Author name: admin

To enhance employment opportunities for the youths of Jammu and Kashmir, the government started a special awareness drive for growers on the cultivation, processing of aromatic plants in Kashmir. As per the climate point of view, Kashmir Valley is suitable to produce a variety of fruit, vegetable crops and a good quantity of plant material that can be utilized in medicinal and aromatic activities. Growers from the valley participated in the programme. It aimed to create awareness among youth to involve them in the cultivation of aromatic plants. With the help of aromatic plants, growers especially young entrepreneurs can establish their own units and they will also engage other people to generate employment. Speaking to ANI, Sabdhar Wani, a grower said, “through this programme, we get knowledge about cultivation and processing. Scientists and scholars who participate in this programme share their knowledge so that we apply the right approach and avoid loss in production. The department of the Indian Institute of integrative medicine (IIIM) and the department of agriculture started special awareness programmes aimed to provide proper information to growers about the cultivation and processing of aromatic plants. Dr Shahid Rasool, Organizer and Scientist IIIM said, an awareness programme is very important so that growers can cultivate aromatic plants properly at a large scale. Under the CSR flagship programmes, it is providing knowledge to farmers. “This farming is different from the traditional method. Farmers don’t have much knowledge about this. This kind of programme enhances their knowledge about cultivation, processing and packaging so that they can apply the right approach.” In the coming time, the government is also going to distribute good quality medical plants among growers at subsidy rates so that they will produce a good quantity of plant material in future aimed to get benefits at large scale. Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, Lavender grower said for the past four years I am associated with the aromatic plant’s programme. It helps growers to understand the right way of cultivation and processing. During this awareness drive growers participated at a large scale by following Covid guidelines and they demanded such types of programs should be continued in future. Source: ANI

Following a rise in Covid-19 cases, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday extended the closure of all schools and colleges in the state till January 23, 2022. On January 5, the Uttar Pradesh government had ordered to close all government and private schools for students up to class 10 till January 16. Several other states are also extending the closure of schools due to rising COVID-19 cases. Telangana on Sunday ordered the educational institutions to remain closed till January 30, 2022. Similarly, schools and colleges in Madhya Pradesh will remain closed till January 31. Schools in Bengaluru will remain closed till January 31 while schools in Kerala for students up to class 9 will remain closed for physical classes till January 21. In a statement, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that in view of changing circumstances and rising Covid-19 cases, all schools and colleges have been ordered to remain closed till January 23. However, online classes will continue, the statement said. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister also chaired a meeting to review COVID situation. He also inspected arrangements related to COVID-19 management in King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow. Speaking to reporters, Yogi Adityanath informed that the state has around 1.03 lakh active cases. “Lucknow has reported 2,300 positive cases today, active cases stand at 16,300. Less than 1 per cent patients are admitted to hospital,” he added. “Vaccination drive has been so well that third wave hasn’t impacted us as much. UP vaccinated around over 22.87 crore people, of which 21.37 lakh are children aged between 15-18 tears and 3.87 lakh are people above 60 years of age or those with comorbidities with booster doses,” Yogi said. Source: ANI

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday invited students, teachers and parents to participate in the 5th edition of “Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022” and get a chance to be mentored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Valuable mantras to beat exam stress, excelling in career & life and much more! Here is your chance to get mentored directly by PM Shri @narendramodi ji. Inviting students, teachers and parents to participate in #PPC2022,” Pradhan tweeted sharing the registration link. The first edition of the prime minister’s interaction programme with school and college students “Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0” was held at the Talkatora Stadium on February 16, 2018. In the subsequent editions of the programme, students, parents, teachers from across the nation and also from overseas interacted with him to discuss and overcome the stress emerging out of examinations in order to celebrate life. “The format of this programme is proposed to be in online mode like in 2021. An online creative writing competition is being conducted on various topics from December 28 to January 20, 2022, to select participants. Questions asked by selected winners will be featured in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme,” a senior Ministry of Education official said. The topics for creative writing for students include — exam stress management strategies during COVID-19, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a self-reliant school for self-reliant India; Clean India, Green India; digital collaboration in classrooms, environmental conservation and climate change resilience. Similarly, the theme for teachers is “National Education Policy (NEP) for Naya Bharat” while the themes for parents include — Beti Padhao, Desh Badhao; Local to Global – Vocal for Local; Lifelong Students’ Yearning for Learning. “About 2050 participants selected through competitions on MyGov will be presented with a certificate of appreciation from Director, NCERT and a special Pariksha Pe Charcha kit comprising ‘Exam Warriors’ book in Hindi and English, written by the prime minister,” the official said. Source: PTI