Dehradun : Workshop on “Women Transforming Uttarakhand” jointly organized by Trikon Society, Ficci Flo, Uttarakhand, Forace Group of Industries and Uttarakhand Industries Department in Dehradun for women entrepreneurs and business women of Uttarakhand.

Honorable Shri Ganesh Joshi, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Sainik Welfare, Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand was the chief guest in the workshop. While addressing the workshop, he said that from the Uttarakhand movement till the making of Uttarakhand, there has been a huge participation of women. Today Uttarakhand is progressing only because of these women. Today’s workshop was organized for women entrepreneurs to know about the industrial policies being run by the government. I have full hope that she will be able to take advantage of the schemes being run by the government for women entrepreneurs and will be helpful in including the state in one of the developed states.

Dr. Neha Sharma, Director of  Trikon Society, said that she is very happy that today the women of Uttarakhand are successfully running many industries independently in the state. The “Women Transforming Uttarakhand” workshop has been organized to inform women entrepreneurs about the various schemes being run by the Industries Department of the Government of Uttarakhand. For which complete information is being provided by the officers of Industries Department / State GST, Government of Uttarakhand. With this information, women entrepreneurs will be able to expand their industries even further.

Rajendra Kumar, Deputy Director of the Industries Department, Uttarakhand, informed the women entrepreneurs about the government’s support through various policies, funding, and encouragement for start-ups and running businesses. Several campaigns initiated by the Industries Department in the state have also benefited people residing in remote areas.

Amit Gupta, Assistant Commissioner of State GST, Uttarakhand, explained how the service sector is now growing in Uttarakhand, where previously agriculture and manufacturing sectors were leading. The implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) has created a favorable environment for businesses by replacing various taxes, which has brought relief to business owners.

On this occasion Asha Nautiyal, State President, BJP Mahila Morcha, Ruchi Bhatt, State Vice President, BJP Mahila Morcha, Sonia Garg, Director, Forace Group of Industries, Anuradha Malla, Chairperson FICCI, Flo Uttarakhand Chapter, Members FICCI, Flo, Uttarakhand Chapter and Students of IMS College were also present.

• TEACHERS TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT FROM 4.00 TO 5.00 PM ON EACH WORKING DAY
• TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING TO STUDENTS IN NEED

VARANASI : The student well-being desk at the Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, has become operational. The desk has been started as part of the “Student Well-Being Initiative” launched by the university in order to support & guide students in their pursuit of academic development as well as psychological, emotional, physical and mental well-being. As part of the initiative faculty members are physically present from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm on all working days at the desk set up at the ground floor of the New Lecture Theatre Complex Building of the Institute. A dedicated email wellbeing.isc@bhu.ac.in has also been created for the benefit of the students. The initiative will offer one-on-one counseling to students to help them develop healthy behaviors, manage their physical and mental health and navigate the challenges and stress in the course of their studies, if any.

Varanasi : Banaras Hindu University has been ranked the 5^th best university in the country, as per the India Rankings 2023. The rankings were released by Hon’ble Minister of State for Education and External Affairs, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in New Delhi. In the university category, BHU secured fifth spot with 65.85 points, climbing one level up from last year. A total of 100 institutions have been ranked in the category. The university successfully maintained its position in the overall category. It has been placed at 11^th spot securing 67.21.

The rankings issued by the National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Education, Government of India, has added one new category this year namely Agriculture and Allied Sectors. Banaras Hindu University has been placed fourth in the category with 63.68 points, among the forty institutions ranked. BHU’s Institute of Agricultural Sciences is considered as one of the most reputed institutions across India and is also known globally for its expertise, academic and research credentials.

The university has also performed extremely well in the Dental category with improvement of three levels as compared to the 2022 rankings. Last year BHU was ranked 21^st, while in 2023, the varsity secured 18^th position.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain has congratulated the BHU fraternity for the improved rankings of the university. He credited it to the hard work and commitment of the members of BHU. “We are constantly working to further improve the teaching and research ecosystem in the university. Besides, we are also putting a greater focus on ensuring a better campus life for students. I am confident that we are bound to touch newer skies of success and glory in the days to come”, said Prof. Jain.

The university has launched a number of initiatives in the past one and a half year aiming at welfare and development of students and faculty members. In addition, a series of measures have been implemented to boost research productivity and quality.

