomes have increased.”

Usha who is associated with the self-help group 'Saraswati', said, “I am from Kurukshetra district. Our group makes pickles, jams and chutneys. We make pickles without chemicals. There are 10 women in a group and we run 32 groups. Along with us, the income of the women in our group has also increased.”

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday issued a strong rebuttal of allegations made by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on the performance of India’s banking sector, especially Public Sector Banks (PSBs), stressing that during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure, PSBs were treated as ‘ATMs’ for their 'cronies and shady businessmen'.

In a series of lengthy tweets, FM Sitharaman said that Rahul Gandhi’s penchant for making baseless statements is on full display, yet again.

“India’s banking sector, especially Public Sector Banks (PSBs), have seen a remarkable turnaround under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Didn’t the people who met with the LoP tell him that high concentration of corporate credit and indiscriminate lending during UPA tenure had resulted in significant deterioration in the health of PSBs?” asked FM Sitharaman.

“It was actually during the UPA regime when bank employees were harassed and forced to give loans to cronies through “phone banking” by the then Congress-led UPA Govt functionaries,” the Finance Minister posted on X.

Sitharaman also detailed the financial support extended to PSBs, noting that the government had recapitalised them with Rs 3.26 lakh crore over the last decade.

She argued that this investment not only benefits the banks but also the public, as dividends from PSBs serve as a source of income for investors.

“The Public also has a shareholding in the PSBs and dividends are the source of income for such investors also. Not just for the GoI. Didn’t the people who met with the LoP tell him that during the UPA rule these PSBs paid dividends of Rs 56,534 crore?” said FM Sitharaman.

In his X post, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that PSBs were designed to give every Indian access to credit.

“The Modi government has turned these lifelines of the masses into private financiers for only the rich and powerful corporations,” he alleged, claiming that PSBs “are being forced to prioritise profit over people and are thus unable to serve the public effectively”.

FM Sitharaman countered Rahul Gandhi’s allegations, saying citizen-centric governance and inclusive development is the core principle of PM Modi government.

“Didn’t the people who met with the LoP tell him that 54 crore Jan Dhan accounts and more than 52 crore collateral-free loans under various flagship financial inclusion schemes (PM MUDRA, Stand-Up India, PM-SVANidhi, PM Vishwakarma) have been sanctioned?” she asked.

FM Sitharaman also mentioned the PM MUDRA scheme where 68 per cent of beneficiaries are women and under the PM-SVANidhi scheme, 44 per cent of beneficiaries are women.

“Didn’t the people who met with the LoP tell him that loans up to Rs. 10 lakh have increased by 238 per cent in the last 10 years, and their share in total loans has also increased from 19 per cent to 23 per cent?” said the finance minister.

On the issue of recruitment drives in the banking sector, she said that since 2014, PSBs had recruited nearly 3.94 lakh employees and as of October 2024, 96.61 per cent of officers and 96.67 per cent of subordinate staff were in position.

She further said that Rahul Gandhi’s misrepresentation of facts is an insult to the hardworking PSB employees and to the citizens who benefit from a cleaner, stronger banking system.

“It’s high time the @INCIndia up-skills the LOP’s understanding of governance,” said FM Sitharaman.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 11 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, announced that the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple at Digha, on the lines of the iconic Puri Jagannath Temple, will be done in April next year on Akshaya Tritiya (April 30).

During a visit to the site, the Chief Minister said that she promised to construct a Jagannath Temple near the sea beaches of Digha. “The work has been completed after three years. The inauguration will be done on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya next year,” the Chief Minister said.

However, the Chief Minister was not willing to draw any comparison of the new temple with the iconic one at Puri. “The one at Puri was built by the royal family. This one is totally a state government initiative,” the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari claimed that as per the documents of the state government, the name of the under-construction temple at Digha is Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre and the implementing agency is the state-run Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO).

