The <keyword id="6355512" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="union-cabinet" source="Orion">Union Cabinet</keyword> on Monday evening approved the <keyword id="109340" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Womens-reservation-bill" source="Orion">women's reservation bill</keyword>, Minister of State <keyword id="2627479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prahlad-Singh-Patel" source="Orion">Prahlad Singh Patel</keyword> said. "Only the Modi government had the moral courage to fulfil the demand for women's reservation which was proved by the approval of the cabinet. Congratulations <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> ji and congratulations to the Modi government," the minister said on X. Patel is the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Jal Shakti. The Union Cabinet met this evening after the first sitting of the five-day special session of <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword>. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on for over 90 minutes. Cutting across political lines, leaders have demanded the introduction of the women's reservation bill, which guarantees a 33 per cent quota in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The Women's Reservation Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha in 2010 had provision for 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Earlier addressing the media, the Prime Minister said that "historic decisions" will be taken this Parliament session which may be of short duration but is big on occasion. The cabinet meeting was attended by Union ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi, S Jaishankar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Nitin Gadkari and Arjun Ram Meghwal. Ever since it was announced that the Parliament session would be held from September 18-22, there has been speculation on various bills, including the women's reservation bill. In his remarks in Lok Sabha on the discussion on 75 years of Parliament, he asserted that the contribution of women parliamentarians has been on the rise over the years. Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh welcomed the "reported decision" of the Union Cabinet. "It's been a long-standing demand of the Congress party to implement women's reservation. W "We welcome the reported decision of the Union Cabinet and await the details of the Bill. This could have very well been discussed in the all-party meeting before the Special Session, and consensus could have been built instead of operating under a veil of secrecy," Ramesh said on X. PTI KR/SKC NAB SKU BJ SKU RT RT

Women's reservation bill approved by Cabinet, says MoS Patel

Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, <keyword id="2627479" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="prahlad-singh-patel" source="Orion">Prahlad Singh Patel</keyword> on Thursday said that the Centre will encourage and promote not just the production of millets but also processed millet products for the global market. "Next year, i.e. 2023, is the International Year of Millets. <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> produces 40 per cent of world's millets. Our government has made tremendous efforts to promote millets and not just for production but also for processed millet foods for supplying to international markets," Patel told mediapersons. Patel was speaking on the sidelines of the first Plant-Based Foods Summit organised by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Agriculture &amp; Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (<keyword id="60672" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="apeda" source="Orion">APEDA</keyword>), and Plant Based Foods Industry <keyword id="6356105" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="association" source="Orion">Association</keyword> (<keyword id="14035967" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pbfia" source="Orion">PBFIA</keyword>). In his speech, he batted for millets and spoke of the parameters and enabling factors by APEDA for millets and plant-based food and such processed food. "Our Ministry has been allotted over Rs 10,000 crore for promotion of this kind of food. The only condition is that the company should be Indian," Patel said, and gave example of several traditional Indian food items that just "need to be validated by scientific documentation of traditional practices". "India has traditionally been a supporter of plant-based food. It has been our strength," the Minister said and assured support for the plant-based industry. <keyword id="118292" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sanjay-sethi" source="Orion">Sanjay Sethi</keyword>, Exective Director of PBFIA, appealed to the animal-based food industry "to not look at us as competitors but rather as a younger brother" and also suggested hand-holding for the nascent industry. With sustainability and human health as key driving forces behind the activities of the Association, the foremost aim of PBFIA is to make plant-based foods mainstream while providing new avenues for economic growth. <keyword id="14035966" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="inoshi-sharma" source="Orion">Inoshi Sharma</keyword>, Executive Director, <keyword id="154680" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="fssai" source="Orion">FSSAI</keyword>, pointed to the increasing disconnect with India's traditional food items, which is evident much more in urban areas. "If I say, I am eating roti and <keyword id="863602" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="baingan-bharta" source="Orion">baingan bharta</keyword>, I am looked down upon. But the moment I say, I am having baba ganoush and pita bread, I am cool. Why are we going away from our own food?" <keyword id="445" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sharma" source="Orion">Sharma</keyword> also assured full support from FSSAI. Rachel Dreskin, CEO, Plant Based Food Association, US, drew attention to the main reasons for promoting plant-based food: environmental benefit vis-a-vis reduction of green house gases; human health and social justice. The event also saw the launch of a pertinent report, 'The Dawn of a Plant-Based Age: India to Lead the Way to World Food Security and Nutrition'. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/tomatoes-brinjal-and-green-vegetable-prices-soar-and-will-keep-going-up-due-to-rains/articleshow/91802500.cms">Tomatoes, brinjal and green vegetable prices soar and will keep going up due to rains</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/science/environment/news/an-israeli-company-has-partnered-with-an-indian-company-to-locally-produce-a-machine-that-generates-drinking-water-from-air/articleshow/91791365.cms">To help fight water scarcity, a machine that produces drinking water from air has been launched in India</a>

