President of India presents Standard to the 51 Squadron

Posted On: 22 MAR 2018 11:18AM by PIB Delhi
Colours to the 230 Signal Unit of the Indian Air Force

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind,presented the Standard to the 51 Squadron and Colours to the 230 Signal Unit of the Indian Air Force at Halwara, Punjab, today (March 22, 2018).

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the 51 Squadron and the 230 Signal Unithave distinguished themselves in service to our nation. They have a rich history of professional excellence and have served India with honour and distinction, during peace and hostilities. It is a proud moment for him to honour the units for their dedication, professional conduct and courage.  He complimented the personnel and families, past and present, of these units for their selfless sacrifice and service to the nation.

The President said that the Indian Air Force symbolises our military excellence. The performance of its personnel in exercises, both at home and abroad, is a glowing testimony to its high standards. The Indian Air Force, besides safeguarding our sovereign skies, has always been at the forefront of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The resilience, tenacity and zeal of our valiant Air Warriors is a source of pride for every Indian.

University will truly attain the status of Nalanda of yore

27-August-2016 17:58 IST

Universities Must Be Bastions of Free Speech And Expression, Says President 

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressed the first convocation of Nalanda University and laid the foundations stone of its new campus today (August 27, 2016) at Rajgir, Nalanda. 

Rajgir (Bihar): 27 August 2016: (PIB//Punjab Screen Bureau):

Speaking on the occasion, the President said as Visitor to Nalanda University, it is his hope that this University will truly attain the status of Nalanda of yore. There are many practices of ancient Nalanda which are worthy of emulation by the new Nalanda. One of the most important characteristics of ancient Nalanda was that it was an international institution where inter-Asian connections, in particular, flourished. Chinese monks like Xuan Zang, Yijing and Huichao among others visited, lived, studied and taught in Nalanda. At a later period, scholars from Tibet kept coming to Nālandā for studying Buddhism and other branches of knowledge. Monks from several other countries including Sri Lanka also came to Nālanda, revealing the diversity of religious and cultural influences on the institution. And, the traffic was not just in one direction. Monks from Nālandā spread their wisdom across the world and had reached China before Xuan Zang’s visit to India. 

The President said ancient Nalanda was known for the high level of debate and discussion it nurtured. It was not a mere geographical expression but it reflected an idea and a culture. Nalanda conveyed the message of friendship, cooperation, debate, discussion and argument. Discussion and debate are part of our ethos and life. 

The President said though the main subjects of study were the Buddhist texts, importance was also given to critiques of Buddhism by various schools, study of Vedas and beyond. The lesson for modern Nalanda is to ensure that this great tradition finds new life and vigour within its precincts. Universities must be the bastions of free speech and expression. It must be the arena where diverse and conflicting schools of thought contend. There should be no room for intolerance, prejudice and hatred within the spaces of this institution. Further, it must act as a flag bearer for the coexistence of multiple views, thoughts and philosophies. 

The President said Nalanda was a melting pot of civilizations and modern India should remain the same. We should not close our windows and yet we should not be blown off by winds from outside. We should let the winds flow freely from all over the world and get enriched by them. We should embrace free discussion and debate leaving behind narrow mindsets and thoughts. 

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Remember his idea of human love-The President

08-May-2016 18:26 IST
President’s Message on the Occasion of Birthday of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore 

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee paying floral tributes at the portrait of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his Birth Anniversary, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 08, 2016.    (PIB photo)

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in his message on the occasion of birthday of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, which falls on today (May 8, 2016), has said: - 

“On the occasion of the 155th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, I join my fellow countrymen in paying homage to this great soul of India. 

Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary is an occasion for us to remember his idea of human love, selfless service and collapsing boundaries. Gurudev made us realize that literature, histories and cultures represent common ideals of humanity that transcend national limits. It is this sense of a shared humanity, a Visva- that Tagore sang of in his literature and music. 

Gurudev Tagore was a great admirer of nature and many of his literary works invoke the simple beauties of the natural world. He believed that religion could be found in the wonders and mysteries of nature – as much as in the temples and sacred books. Gurudev Tagore had a perfect sense of synergy and joy-the joy of submission to a divine power, the joy of surrendering the self, of participating in the vast expanse of nature and reading out to the nooks and corners of humanity. 