Chamoli: The District Administration of Chamoli, Government of Uttarakhand, in collaboration with Starscapes, kicked off the much awaited Astro Party to commence the one month long Astro Camp at Benital. The Astro Party was held from 19th to 21st of May, and the event offered visitors a never-before astronomy experience with activities such as stargazing, astro photography, solar observations, astronomy tambola, rocketry making, constellation viewing, and much more. 

Commenting on the event, Himanshu Khurana, District Magistrate, Chamoli, Uttarakhand, said, “We are witnessing a concerning trend of increasing sky brightness, with a 10% annual rise in light pollution over the past decade, impacting wildlife and obstructing our view of the universe. Benital in Uttarakhand emerges as a rare gem with minimal human activities and low light pollution, offering an unparalleled, undisturbed view of the night sky. It is an ideal Dark Sky Location. Our vision for Benital as an Astro village encompasses two crucial objectives. Firstly, we aim to instill a deep sense of pride within the local community, showcasing the uniqueness and immense offerings of this remarkable place. Secondly, we strive to economically empower our youth, enabling them to engage in astro tourism activities and advocate for Benital as a premier dark sky destination. The involvement of the local community in preserving the pristine nature of the place plays a big role in developing this hamlet as a Dark Sky Location. In the past 1.5 years, we have made significant progress in establishing the necessary infrastructure  and fostering enthusiasm among the local community. Our collaboration with partners like Starscapes, who possess a deep understanding of developing destinations into dark locations, further strengthens our mission. We look forward to hosting many more astro events in the coming months.” 

As India’s leading astro tourism company and a member of the International Dark Sky Advocate Network, Starscapes has been actively working towards promoting Dark Sky locations in India to boost interest in astro-tourism. In addition to promoting astro-tourism, Starscapes is working closely with the local community to raise awareness about light pollution and its impact on the environment. Furthermore, they have been advocating for the implementation of dark sky regulations across India. 

Commenting on the event, Ramashish Ray, Founder, Starscapes, said, “The Astro party was a grand success and we have received a phenomenal response for the Astro Camp. The three day astro party gave visitors a sneak peek into all the exciting activities lined up at the Astro Camp. Our mission is to promote and preserve Dark Sky locations in India, and this collaboration with the District Administration of Chamoli aligns perfectly with our goals. Through our astro-tourism initiatives and community engagement, we aim to raise awareness about light pollution and inspire a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the night sky. We are excited to contribute to the development of Benital as India’s first Astro Village and look forward to organizing many more engaging astro events in the future.”

Astro Camp Activities: Explore the Universe Like Never Before!

Get ready to embark on an unforgettable astronomical journey at the Astro Camp! Here’s a sneak peek of the exciting activities 

• Sun Observation: Witness the Sun like never before! Observe the Solar surface and Solar Prominence through telescopes with special H-Alpha filters. Also, catch live coverage on a TV screen for a better view.

• Night Sky Wonders: Gaze at the mesmerizing beauty of celestial objects such as the Moon, planets, and Deep Sky objects through telescopes placed in the premises.

• Astrophotography: Learn the art of capturing stunning pictures of the night sky from an expert astrophotographer. Unleash your inner photographer and capture the beauty of the Universe.

• Other Activities: Explore the fascinating world of Astronomy with fun and interactive activities, including rocketry-making, astronomy tambola, mystery Star identification, Catch the meteors game, magnetism maze game, and constellation Viewer. Also, create a safe solar viewing box projector that can be used for eclipse viewing.

Roorkee : Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) celebrated its 22nd Annual Convocation with great pageantry on 6th April 2023. The ceremony commenced with the students singing the ‘National Anthem’ and ‘Kulgeet’ (Institute song). A Total of 2022 degrees were awarded this year, comprising 1005 Undergraduates, 638 Masters and 379 PhDs. The awardees, their families, and the campus community enthusiastically attended the first annual degree awarding event in the physical mode. The graceful ceremony was presided over by Shri B V R Mohan Reddy, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Roorkee. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India, adorned the occasion as the Chief Guest. Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee welcomed the degree recipients and others and presented his annual report highlighting the achievements of the Institute. Prof U.P. Singh, Deputy Director of the Institute, was present in the ceremony. Prof. Apurbba Kumar Sharma, Dean Academic Affairs, presented the doctoral degree recipients and the awardees of various medals and merit certificates who excelled in their specializations, while the respective heads presented the candidates to the Chairman, Senate for distribution of the degrees, medals and prizes.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan is the Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India. Shri Pradhan is revered for his active role in the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 and has significantly contributed to energizing the education sector in the country. His strong leadership has brought many changes, especially in higher education.