With 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets', India all set to promote millet products in global market

<ul><li>The Union Minister of State for Culture &amp; Tourism (IC), <keyword id="2627479" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prahlad-Singh-Patel">Prahlad Singh Patel</keyword> on Monday, launched an E-Portal of Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) — ‘Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti'. </li><li>It will enable digital classrooms that can impart <keyword id="1032457" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cultural-Education">cultural education</keyword>. </li><li>The idea is to help dropouts chase careers in cultural areas such as music, painting, theatre and martial arts.</li><li>The e-portal aims to explore unknown aspects of India’s rural and semi-urban culture. </li></ul>The Indian government is giving a digital push to cultural education across schools in the country. The Union Minister of State for Culture &amp; Tourism (IC) Prahlad Singh Patel launched an <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1588630">E-Portal of Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT</a>) — ‘Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti'. This enable digital classrooms to impart cultural education. It also launched a YouTube channel. The CCRT, along with Routes 2 Roots — an NGO promoting art, culture and heritage — is looking to launch a platform for dropout students. The idea is to help them chase careers in areas like music, painting, theatre and martial arts. “There is a need to identify institutions specializing in providing training in various art forms and encourage the children to join these institutions. In the coming three years, we can send children studying in X – XII standard for well planned tours of North-East,” the government press release said. The e-portal aims to explore unknown aspects of India's lesser-known places and their rural and semi-urban culture. In a bid to promote cross-cultural communication in India, the initiative also aims to encourage students to learn regional languages like Punjabis can learn Gujarati and vice-versa. Patel released a film ‘Rahas’ — Raaslila of Chhattisgarh. The CCRT also started to publish books from a series called ’Untold Tales of India's cities’. Recently, <a href="https://gulfnews.com/uae/education/indian-schools-in-uae-making-indian-dance-music-lessons-compulsory-1.66991813">Indian schools in the UAE</a> also included performing arts as a mandatory subject for students, in order to preserve culture and heritage. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/an-indian-college-apologized-for-asking-students-to-wear-cardboard-boxes-over-their-heads/articleshow/71672691.cms">An Indian college apologized for asking students to wear cardboard boxes over their heads</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/india-scores-high-on-talent-but-some-states-vastly-outperform-others/articleshow/71645818.cms">India scores high on talent but some states vastly outperform others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/now-national-testing-agency-nta-will-conduct-common-admission-test-for-15-central-universities/articleshow/71642922.cms">Government’s Common Admission Test to rope in 15 central universities from next year</a>

Now, dropouts can learn music, dance and other cultural arts — with government aid

