Amit Shah to inaugurate Border Outpost G-7, hold security review meets in Kutch today

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhuj, May 29 (IANS) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to spend the second day of his Gujarat visit on Friday in the border district of Kutch, where he will review security arrangements along the India-Pakistan frontier and interact with Border Security Force (BSF) personnel stationed in the region.

According to the official schedule, HM Shah will begin the day by inaugurating Border Outpost G-7 and interacting with BSF jawans.

The programme will be held at the G-7 border post near Bhuj. He is also expected to attend the Prahari Conference organised by the BSF during the visit.

At noon, the Home Minister will visit the control room at OP Tower-1170 to review surveillance and monitoring systems deployed in the sensitive border belt.

Officials said he will observe feeds from PTZ surveillance cameras used for border monitoring in the marshy and difficult terrain of Kutch.

HM Shah will then travel to the Harami Nala area for a boat visit of the creek region and participate in a tree plantation programme at the jetty point.

Harami Nala, located in the Rann of Kutch near the Sir Creek region, is considered one of the most strategically sensitive stretches along the India-Pakistan border because of its shallow creeks, marshland terrain and vulnerability to infiltration, smuggling and unauthorised boat movement.

The Home Minister is later scheduled to chair a meeting on border-related issues at the BSF Sector Headquarters at 3 p.m.

Senior BSF officers and officials from the security establishment are expected to attend the review meeting. HM Shah’s Bhuj visit forms part of his wider multi-state tour of border regions that began earlier this week.

The tour includes Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tripura and West Bengal and is aimed at reviewing border security preparedness, surveillance infrastructure and coordination among agencies guarding India’s frontiers.

Earlier this week, HM Shah visited border areas in Rajasthan, where he reviewed security arrangements and stressed the need for stronger coordination and vigilance along the international border.

–IANS

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Nitish champions women’s cause in Bihar as Tejashwi tries to shrug off legacy

New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Support for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar among the state’s women voters is seen as a major factor for his government’s earlier electoral successes. Though Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav — projected as the Opposition Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate — has been trying to include schemes aimed at women’s empowerment, he carries a legacy contrary to the cause.

It was the role of his father, Lalu Prasad, in opposing the Women’s Quota Bill in the late 1990s that led to stalling its passage in Parliament. With Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh lending support, and backed by only 37 MPs, he deftly managed leaders in other parties, including the Congress, to craft a way to deter the move.

Interestingly, Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had lent her full support to the Bill.

Even as Tejashwi tries to undo the past, Nitish Kumar introduced development projects aimed at women’s empowerment and self-reliance in his two-decade tenure at the helm of power in the state. And while leading the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state, he has received support from the Union government in his mission.

The ruling bloc’s joint manifesto, released in Patna on Friday, October 31, bears testimony to this effort from the NDA partners.

Among the pledges is the Chief Minister’s women’s employment scheme that provides financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh, along with the promise of ensuring one crore women turn into “Lakhpati Didis”.

The Lakhpati Didi Yojana was launched on August 15, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to uplift women, particularly those associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

Earlier, it was the Narendra Modi-led government that ensured the passage of the women’s reservation through The Constitution (One Hundred Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Parliament. The bill lay in cold storage after the failure of the then NDA government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to steer the Women’s Quota Bill in Parliament in 1998, facing stiff resistance from Lalu and Mulayam.

There was a ruckus in the Lok Sabha during the motion, with RJD MPs tearing copies of the Bill. The duo found support in Sharad Yadav, then a Janata Dal MP. In 1997, Sharad Yadav, while arguing against the Women’s Quota Bill, controversially used the term “parkati auratein” (women with hair cut short) to define its ultimate beneficiaries. He was seeking caste-based reservation within the Women’s Bill. However, after he joined the Janata Dal (United), Nitish Kumar convinced him to at least allow the passage of the Bill in the form it was and then raise the issue of quota within quota.

The Chief Minister has later pointed out how he went on to introduce quotas for women from all sections of the society in the state’s panchayats.

The impact of that decision is said to have later changed Sharad Yadav’s stand. All this time, Nitish Kumar maintained it was the only issue that the two top JD(U) leaders held a disagreement, which he used to call an “honest difference” of opinion.

During his long reign in Bihar, Nitish Kumar introduced several schemes to empower women. Among these were 50 per cent reservation in panchayats, 35 per cent in government jobs, “cycle yojana” for schoolgirls, and introducing self-help groups like Jeevika.

These helped him build a strong support base among women electors. Though Tejashwi has offered permanency of jobs for Bihar’s close to four lakh Jeevika community mobilisers and contractual employees, promised education and employment for girls, and provide houses, adequate ration and incomes for women, he still has to shed a legacy he carries. His efforts will be answered with the November 14 mandate — whether he can or cannot.