The ceremony was held under a dress code of Indian attire: Kurta for males and Saree for females. And the event began with a welcome address by the Director, Prof. K. K. Pant who congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to strengthen their networking and communication abilities, develop relevant skills periodically, think like an entrepreneur and develop leadership qualities. This was followed by the institute’s annual report presented by the Director IIT Roorkee, Prof. K. K. Pant, who gave an overview of the institute’s achievements and the vision of the 175-year-old institute aiming to be a hub for world-class education. Some remarkable achievements of the institute include introducing the UG curriculum aligning with the objectives of the NEP 2020, providing equal opportunity for all, particularly those in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Mathematics (STEMM) areas at all levels, implementing and supporting to the Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) is an innovative Pilot Project launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), which ushers a novel intervention programme for promoting gender equity in science and technology, SAKUNTALA (Scheme for Aspirants of Knowledge Under Talent Advancement) Fellowship, a special scheme for female candidates for admission in the Ph.D. programme at IIT Roorkee, the launch of ‘Golden Girl’ scheme for the gold medalists and first rank holders of top 50 universities or institutes of the country for admission into the post-graduate programs and multiple MoU in the direction to empower the youth among several other accolades.

On the occasion, Prof K K Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, congratulated the graduates and urged them to use their education for the betterment of the society and the nation. He added, “Reflecting upon the role of an institution in shaping future leaders and the evolving higher education sector in India, IIT Roorkee’s goal is to encourage graduates to continue learning and to be ready for the constant changes and disruptions happening in the world by contributing to the national growth story.”

Shri B. V. R. Mohan Reddy, Chairman, BoG, said, “IIT Roorkee is one of the most prestigious institutes in the country known for imparting quality education in engineering and technology for many years. The quality of our graduates is the testimony to this, and, in the process, the role of parents, family, and teachers in the success of graduates cannot be undermined. We encourage our graduates to take advantage of opportunities and contribute to society.”

While heartily congratulating all the 2,022 graduating students, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Education Minister, said, “IIT Roorkee has witnessed India’s freedom struggle and has been a leading institution in independent India’s growth story. And in this Amrit Kaal, IIT Roorkee and all the graduating students must ensure a developed nation by 2047. It is a century of knowledge and under India’s presidency, the G-20 theme being – “One Earth, One Family, One Future” based on millennium-old understanding and values of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam; IIT Roorkee and its students, faculty and alumni must create a plan on how they want to utilize the great opportunity of G-20.”

He also mentioned, “IIT Roorkee must take the lead in the education transformation of the country where service to humanity is at the center of education.”

The event concluded with the conferral of degrees and diplomas to all graduates and the “Oath” taken by the recipients of the degrees and diplomas, bringing the ceremony to a memorable finish.

Following medals were announced on the basis of the academic performance of students under various programs-

Haridwar : The University of Patanjali on Sunday had the rare opportunity of hosting a talk and meditation session in honour of Rev. Daaji – Spiritual Guide, Heartfulness Meditation worldwide and Founder, Heartfulness Education Trust and Padma Bhushan Awardee in the auspicious presence of Yog Guru Baba Ravdev ji of Patanjali. The event was also graced by Acharya Balkrishna ji – MD and CEO of Patanjali Ayurved and Shri Dhan Singh Rao ji – Minister and of Education, Uttarakhand. The event was held at the university auditorium and was attended by students and Faculty Researchers of the Patanjali Foundation. The talks by Rev. Daaji were followed by a guided Heartfulness meditation session by Daaji.

The event was held to enable the participants gain an exposure to Heartfulness’s Yoga and Meditation and acquire guidance of Rev. Daaji on spirituality and evolution of consciousness. Rev. Daaji said, “Ayurveda works, but to show to the western world that it works with proofs, we need scientific data which you are doing.” He added, “What do we do about nourishing the soul? Pranasya Pranhah. The nourishment of the soul comes from God. Bringing completeness and fulfillment in everything we do from the smallest things in life and thinking about God in everything we do helps us stay connected with Him. Yoga turns everything right and positive in life. Without experience, our beliefs become shallow. The purpose of the human life is to progress (to evolve consciousness). The consciousness progresses well by removing the conditionings of the soul. The human body does not evolve. It only ages. We therefore need Yoga to advance our consciousness, mind and soul towards divinity. Make meditation an easy and happy one, else it will be a burden. Practice sadhana in such a way that others envy you. From thinking to feeling – take your intellect from Intuition to wisdom. I wish that all of you achieve the highest state and God manifests himself to you.”

