January 2023 - Page 52 of 60 - Lokmarg

₹42-Cr Project To Revolutionise Mushroom Farming In J&K

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Agricultural diversification is key to reducing the risk in farming activities and the J&K Government is constantly employing the latest technological interventions to diversify the agriculture sector across Jammu and Kashmir.

Mushroom cultivation is one important tool in not only enhancing the agricultural income of the farming community but also securing it against rising changes in climate and soil resources.

With this in mind, the Government of J&K is implementing a full-fledged project on ‘Promotion of Round the Year Mushroom Cultivation’ (PRYMC) across the UT. The project to be implemented at a cost of around Rs 42 Cr over the next three years by the Agriculture Production Department of J&K will increase the production of Mushrooms by 3.5 times and revolutionize Mushroom Cultivation here, an official statement said.

The project will also increase employment generation by 3 times and more than 768 new enterprises are also being created in the process to ensure the sustainability of the interventions.

“Mushroom farming generates revenue and helps to reduce poverty. The production of mushrooms creates a significant amount of direct and indirect employment opportunities in the fields of cultivation and marketing, as well as providing opportunities for processing businesses and labor-intensive management,” said Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo.

He added that Mushroom farming requires little capital and little technical expertise, and it is even possible to grow mushrooms indoors on a small scale and easily earn a high return on investment. He further said that women can grow mushrooms in their homes with little investment and as a result, mushroom farming not only gives rural women more power but also fights poverty at its source.

‘Promotion of Round the Year Mushroom Cultivation’ is one among the 29 projects, which were approved by the Jammu and Kashmir administration after being recommended by the UT Level Apex Committee for holistic development of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in UT of J&K.

The prestigious committee is headed by Dr. Mangala Rai, Former DG ICAR, and has other luminaries in the field of Agriculture, Planning, Statistics & Administration like Shri Ashok Dalwai, CEO NRAA, Dr. P. K Joshi, Secretary, NAAS, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner MOA & FW, Dr. H. S Gupta, Former Director, IARI, Sh. Atal Dulloo IAS, Financial Commissioner (Addl Chief Secretary) APD apart from the Vice Chancellors of the twin Agriculture Universities of the UT.

“Mushroom is an important cottage industry in rural areas. It leads to the economic betterment of small & marginal farmers, landless laborers, and women. Being a cash crop it is a good means of generating employment opportunities for the youth of the UT”, said Director of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Jammu, K.K Sharma, who is implementing the project in collaboration with SKUAST.

He added that the lack of availability of pasteurized compost & unorganized market were the major constraints in mushroom production and this project is going to address them in a significant way.

Under the project 26 pasteurized compost-making units, 10 spawn production labs, and 72 controlled conditioned cropping rooms (2000 bags capacity), will be established in the span of three years. For the promotion of mushroom cultivation in non-traditional areas, 1.5 lakh subsidized pasteurized compost bags will be distributed among mushroom growers. Women empowerment through the establishment of 300 women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) will be undertaken.

The project also focuses on the value addition of the perishable commodity through the creation of four canning units and the distribution of 60 solar dryers among mushroom growers. In addition to this, an amount of Rs 2.1 Crs has been earmarked for research and development.

Under this emphasis will also be laid on the promotion of medicinal mushrooms and the introduction of new strains of mushrooms. It will also have a specific emphasis on the standardization of locally available substrates and documentation of conditions for their optimal growth.

The mushroom sector in J&K is about to witness a resurgence in the form of unprecedented institutional and capital support which will boost production, productivity as well as export of mushrooms from the UT.

This information was provided by the Department of information and public relations J&K. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

Another Man ‘Urinated On’ Female Passenger’s In Paris-Delhi Air India Flight

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Days after an incident in which a man allegedly urinated on an elderly woman during an Air India flight between New York-Delhi on November 26 last year, another incident of December 6 has come to light in which a “drunk man urinated on the blanket of a co-passenger” while the Air India flight was on its way from Paris to the national capital. The shocking incidents took place in a gap of 11 days.

Sources said that the incident of December 6 was not reported in writing to Delhi Police or Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
“No written report has been filed with CISF and Delhi police regarding the incident on Dec 6,” a source told ANI.

A DGCA official also said no report has been filed with them regarding December 6 incident.

“No report has been filed with DGCA regarding December 6 incident,” the official told ANI.

Sources said that the male passenger involved in the incident on Air India AI- 142 flight was apprehended by the CISF at the IGI airport in Delhi after the flight landed but was allowed to go after he apologized in writing to the co-passenger and no police case was filed.