New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Union Minister <keyword id="29632" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jyotiraditya-Scindia" source="Orion">Jyotiraditya Scindia</keyword> on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in <keyword id="6355554" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="madhya-pradesh" source="Orion">Madhya Pradesh</keyword> indicates how CM <keyword id="94770" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="shivraj-singh-chouhan" source="Orion">Shivraj Singh Chouhan</keyword>'s <keyword id="16425614" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ladli-behna" source="Orion">Ladli Behna</keyword> scheme for women of the state has proved as a 'game changer' in the polls. As per the latest figures available from the Election Commission, the BJP was leading in 160 of the 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress was ahead in 67 seats. Speaking to ANI, the minister also credited incumbent chief minister Shivraj for the results showing a comfortable lead for the party in the polls. "I express my gratitude to every single person of the state. This is the result of the BJP's double engine government, PM Modi's leadership, guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shahji, and party president JP Naddaji, and welfare schemes implemented by CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan...Ladli Behna scheme is a game-changer and the full credit for it goes to Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Scindia said. Scindia, a former Congress leader who switched over the party to come with the BJP in 2020, also took a swipe at the grand old party and said that his party did the work 'quietly' while the Congress was busy preparing Ladoos and congratulatory posters. "Congress was preparing Ladoos and congratulatory posters were put up. While we were doing our work quietly..." he added. As the counting of votes continues, the BJP has taken a comfortable lead in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, while also aiming to capture Chhattisgarh from Congress. Meanwhile, in Telangana, the Congress is poised to oust the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS government to wrest power in another southern state. The election to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly was a fight between the BJP and the Congress, whose then 15- month government, formed in the year 2018 was toppled from power in 2020 with help from Jyotiraditya Scindia who defected to the BJP from the Congress. The BJP though had fielded three central ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Singh Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste to tackle the perceived anti-incumbency against Chouhan. Chouhan relied heavily on schemes for women like the '<keyword id="16283999" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ladli-behna-yojana" source="Orion">Ladli Behna Yojana</keyword>' under which Rs 1250 are being transferred monthly to eligible women from poor families in the state. Congress has described it as an election sop, implemented months before the assembly polls, the BJP leaders have said that it is in line with the party's work for empowering women. State Congress president and candidate from Chhindwara, Kamal Nath leading by a margin of 15,623 votes after the ninth round of counting, garnering a total of 57895 votes so far. Incumbent Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Budhni, Shivraj Singh Chouhan leading by a margin of 50,996 votes after the eighth round of counting, garnering a total of 70453 votes so far. (ANI)

Ladli Behna scheme a game-changer, credit to Shivraj Chouhan: Jyotiraditya Scindia as BJP sweeps MP

The Centre on Wednesday said more than Rs 75,000 crore investment is likely to be attracted in the food processing sector during the second edition of the <keyword id="4229507" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="world-food-india" source="Orion">World Food India</keyword> to be held from November 3-5 in the national capital. The first edition was held in 2017, but in consecutive years the international event could not be organised due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have requested Prime Minister (<keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword>) to inaugurate World Food India (WFI) 2023 to be held at <keyword id="6358365" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pragati-maidan" source="Orion">Pragati Maidan</keyword> here. For the valedictory function, the President of India will be present," Minister of State for <keyword id="174650" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="food-processing-industries" source="Orion">Food Processing Industries</keyword> Prahlad Singh Patel said. There are a lot of opportunities for investment in India's food processing sector. Some companies have already made an indicative investment commitment, to be announced during the World Food India 2023, he said. The minister said, "China has not been invited for the event due to strategic reasons." Around 16 countries, 23 state governments, 11 Union ministries and central bodies will participate in the event that is likely to have 950 exhibitors and 75,000 visitors, he said. The Netherlands will be a partner country for the World Food India 2023, while the focused countries will be Japan and Vietnam, he added. Additional Secretary in the Food Processing Industries Minhaj Alam, in his presentation, said about Rs 642 crore indicated investment has been committed by Britannia, GreenGrahi, Foods and Inns Ltd, St Peter &amp; Paul Sea Food Exports as well as US-based General Mills so far. A verbal investment commitment has been received from Swiss-based Buhler Group, US-based Mondelez and Coca Cola and UAE-based Lulu Group, he said. "We are expecting to cross Rs 75,000 crore investment this time," Alam told PTI on the sidelines of the press briefing. Asked about the status of investment received in the first edition of the World Food India, the official said, "We had received a commitment for an investment of Rs 75,000 crore, out of which Rs 23,000 crore has come." The investments were expected to fructify in three years. Due to the pandemic, there was a delay, he added. Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretary in the Food Processing Industries, was also present at the briefing. The focus areas would be millets, unlocking the potential for growth, positioning India as the global hub, efficient ecosystem, and sustainable development. The event will see 60 to 80 chefs making the world's longest '<keyword id="9463" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="millet" source="Orion">Millet</keyword> dosa' of over 100 feet in attempt to set a Guinness Record.

