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Himachal giving impetus to farming: Thakur
Dharamsala, May 7 (IANS) Despite limited financial resources, Himachal Pradesh has proposed several new schemes to give impetus to farming, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Monday.
Addressing the inaugural function of two-day national workshop on ‘Challenges and Opportunities in Crop Diversification’ organized by the state Agriculture Department here, he said large number of new schemes have been earmarked for prosperity of the farmers.
Thakur said a new Scheme, ‘Prakritik Kheti Khushaal Kisan’ or organic farming makes farmers prosper has been launched to promote zero budget natural farming in the mission mode.
Farm mechanisation was the need of hour but many farmers were not able to purchase implements owing to lack of funds, he said, adding that the state proposes to establish ‘custom hiring centres’ in the state from where farmers could get these implements on a rental basis.
All these incentives were aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling the farm income by 2022, he said.
He also said there was vast potential for cultivation of off-season vegetables and fruits and the state has created 59 market yards to ensure remunerative prices of their produce to the farmers.
The Chief Minister said the Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Promotion Project with an outlay of Rs 321 crore is bound to increase the farm income, while thanking the Japanese government for financial support of Rs 266 crore for crop diversification project.
He said the most needed input for providing assured irrigation by the project through micro irrigation and transferring of ownership of irrigation to the farming communities were the key features of its success.
Thakur urged Japan to consider Rs 1,009 crore Phase II of the project which has been submitted to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Union government.
State Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda said the JICA project was quite suitable for the hill state as providing irrigation facility for crop diversification was a major constraint due to its tough topography.
The ongoing project has enabled 4,238 hectare to get the provision of irrigation.
Markanda said over 1,400 hectares have been diversified to vegetable cultivation, thereby increasing income of the farmers by four to five times.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.