New Delhi [India], February 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Centre’s Jal Shakti Ministry is about to launch a 100-day campaign called ‘Catch the Rain’ to promote water conservation in the country.
The Prime Minister made the statement while addressing this year’s second ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme.
The Prime Minister said water is a collective gift of nature to humankind, and it is the collective responsibility of everyone to conserve the essential natural resource. He said that water has been crucial for the development of humankind for centuries.
“This is the best time to think about water conservation in the summer months ahead… Yesterday was the festival of Magha Purnima. The month of Magh is associated with rivers, lakes, and water bodies…Water is life for us, it is also faith and it is also a stream of development. Water is more important than ‘Paras’ in a way. It is said that by the touch of ‘Paras’, iron can be converted into gold. In the same way, the touch of water is necessary for life,” the Prime Minister said.
He also talked about Sant Ravidas whose birth anniversary was celebrated yesterday on the occasion of Magha Purnima. “Sant Ravidas Ji taught us- keep working, do not expect anything…when this is done there will be satisfaction. He taught people to go beyond conventional thinking,” the Prime Minister added. (ANI)

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], February 28 (ANI): A 10-year-old boy from Bhubaneswar has re-written the Ramayana, after watching the television series on the epic during COVID-19 induced lockdown.
Ayush Kumar Khuntia has named the epic “Pilaka Ramayana” (Ramayana for children) having 104 pages in his mother tongue, Odia.
Speaking to ANI, Ayush said, “During the lockdown in the month of March, I was asked to watch Ramayana episodes on television by my uncle, and later to write something on it.”
“I watched Ramayana telecasted on DD channel and wrote each episode in Odia in my notebook. It took me two months to complete the book,” he said.
Ayush further said, “I have written several golden moments in Ramayana like Lord Ram leaving his home for 14 years in exile, and Devi Sita’s abduction by Ravana from Panchavati forest. I also explained how people of Ayodhya welcomed Lord Ram after 14 years of exile.”
He urged everyone to have a habit of reading and writing to reach new heights in life. (ANI)

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) [India], February 28 (ANI): The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Sivan on Sunday congratulate the Brazilian team on the occasion of the launching of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C51 carrying Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite and 18 other satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
Sivan said that India and ISRO feel proud to launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite.
“In this mission, India and ISRO, feel extremely proud, honoured and happy to launch the first satellite designed, integrated and operated by Brazil. I congratulate the Brazilian team for this achievement. The satellite is in very good health and I congratulate all for this and compliment the entire Brazilian team,” Sivan said after the launch event.
Amazonia-1, an optical earth observation satellite, which was launched at 10:24 am on Sunday, successfully separated from the fourth stage of PSLVC51 and injected into orbit, ISRO informed in a tweet.
Marcos Ceaser Pontes, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil in his address at the launch event said, “We have been working on this satellite for many years. This satellite which was launched today has a very important mission fro Brazil. It will monitor the deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.”
Pontes termed the launch of satellites as the “beginning of stronger relations” between India and Brazil.
“It represents a new era for the Brazilian Satellite Industry. There could be no better place than to be here in India with all our partnerships and this is one step for the partnership that will be going to grow. We are going to work together, a lot. Today is the beginning of stronger relations between both countries,” he said.
ISRO in its first launch in 2021, launched PSLV-C51 carrying Amazonia-1 and 18 other satellites on Sunday at 10:24 am.
A Brazilian delegation was present at Satish Dhawan Space Centre for the launch. ISRO chief K. Sivan was also present.
PSLV-C51/Amazonia-1 is the first dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space. The NSIL is undertaking this mission under a commercial arrangement with Spaceflight Inc. USA.
Amazonia-1 is the optical earth observation satellite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE). This satellite would further strengthen the existing structure by providing remote sensing data to users for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region and analysis of diversified agriculture across the Brazilian territory.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51), which is the 53rd mission of PSLV launched Amazonia-1 of Brazil as the primary satellite. A total of 18 Co-passenger satellites were also lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 10:24 am on Sunday.
The 18 co-passenger satellites include four from IN-SPACe (three UNITYsats from the consortium of three Indian academic institutes and One Satish Dhawan Sat from Space Kidz India) and 14 from NSIL. (ANI)