Govt expects over Rs 75,000 crore investment during World Food India

Aiming to take forward the action plan on <keyword id="819054" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-security" source="Orion">water security</keyword>, the <keyword id="7838380" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="ministry-of-jal-shakti" source="Orion">Ministry of Jal Shakti</keyword> is organising the first 'all-India annual state ministers' conference on water' on the theme 'Water Vision@2047' in Bhopal on January 5 and 6. The primary objective of the two-day conference is to gather inputs for the 'India@2047' and '5P' vision from the different water stakeholders from the states since water is a state subject. The meet also aims to improve engagement and partnership with the states and share the initiatives and schemes of the Ministry of Jal Shakti with different stakeholders. While addressing the challenges of water security as part of the India@2047 plan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proclaimed the '5P' mantra, which includes political will, public financing, partnerships, public participation and persuasion for sustainability. The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will attend the meeting. The Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Food Processing Industries, Prahlad Singh Patel, will also be present at the two-day event. The Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, will chair one important thematic session on water governance at the conference. Officials said that with an objective to enhance the insights of this conference, a plenary session will set the agenda of the conference with focus on 'Water Vision@2047'. The conference will have five thematic sessions -- Water Security in Water Deficit, Water Surplus and Hilly Regions; Water Use Efficiency including Reuse of Waste Water/Grey Water; Water Governance; Climate Change Resilient Water Infrastructure; and Water Quality. <h2>Recommended stories:</h2> <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="96698085" title="To make people eat sustainably and healthy, study recommends the tried-and-tested &amp;quot;cigarette pack&amp;quot; approach" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"><payload><![CDATA[seealso]]></payload></div>

Water Vision@2047: All-India state ministers to discuss gameplan for mending nationwide water issues by 2047

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas <keyword id="197418" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dharmendra-Pradhan">Dharmendra Pradhan</keyword> on Sunday called for the prime tourist cities in the country to completely switch to <keyword id="1214812" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Clean-fuels">clean fuels</keyword>. Addressing a virtual meet on the occasion of <keyword id="6879115" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Tourism-Day">World Tourism Day</keyword>, along with Minister for Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel, Pradhan said that such a move towards sustainability will help protect the country's monuments and ensure a cleaner environment for the tourists, an official statement said. Pradhan also noted that the tourism industry offers unprecedented potential for employment generation and empowerment of the youth, also in the rural areas. He said that "every district of our country has a historic story to share or a legend to narrate, and as India celebrates 75 years of independence in 2022, we must work on creating more tourism sites around the heroism of our freedom fighters."

On World Tourism Day, India’s Oil Minister asks prime tourist cities in the country to completely switch to clean fuels

New Delhi, Apr 14 () With the coronavirus pandemic virtually bringing all tourism-related activities to a grinding halt, the Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday launched a webinar series "DekhoApnaDesh" on the many destinations to see in the country. The first webinar in the series touched upon the long history of Delhi, titled 'City of Cities - Delhi's Personal Diary', the ministry said in a statement. Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Prahlad Singh Patel said the series shall be an ongoing feature and the ministry would work towards showcasing the diverse and remarkable history and culture of India, including its monuments, cuisine, art, dance forms, natural landscapes, festivals and many other aspects of the rich Indian civilisation. "The core of the session in every webinar is based on tourism awareness and social history. Laced with interesting anecdotes, these sessions were conducted by the India City Walks for the Ministry of Tourism," an official statement said. "The sessions had witnessed enthusiastic participation with 5,546 persons registering for the same. Many interesting questions were raised which depicted the interest of the participants," it said. "The webinar shall be available in public domain soon. It will be available on the tourism ministry's social media handles- IncredibleIndia on Instagram and Facebook," the statement added. The next webinar is slated for April 16 from 11 am to 12 noon and shall take visitors to the amazing city of Kolkata, Nitin Tripathi, media advisor, Ministry of Tourism said. ASG GJS SRY

