PM Vidyalaxmi Is Another Concrete Step Towards Implementation Of NEP: Dharmendra Pradhan

Singhdeo advocates for District Mineral Foundation (DMF) support in promoting Backyard Poultry Initiatives

By Argus News

Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: At the second edition of the 'Hatching Hope Groundbreaking Summit,'Odisha’s Deputy Chief Minister (DCM), Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, on Wednesday praised the essential role of women farmers in strengthening the state’s economy. Held at a city hotel, the summit celebrated the significant contributions of women in small-scale agriculture and related sectors.

In his address at the event, organized by Passing Gifts—a subsidiary of Heifer International—Singhdeo commended the increasing involvement of women in agriculture. Viewing this trend as pivotal for Odisha’s future development, he assured the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at empowering women farmers, especially through collaborative development programs.

“The state government is fully dedicated to supporting organizations like Passing Gifts, which work toward the socio-economic advancement of women farmers,” Singhdeo stated. He urged Passing Gifts to expand its innovative Backyard Poultry Model across all 30 districts in Odisha, envisioning the initiative as a pathway to economically empower rural women through sustainable poultry farming practices.

He further suggested utilizing District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds to back backyard poultry projects that prioritize indigenous poultry breeds and scientific methods. “Collaborating with each district can drive substantial improvements in women’s economic self-sufficiency through poultry farming,” he emphasized.

The event honored 50 women farmers from Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar who have achieved economic independence by implementing the Backyard Poultry Model. These women shared their stories, underscoring how the model has improved their livelihoods, economic stability, and contributed positively to their communities.

Akshaya Biswal, Programme Director at Passing Gifts, introduced the “New Backyard Poultry Model,” developed to increase rural incomes and resilience through community-driven poultry farming. The model tackles challenges faced by smallholder farmers by offering solutions such as predator-proof housing, sustainable feed options like Azolla cultivation, and access to essential financial resources. Focused on indigenous poultry breeds, the model includes comprehensive vaccination and biosecurity measures, creating a robust and sustainable system.

This model complements government initiatives, such as the 'Lakhpati Didis' program, providing a unified approach to increase farmer incomes and strengthen food security. Following its success in Odisha, the model is set to expand to Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, supported by Transform Rural India.

A panel discussion at the summit saw corporate leaders and government officials exploring ways to amplify the impact of backyard poultry farming. Representatives from Tata Steel, JSW, Weather Risk Management Services Pvt Ltd (WRMS), and India’s SC/ST departments discussed how collaborative efforts could foster sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers.

Dipanwita Chakraborty, Regional Director of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainable Development at Cargill, endorsed the model’s emphasis on sustainable practices, stating it “enhances food security and benefits the health of our communities.”

Rina Soni, Executive Director of Passing Gifts, emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to achieve meaningful change in rural communities. Experts like Suryamani Rout and Amit Batsyanan also shared insights on advancing sustainability in rural farming.

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Trump is set to become America’s 47th President, in a most momentous comeback in political history.

In a post on X, Gautam Adani said: "If there is one person on Earth who stands as the embodiment of unbreakable tenacity, unshakeable grit, relentless determination and the courage to stay true to his beliefs, it is Donald Trump".

"Fascinating to see America’s democracy empower its people and uphold the nation's founding principles. Congratulations to the 47th POTUS-elect," said the Adani Group Chairman.

Several world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulated Trump after his victory in the US presidential election, lauding the US leader's "historic" achievement. PM Modi was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Trump on his election triumph. "Heartiest congratulations my friend, Donald Trump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity," PM Modi posted on X.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also congratulated Trump. Starmer's office issued a statement, saying, "Congratulations President-elect Donald Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead." Netanyahu took to X, saying, “Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!"

--IANS

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Expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said that the scheme will help universalise access to 21st-century higher education for India’s talented youth.

Universalising access to 21st century higher education for India’s talented youth is PM Modi’s guarantee.

Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji’s approval to #PMVidyalaxmi with an outlay of ₹3,600 crore will remove obstacles to higher education and enable our yuva shakti to pursue their… pic.twitter.com/EYXo2xH8Bx — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 6, 2024

In a series of social media posts, Pradhan mentioned that with an outlay of Rs 3,600 crore, the scheme will remove obstacles to higher education and enable the yuva shakti of the country to pursue their dreams.

Collateral-free and guarantor-free education loans under PM Vidyalaxmi will maximise access to higher education for meritorious students and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent students from pursuing education, he highlighted.

The Union Minister said that students having annual family income of up to Rs 8 lakh shall be eligible to get 3% interest subvention on education loans up to Rs 10 lakh and loans up to Rs 7.5 lakhs shall be eligible for 75% credit guarantee.

Education loans will be facilitated through a transparent, student-friendly and digital application process that will be common to all banks, he mentioned.

Pradhan also said that education loans under PM Vidyalaxmi will be facilitated to students securing admissions in the top 860 HEIs of the country based on NIRF. This will cover more than 22 lakh students every year.

The Minister also said that financial assistance to meritorious students is a key recommendation of NEP 2020 and PM Vidyalaxmi is another concrete step towards implementation of NEP. PM Vidyalaxmi will empower millions of students from the poor and middle class, he said.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the PM Vidyalaxmi scheme, a new initiative under the Central Sector aimed at providing financial support to meritorious students, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder access to higher education.

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