Swajal Launched in 115 Aspirational Districts
- A National Consultation on the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) and Swajal was held in the Capital today to discuss the reforms needed in NRDWP and to outline a road map for the Swajal scheme.
- The consultation was chaired by the Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti. The Minister of State for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Shri Ramesh Jigajinagi, was also present.
- Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation announced that Swajal schemes in 115 aspirational districts of the country will involve an outlay of Rs 700 crores through flexi-funds under the existing NRDWP budget.
- These schemes will aim to provide villages with piped water supply powered by solar energy.
- The Minister also announced the modernisation of 2000 water quality testing laboratories spread across the country.
- She further said that Rs.1000 crores will be earmarked for addressing the drinking water needs of 27,544 arsenic and fluoride affected habitations of the country in this financial year under the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM).
- Further, she called upon the States to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goal ‘safe drinking water for all’ is achieved in India by 2030.
New Incredible India website
- The Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism Shri K.J. Alphons launched the new Incredible India website in New Delhi.
- The website showcases India as a holistic destination, revolving around major experiences, such as, spirituality, heritage, adventure, culture, yoga, wellness and more.
- The website follows the trends and technologies of international standards with an aim to project India as a “must-visit” destination, among its overseas travellers.
- The Minister also thanked the stakeholders like Tech Mahindra, Google, Adobe and NIC team who were involved in the development of the website.
4th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the fourth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhawan.
- The day-long meeting was attended by Union Ministers, Chief Ministers from the States, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and senior officials from the Government of India.
- The Governing Council of NITI Aayog is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in shaping the development narrative.
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi while delivering the opening remarks said that Indian Economy has grown at a healthy rate of 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017-18.
- He added that the challenge now is to take this growth rate to double digits, for which many more important steps have to be taken.
- Shri Narendra Modi said that the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has emerged as a new model for implementation of schemes. He said that this has so far been extended to 45,000 villages in the Aspirational Districts.
- The Prime Minister said that India has no shortage of capabilities, capacities and resources. He said that in the current financial year, States are receiving over 11 lakh crore rupees from the Centre, which represents an increase of about 6 lakh crore rupees, from the last year of the previous government.
- The Council discussed important subjects including measures taken to double farmers’ income; progress of flagship schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, National Nutrition Mission and Mission Indradhanush; development of aspirational districts; and celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
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