DGCA issues show-cause notices for dereliction of duty to the concerned people in such cases.

A response from Air India is awaited. Sources said the pilot of the Paris-Delhi flight did not report the incident to the DGCA.

Delhi Police has registered an FIR and Air India on Wednesday imposed a 30-day flying ban on the man who had allegedly urinated on an elderly co-passenger during a New York-Delhi flight in November last year.

While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also launched an investigation into the November incident, Air India has set up an internal panel to probe whether there were lapses on part of the crew in addressing the situation that caused distress to the woman.

The National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the incident onboard the Air India flight in which the inebriated male passenger also flashed his private parts at the elderly woman during the New York-Delhi flight.

The Commission sought a detailed action taken report on the matter within seven days from the Delhi Police Commissioner. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

It’s Wrap For Ajay Devgn-Tabu Starrer ‘Bholaa’

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

The shooting for Ajay Devgn-starrer ‘Bholaa’ has come to an end. On Thursday, Ajay took to Instagram and shared this update with his fans and followers.

“Shooting has wrapped; the post-production frenzy has already begun. Remember, we have a date – March 30th in the theatres,” a post read on Ajay Devgn Ffilms’ Instagram handle.

‘Bholaa’ is an official Hindi remake of the Tamil hit ‘Kaithi’ and Ajay has directed it. It has been styled as the story of a “one-man army, set in one night, fighting a multitude of enemies in various forms, human and otherwise.”

Ajay has helmed the film, which will also feature Tabu, Sanjay Mishra, Deepak Dobrial, Raai Lakshmi, and Makrand Deshpande in prominent roles. It is all set to hit the theatres on March 30, 2023.

Ajay will also be seen in producer Boney Kapoor’s upcoming sports drama film ‘Maidaan’, besides in director Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming film and in Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham Again’ opposite Deepika Padukone. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

Air India Tries To Cover Up Not Reporting Two Urination Incidents To Aviation

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Top officials of India’s aviation regulatory body DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) are fuming that Air India did not report two shocking incidents of a passenger urinating on a co-passenger within a span of 11 days.

According to the aviation regulator, the incident on the Air India flight of November 26 from JFK ( New York ) to Delhi and again on December 6 from Paris to Delhi was not reported to the regulators and, in fact, both incidents were sought to be covered up by the airline. “Prima facie, it appears that the Air India cockpit and cabin crew were involved in a cover-up of the entire incidents by not reporting them to the regulatory body.”
According to the regulator, Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA, “it appears that provisions related to handling an unruly passenger on board have not been complied with. The conduct of the concerned airline appears to be unprofessional and has led to a systemic failure. It lacks appreciation of regulatory obligations.”

The DGCA sources believe that the onboard operational levels of the airline clearly worked out a cover-up by attempting to push these horrific incidents under the carpet.

The regulatory body particularly showed displeasure over the December 6 incident, which in fact was earlier reported to Delhi’s Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about an unruly passenger who urinated on a blanket draped around a female co-passenger in-flight. The offending passenger has pulled aside at Delhi airport but no action was taken as he gave a written apology to the passenger. Even in this case, the cabin crew and the airline did not inform the regulator and basically silenced the matter among themselves.

On the role of the Central z industrial Security Force or CISF which secures the airports, a CISF source said, ” CISF has its limits to act on any passenger being unable to book a case under IPC”. In any case, the CISF cannot take action against a passenger unless the airline asks for the involvement of the local police in view of the offense committed.

DGCA sources said both incidents were let go by the cabin staff who are the only ones along with the affected passenger who can press charges by asking the police to file an FIR.

“The pilot is in charge of any airplane. And when there is an incident inside the airplane, it is like a crime not to report the incident like public urination,” a top Ministry of Civil aviation official told ANI.

On the two Air India passenger urination cases, the DGCA has issued show-cause notices to the Accountable Manager, Director of In-Flight Services, Air India, and the pilots and cabin crew members of the November 26 flight as to why enforcement action should not be taken against them for non-discharge of their duties.

Investigations into the two cases have been initiated by the concerned authorities and both passengers have been sought to be put on the ‘no-fly-list’.

ANI reached out to Air India for comments but there has been no response so far. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

2024 LS Polls: BJP’S OBC Morcha To Launch Campaign ‘Gao-Gao Chalo, Ghar-Ghar Chalo’

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

As the countdown for the Lok Sabha elections due next year began with the start of 2023, the BJP has stepped up its preparations to reach out to all sections of society. The party’s OBC Morcha has decided to launch the ‘Gaon-Gaon Chalo, Ghar-Ghar Chalo’ program in March-April.

