West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul defended the detailed application form for the Annapurna Yojana scheme, stating it ensures benefits reach only Indian citizens. She also announced stringent waste-related penalties and a 'Swachh App' to improve urban cleanliness.
The campaign for elections to 51 urban local bodies, including four municipal corporations in Himachal Pradesh, concluded on Friday, with key issues including infrastructure, tourism, and fuel prices taking centre stage.
West Bengal minister Agnimitra Paul defended the detailed application form for the 'Annapurna Yojana', stating the government aims to ensure benefits reach only Indian citizens, amidst criticism over excessive documentation.
Bengaluru is at a critical juncture, where its economic model, reliant on attracting and retaining skilled professionals, is directly threatened by a measurable decline in urban quality of life, point out Shishir Gupta and Rishita Sachdeva.
A BMC spokesperson said the average voter turnout stood at 29.96 per cent till 1.30 pm in the metropolis, which has more than 1 crore eligible electors.
Ahmedabad has been named the cleanest big city in the latest Swachh Survekshan, while Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai were recognized for exceptional sanitation efforts in a new 'Super Swachh League Cities' category.
Wielding a broom, the prime minister took part in the drive along with fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya.
"This entire period is highly sensitive in terms of law and order, healthcare, sanitation, education, and disaster management. Hence, all related departments and district administrations must work with coordination and accountability," Adityanath said, according to an official statement.
The theme for this year is "Yoga for One Earth, One Health" echoes India's vision of global wellness.
The 'Swachch Sarvekshan-2016' survey, released by the Urban Development ministry recently, ranked Indian cities on the parameters of cleanliness and sanitation.
This would include state capitals and 53 cities with a population of 10 lakh each.
Rediff Labs mapped the survey result of the cities based on the national rank secured in Swachh Survekshan 2017.
The government's new initiative appears to be timely for health and hygiene players, battling low awareness and the lack of use of branded products.
Indore bagged the cleanest city title for the seventh time in a row.
The second and third positions in the 'cleanest city' category of the 'Swachh Survekshan Awards, 2021' were secured by Surat and Vijayawada, respectively.
'Days ago, India witnessed the horror of the brutal rape and murder of a woman doctor on night duty at the R G Kar hospital in Kolkata.' 'The crime was so outrageous that any self-respecting chief minister should have resigned, bearing moral responsibility.' 'But then the terms 'self-respect' and 'moral responsibility' do not exist in the modern Indian political lexicon,' argues Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Among the states having fewer than 100 urban local bodies, Tripura has bagged the top rank, according to the survey results.
While the New Delhi Municipal Council area was given the 'Cleanest Small City' award, Uttarakhand's Gauchar was adjudged the 'Best Ganga Town' in the central government survey.
The Supreme Court on Monday imposed an interim stay on directives passed by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display names of owners.
Each bottle of pickle that leaves FarmDidi, headed to a consumer, has a little kahani behind it -- it's linked to the tale of a life, the life of a simple, striving village woman who created it, and that's what gives Manjari Sharma satisfaction and happiness.
February is a slow month when it comes to original Hindi content on OTT.
The hapless voters fervently hope that they get to make a more equal choice in the next election and political discourse in the country becomes positive and more enlightened. One wonders if the masses would become more politically aware to discern good intent and performance from gimmickry, notes Biswajit Dasgupta.
The second and third positions in the category were grabbed by Surat and Navi Mumbai respectively.
Instructions have been given by the government to take necessary action immediately in districts where confirmed cases are found.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation.
Doctors at government hospitals in the Bihar capital were left in a daze when they realised that a young man knocking at their doors past midnight was none other than Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
He said the people of the state took a historic decision in 2003 by removing the government of "Mr Bantadhar", apparently referring to senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh.
The 'Swachh Survekshan-2017' ranked Gonda as the dirtiest city and Bhusawal in Maharashtra stands second-last in the ranking.
According to the government, it symbolises a shift from erstwhile Rajpath being an icon of power to Kartavya Path being an example of public ownership and empowerment.
Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday that the number of public grievances received by the government has increased from 2 lakh in 2014 to nearly 22 lakh at present, and added the 10-fold rise reflects the trust people have shown in the current dispensation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday inaugurate the newly-christened Kartavya Path -- a stretch from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate that will have red granite walkways with greenery all around, refurbished canals, state-wise food stalls, new amenity blocks and vending kiosks.
Top Information and Broadcasting ministry officials were in for a surprise on Monday as Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who took charge last week, made an unannounced punctuality and cleanliness check early morning.
Cleanliness of stations will be rated as per certain parameters finalised by the Railways.
These 10 cities have maintained cleanliness throughout
For the first, Jaitley said the Parliament held a comprehensive debate on sanitation.
Dettol is the leader in the anti-septic liquid category.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for 'Swachh Bharat' (Clean India) as a mass movement to realize Mahatma Gandhi's dream of a clean India by 2019
The main architectural lesson demonstrated by this project is how sacred spaces that have immense spiritual and heritage value, located in dense urban settings, can be transformed in a respectful and sensitive manner.
'The people, media and politicians are ready to listen to the troubles of Kangana Ranaut, but we are unwanted lives in the heart of Delhi.' Shine Jacob reports.
Modi govt pushed very hard the concept of smart cities in 2014.