“Now the Indian Constitution does not allow government investment behind any religious project. This is an unconstitutional effort by the state government and we are against such efforts. The Puri temple will always remain in the hearts of millions of traditional Hindus as one of the four Dhams,” the Leader of the Opposition said.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister had clarified that since she is against any kind of political interference in the matter of the temple at Digha, she has refrained from being a member of the trustee board of the temple.

“Whatever I have done has been as a volunteer. Now the affairs will be managed by the trustee board members,” the Chief Minister said.

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 11 (IANS) The Patna Metro Rail Project is advancing at a fast pace with the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government aiming to inaugurate the service for a five-station priority corridor by August 15 next year, sources said.

This timeline aligns strategically with the Bihar Assembly elections, slated for the end of 2025, as the government seeks to showcase the metro as a significant achievement.

The state government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is prioritising infrastructure projects to strengthen its position ahead of the Assembly elections.

A high-level meeting chaired by Abhay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of Patna Metro and Secretary of the State Urban Development and Housing Department, reviewed the ongoing work, reaffirming the target to start operations on the Malahi Pakri to ISBT Corridor by August 15, 2025.

"We have directed officials to finish the remaining tasks promptly. The construction work is in full swing and we are expecting to complete the Metro project by August 15 next year," Singh said.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is the company responsible for the construction project of Patna Metro.

A six-km stretch connecting Malahi Pakri, Khemnichak, Bhootnath, Zero Mile, and ISBT.

Construction work is proceeding at an accelerated pace to meet the set deadline of August 15 next year.

Singh emphasised the department's commitment to meeting the timeline.

The Patna Metro project is steadily progressing with significant developments in its priority corridor, which is part of a broader network corridor.

The Patna Metro comprises two main corridors -- East-West Corridor and North-South Corridor -- having a combined length of nearly 31 km with a total of 24 stations.

Nitin Naveen, Bihar's Urban Development Minister, visited the ISBT Metro Rail Depot on Wednesday to assess progress.

The Minister inspected the trial track and urged officials to maintain the project schedule, stressing its importance for urban mobility and public expectations.

This dual-corridor metro system is poised to significantly improve connectivity in Patna, with the priority corridor serving as a crucial step toward operationalising the project before the state elections.

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 11 (IANS) JD-U MP Lovely Anand, on Wednesday, hit out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for making controversial remarks about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, calling them "inappropriate and disrespectful to women".

Anand argued that such statements demean not only the Chief Minister but also the dignity of women.

Anand's remarks reflect the broader outrage sparked by Lalu Yadav's statements, with her emphasising that the latter's words are unbecoming of someone who has held the position of Chief Minister of Bihar.

The JD-U MP also asked Lalu Prasad Yadav to uphold the decorum that is expected from a senior political leader like him.

In addition, the JD-U women's wing staged a protest march demanding an apology from Lalu Prasad Yadav.

They criticised the RJD supremo's language and stressed that such behaviour is inappropriate for a seasoned politician when addressing an elected Chief Minister.

This incident highlights heightened political tensions in Bihar, with JD-U leaders rallying to defend Nitish Kumar's honour and denounce what they see as a breach of political etiquette by Lalu Prasad Yadav.

On the defeat of the JD-U candidate in the Tirhut Graduate MLC by-election, Lovely Anand called for introspection and a collective review to identify the reasons behind the electoral defeat.

Despite this defeat, she emphasised the NDA's strong performance, noting its victories in the by-elections for four Assembly seats in Bihar.

When asked about her husband and strongman leader Anand Mohan Singh's remarks regarding Chirag Paswan, Lovely Anand clarified that those comments were made in a spirit of guidance and stressed that there is no discord within the NDA in Bihar.

Anand reaffirmed that the NDA alliance remains united and committed to its objectives, signaling confidence in its stability and collaborative approach.

These statements suggest that Lovely Anand is positioning the NDA as a unified and effective coalition, especially in contrast to perceived divisions within the opposition.