–IANS

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Ayushman Bharat benefited over 45 crore citizens: National Health Authority

New Delhi, Oct 16 (IANS) The flagship Ayushman Bharat scheme has benefited over 45 crore citizens in the country, according to the National Health Authority’s (NHA) annual report.

The report, released at a two-day national review meeting held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, highlighted key achievements, innovations, and progress of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). It also showcased the impact of these flagship initiatives in strengthening India’s healthcare delivery.

“This review marks a pivotal moment in our journey to deepen digital health integration and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all. Ayushman Bharat, with its four strong pillars, has benefited over 45 crore people,” said Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal (IAS), CEO of the National Health Authority.

“To accelerate progress, leadership of State & UT Health Authorities in digital integration and innovation will be key to making it the world’s largest transformative health scheme,” Barnwal added.

The Annual Report 2024-25 highlighted that the schemes led to a massive expansion of health coverage. Over 9.19 crore hospital admissions facilitated under AB PM-JAY with treatment worth Rs 1,29,386 crore.

More than 30,000 hospitals (55 per cent public and 45 per cent private) are empanelled under the scheme, ensuring nationwide accessibility. A whopping 82 per cent of beneficiaries belonged to rural areas.

Over 40.45 crore Ayushman cards were issued, covering 14.69 crore families.

Further, the ABDM drove digital health transformation in the country, the report said, citing 76.5 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA), which linked 51.3 crore health records, covering 6 in 10 Indians.

The ABHA App Version 3, launched in 13 languages, has over 1.57 crore downloads and 2-3 lakh tokens generated daily, which shows strong public adoption. The features include a user-centric design, scan and share, and scan and pay modules — simplifying OPD registration and payments.

Notably, with strengthened call centre and digital grievance redressal systems, the mission achieved a 96 per cent grievance resolution rate, while the beneficiary satisfaction stands at 95 per cent, with 98 per cent positive experience under PM-JAY and 87 per cent average call quality score.

“Digital public infrastructure in healthcare is not just a tool — it’s a transformation. The ABDM Index will be a key enabler of accountability and innovation,” said Kiran Gopal Vaska (IAS), JS and Mission Director, ABDM, while highlighting the role of States/UTs in driving digital health innovation and integration for an efficient health ecosystem.

“Care coordination is the bridge between data and dignity ABDM’s integration with PM-JAY is a game-changer,” Vaska said.

–IANS

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Centre approves Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train after Union Minister Joshi’s request

New Delhi/Bengaluru, April 13 (IANS) The Central government has approved the operation of a new Vande Bharat sleeper train service between Bengaluru and Mumbai, responding to a request made by the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, an official statement said on Monday.

Highlighting the significance of the project, Union Minister Joshi said the Central government is giving priority to the development of the Kalyana Karnataka region alongside overall state development.

He noted that the new train service will boost commercial activity and provide improved transportation facilities across Karnataka.

Union Minister Joshi also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for approving the project.

The statement said that Union Minister Joshi had urged Prime Minister Modi and Railway Minister Vaishnaw to introduce a new Vande Bharat train to improve connectivity to North Karnataka, Central Karnataka, and Kalyana Karnataka regions.

Acting on Pralhad Joshi’s request, the Centre has now granted approval for a Bengaluru–Mumbai Vande Bharat sleeper train via the Kalyana Karnataka route.

The proposed train will operate from KSR Bengaluru Railway Station to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai, passing through key regions of Karnataka.

The route is expected to cover Tumakuru, Davanagere, Haveri, Hubballi-Dharwad, and Belagavi, thereby enhancing connectivity between Bengaluru and the commercial hub of Mumbai.

Union Minister Joshi had initially proposed introducing a Bengaluru–Mumbai superfast train along this route, with plans to later upgrade it into a Vande Bharat sleeper service.

Railway Minister Vaishnaw has approved this proposal.

The route, stops, travel time and launch date would be announced soon.

Union Minister Vaishnaw informed the Bengaluru Central MP P.C. Mohan in this regard earlier.

Taking to social media platform X, BJP National Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on Monday said, “Bengaluru and Mumbai are two of the most important growth engines of India. They deserve best of connectivity, which PM Modi Ji-led government is fulfilling through the approval of the Vande Bharat Sleeper train between the two cities.”

“The Railway Board Chairman informed me in a telephonic conversation that the brand new railway coaches are being readied and the target is to start the train service latest by the end of July,” Surya added.

This much needed addition will greatly benefit the working population of both cities, the BJP MP said.

“Huge thanks to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji and Minister of State V. Somanna for their continued support. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s government prioritises delivery and a citizen-first approach,” Surya noted.

At present, Udyan Express is the main link between Mumbai and Bengaluru covering a distance of 1,139 km in about 22 hours.

The Vande Bharat train is expected to reduce travel time by about six hours.

–IANS

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