India should showcase its heritage with pride: Modi
New Delhi, July 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India should showcase its great heritage with pride and questioned rules that prohibit people from taking pictures at some monuments.
Inaugurating Dharohar Bhawan, the new headquarters building of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), here Modi called for people's participation and involvement in protecting the country's archeological heritage.
He said a mentality still prevails which does not allow people to take pride in their past achievements and noted that there should have been a change of such a mindset after Independence.
"It is unfortunate that there is an entrenched mentality which feels that taking pride in our past glory is wrong. I feel till the time we have pride in our legacy, in our past achievements, we are also not fully involved in its conservation," Modi said.
Modi referred to notices at some monuments asking people not to take pictures and said the times had changed and it was possible through technology to zero in on a neighbourhood.
"Using space technology, you can know what is the number of a scooter parked in an area of Delhi. But on the board of monument it is written that photography is prohibited. Time has changed, technology has changed."
Recalling his experience as Gujarat chief minister, Modi said that he gave instructions to withdraw notice that prevented people from taking pictures at Sardar Sarovar dam.
He said there was good response and ticketing was done later.
Modi said corporate sector can also be involved in the task of archaeological conservation and people can contribute some hours as volunteers.
He said school syllabus in cities that have archeological sites can include information on these places so that students can learn about them.
Modi said the youth can be encouraged to work as guides and recalled that he had suggested holding a best guide talent competition on TV channels to nurture interest in people.
He said like some foreign countries, senior citizens in India can also form clubs and work as guides.
The Prime Minister said the ASI had performed significant work over the last 150 years and each archaeological discovery, painstakingly made by archaeologists over long periods of time, had its own story to tell.
"India should showcase its great heritage with pride and confidence to the world," he said.
Modi recalled his meeting with Haibhai Godani, who had made a rich and memorable collection of artefacts through sustained personal efforts.
The new headquarters of ASI is equipped with modern facilities including energy efficient lighting and rainwater harvesting. It has a Central Archaeological Library with a collection of about 1.5 lakh books and journals.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
