28-Jun-2017: Swasth Saarthi Abhiyaan and Fuel Conservation Workshop

Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State (I/C) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, together, inaugurated the Swasth Saarthi Abhiyaan (SSA).

The Swasth Saarthi Abhiyaan (SSA) is a two month long mega campaign focusing on providing preventive healthcare to the auto, taxi and bus drivers of the region. SSA, an initiative of Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), was inaugurated in the presence of various dignitaries including Members of Parliament, Officials of Delhi Police and other Senior Officials of the Ministry. The SSA event is a unique initiative to address the major issues being faced by public transport drivers of the region, with almost all of them being users of CNG.

The drivers in the capital region are partners in the growth story of gas used as fuel in vehicles. CNG is used in vehicles for transport, domestic use, autos etc. Approx.. 4.5 Lakh vehicles which use CNG contribute to the Rs 3000 Cr business of IGL. The new aim should be to increase this business from Rs 3000 Cr to Rs 30,000 Cr.

Swasth Saarthi Abhiyaan is an initiative to provide basic health check up to the drivers. The 2 month long medical camp at various IGL stations in the Capital will provide free health checkup which includes blood test, sugar test, eye test with the help of doctors from St Stephen hospital. In cases which require operation for cataract, amongst drivers, facility for the same will also be provided. IGL is planning to provide health insurance which would also include death benefits for drivers in the Capital.

A ‘Fuel Conservation Workshop’ for drivers was also organized by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) as a part of Saksham 2017 – the mass Oil and Gas Conservation Campaign. The campaign is also being supported by Delhi Police to disseminate the message of road safety and responsible behavior among the drivers.

A mega Health Camp was held on the occasion to provide basic preventive health care needs like measurement of height-weight, BMI and Blood pressure, Vision & Eye checkup, Blood Group testing, Counselling, Health Education & First Aid tips. The campaign would continue in form of health camps at various CNG stations of IGL till 31st August 2017.

In a special Fuel Conservation Workshop conducted by PCRA during the event, the message on fuel conservation and good driving habits was disseminated to the gathered drivers. Such workshops have already been conducted earlier by PCRA across various cities as a part of Saksham 2017. This is the third workshop being conducted, in Delhi, earlier being at Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam.

11-May-2017: Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister launch e-Krishi Samvad, an online interface

e-Krishi Samvad is an internet-based interface and is a unique platform that will provide direct and effective solutions to the problems faced by farmers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

Union Agriculture Minister said that people can directly connect to the ICAR website http://icar.org.in and get the appropriate solutions from the subject matter specialists and institutes through web or SMS. Stakeholders can upload photographs related to diseases of the crops, animals or fishes for diagnostics and remedial measures instantly from the specialists.

Those who have internet facility on the mobile phone can also avail this facility. e-Krishi Samvad is useful to get information pertaining to welfare and development of agricultural stakeholders.