Initiatives announced on 75th Independence Day

In news- To mark the occasion of 75th Independence Day, the Prime Minister announced a number of new initiatives to be applicable in the country.

Key initiatives announced are-

Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan(PMGNMP):

It is a 100 lakh crore national infrastructure master plan which will create a foundation for holistic infrastructure and give an integrated pathway to our economy.
Gatishakti will help local manufacturers turn globally competitive and develop possibilities of new future economic zones.
Rs 100 lakh crore Gatishakti initiative will bring employment opportunities for youth, help in holistic infrastructure growth.

Rice fortification:

- The Prime Minister announced that rice provided under any scheme will be fortified by 2024.

It would include Public Distribution System, Mid-Day Meals in schools and Integrated Child Development Scheme(ICDS).
To address anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in the country, Government of India approved the Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System.
Fortification is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Vitamins A & D to staple foods such as rice, wheat, oil, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.
Fortified rice include: Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.
Examples of fortified Rice: CR Dhan 310, DRR Dhan 45 which contain high protein and high zinc in polished grain.

Roadmap for next 25 years:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that we have to ensure we meet our goal of building Aatmanirbhar Bharat when we celebrate 100 years of India’s Independence.
He said the next 25 years were ‘Amrit Kaal’ for India and its citizens and it would be the priority of the government to ensure that essential services reach the last person seamlessly.
The purpose of Amrit Kaal is to better the lives of citizens, lessen the development divide between villages and cities, reduce government interference in people’s lives, and have the latest technology so that we are not behind any country in the world.

Sainik schools for girls:

The Prime Minister also said girls would now be given entry into all Sainik schools across the country.
At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country.
The prime minister said two-and-a-half years ago, the experiment of admitting girls in Sainik schools was carried out in Mizoram.
Sainik schools are run by the Sainik Schools Society, which is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
The aim of establishing Sainik schools is to prepare the students from an early age for their entry into the Indian armed forces.

Hydrogen Mission:

Announcing a National Hydrogen Mission in view of climate change, the Prime Minister said the government would aim to make India a hub for production and export of green hydrogen.
The Prime Minister gave a call to make India self-reliant in energy production before completing 100 years of Independence.
He said India has moved towards electric mobility and work is underway on 100% electrification of Indian Railways with the aim of becoming a net-zero carbon emitter by the year 2030.

E-commerce platform for SHGs:

The government will establish e-commerce platforms to provide a market for the products made by self help groups (SHGs) to get a big market in the country and abroad.
There are more than 8 crore women in the village who are associated with self-help groups, who make products.

Vande Bharat Trains:

Seventy five Vande Bharat trains will connect every corner of India in 75 weeks of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence.
The Indian Railways is planning to roll out the new Vande Bharat Express trains from March 2022.
These trains with maximum design speed of 180 kmph would be operational by August 2023.

Other announcements:

To honour the pain and suffering faced by people during the partition, August 14 will now be observed as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day”.
The Prime Minister gave a call for ‘Sabka Prayas’ along with ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ for building a new India.
The prime minister said the capitals of northeast states will soon be connected with the railways and is also getting connected with Bangladesh, Myanmar and southeast Asia.