Tourism ministry launches webinar series to reach out to people amid COVID-19 lockdown

Kolkata, Mar 14 () The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) on Saturday said its representatives met Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel and sought the Centre's intervention to revive the sector which has been hit by the coronavirus outbreak. The industry is witnessing about 70-80 per cent cancellation in bookings following the coronavirus outbreak, according to the association. "A complete GST holiday for tourism, travel and hospitality industry for the next 12 months till the time the recovery happens," TAAI president Jyoti Mayal told , detailing the suggestions submitted to the minister on Friday. The association urged the minister to provide funds from the MGNREGA scheme to support the salaries of employees in the industry. The association also demanded six to nine months' moratorium on all principal and interest payments on loans and overdrafts, besides deferment of GST and advance tax payments. They also asked the minister for removal of fees for any upcoming licenses, permits renewal, excise exemption for liquor for the hospitality and travel industry across the country. The association also sought interest reduction or subvention on term loans and working capital loans. Mayal said the industry apprehends large scale job loss owing to the restrictions from the outbreak. Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism &amp; Hospitality, the umbrella body of the sector, has sought to meet the prime minister to apprise him of the situation, she added. Almost 50 per cent of the annual business in the tourism sector takes place during this period, Mayal said. BSM SOM MRMR

Coronavirus-hit tourism industry seeks relief measures from Centre

Ahmedabad, Feb 13 () Gujarat Chief Minister VijayRupani on Thursday said tradition, talent and trade andcrucial factors in boosting tourism activity.He was speaking after inaugurating, along with UnionCulture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, a two-daymeeting of states and Union territories on 'TourismDestination Management and Community Participation' at TentCity in Dhordo, Kutch district.In his address, Rupani invoked the '3T' mantra givenby Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give boost to the tourismsector in the state.He said Modi, as Gujarat chief minister, helped Kutchto stand up on its feet with the help of tourism after thedevastating earthquake of 2001."Modiji always says tourism involves three Ts -tradition, talent and trade. They are very crucial forboosting tourism activity."Modiji has gave a new dimension to tourism by weavingGujarat's traditions and culture with this sector," Rupani wasquoted as saying by a Gujarat government release.In his address, Patel dubbed the Rann of Kutch as a'heaven of earth'.The tent city is situated in this white desert (Rannof Kutch) and attracts thousands of tourists every year."Our PM's tireless efforts has converted this placeinto a famous tourist spot and a heaven of earth. I amconfident that other parts of Kutch district would bedeveloped on the same line," said Patel.During the two-day meet, government officials, tourismindustry entrepreneurs and other stakeholders would speak ondifferent aspects of tourism.Best practices as well as case studies from variousstates and Union territories in the related field will also beshared during the event, said a release by the PIB.Based on recommendations and discussion here, a taskforce would be constituted to document the benefits,challenges, recommendations, case studies and to prepare anaction plan to assist in policy formulation, it added. PJTPDRSY RSY

Rupani, Patel inaugurate two-day tourism event in Kutch

New Delhi, Mar 19 () The government is working on a financial package for various sectors, including civil aviation and tourism, to deal with the fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic that has impacted the economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced setting up of a task force under Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman which will take necessary actions "in the near future" after analysing the coronavirus pandemic situation. According to government sources, Sitharaman will hold a meeting with MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari, Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Friday to assess the situation in order to work out a package. The government is assessing the situation on a daily basis as there has been a significant impact on the economy, the sources said. The finance ministry has already held a series of meetings with various ministries and departments, they added. In his address to the nation, Modi said that keeping in mind economic challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak, the COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force will be set up. "The task force would be in constant contact with all the stakeholders, take their feedback and after analysing the situation take necessary decision in the future," he said. The task force will also ensure that all decisions taken to tide over the economic crisis are effectively implemented, he said adding that the pandemic has greatly impacted the economic wellbeing of the middle, lower-middle and the poor sections of the society. On Thursday, fourth death due to coronavirus infection was reported in the country and more than 170 people have tested positive so far. "In this time of crisis, I appeal to all business and the high-income section of the society to be sensitive towards the economic interests of all those whose services you take. It is possible that in the coming few days, these people may not be able to attend work, and in this situation, please do not cut their wages. Decide humanely and sensitively," Modi said. There are mounting concerns that companies, including in India, could resort to retrenchment due to sluggish demand and various restrictions are in place to curb spreading of the coronavirus infection. DP CS HRS

