farm law, farmer protest, PM Modi, Sardar Patel, CII, Odisha farmer, Delhi weather, 4.1, low temp, winter

15 December 2020

• Delhi records lowest temp of season i.e. 4.1 degrees Celsius

  The national capital on Tuesday recorded the lowest minimum temperature of the season so far with the mercury dipping to 4.1 degrees Celsius, four notches below the normal. Jafarpur in southwest Delhi was the coldest at 3.6.
  
  This is a massive dip as the capital city had, on Monday recorded a minimum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius after 11.4 on Sunday and 14.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, respectively.

• VP, PM pay tribute to Sardar Patel on his death anniversary

  Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary.
  
  "My humble tributes to the leader I admire most - the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - on his death anniversary," Naidu said in a series of tweets. "His contribution to the Indian freedom struggle and his unparalleled effort in integrating more than 560 princely States with the Indian Union will forever inspire every Indian," Naidu added.

• Farm laws brought in to benefit some capitalists, says Kejriwal

  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that the farm laws are not only "anti-farmer" but also "anti-people" and have been brought in "to benefit some capitalists".
  
  Kejriwal and AAP volunteers across the country held a day-long hunger strike on Monday in support of the farmers protesting against the three farm laws. Addressing the volunteers at the party headquarters, Kejriwal said that "these farm laws are not only anti-farmer but also anti-people and this will cause a massive price hike as these laws have given a license to do the same and these laws are brought only to benefit some capitalists".

• Farmers protest may impact economic recovery: CII

  The disruptions in supply chains caused by the current agitation by farmers in many parts of India will have a bearing on the economy over the coming days and may impinge upon the ongoing recovery from the economic contraction due to COVID, industry body CII said on Monday.
  
  The farmers' protest which has intensified over the past couple of weeks has led to obstruction of traffic and road blockades across multiple checkpoints in the northern states of Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and in smaller measure, in many other states. The already broken supply-chain which was recovering post the pandemic induced lockdown has come under severe stress, CII said.

• Govt is dead, says Odisha farmer, shaves his head

  While the farmers are protesting against the three newly passed agricultural laws, a farmer from Odisha expressed his protest in a unique manner by shaving off his head and beard to mark his dissent over the new policies of the government.
  
  Parthasarthy Jenna from Odisha tonsured his head at Delhi's Singhu Border as a mark of protest. According to Indian traditions, shaving of the hair and beard is done when the head of the family dies. Speaking to media, Jenna said, "The government has turned deaf to our voices. It seems like they are dead and hence, I am shaving my head and beard."

• APEDA organises workshop on ‘Opportunities in Export of Organic Basmati Rice, Value Addition and Product Diversification’

  Considering the potential and prospects of export of Basmati rice, APEDA today organized a Workshop on Opportunities in Export of Organic Basmati Rice, Value Addition and Product Diversification’ in New Delhi. to discuss and deliberate on the promotion of Basmati Rice, Organic Basmati rice, product diversification and value addition in Basmati Rice. 

  APEDA has been continuously making efforts to ensure that the reputation attached to the name Basmati is maintained throughout the supply chain right up to the retail level in the domestic market as well as at a global level.

• PM Modi unveils key projects in Gujarat

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unveiled various developmental projects in Gujarat. These projects include a desalination plant, a hybrid renewable energy park, and a fully automated milk processing and packing plant. The Chief Minister of Gujarat was present on the occasion.

  Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said one has to keep up with the changing times and embrace global best practices. He lauded the farmers in Kutch in this regard, as they are now exporting fruits abroad. He said this indicates the innovative zeal of our farmers. He said the agriculture, dairy and fisheries sectors have prospered in Gujarat over the last two decades due to minimizing interference from the Government. What Gujarat did was to empower farmers and cooperatives.

   

• KVS Foundation Day-2020

  Minister of State Education, Sanjay Dhotre virtually addressed the Foundation Day celebrations of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan today. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan celebrated its foundation day today in an online mode. Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy Anita Karwal, KVS Commissioner, Nidhi Pandey and senior officials of the Ministry were present on the occasion.

  On the occasion, Minister said that Kendriya Vidyalayas present the real picture of India in the true sense because in these schools, students from different backgrounds – rural, urban, rich, poor everyone takes education. The opportunities provided for the all-round development of students in Kendriya Vidyalayas make them different from other schools. Today students of Kendriya Vidyalayas are in a key leadership role in every field, be it administration, sports, science, he added.