Tagore’s life and work continue to be a source of immense inspiration to the people of our nation and the world. Let us on this day draw inspiration from Tagore’s words ‘the spirit of India has always proclaimed the ideal of unity. This ideal of unity never rejects anything, any race, or any culture’.” (PIB)
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Parents of Posthumous Gallantry Awardees given

07-May-2016 19:01 IST
Honour at Defence Investiture Ceremony

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Kirti Chakra to the wife of Naib Subedar Rajesh Kumar (posthumous) at the Defence Investiture Ceremony–II, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on May 07, 2016.              (PIB photo)

Parents of Posthumous Gallantry Awardees given Honour at Defence Investiture Ceremony in a New Initiative by Government 

In a new initiative, the government has decided that as a mark of respect and to extend honour to the parents of the posthumous gallantry awardee, the mother/father of the awardee can accompany the Next of Kin (NoK) when she/he receives the award from the President of India during the Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. 

The government’s new initiative was introduced during the Defence Investiture Ceremony (Phase-II) which was held at Durbar Hall in Rashtrapati Bhawan, here today. Out of 14 Gallantry awards presented at the ceremony, two Kirti Chakra and four Shaurya Chakra were conferred posthumously. 

Accordingly, at the ceremony, Smt. Monalisha Borah Koch, wife of Constable Gautam Koch, Assam Armed Branch, was accompanied by his mother Smt. Putuli Koch and Smt. Nisha Devi, wife of Naib Subedar Rajesh Kumar of Mahar Regiment/30th Battalion, the Rashtriya Rifles was accompanied by his father Shri Rup Chand to receive the Kirti Chakra award from the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee. Similarly, in one case of Shaurya Chakra, Smt. Timu Devi, wife of Sepoy Dharma Ram of Mahar Regiment/1st Battalion, the Rashtriya Rifles was accompanied by his mother Smt. Amru Devi. 

As per the dispensation till the last Investiture Ceremony, the NoK of the posthumous awardee alone received the award from the President. The new dispensation to honour the parents of the posthumous awardees was appreciated by one and all. 

A total of 42 distinguished Service Awards namely, 13 Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yuddh Seva Medals, two Bar to Ati Vishisht Seva Medals and 25 Ati Vishisht Seva Medals, which were announced on Republic Day – 2016 were also given to officers of the three Services during the function. 

The President launching the ‘Khadi Mark’

Function held in New Delhi on September 30

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee launching the ‘Khadi Mark’, at a function, in New Delhi on September 30, 2013. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Shri K.H. Muniyappa, the Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Madhav Lal and the Chairman, KVIC, Shri Devendrakumar R. Desai are also seen. (PIB)

Shri Pranab Mukherjee on rural growth

30-September-2013 19:12 IST
"A Rural Growth Strategy Necessary To Make A Decisive Impact On Poverty"

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee lighting the lamp to inaugurate the 19th Regular Meeting of the CIRDAP (Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific) Governing Council, in New Delhi on September 30, 2013. The Union Minister for Rural Development, Shri Jairam Ramesh and the Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Pradeep Jain are also seen. (PIB)

New Delhi 30 September 2013 (PIB): A rural growth strategy has become necessary to make a decisive impact on poverty and to trigger a development process that combines growth with equity, said Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India, while addressing the inaugural session of the 19th Governing Council of Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific (CIRDAP) in the capital. Shri Mukherjee also added that technology has to be the vehicle to bridge distances – not only in terms of geography, but also for progress and development. He further said that the digital divide between urban and rural areas has to be broken and technology based solutions have to assist interventions in farming, health care and education. 

While addressing the delegations of 15 member countries of CIRDAP, Shri Mukherjee underlined the importance of efficient land management. Principles of community empowerment have to be adopted to increase the productivity of land, particularly rain-fed, degraded and wastelands. Climate change, energy security and environmental degradation have to be given priority in development initiatives. Judicious natural resource management has to be ensured while putting people first, The President added. 

The President gave away the CIRDAP Appreciation Awards to the National Institute of Rural Development, Govt of India, Ministry of Local Govt, Bangladesh and to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand 

In his address, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Rural Development, Govt of India, announced that 20 fellowships on rural development will be given to professionals from Asia Pacific countries, under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. They will be trained in various institutes of excellence in India on various topics related to rural development, he added. 

Mohammad Ali Nikbakht, Deputy Minister of Planning, Economic and International Affairs in the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture, Islamic Republic of Iran, Shri Pradeep Jain ‘Aditya’, and Shri Lal Chand Kataria Ministers for State for Rural Development, Govt of India, Mr S Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development and Dr Cecep Effendi, Director General of CIRDAP were also present. 

The Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) is a regional, intergovernmental and autonomous organization which plays a supplementary and reinforcing role in supporting and furthering the effectiveness of integrated rural development programmes in Asia and the Pacific. India is one of the founding members of the CIRDAP. The other member-countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Fiji, Indonesia, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Governing Council is the highest authority of CIRDAP. It consists of the Ministers in charge of agriculture and rural development in the member countries. The Governing Council formulates policies, provides directions to the Centre and approves Planning, the biennial work programme and the budget. 
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SNC

Executions have been reportedly scheduled for 22 August

Three men face imminent execution in india

On 14 August, India’s Supreme Court upheld its rejection of Devender Pal Singh Bhullar’s commutation plea. He is now at risk of imminent execution. The mercy petitions of two other men were also rejected by the President in August, and reports suggest they could be executed on 22 August.

Devender Pal Singh Bhullar was sentenced to death in August 2001 for his involvement in a bomb attack in New Delhi in 1993 that killed nine people. He was arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), a law that contained provisions incompatible with international fair trial standards, and had no access to a lawyer during his initial detention and trial. He was found guilty on the basis of a “confession” to the police which he later retracted, claiming it was made under police pressure. In March 2002, the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence, though one of the three judges had found him not guilty, saying there was no evidence to convict him.

The President rejected Devender Pal Singh Bhullar's mercy petition in May 2011, eight years after the request was filed. This decision was challenged before the Supreme Court, including on grounds of an inordinate delay in the consideration of his mercy petition. The Supreme Court rejected his plea on 12 April, in a judgement that ignored claims he had been subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. A review petition of this judgment was dismissed on 14 August 2013. Devender Pal Singh Bhullar has been receiving treatment at a psychiatric facility, and a medical board has reportedly stated that he is suffering from severe depression and shows symptoms of psychosis and suicidal tendencies. International standards on the use of the death penalty prohibit the use of capital punishment against people with mental disability.

Since taking office, President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected mercy petitions of at least 19 people. Information about the rejection of mercy petitions is not publicly available, making it difficult to determine the status of individual cases.

In August, the President rejected the mercy petitions of Shivu and Jadeswamy, who were sentenced to death in July 2005 for the rape and murder of a woman in 2001. The Karnataka High Court upheld the sentence in October 2005 and the Supreme Court upheld it in February 2007. In November 2012, the Supreme Court, in a different case relating to the imposition of the death penalty, observed that in Shivu and Jadeswamy’s case, “the circumstances of the convicts were not considered for reducing the death penalty” – a necessary measure courts are required to take under Indian law before sentencing anyone to death.

Their executions have been reportedly scheduled for 22 August.  On 21 August, the Supreme Court will hear petitions from Shivu and Jadeswamy seeking commutation of their sentence on the grounds that the six-year delay in consideration of their mercy petitions was inordinate.

On 22 October, a larger bench of the Supreme Court will begin hearing together the cases of at least 17 other convicts who are seeking commutation of their death sentences on similar grounds.

Please write immediately in English or your own language:

• Calling on Indian authorities not to execute Devender Pal Singh Bhullar, Shivu and Jadeswamy or any other prisoners
•  Calling on Indian authorities to retry Devender Pal Singh Bhullar’s case in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards;
• Urging them to immediately halt any further executions, commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment, and establish an official moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 30 SEPTEMBER 2013 TO:

President of India Mr. Pranab Mukherjee         Rashtrapati Bhawan New Delhi 110001 India      Fax: +9111 2301 7290 Email: (via form) http://www.helpline.rb.nic.in/GrievanceNew.aspx

Salutation: Dear President Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh          South Block, Raisina Hill New Delhi 110001 India Fax: +9111 2301 9545 Email: (via form) http://pmindia.nic.in/feedback.php?ln=english

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister And copies to: Minister of Home Affairs     Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde     104 North Block Central Secretariat New Delhi 110001 India Fax: +9111 2309 4221 Email: hm@nic.in

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation         
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of UA 91/13. Further information: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA20/020/2013/en

ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਲਿੰਕ:

ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਭੁੱਲਰ, ਸ਼ਿਵੂ ਤੇ ਜਡੇਸਵਾਮੀ ਨੂੰ ਭਲਕੇ ਫਾਂਸੀ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਣ ਦਾ ਖਦਸ਼ਾ

ਦਿੱਲੀ:ਨਿੱਕੀ ਜਹੀ ਚੰਗਾਰੀ ਨੇ ਲਾਂਬੂ ਲਾ ਦਿੱਤੇ

ਮਾਮਲਾ ਪਿਹੋਵਾ 'ਚ ਪਟੇ ਤੇ ਲਈਆਂ ਜਮੀਨਾਂ ਖਾਲੀ ਕਰਾਉਣ ਦਾ

ਹੋਂਦ ਚਿੱਲੜ ਸਿੱਖ ਕਤਲੇਆਮ--ਅਗਲੀ ਸੁਣਵਾਈ 27 ਸਤੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ

ਸੱਚਖੰਡ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਹਰਿਮੰਦਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਲਈ ਸੋਨੇ ਦਾ ਚੌਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ

                                    ਨਹੀਂ ਰਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਕਰੀਨ ਦੀ ਸਰਗਰਮ ਸੰਚਾਲਿਕਾ ਕਲਿਆਣ ਕੌਰ

Text of Speech of President of India

27-November-2012 18:53 IST
Speech:President of India Delivered at the PAU
Following is the text of the speech of the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration of the International Conference on “Sustainable Agriculture for Food and Livelihood Security” delivered at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, today (27.11.2012.) 

