Author: Arijit Bose

Ghaziabad: The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY 2.0) is helping strengthen maternal health and nutrition in Ghaziabad by providing financial assistance to eligible pregnant women and lactating mothers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Implemented by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Uttar Pradesh government under the Samarthya component of Mission Shakti, the scheme aims to partly compensate for wage loss during pregnancy and enable women to access adequate nutrition, rest and healthcare. The impact is reflected in the experience of Ritu Shukla, a resident of…

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is expanding the use of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to improve the planning and execution of infrastructure projects, with a focus on reducing delays, strengthening interdepartmental coordination and ensuring timely implementation. The platform brings together data from multiple departments, enabling authorities to assess infrastructure requirements, available resources and potential bottlenecks before projects begin. Uttar Pradesh has integrated 29 mandatory data layers and introduced or integrated 56 additional departmental layers, covering areas such as roads, power, transport, land and social infrastructure. More than 100 officials…

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh State Directorate of Archaeology has launched a two-day workshop on ancient bead-making techniques of the Harappan Civilisation, offering participants an opportunity to explore traditional craftsmanship through theoretical sessions and hands-on training. The workshop, being held from October 22 to 23, 2026, was inaugurated with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by Renu Dwivedi, Director of the Directorate of Archaeology, Lucknow; Anwar Hussain Sheikh, a national award-winning master trainer and stone craftsman from Khambhat, Gujarat; Pratap Bhai Parmar; Neetu Agrawal, Assistant Professor at Avadh Girls’ Degree College;…

Lucknow: Protecting farmers’ interests and ensuring smooth, transparent paddy procurement will remain the Uttar Pradesh government’s top priorities, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manoj Kumar Pandey said during a meeting with representatives of recognised rice millers’ associations and senior departmental officials. The meeting, held at the minister’s office in Bapu Bhawan, Lucknow, focused on addressing operational challenges related to paddy procurement during the Kharif Marketing Season 2026-27. Pandey directed officials to examine the concerns raised by millers and ensure time-bound solutions in accordance with applicable rules and policies. Representatives raised several…