New Delhi, Aug 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan at Kartavya Path, New Delhi, calling it a major step towards transforming India’s administrative infrastructure into a 21st-century system that is cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally conscious.

Highlighting a significant point, the Prime Minister said that the government has been spending nearly Rs 1,500 crore every year on office rentals for ministries and departments functioning out of scattered buildings across the national capital.

The new integrated administrative complex, he said, will now save public money, increase employee productivity, and enhance administrative efficiency. “Due to offices being spread across various rented buildings, around 8,000 to 10,000 government employees had to travel daily between ministries.

This not only added to traffic congestion and fuel costs but also caused inefficiencies in work. With Kartavya Bhavan and other new buildings coming up around Kartavya Path, this will now change,” he said.

PM Modi emphasised that the design and vision behind Kartavya Bhavan is both pro-people and pro-planet. The building features solar panels on the rooftop, adhering to India’s commitment to green infrastructure and sustainability.

“The structure reflects our holistic development vision – it’s not just about buildings but about shaping the future of governance in a Viksit Bharat (Developed India),” he added. Calling August a “month of revolution,” the Prime Minister said the Kartavya Bhavan joins the list of key national infrastructure projects developed in the capital in recent years – including the New Parliament House, Bharat Mandapam, National War Memorial, and Yashobhoomi Convention Centre.

“These are not ordinary buildings; they are temples of governance from where key policies for the nation’s future will be shaped. Kartavya Bhavan is a symbol of our constitutional spirit and democratic values,” PM Modi said, invoking the Bhagavad Gita to stress the importance of duty.

He also pointed out that ministries such as the Ministry of Home Affairs were still operating out of century-old buildings with inadequate facilities. “India of the 21st century cannot operate with this setup. That’s why this transformation is essential,” he said.

PM Modi also stated that the last decade has seen a shift towards transparent, citizen-centric governance, with consistent reforms in infrastructure and public service delivery aimed at improving the ease of living and empowering every section of society.

IANS

New Delhi, Aug 6: More than 7 lakh persons have been rehabilitated from drug de-addiction centres in the year 2024-25, said Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, in the Parliament on Wednesday.

Replying to a question in Rajya Sabha, Kumar shared that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has formulated and enacted National Action Plan for Drug Demand for Reduction (2018-2025), which supports rehabilitation and drug-deaddiction centres.

“Over 3 lakh persons were reported and rehabilitated from drug de-addiction centres in 2022-23. The number spiked to more than 5 lakh in 2023-24 and over 7 lakh in 2024-25,” Kumar said. He also noted an MoU signed between the MoSJE and AIIMS, New Delhi, in March, for conducting the second National Survey on the Extent and Pattern of Substance Use.

“The objective of the survey is national, state-level and district-level estimates of proportion and absolute number of people who use various substances and people who are suffering from substance use disorders; and information on substance use and its consequences in the specific population groups,” the Union Minister said.

The first such survey, published in 2019, focussed on adolescents and adult users of substances like alcohol, cannabis, opioids, sedatives, inhalants, cocaine, ATS, and hallucinogens.

“It showed that a total of 1.48 crore among the age group of 10-17 years are indulging in these substances, while over 22 crore adults aged between 18 and 75 years are using them,” Kumar said. Further, the Minister also detailed on the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), launched in 2020 to fight the growing menace of drug addiction in the country.

More than 16.5 cr Indians, including women and youth, have been sensitised against drug abuse under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Kumar informed the Parliament. The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment (DoSJE) is the nodal department for drug demand reduction in the country.

From 272 districts identified as most vulnerable, the NMBA is now extended to all districts of the country, the Union Minister said. “Till now, through the various activities undertaken on-ground, 16.5+ crore people have been sensitised on substance use, including 5.5+ crore youth and 3.43+ crore women,” the Minister said.

IANS

Dehradun, Aug 6: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday reached the cloudburst-hit Uttarkashi region and met the families of those affected by the devastating mudslide, triggered by flash floods.