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressing the International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture for Food & Livelihood Security, at the Golden Jubilee of Punjab Agriculture University, at Ludhiana on November 27, 2012. The Governor of Punjab, Shri Shivraj Patil and the Chief Minister, Punjab, Shri Parkash Singh Badal are also seen.(PIB)27-November-2012

“It is indeed a privilege for me to be present here to extend to the faculty and students of the Punjab Agriculture University, my felicitations and best wishes on the 50th Anniversary of this great institution.

This is my first visit to Punjab in my present capacity. I had indeed looked forward to being here - amongst the distinguished scientists and experts present today. This Institution is synonymous with the Green Revolution which transformed Indian agriculture, making our country self reliant in feeding its population. Today, we produce enough to spare for export and assistance to other developing countries. It is the Punjab Agricultural University that pioneered agricultural research and technology dissemination in our country - at a time in the ‘60s when this was a crucial need. Its scientists engaged with a sense of urgency in research, innovation and foreign collaborations. They have since developed hundreds of new strains, high yielding and robust varieties of crops and studied the management of environmental, weather and soil conditions. I congratulate the Punjab Agriculture University for its splendid contribution in the service of our nation. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, the agriculture sector in India continues to be the lifeline of our people and a key factor in our economy’s overall productivity. It has rightly been accorded due priority in every budget and Plan for achieving India’s developmental goals. Government of India has, over the decades, introduced a variety of schemes and measures to give support to the entire agriculture sector from small farmers to large investors. Institutions and banks have been created to focus on supporting agriculture development, fixing remunerative prices and improve agricultural marketing. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices and the Food Corporation of India have been set up to recommend Minimum Support Prices and procure grains for public stocks respectively, the NABARD and Regional Rural Banks to ensure easy and adequate credit availability, and programmes such as the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna, National Food Security Mission and National Horticulture Mission have taken the Government’s outreach to the farthest and remotest regions. 

Promoting inclusive growth, sustaining food security and boosting rural incomes in the country is intrinsically linked to growth in the Agriculture sector. As the Finance Minister, I had outlined a four-pronged strategy as part of the Union Budget for 2010-11 to drive growth in the Agriculture sector. The first component of the strategy was to extend the green revolution to the Eastern region of the country comprising Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Orissa. The second component of the strategy was to reduce the significant wastage in storage as well as in the operations of the existing food supply chains in the country. The third component was to improve credit availability to the farmers, while the fourth component was to aim at providing a further impetus to the development of the food processing sector by providing state-of-the-art infrastructure and substantial fiscal incentives. 

The initiative of bringing green revolution to Eastern India has resulted in a significant increase in production of paddy, as States in Eastern India reported additional paddy production of 7 million tonnes in Kharif 2011. The total paddy production in the country increased from 95.98 million metric tonnes in 2010-11 to 104.32 million metric tonnes in 2011-12. Mr. Robert S. Zeigler, Director General of the International Rice Research Institute in Manila lauded our achievement when he mentioned that “the most heartening aspect of India crossing the 100 million tonne rice production mark is that a major contribution has been from Eastern India”. The total food grains production in the country increased from 244.78 million metric tonnes in 2010-11 to 257.44 million metric tonnes in 2011-12. To reduce wastage in storage, concrete steps have been taken by the Government to create additional food grain storage capacity in the country. Two million tonnes of storage capacity in the form of modern silos have already been approved for creation. Further, nearly 15 million tonnes of storage capacity is being created through private entrepreneurs and warehousing corporations. To enable the timely availability of affordable agriculture credit to the farmers, the target for flow of agriculture credit has been enhanced in the Union Budgets from time to time, from Rs.3,75,000 crore in 2010-11 to Rs.5,75,000 crore in 2012-13. The Mega Food Park scheme, which was introduced in the Eleventh Plan, aims at developing farm proximate state of the art infrastructure with strong backward and forward linkage in a demand driven manner. 30 Mega Food Parks are being planned for creation in this financial year. 

