The Independence Day celebrations this year will be held at the Red Fort in New Delhi in the presence of Special Invitees from across the country who have been invited along with their spouses to the national capital to watch the Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurl the national and listen to his address to the nation. They include sarpanches of Vibrant Villages, teachers, nurses, farmers, fishermen, people working in flagship programmes such as Central Vista project, Amrit Sarovar, Har Ghar Jal and others.
Twenty four (24) beneficiaries of the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPO) scheme, from the state of Maharashtra, will witness the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort, Delhi on August 15, 2023 as Special Guests. Two hundred and fifty (250) beneficiaries of the scheme, along with their spouses, are among around 1,800 persons who have been invited to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation from the Red Fort. The initiative to invite the people from various walks of life, across India, and be a part of the celebrations has been taken by the Government in line with its vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’. During the visit, the special guests will get an opportunity to visit the National War Memorial and the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya.
Lalsing Vanya Valvi, who hails from Dhadgaon (Akrani), Nandurbar is excited and looking forward to visit the national capital and Red Fort for the first time and be part of the Independence Day events. He is delighted that the Government has recognized their FPO’s work and invited him for the Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi. His FPO, ‘Amu Akha Ek Se’, created with help from NABARD has developed organic mango, kokam, millets and turdal over an area of 200-300 acres. More than 150 families in his village are engaged in the FPO.
Another Special Invitee, Uttamrao Krishna Desai from Patan in Satara district, is the Chairman of FPO Patan Taluka Farmers Producers Company Ltd. His FPO has 300 members and has been established in April 2021. They are producing and selling high quality seeds including those of Indrayani rice to farmers. Moreover they are also planning to diversify and begin selling farm equipment and tractors at low prices to farmers.
The concept behind Farmer Producer Organisations is that farmers, who are the producers of agricultural products, can form groups. To facilitate this process, the Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium was mandated by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture to support the State Governments in the formation of Farmer Producer Organisations.
The role of FPO is to act as an aggregator for member farmers, including from inputs to output, which will enhance the economy of scale and bargaining power of member farmers.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has selected three fishermen from the state of Maharashtra who will witness the Independence Day celebrations at the historic Red Fort, Delhi on August 15, 2023 as Special Guests. Fifty fishermen, along with their families, are among around 1,700 persons who have been invited to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation from ramparts of the iconic monument. The initiative to invite the people from all walks of life, across India, and be a part of the celebrations has been taken by the Government in line with its vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.
Of the 50 fishermen invited to witness the celebrations, three are from Maharashtra. Tukaram Wankhede, one of the Special Invitees, who hails from Nevpur in Aurangabad District and works with fresh water is thrilled to be invited for the Independence Day Celebrations in New Delhi. “It is a proud moment when a common man like me can travel to Delhi in an aeroplane and avail of special treatment. It is truly indicative of how such an important person like the Prime Minister reaches out to the poorest of poor man in the country. I am thankful to him for the invitation”, says Wankhede.
Another fishermen, Rajendra Shantaram Mehere, hailing from Satpati in Palghar District stated, “The Government initiatives to create an independent Ministry of Fisheries at the Centre, so that necessary infrastructure facilities are available to fishermen, extending Kisan Credit Card to fisheries, conservation of fish species, marine environment and others have immensely benefitted the fisheries sector. I am overjoyed to represent the sector in Delhi on August 15.”
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