He assured the affected families of all possible assistance in this difficult hour and also sought to comfort them by embracing and hugging them. Taking to X handle, Uttarakhand CM wrote, “In Dharaali (Uttarkashi), I met with the families of those affected by the disaster and assured them of all possible assistance in this hour of crisis. This disaster has caused immense grief to many families, and we understand their pain.”

“Our government stands fully with the affected families. Disaster management and relief operations are being conducted swiftly. Our priority is to search for every missing person and provide complete support to the affected families,” he added.

The Chief Minister also instructed the district administration and all departments to speed up relief and rescue operations, adding that rescuing every individual was his administration’s top priority.

“Our first and foremost priority at this hour is to ensure relief and rescue operations. State rescue teams along with NDRF, SDRF and Army are working in tandem to salvage the situation,” CM Dhami told the scribes.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister undertook an aerial survey of the flash floods-triggered mudslide zone and instructed officials to remain on 24-hour alert mode. “In Dharali, Uttarkashi, all government agencies, departments, and the army are engaged in relief and rescue operations with mutual coordination.

Last night, more than 130 people were rescued. Closed routes are being reopened, and all possible assistance is being provided to the affected,” he informed. Dharali village in Uttarkashi was hit by a raging mudslide triggered by flash floods on Tuesday afternoon.

The picturesque village, home to various hotels, homestays and restaurants, was washed away by the raging river water flowing down the hill, causing widespread devastation and destruction.

The village is the main stopover on the way to Gangotri, the place where the river Ganga originates. The Indian Army is also engaged in relief and rescue efforts, with its MI-17 and Chinook helicopters lifting the stranded villagers to safety.

IANS

New Delhi, Aug 6:  Indian Railways has significantly enhanced the travel facilities for the benefit of economically weaker passengers with the number of seats available for non-AC passengers increasing to 54 lakh, which constitutes 78 per cent of the total, while AC seats comprise the remaining 22 per cent, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

Due to the higher availability of general coaches, the number of passengers travelling in general unreserved coaches has shown an increasing trend, going up from 553 crore in 2022-23 to 609 crore in 2023024 and 651 crore in 2024-25, Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

During 2024-25 alone, 1,250 general coaches have been utilised in various long-distance trains. To cater to the travel demand of the low and middle-income families, the Railways has taken up the production of another 17,000 non-AC coaches (general/sleeper) over the next 5 years.

The percentage of non-AC coaches on Indian Railways is as high as 70 per cent. The minister further stated that Indian Railways has also developed a fully non-AC modern train named Amrit Bharat Express. Already, 14 services are in operation.

The present composition of Amrit Bharat consists of 11 general class coaches, 8 sleeper class coaches, 1 pantry car and 2 luggage cum Divyangjan coaches. High-speed and enhanced safety standards are the hallmarks of these trains with enhanced features and amenities.

These include the provision of a CCTV system in all coaches and luggage rooms, improved designs of toilets, improved design of the ladder for ease of climbing onto the berth and better LED light fittings and charging sockets.

Further, to cater to the needs of passengers desirous of availing unreserved accommodation, Indian Railways operates unreserved non-AC passenger trains/ MEMU/EMU, etc, for affordable travel, which are in addition to the unreserved accommodation (coaches) available in Mail and Express services.

To provide greater accommodation for the passengers using general and non-AC sleeper coaches, the extant policy regarding composition of Mail and Express trains provides for 12 general class and sleeper class non-AC coaches and eight AC coaches, in a train of 22 coaches, the minister said.

He also said that the Indian Railways makes every endeavour to keep trains and stations in a properly maintained and clean condition to ensure passengers’ comfort and a pleasant travel experience.

Various measures have been taken to improve sanitation at Railway stations and coaches. Key measures include the installation of bio-toilets in all passenger coaches so that no human waste is discharged from coaches onto the track, resulting in improved cleanliness levels of the platforms and stations like never before.

Besides, mechanised cleaning is being carried out at major stations and in trains. On-board housekeeping services are provided to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in identified trains during the run of the train, the minister added.

IANS