Garhwal Post Bureau
Rishikesh, 16 Jun: A one-day media workshop, ‘Varta’, was organised by the Press Information Bureau, Dehradun, at the Rail Vikas Nigam conference hall in Rishikesh, today. The Chief Guest was the Mayor of Rishikesh, Shambhu Paswan. During the programme, Paswan also unveiled 5 booklets focused on the theme “Lok Sewa hi Sankalp – 12 Saal Vishwash ke, Vikas ke”. These booklets provide detailed information on schemes related to ‘Vikas Hi Virasat, Rahstra Nirman Hi Mission, Rashtra Pratham hi Mantra, Shashaktikaran hi Samarthay and Lok Sewa Hi Sankalp’.
Chief guest Shambhu Paswan informed the journalists, officials and public representatives present about the Government of India’s schemes focused on subjects such as economic development and environmental heritage during the last 12 years. He said that, under the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many beneficial schemes are reaching the person standing at the last step of society. These mainly include Lakhpati Didi, PM SVANidhi, Ayushman, Housing, and Farmer Scheme, which are directly reaching the people of the accessible and inaccessible areas of the state. He further said that development works mainly for Uttarakhand such as the All-Weather Road and the Rishikesh/Karnaprayag Rail Line are proving beneficial for the state today.
Meanwhile, DGM of the Rail Vikas Nigam Rishikesh/Karnaprayag Project, Omprakash Malgudi, while appreciating the rail project gifted to Uttarakhand by PM Modi, said that this scheme is going to be a milestone in the form of development. He informed that this rail project is now moving towards its final stage. He said that the rail project is being prepared without affecting the population and the environment. The construction of 16 tunnels from Rishikesh to Karnaprayag is in the final stage. These tunnels pass through five districts. He added that assistance has been provided on a priority basis to the villages affected by the rail tunnels.
Chief Geologist of Rail Vikas Nigam, Vijay Dangwal, while emphasising environmental conservation, stated that there is great diversity inside the Himalayas, and keeping that in mind, the alignment of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Project has been prepared. The project has also been designed from an environmental point of view. A digital map has also been prepared for this purpose. He further provided important information that the water coming out of the tunnels during the rail project will be developed in the form of the Amrit Sarovar Project, through which water conservation can also be carried out from an environmental perspective.
HOD (Business) of Uttarakhand Gramin Bank, Rishikesh, Rohit Badola stated during the media workshop the main points (economic development, PM SVANidhi, Mudra Yojana, and empowerment of the common people through these schemes). He said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, the common person across the country is becoming economically stronger today. For this, self-employment has reached every person through banks. Street vendors are playing an important leading role in this. Due to government schemes, economic plans are being delivered to every individual. He informed those present that loans are being provided today through PM SVANidhi. Every person has been connected through digital banking. A subsidy of 7 percent is being provided in urban areas. Along with this, a subsidy of 35 percent has been provided in rural areas.
Media and Communication Officer of the Press Information Bureau, Dehradun (PIB), Anil Dutt Sharma said that the main objective of this workshop is to establish strong coordination with regional media personnel’s and correspondents working in remote areas of the state, so that correct, accurate and authentic information about the government’s public welfare policies and schemes can reach the person sitting at the last mile of society. Experts from various fields, senior administrative officers and experienced journalists participated in the programme. They shared their views while highlighting the role of developmental journalism.
