Speed Post News Network
New Delhi :‘Lavender Cultivation’ under CSIR-IIIM’s Aroma Missionwill be started in Ramban as a part of Purple Revolution. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, on February 20, 2022, said that the elected representatives are the key players in defining the priority areas for development under their jurisdiction. He said this while chairing the District Development Coordination & Monitoring Committee (DISHA) Meeting for Ramban District at Convention Centre, Jammu, on February 20.
A key decision taken during the meeting was to commence Purple Revolution in Ramban District by encouraging ‘Lavender Cultivation under the CSIR-IIIM’s Aroma Mission through Ministry of Science and Technology on the lines of Doda and Reasi districts. Dr Singh made the announcement at the DISHA Meeting while adding that since similar climatic and geographic conditions exist in Doda and Ramban, Lavender cultivation can be started in Ramban to increase income sources for the youth of the district.
Citing examples of Baderwah and Khilani in Doda District and certain areas in upper reach of Reasi in this regard, Dr Singh said that over 500 youth had taken benefit from the purple revolution and augmented their income manifold. Among many such success stories, Dr Singh mentioned that there were even some Engineering graduates had given up their jobs and taken to lavender cultivation which offers a lucrative avenue and is fetching the youth appreciable profits, according to a PIB release.
Since Ramban too has similar potential for Lavender cultivation under Ministry of Science and Technology’s AROMA mission, Dr Singh said it will help in providing means of livelihood to budding farmers and agri-entrepreneurs and give a boost to Start-Up India campaign and promoting a spirit of entrepreneurship in the region.
Dr Singh while reviewing the functioning of various Central Government Schemes mentioned that the DISHA platform gave an opportunity to elected representatives and executive to work together on various developmental issues in larger public interest. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started very effective and well conceptualised schemes and to take full benefit of these schemes it was important to bring to fore the loopholes or problems in implementation so that timely solutions can be worked out and projects may achieve the intended deadlines.
While listening to various suggestions of the PRI members and representatives of various inaccessible Panchayats and Blocks of Ramban District Dr Singh said that the district had a treacherous and hostile topography making the task of reaching out to the ‘last man’ daunting. However, he said that the Government was resolved to face the challenge. He said that the Government was committed to provide the benefit of the schemes like PMAY, PMGSY, MGNREGA to the people living in the far off panchayats and blocks of Ramban and other difficult areas of Jammu & Kashmir.
.