Yog Guru Baba Ramdev ji said, “Today Pujya Daaji has given us his blessings and guidance. Our business, works and mundane lives have their own place. But meditation and Atma are the reality. Daaji has inspired us towards attaining this balance.”

Acharya Balkrishna ji added, “When a santati becomes a sanyasi, he helps the salvation of 21 generations. But when a sanyasi becomes divine, he comes for the salvation of the entire world. We will continue to remember that we had the good fortune to listen to Pujya Daaji’s golden words. Today Daaji’s enormously reverential and divine presence is with us. When we think about pursuing the path of Daaji, but not before overcoming the challenges he too must have faced, then the path begins to unfold for us. Those with strong resolve become polished like gold by stumbling blocks in the way.”

“We have the greats of Pujya Daaji and Baba Ramdev ji at the same time here today. What better could we have wished for on this occasion. Ayurveda is an ancient science handed down to us by our sages. We should be proud that entities like Heartfulness Institute and Patanjali Yogpeeth have taken our traditional knowledge to rest of the world with scientific backing,” said Shri Dhan Singh Rao ji – Minister and of Education, Uttarakhand.

Rev. Daaji was in Uttarakhand in tandem to his recently being conferred upon by the Padma Bhushan by Hon’ble President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu followed by felicitation at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ayush Ministry, Department of Education, New Delhi and many others. During his visit to Delhi he also visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences where he not only met with the leaders and authorities from the scientific community but also his visit led to the signing of an MoU between Heartfulness and AIIMS.

ROORKEE : Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee is set to host its 22nd Convocation on 06th April 2023. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India, will be the Chief Guest of the ceremony.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan is the Cabinet Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in the Government of India. As a Member of Parliament, Shri Pradhan represents Madhya Pradesh in the Rajya Sabha and was earlier a member of the 14th Lok Sabha. He had also served as the Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel.

A total of 2022 students across 26 departments/ centres in UG, PG, and PhD programs will be conferred degrees in the convocation. Of these, 1005 are undergraduate, 638 are post-graduate, and 379 are doctoral degrees. In addition, a total of 125 awards will be conferred to meritorious students in undergraduate and post-graduate programmes during the convocation.
The event will commence at 10:00 A.M. in the Convocation Hall of the Institute. Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, will present the Director’s Report. After that, the Hon’ble Chief Guest will present the Institute Level Awards, followed by the address of the Chairman, BoG, Shri B.V.R. Mohan Reddy. The Chief Guest, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, will then deliver his Convocation address. The Award and degree distribution ceremony will follow.

Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the Honorable Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. A Convocation is a solemn occasion that brings a smile to every graduating student and their family. We have always guided and supported the students in their endeavours. IIT Roorkee today provides an excellent all-around education with extremely high selectivity and diverse input with students from different parts of the country from different economic and social backgrounds. I congratulate the graduating students and wish them all the best for their future endeavours.”

Prof. Apurbba Kumar Sharma, Dean, Academic Affairs, shared: “It is our pleasure to host the 22nd Convocation in physical mode after overcoming the challenges posed by COVID-19. It will also be a historical event as the students will be graduating while the Institute has completed its 175th year of establishment. We congratulate and wish our best to the graduating batch of 2021-22 on the occasion of the 22nd Convocation. We hope they achieve their goals and dreams and bring laurels to their family, the institute and the nation in the days to come.”

IIT Roorkee is an institute of national importance imparting higher education in engineering, sciences, management, architecture and planning, and humanities and social sciences. Since its establishment in 1847, the Institute has played a vital role in providing technical human capital to the country. Currently, the institute is providing higher education to approximately 10,000 students, including students from 27 other countries. The institute has recently revised its UG curriculum to align with the NEP 2020.

Dehradun   : For visitors from India and worldwide, the recently concluded Mahakumbh of Yoga and Aarogya, The International Yoga Festival 2023, has been a wonderful stay. The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board’s Yoga Festival not only gave visitors a taste of the state’s unmatched hospitality, but it also significantly contributed to their mental well-being.

