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Uttarakhand to set up centre of excellence for Himalayan fibre
Dehradun, March 4 (IANS) The Uttarakhand government has decided to set up a centre of excellence for Himalayan fibre in Almora district of Kumaon.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting here on Sunday evening, said state Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik.
The centre of excellence will be set up with support from the Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) – Ghaziabad. NITRA, which comes under the Union Ministry of Textile, will set up a training institute for developing fibre products at the Centre.
The cabinet also cleared a proposal for allotment of 0.4 hectares of land needed for the centre at Bercimi village in Almora, Kaushik said.
“Our aim is to produce top quality fibre and best quality products from the forest flora in Uttarakhand. This will give people new avenues of employment,” said Kaushik.
The centre of excellence is in line with the state’s efforts to optimise the use of local trees such as pine, bhimal and oak.
Union Minister of State for Textile Ajay Tamta has been taking a keen interest in the better use of pine needles, which otherwise are a major cause of forest fires in Uttarakhand.
It was on Tamta’s request that NITRA, Ghaziabad started research to see whether pine needles can be used to make fibre products. “Work is on to produce a blend of fibre and yarn,” said Shweta Saxena, a Senior Scientific Officer at NITRA.
Bhimal (Grewia optiva), another common tree of the lower Himalayan region — the leaves of which make for excellent fuel and cattle fodder — is now being used to make fibre from which products such as slip-ons, baskets, mats and bags are prepared.
A group of women, supported by the Bhartiya Gramotthan Sanstha, in Rishikesh are experimenting with bhimal fibre and jute to even produce handloom items.
“We mix the fibre of bhimal and jute to make handloom products,” said Veena Pundir, the group trainer.
–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.