Asansol (West Bengal) [India], February 28 (ANI): As many as 3,064 booths have been designated for nine assembly seats in West Bardhaman district for the upcoming West Bengal polls, 618 more than the last assembly elections, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
While addressing a press conference here, District Magistrate Purnendu Kumar Maji informed that the total number of voters is 22,31,749, out of which 11,46,969 are male, 10,74,732 are female and 48 are third gender voters.
As many as 763 highly sensitive and 827 sensitive booths have been recognised.
“The total number of voting booths in the district is 3,064. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the number of booths in the district has increased by 618. Earlier the number of booths was 2,446,” Maji said while addressing a press conference here.
An additional 1.27 lakh electors have registered to vote this time. About 450 polling stations will have an all-woman polling staff, and all booths will be provided basic facilities like drinking water and toilets.
“A total of 15,230 polling staff will be present across all booths, about 90 per cent of whom have undergone training. The 1,500 who did not attend training have been given a show cause notice. Action will be taken against those who fail to respond within the stipulated time,” the DM added.
The Election Commission of India on Friday announced that West Bengal will witness eight-phased Assembly polls beginning March 27. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said, “30 Assembly constituencies in five districts will go to polls in the first phase on March 27. 30 Assembly constituencies in four districts will go to polls in the second phase on April 1. In the third phase, 31 constituencies in 3 districts will go to the polls on April 6. 44 constituencies in five districts will go for polling on April 10.”
“In the fifth phase, 45 constituencies in six districts will witness polling on April 17. 43 constituencies in four districts in the sixth phase will go to polls on April 22. 36 constituencies in five districts in the seventh phase will go for polling on April 26. In the eighth and final phase, 35 constituencies in four districts will witness polling on April 29,” added Arora. (ANI)

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 28 (ANI): Amid the ongoing framers’ protest at Delhi borders against the three Central agricultural laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait will hold a Kisan Mahapanchayat at Lakhnaur in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
According to sources, all preparations for the Kisan Mahapanchayat have been completed. Reportedly, in order to mobilise the historical crowd in Panchayat, BKU leaders were visiting villages and talking to farmers for the last several days.
A company of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and personnel from at least four police stations have been deployed to maintain law and order in the state, said sources.
Police will also monitor the speeches of Kisan Mahapanchayat, they added.
Tikait would be attending farmers’ meetings planned across Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to garner support for the ongoing stir against the new farm laws.
Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], February 28 (ANI): The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) took suo moto cognisance in the case of the stabbing of a 17-year-old boy for opposing stalking and eve-teasing of his sister in Kalkaji and issued a notice to the Station House Officer (SHO) of the area.
“Reportedly, the girl has alleged that when she approached the police to lodge the complaint, the police officials refused to take any action. This is a very serious matter. The Delhi Commission for Women Act, 1994 mandates the Commission to investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and give recommendations to the government on the issue of women’s safety,” said DCW’s notice.
The DCW asked the SHO, Kalkaji to prove the commission with a copy of the FIR registered in the matter, and a copy of the complaint(s) received from the girl (if any) regarding stalking and eve-teasing, and actions taken by the police.
It also demanded details of action taken against the police officials with respect to the allegations made by the girl, details of the accused arrested in the matte and detailed action taken report in the matter.
“Considering the gravity of the matter, please provide the sought information to the commission latest by March 3,” the notice added.
Delhi police, on Saturday, arrested five persons in connection with the incident. A 17-year-old boy was admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre on Friday after being beaten up and stabbed by three boys in the Kalkaji area when he objected to them following his sister and passing indecent remarks.
As per the police, the sister of the injured, who was present with him at the time of the incident, had stated that three boys followed her and passed indecent remarks. When her brother objected, they beat him up and one of them stabbed him on the left side of the abdomen and fled from the spot.
Meanwhile, the victim had told ANI, “It was going on for 2-3 days. They hit my brother and stabbed him when he objected. When I went to a policeman who was around, he said he doesn’t see any blood. When I pointed out I’m covered in it, he shouted at me. Another policeman wrote my complaint.” (ANI)