Rajasthan govt to implement online weighing, GPS, and vehicle tracking

New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Delhi Transport and Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Friday promised to induct 4000-plus electric buses in the city by the year-end and promised to unveil a Yoga-based plan to manage diabetes in the coming months.

“Pollution is a focus area for our government, and all departments are jointly taking steps to tackle it. At the transport department, we are determined to replace the ageing CNG buses with electric vehicles,” he told IANS on completing 100 days in office.

“The introduction of EV buses is likely to offer a big relief to the public in terms of pollution and connectivity, even in congested areas,” he said.

He highlighted the implementation of health schemes like Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) for the elderly, Ayushman Mandir, Ayushman Card and check on irregularities in drug supply as some of the achievements of the health department in the first 100 days of the government.

“The Ayushman scheme, whose benefits should have reached people long ago, was blocked by Arvind Kejriwal’s government. We have supplied cards and enrolled beneficiaries through door-to-door drives,” he said, adding that about 2.31 lakh beneficiaries have been issued health cards under the two schemes.

The Minister hit out at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for indulging in publicity rather than serving the people on the ground.

“We could not find anything positive in the functioning of the previous government. There are scams in almost everything related to drinking water, road, pollution, Yamuna-cleaning, transportation, hospital drug supply,” he said, adding that, under the previous government, just five medical superintendents were running the affairs of all major hospitals in the city.

Hitting out at the AAP government and its legislators, he said, “They did not perform and indulged only in the blame game. We are focused on delivering on the promises that we made.”

Describing diabetes as a common ailment afflicting people, he said, “We are working on a new plan named ‘Diabetes-plus with yoga’. Very soon, we will share information with the public,” he said, adding that the health department is focusing on the smooth functioning of free dialysis centres.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Sep 4 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday announced that her government will make alternative job arrangements even for those teachers in state-run schools who have been identified as “tainted” for getting jobs against payment of cash and hence becoming “ineligible” for future recruitments.

She made the assurance as she addressed a programme on the occasion of the Teachers’ Day, which is observed on Friday, with her announcement of an alternative state government job arrangement for “tainted” or “ineligible” candidates comes amid the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) coming out with a list of 1,806 “tainted” candidates last week.

“After working as teachers for 10 years, they have been declared ‘ineligible’ candidates. We are taking a legal opinion about the future of such candidates. They will not be able to become teachers in the future. But we will try so that they can at least be accommodated as Group-C non-teaching staff in the state-run schools. We will look at the matter with a humanitarian aspect,” the Chief Minister said.

According to her, the process has started for the recruitment of those who are found to be “untainted” and hence, “eligible”. “Anyone can apply regardless of their age. We have given them an age relaxation, and those who are eligible can return by passing the fresh recruitment examination. The recruitment process will be completed in two or three months. After that, the process for Groups C and D non-teaching staff will start. Those who have served for 10-12 years and have crossed their age will also be considered,” she added.

On the occasion, Banerjee attacked those who approached various courts alleging irregularities in school jobs. “Some people move the court and get a stay on a recruitment. I do not feel happy if the school teachers lose their jobs,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s announcement of alternative job arrangements for those teachers in state-run schools who have been identified as “tainted” has irked the opposition parties and the “untainted” teachers.

According to them, Banerjee on Thursday once again made it clear that her real intention is to protect the interests of the “tainted” candidates, who got jobs against payment of money.

–IANS

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New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary on Monday, asserting that Baba Saheb’s vision and principles continue to inspire the journey towards making India a self-reliant and developed nation.

Dr B.R. Ambedkar, born on April 14, 1891, in the military cantonment town of Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, was a towering figure in Indian history — an eminent jurist, economist, social reformer, and political leader.

As the architect of the Indian Constitution, he chaired the drafting committee and later served as the first Law and Justice Minister in the cabinet of then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Taking to social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “On behalf of all the countrymen, I bow down to Bharat Ratna Pujya Babasaheb on his birth anniversary. It is due to his inspiration that the country is dedicatedly engaged in realising the dream of social justice today.”

“His principles and ideals will give strength and momentum to the creation of an Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat,” he added.

In a video message, the Prime Minister described Ambedkar as a “symbol of humanity” who strongly opposed anything inhumane.

“He used to do everything constitutionally. He taught the society only one thing — become educated, and once you are educated, you will be able to talk to the world eye to eye,” PM Modi said.

He further recalled Ambedkar’s guiding mantras — education, organisation, and struggle for humanity and said that these three mantras “continue to inspire us and give us strength even today.”

Reflecting on Ambedkar’s life and legacy, PM Modi emphasised the social reformer’s unwavering dedication to the nation and to social justice.

“The spirit with which Baba Saheb Ambedkar did his work was completely pure national devotion, social devotion, and hence our resolution should be this — be it Dalit, suffering, exploited, poor, tribal, village dweller, slum dweller, yearning for education, if we have to do something for all of them, then Baba Saheb Ambedkar is always an inspiration for us,” he stated.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s efforts to honour Ambedkar’s legacy through the creation of “Panch Teerth” — five important sites associated with his life.

These include ‘Janam Bhoomi” in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, where he was born; ‘Siksha Bhoomi’ in London, where he stayed while pursuing studies in the UK; ‘Deeksha Bhoomi’ in Nagpur, where he embraced Buddhism; ‘Mahaparinirvan Sthal’ in Delhi, where he spent his last moments; and ‘Chaitya Bhoomi’ in Mumbai, his final resting place.

In addition, the PM Modi-led government also dedicated the Dr Ambedkar International Centre at 15, Janpath in Delhi to honour the Father of the Indian Constitution.

“Our government has placed Baba Saheb’s contribution in front of the country and the world with great intensity,” the Prime Minister said. “These Panch Teerth will continue to inspire the coming generations.”

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also paid tribute to Dr Ambedkar and shared a video of his visit to the Ambedkar Memorial House in London.

“My tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on his birth anniversary. This video was taken when I visited the house where Babasaheb lived while studying Law in London. Now, this house has been bought and converted as Ambedkar Memorial House,” Rijiju posted on X.

–IANS

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