From March 1 to March 7, the International Yoga Festival in Rishikesh attracted yoga instructors, teachers, students from yoga schools, and tourists from all around the country and abroad. Yoga students learnt a variety of yoga asanas from Yogacharyas from the Isha Foundation, Art of Living, Sivananda Ashram, Ramamani Iyengar Smriti Yoga Institute, Kaivalyadhama, and Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram.

In addition to yoga exercises, yoga students grasped the knowledge of a variety of asanas to avoid various diseases, which was another main feature of the the yoga festival. Yoga practitioners taught several asanas from Yogacharyas to address medical issues like diabetes, joint pain, back pain, digestive disorders, stress, and high blood pressure.

For the first time, free arrangements were made by the Tourism Department for tourists so that more and more could attend the Yoga Mahotsav. Visitors were given the option of joining any of the six participating schools’ yoga camps. Separate arrangements were made for each yoga school to hold yoga sessions along the banks of the Ganges in the morning. Each yoga school was limited to a maximum of fifty attendees. More than 200 trainees began practising yoga on the first day, and over the course of the following two to three days, this number increased to 296. The Yoga Festival brought together yoga students from 18 states, including Uttarakhand, as well as students from 21 different nations.

Upon their return, the Yog Mahotsav attendees were especially appreciative of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board for offering a beautiful setup for yoga. Dilraj Preet Kaur, the state of Uttarakhand’s yoga brand ambassador, said that practicing yoga beside the Ganges emitted positive energy. The Yoga Mahotsav for this year was put together in a really opulent way. This allowed people to view and learn the various intricacies of each yoga pranayama. She expressed gratitude to the tourism department for their commendable efforts in maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, and management, in addition to offering a beautiful landscape for yoga.

Yoga instructor from the Ramamani Iyengar Smriti Yoga School and Colombian citizen Angelo said he has been visiting Rishikesh for a few years. For him, Rishikesh’s alluring surroundings, the blowing wind, and the opportunity to practise yoga while sitting by the Ganges were nothing short of a blessing. He expressed his appreciation and compliments to the tourism department as well as his awe at the breathtaking location of the Yoga Festival.

On the other hand, Priyanka, who is associated with Art of Living, said that she is feeling blessed by practicing yoga amidst the wonderful environment and thanked the tourism department for organizing this event. She told that yoga occasions like this have earned yoga, a worldwide accaptance.

In addition to yoga, the festival featured sessions including laughter yoga and meditation yoga, with a meditation session organised by the Heartfulness group for the first time for inner peace. The Art of Living and Brahmakumaris Institutes led additional meditation classes. For laughter therapy, specific camps were established. On the last day a group Surya Namaskar was arranged in which a big number of yoga practitioners participated.

Dehradun : The approval of the 30 percent Women’s Reservation Act by the Governor is a historic step towards women empowerment, for which the FICCI Flo Uttarakhand Chapter greets the government and thanks the state government.

FICCI Flo Uttarakhand Chapter President Dr. Neha Sharma said that the reservation given to women in government jobs under the state government’s good governance program under the Right of Reserved Employment Women will prove to be a milestone in the future. She said that women empowerment is an integral part of the policies and plans of the state government. She further said that the state government is sensitive towards women empowerment and the purpose of women’s reservation is to ensure active and positive role of women in the society, for which she thanks the CM Pushkar Dhami and government of the state.

Anuradha Malla, Senior Vice Chairperson, FICCI Flo Uttarakhand Chapter thanked the Chief Minister and the state government on this occasion and said that we are very happy that women have got 30 percent reservation in the state, now the social empowerment of women in the state will be fast.

Charu Chauhan, Vice-Chairperson, FICCI Flo Uttarakhand Chapter expressed happiness over the coming of this act and also thanked the Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami and the government.

Union Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy RK Singh said, a world-class Kayaking-Canoeing Academy is to be set up at Tehri in Uttarakhand. Speaking at the inauguration of the National Championship “Tehri Water Sports Cup” at Tehri Lake today, he exclaimed, the promotion of sports is the priority of the Union Government.

Mr. Singh said, there are immense possibilities for the hydro projects in the mountains, and Central and State governments are working together to take them forward.

State Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami remarked this is the first time that the national-level sports competition is being organized at Tehri Lake. He said the making of Tehri Lake an international tourism destination is being done at a fast pace.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister informed that the new sports policy has been implemented in the State, and the government has also announced the re-introduction of the sports quota in jobs.