At the present juncture, we have come a long way. The growth rate of GDP in Agriculture and allied activities in 2011-12 is 2.8 per cent which is, of course, lower than the growth rate of 7 per cent in 2010-11 but higher than the growth rates of 0.4 per cent in 2008-09 and 1.7 per cent in 2009-10. 

There is however, a reality that cannot be ignored – and I take this opportunity to call upon all present here today to reflect on why, despite all these successes and efforts and despite India’s overall improved economic performance, the economic viability of this sector is still a challenge. There are, even today, so many regions in our country where subsistence farmers and small farmers remain susceptible to failure, risk and desperation. Despite various programmes and schemes of Government- complemented by the efforts of the scientific and corporate community, why is it that prosperity has eluded a large part of this sector? It is ironical that although India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, value addition to this produce is just 7 per cent and processing only around 3 per cent of production. There is hardly any value addition at the farm level - and 98 per cent of farm produce is sold as it is harvested. Due to our tropical / subtropical conditions, more than 25% of production is lost during harvest and post harvest operations. We import a large amount of the pulses we consume. In the agriculturally advanced regions, there are problems of over-exploiting ground water resources and vulnerability to pests and crop diseases; over-mining of nutrient reserves has led to multi-nutrient deficiencies. Excessive use of fertilizers is taking its toll on the productivity of soil. 

I recall a comment of Mahatma Gandhi which made a profound impression on me : He said, and I quote, “A farmer cannot work without applying his mind. He must be able to test the nature of his soil, must watch changes of weather, must know how to manipulate his plough skillfully and be generally familiar with the movements of the stars, the sun and the moon…….” 

This is a compelling reason for the Indian farmer to be provided the wherewithal that he urgently needs - the financial, technological, infrastructural, transportation and other requirements for a sustainable approach for the increased productivity that we seek. 

In this context, I take this opportunity to share a few thoughts on the challenges that we must address. We need to do a re-think on agriculture in India. And we need to do this urgently to ensure food security in India. We must have in place a coherent and comprehensive policy that has synergy among its various elements. Government initiatives are of little use without efficient systems for their implementation. Equally important is the necessity for collaboration between the state and central governments on the monitoring and appraisal of various schemes. A co-ordinated and integrated approach should start at the grassroots, taking into account all the factors. 

Many policies are susceptible to failure because of inaccurate feedback. Collation of information and policy integration is essential. As I am among academia and experts, I would like to suggest that we identify the priorities and act swiftly. I would put training and entrepreneurship development high in my list of items requiring urgent attention. To this I would add the task of developing and reaching appropriate technology to farmers, agriculture marketing reforms, studying the present yield gaps and methods to harvest wastelands, address wastage and overuse of fertilizers and develop simple IT tools for farmers - that are user friendly and can provide relevant and timely information relating to weather forecasts. Enhanced productivity would reduce per unit cost, enhancing the global competitiveness of our produce. 

Farm mechanization, linking farms with markets and adding value at each stage will help in employment generation, entrepreneurship development, increased profits to farmers and safe and healthy food to consumers. Investments in food processing sector have multiplying benefits for all, and hence a major boost needs to be given to the processing sector. Fiscal incentives and land leasing policies of State Governments should be such that agro-processing, especially in the rural areas, becomes a lucrative option both for the farmers and the private sector. 

A useful part of the re-assessment would be a mapping and indexing of crops and livestock to anticipate market demands, plan resource allocation and ensure its optimal utilisation to ensure maximum output. This would give an edge in the global market. Similarly, the agro-industry, in partnership with research institutions can plan relevant and standardised crop production and efficient agricultural supply chains, which are vertically integrated. Improved connectivity between agricultural universities and the farmers could be very beneficial for both. 

Most importantly, innovation—of new varieties, technologies and methods for post harvest processes--should move up on our priority list. The percentage of GDP from Agriculture and allied activities spent on research and development must be increased from the current level of 0.6 per cent to 1.0 per cent in the Twelfth Five Year Plan. 

I believe that a multi-pronged strategy involving technology development, new marketing methods, precision in farm operations and innovative policy instruments is required to ensure agricultural sustainability and food and livelihood security and I would stress the importance of due attention to modernising food storage and its distribution. 

This Conference on Sustainable Agriculture for Food and Livelihood Security is, therefore, an important opportunity for stakeholders to review the current overall approach and, develop an updated, comprehensive strategy to accelerate agricultural growth and further strengthen national food and livelihood security in India 

I also take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to the students and faculty for success in all their endeavours in years to come. 

With these words, I have the pleasure to formally inaugurate this conference.”    (PIB)
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Text of Speech of President of India