Govt working on financial package for coronavirus-hit sectors

(Eds: Adding details) New Delhi, Mar 20 () Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said an economic package for the coronavirus-hit sectors will be announced "as soon as possible". The minister, however, did not give any timeline by when the package will be unveiled. Sitharaman was speaking to reporters after meeting ministers and officials of civil aviation, animal husbandry, tourism and MSME ministries to take stock of the situation following the Covid-19 outbreak. "I had a meeting with tourism, MSME, civil aviation, animal husbandry sectors. These ministries presented assessment of their sector after consultation with their stakeholders. "We had a detailed discussion in the presence of the Finance Secretary and Economic Affairs Secretary. We are compiling their suggestions," she said after the four-hour meeting here. The ministry will hold an internal meeting on Saturday to firm up the action plan to deal with the crisis, she added. When asked by when the package will be announced, she said "it will be difficult to give timeline but it will be done as soon as possible." The finance minister also said the task force announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to be constituted. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation had said the government is setting up a 'Covid-19 Economic Response Task Force' to decide on relief package for sectors hit by the coronavirus outbreak. "Task force is not yet constituted but keeping in mind the sense of urgency, the ministry was holding this meeting. Of course when the task force is constituted it will also get the benefit of these meetings. Other ministries are also sending us their suggestions," she said. Asked about relief measures for the financial sector, Sitharaman said, "SEBI has come up with a list of regulations which will also sort of keep the markets a bit stable. But I can't say what I am doing for the markets. At the moment, we are at a critical stage of collecting everybody's inputs and also the ministry is working in detail about all the inputs which have come." Speaking after the meeting, Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said the ministry has been assessing the situation. "We all know that the tourism sector has been impacted. The finance minister is already concerned about the impact of coronavirus on all the sectors. We will properly assess the losses to the sector and then decide if any package has to be granted for the industry," he said. Minister of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairying Giriraj Singh said, "Livestock industry has been hit badly because of the coronavirus outbreak. We discussed various kinds of measures, including loan restructuring, that can help people engaged in this sector." The Indian poultry industry alone is worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore. More than 10 lakh small farmers are directly engaged in the poultry industry, while crores of people are indirectly dependent on the sector, he said. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the Central government is "addressing all these problems" constructively. Puri said he discussed matters related to the virus' impact on the Indian aviation sector with the finance minister. "We are addressing all these problems. We are addressing them constructively," the minister replied when asked about the layoffs by private airlines. DP KPM ABM

You Searched For "Prahlad Singh Patel" and got 13 results

Women's reservation bill approved by Cabinet, says MoS Patel

PTI

With 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets', India all set to promote millet products in global market

IANS

Now, dropouts can learn music, dance and other cultural arts — with government aid

Prerna Sindwani

Ladli Behna scheme a game-changer, credit to Shivraj Chouhan: Jyotiraditya Scindia as BJP sweeps MP

ANI

Govt expects over Rs 75,000 crore investment during World Food India

PTI

Water Vision@2047: All-India state ministers to discuss gameplan for mending nationwide water issues by 2047

IANS

On World Tourism Day, India’s Oil Minister asks prime tourist cities in the country to completely switch to clean fuels

IANS

Tourism ministry launches webinar series to reach out to people amid COVID-19 lockdown

PTI

Coronavirus-hit tourism industry seeks relief measures from Centre

PTI

Rupani, Patel inaugurate two-day tourism event in Kutch

PTI

Govt working on financial package for coronavirus-hit sectors

PTI

Covid-19: Economic package to be announced as soon as possible, says FM

PTI

MP (Madhya Pradesh) Candidate list for Lok Sabha Election

BI India Bureau