According to the sources, the OBC Morcha, an important part of the BJP, has started putting in efforts to reach out to the voters of the nine states that will go to Assembly elections this year.
The Assembly elections are scheduled this year in Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana.

“With the support of the OBC community, the BJP wants to form the government in the states because there is 40 to 50 per cent participation of the OBC community in all the states and the Centre,” a source said.

“The OBC Morcha will start the ‘Gaon-Gaon Chalo Ghar Ghar Chalo’ programme in the middle of March-April keeping in view the elections. Through this programme, OBC people be informed about the work done by the government for them which include decisions like 27 per cent reservation being given in NEET, and reservation being given in central education schemes,” the source added.

All the decisions pertaining to further preparations will be taken at the meeting of the OBC National Working Committee.

“All the office bearers will go to every village and distribute these achievements to the people through pamphlets,” the source said.

There will be a meeting of the national office bearers of the OBC Morcha in Haryana at the end of January in which decisions will be taken on the number of villages to be visited, the chunk of people to be contacted etc.

“The OBC morcha believes that since PM Modi came to power, the pride of OBC society has been restored and they are happy. The government has introduced many important schemes for the community. The OBC Morcha is continuously meeting intellectuals, and all BJP committees and are also engaging in public relations campaigns,” the source said.

The OBC Morcha has been given the responsibility of reaching out to the community in all the states. The Morcha members have already travelled to 25 states. It will soon travel to Jammu Kashmir and the Northeast as well. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

Thousands Can’t Be Uprooted Overnight: SC On Eviction In Haldwani

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Thousands can’t be uprooted overnight, the Supreme Court on Thursday said while putting a stay on the Uttarakhand High Court’s decision ordering the State authorities to remove encroachments from railway land in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura area.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay S Oka issued notices to the Indian Railways and Uttarakhand government on the pleas.
“There cannot be uprooting of 50,000 people overnight,” said the bench, adding that there has to be segregation of people who have no right on the land and the need for rehabilitation while recognizing the need for railways.

Noting that people are living there for decades, the bench said there should be measures for rehabilitation since the issue involves a human angle.

Posting the case for hearing on February 7, the bench said that it has put to the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that full rehabilitation of the persons in the area is needed.

“Issue notice. In the meantime, there shall be a stay of the directions passed in the impugned order. There should also restrain any more construction or development on the land,” said the bench in its order.

During the hearing, the apex court said, “What is troubling us is how do you deal with a situation where people bought the land in the auction and took possession after 1947 and acquired title. You (railways) may acquire the land but what to do now? People live for 60-70 years some rehabilitation has to be done. There must be a culmination to the issue and we do not encourage what is going on.”

ASG Bhati for Indian Railways said that this strip of land belongs to the railways. Their claim is that it is their land, they are not asking for rehabilitation.

The top court said that maybe all of them cannot be painted with the same brush, and there may be different categories. “But there are people for whom a human angle needs to be considered. Someone will have to examine their documents,” it added.

Bhati said that Kathgodam Railway station does not have any space for expansion and there are 4365 unauthorized occupants.

The Uttarakhand High Court had on December 20 ordered the removal of encroachments from railway land in the Banbhoolpura area of Haldwani after giving notice to the residents one week in advance.

Led by Congress MLA from Haldwani, Sumit Hridayesh, residents of the area approached the Supreme Court on Monday challenging the High Court’s order. Another petition was also filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan.

A total of 4,365 encroachments will be removed from the area. Those facing eviction have been living on the land for many decades.

Residents have been protesting against the removal of encroachments from railway land in compliance with a High Court order.

The petition highlighted that the petitioners are poor people who have been lawful residents of Mohalla Nai Basti, Haldwani district for more than 70 years.

The petition stated that the names of local residents are entered in the municipal records of the house tax register and that they have been paying house tax regularly for years.

There are five government schools, one hospital, and two overhead water tanks in the area. It is further stated that “the long settled physical possession of the petitioners and their ancestors, some even prior to the date of Indian independence, has been recognized by State and its agencies and they have been given gas and water connections and even Aadhaar card numbers accepting their residential addresses.” (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

Govt Claims Of Economic Growth Do Not Reflect In My Kitchen

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Amandeep Kaur, a Chandigarh-based teacher, says there is a reason why farmers and job-seekers have been protesting every now and then across the country

I do not know of any sarkari data on the country’s economy or RBI projections for the future. I can only speak about the day-to-day realities that I face in running my household. My daily data revolves around the prices of gas cylinder, cooking oil, rice and milk etc., all of which are at an unprecedented high level. Never before in my life have I found managing the kitchen such a challenging task. All the essential commodities have gone out of reach of the common man. And I do not foresee any relief in future either.