--IANS

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Guwahati, Dec 11 (IANS) Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that there will be one university and one medical college in every district of Assam.

Addressing the media, Sarma argued that Assam has been developing at a very fast pace.

He said, “It is a tremendous accomplishment that at least 80 lakh people have been lifted out of poverty in recent years. The state administration has prioritised health and education. Many colleges were promoted to universities under the present administration.”

According to the Chief Minister, the government is currently building 23 medical colleges, and work on three more will start in a year.

“There were just three medical colleges for a very long time when Congress was in power. We are now building 23 medical colleges around the state, and we plan to start building three more in the districts of Darang, Hojai, and Hailakandi within the next year,” he said.

According to Sarma, there is at least one university in every district that can be found if one travels the entire length and breadth of Assam.

“We have established universities in Hojai, Nagon, Cachar, Bajali, and Lakhimpur -- nearly every district in the state has a university under construction or we could finish establishing one,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that the government is trying to build a bridge across the Brahmaputra in each district.

He stated, “Together with universities and medical colleges, we are constructing bridges across the Brahmaputra River. No one could have predicted that Assam would develop so quickly. We will soon come under one of the developed states in the country.”

Meanwhile, the CM announced that various grants and assistance will be distributed under various government schemes in the next 12 days across the state. The series of programmes was kick-started on Wednesday by him.

Under the microfinance incentive and relief scheme, more than 78,000 borrowers will benefit through the state government’s relief package which will restore their creditworthiness and it will also provide them financial stability.

The CM said, “More than 3.23 lakh bicycles will be distributed in the next 12 days among the school students across the state along with distribution of 48,673 scooters for meritorious students under various schemes.”

Nearly 27,000 top performers in the Class 10 examination will be given cash awards, Sarma said.

Moreover, the state government will distribute Rs 353.67 crore to the 6.86 lakh disaster-affected families for the reconstruction of their houses, meeting their necessary requirements along with essential supplies.

Sarma stated, “6,490 Self Help Groups (SHG) are set to get a support of Rs 21.90 crore for setting up food processing units.”

--IANS

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Aizawl, Dec 11 (IANS) In a bid to combat drug abuse and reduce the supply of narcotics in Mizoram, Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Wednesday inaugurated two new excise and narcotics stations at Saitual and Khawzawl, the newly-established district headquarters in the eastern part of the state, officials said.

A senior official said that setting up of two new excise and narcotics stations reflects the government's unwavering commitment to tackling the drug menace and providing effective remedies for drug-addicted youth.

He added that a majority of the drugs trafficked into Mizoram flow from neighboring Myanmar, posing a grave challenge to the state's efforts to address this crisis.

"After Chief Minister Lalduhoma assumed charge on December 8 last year, he has prioritised the drug menace issues. On the very day of his swearing-in, he visited a privately-run de-addiction centre before heading home, demonstrating his dedication to this cause," the official told the media.

He said under the leadership of the Chief Minister, the government has convened several consultation meetings with NGOs, churches, and relevant departments to devise strategies for both illicit drug supply and demand reduction.

As part of this comprehensive approach, amendments to existing laws are also underway to enhance enforcement mechanisms, the official added.

According to the official, the inauguration of these stations at Saitual and Khawzawl is a key move in strengthening the state's capacity to curb the supply of narcotics.

Additionally, a new Excise and Narcotics station at Hnahthial is set to be inaugurated on Thursday by Excise & Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar.

The government's holistic approach to addressing the drug-related threat underscores its commitment to protecting the youth and fostering a drug-free Mizoram, the official said, adding that these initiatives, combined with community collaboration, are expected to significantly contribute to achieving this goal.

Between November 20 and December 10, various drugs including heroin and methamphetamine tablets valued at around Rs 200 crore seized in Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam.

All the drugs were seized in the three northeastern states after being smuggled from Myanmar.

--IANS

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