Survival for a poor or low-income family is tougher. Unemployment is at an all-time high. Farm income has fallen. It is not a coincidence that the farmers and young job-seekers are continuously protesting against the policies of the government, in various states. They have been experiencing difficulties due to rising prices first hand.

I am not a political person and do not have any solid figures to support my opinion. But I speak what I see and learn every day. And I see the public is suffering. I have not heard anyone in my social circle who has had a salary increment or made better profits of late. When the Covid struck in 2020, people lost lives, jobs and businesses. Many of those who remained employed suffered salary cuts. I have not heard of those salary cuts being revoked. I only hear people talking about ever-rising mehangai.

ALSO READ: ‘25% Of My Salary Goes Into My Bike’s Fuel Tank’

We know most of the goods and groceries are transported to local retail markets. Now, take a look at the rising graph of petrol prices over last two years. This has a direct impact on every day’s use items. It does not require a finance minister’s mumbo jumbo to realise the pinch of rising inflation.

I consider myself fortunate that at least I have a job. I often read full-page advertisements in newspapers about the promises and claims of the government, but I do not find them happening on the ground, or in our lives. A person who earns ₹15-20,000 in a month, and lives with his family in a rented house, can he provide proper nutrition or education to his children today?

If I accept the claim of the government and RBI that economic growth is on the right track and things have become stable, then its effect should be visible in the lives of ordinary citizens. Nothing like this seems to be happening. Claims are different from the ground reality.

I come from a family of farmers. I remember before coming to power in Delhi, the Modi government had talked about doubling the income of the farmers by 2022. We are now in 2023. Show me one farmer whose income has doubled. Does the government have any idea how the prices of fertilizers and other farming requirements have increased?

I can only sum up my experiences and conclude that it is a challenge to run the kitchen. And my firm belief is that the same is true for most other middle-income households across the country.

As told to Nityanand Gayen

Akshay Calls On Yogi, Discusses Film City Project

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Actor Akshay Kumar called on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday.

The actor discussed the much-anticipated Film City project in Uttar Pradesh during his meeting with the CM, who is currently in Mumbai on a two-day visit, at the Taj Hotel.
He also discussed his most recent movie, ‘Ramsetu,’ urging the CM to watch it.

During the meeting, which spanned 35 minutes, Kumar informed the UP CM that there is a great deal of excitement in the Indian film industry around the Film City project. Many big production houses, producers, directors, and actors are waiting for the film city in UP to be up and running, the actor is learned to have told CM Adityanath.

He said the development of a world-class Film and Infotainment City in UP will provide a new option for those in the movie business to plan their projects.

Akshay also discussed with the UP CM the research and preparations that went into the finalizing of the script of ‘Ramsetu’, as he reiterated that Adityanath should watch his film only once.

CM Yogi said cinema has a big role in raising public awareness and filmmakers should give importance to issues of social and national importance while selecting subjects.

He said the film city in UP will be at par with global standards, adding that a new film policy is also being formulated. He also invited the actor to visit Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

Man Who Urinated On Woman On Flight Will Be Arrested: Delhi Police

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

Delhi Police on Thursday said that the man who allegedly urinated on an elderly woman co-passenger onboard an Air India flight was a resident of Mumbai and will be arrested at the earliest.

“The accused is a resident of Mumbai, but his possible location is in some other state and the police team has reached there. We will arrest the accused at the earliest,” said Delhi Police.
On Wednesday, Delhi Police said that it has formed teams to nab the man who allegedly urinated on an elderly co-passenger onboard an Air India flight from New York to Delhi in November last year.

The Police on Wednesday filed an FIR on the shocking incident based on a complaint by Air India.

The police have registered an FIR in the matter under sections 354, 509, and 510 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 23 of the Indian Aircraft Act. Both the accused and the victim are from outside Delhi.

The shocking incident occurred on November 26 when the flight was on its way from John F Kennedy international airport in New York to Delhi.

“We have formed a team to trace the accused passenger. The investigation is going on and he will be arrested soon,” a police official said.

Air India said as a first part, it has banned the passenger for 30 days, the maximum it is permitted to unilaterally do so.

The airline said it has taken very serious note of the incident that caused extreme distress to a passenger.

“Air India has taken a very serious note of the incident, where a passenger behaved in an unacceptable and undignified manner on the New York-Delhi flight that caused extreme distress to a fellow passenger. A police complaint has already been lodged in this case and Air India is committed to assisting the law enforcement agencies as well as regulatory authorities in ensuring that justice is delivered to the aggrieved passenger,” an Air India spokesperson said.

While the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also launched an investigation, Air India has set up an internal panel to probe whether there were lapses on the part of the crew in addressing the situation that caused distress to the woman.

The National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the incident onboard the Air India flight in which the inebriated male passenger also flashed his private parts at the elderly woman.

The Commission has sought a detailed action taken report on the matter within seven days from the Delhi Police Commissioner.

In her letter to the chairman of the Board of Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran, the woman passenger, who is in her seventies, called the flight experience extremely traumatic and expressed deep disappointment over the incident in the business class section of the flight.

In her letter, the woman said the ‘appalling incident’ occurred shortly after the lunch was served and the lights were switched off, as she was getting ready to sleep. The flight had taken off from John F Kennedy international airport in New York.

She said that within minutes, an inebriated male walked to her seat and unzipped his pants, relieving himself and continued to expose his private parts until another passenger asked him to return to his seat.

“I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the appalling incident that occurred during my business class trip on flight AI102 (commencing in NY, JFK yesterday 26th November at 12.30 pm, and arriving this afternoon in New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport at approximately 1.30 pm). This has been the most traumatic flight that I have ever experienced.

“During the course of the flight, shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off, I was getting ready to sleep, and another passenger walked to my seat completely inebriated. He unzipped his pants, relieved himself, and continued to expose me to his private parts. The passenger sitting next to me asked him to return to his seat. He did not respond immediately, but after a few moments left the area,” the letter read.

The woman passenger who is in her seventies, in the letter, also highlighted that when asked for a change of seat, “the airline refused and informed her there were no seats available”. She also complained about being allotted a small seat used by the airline staff, by one of the senior stewardesses. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176

Nidhi’s ‘Drunk’ Theory A ‘Conspiracy’: Anjali’s Uncle

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

The maternal uncle of Delhi girl Anjali, who died in the horrific hit-and-drag incident at Khanjawala on New Year’s night, on Wednesday said the deceased’s friend Nidhi is hatching conspiracy by claiming the victim was drunk on the day of the incident.

His response came against the backdrop of claims by Nidhi to the media on Tuesday that Anjali was drunk on the day of the incident.
“Nidhi was hidden previously. Now she has come out after Anjali’s last rites. When the incident happened, did not she have the humanity to report it to the police or family? She was scared then. Is not she scared now? This was Nidhi’s conspiracy,” Anjali’s maternal uncle told ANI.

He said Anjali did not have a drinking habit and her friend is lying over the matter.

“My niece did not have a drinking habit. If she was drunk that night (when the incident happened) as per Nidhi’s claim then the postmortem report would have mentioned that. It means Nidhi is lying,” he said.

He demanded the death penalty for the five accused who were in the vehicle that hit and dragged Anjali.

“Section 302 IPC should be registered against five accused and they should be given the death penalty. Section 304 IPC should be registered against Nidhi. We will appeal this to the government,” Anjali’s maternal uncle said after meeting Sultanpuri Station House Officer (SHO).

Speaking to media persons, Nidhi on Tuesday said, “She was in a drunken state but insisted on driving the two-wheeler. After being hit by the car, she came under the car and got dragged with it. I was scared and ran away and returned home, did not tell anything to anyone. It is the fault of the girl who was driving in an inebriated state. I insisted to her so much that do not drive, I am conscious, let me drive. She did not believe me and believed herself.”

Refuting the claim, Anjali’s mother said, “I don’t know Nidhi. I have never seen her. Anjali never used to drink. She never came home in an inebriated state. We don’t buy what is Nidhi claiming.”

She also questioned how Nidhi left the incident spot if she was, indeed, Anjali’s friend. She termed the incident a “well-thought-out conspiracy”.

“Nidhi is saying all the wrong things. If Nidhi was my daughter’s friend as she claims, why did she leave her alone? This is a well-thought-out conspiracy. Nidhi might be involved in it. There should be a proper investigation into her claims,” she said.

Anjali’s autopsy report said there was “semi-digested food material” present in her abdomen at the time of her death.

However, to ascertain if she was in a drunken state at the time of the incident, her viscera has been preserved for chemical analysis.

The autopsy report further said that Anjali’s back scraped off so badly as she held on the car’s axle and was dragged along that her ribs showed.

The 20-year-old was killed in the early hours of the New Year after her scooter was hit by a car driven by five men and she was reportedly dragged for 13 kilometres under the vehicle in outer Delhi’s Sultanpuri. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176