PM Modi arrives in Varanasi for ‘One World TB Summit’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday to address the “One World TB Summit.” Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, is also present at the summit with PM Modi. PM Modi will speak at the Rudrakash Convention Centre on World Tuberculosis Day.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Stop TB Partnership are organising this summit. The Stop TB Partnership, founded in 2001, is a United Nations-hosted organisation that raises the voices of people, communities, and countries affected by tuberculosis.

During the event, the Prime Minister will announce several initiatives, including the TB-Mukt Panchayat initiative, the official pan-India rollout of a shorter TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), a Family-centric TB care model, and the publication of India’s Annual TB Report 2023. PM will also recognise specific states, territories, and districts for their efforts to eradicate tuberculosis.

During the End TB Summit in New Delhi in March 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for India to meet TB-related SDG targets by 2025, five years ahead of schedule. According to the official statement, the One World TB Summit will provide an opportunity to further deliberate on the targets as the country moves forward to meet its TB elimination objectives.

It will also provide an opportunity to share lessons learned from National TB Elimination Programs. The summit will be attended by international delegates from over 30 countries. During the programme at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, the Prime Minister will dedicate and lay the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 1780 crore. In the last nine years, the Prime Minister has placed a special emphasis on transforming the landscape of his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and improving the quality of life for residents of the city and surrounding areas. This is thought to be another step in the right direction.

The Prime Minister will lay the groundwork for the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia. The project is expected to cost around Rs. 645 crores. The ropeway system will be 3.75 kilometres long and will have five stations. This will make it easier for tourists, pilgrims, and Varanasi residents to move around.

The Prime Minister will lay the groundwork for 55 MLD sewage treatment plants in Bhagwanpur as part of the Namami Ganga Scheme, which will cost more than Rs. 300 crores. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for Phases 2 and 3 of the Sigra Stadium redevelopment project as part of the Khelo India Scheme.

PM Modi will also lay the groundwork for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s LPG bottling plant in Isarwar village, Sewapuri. The Prime Minister will also lay the groundwork for a primary health centre in Bharthara village, as well as a floating jetty with changing rooms, among other projects.

PM Modi will dedicate 19 drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, which will benefit over 3 lakh people in 63 Gram Panchayats. The Prime Minister will also lay the groundwork for 59 drinking water schemes under the Mission to further strengthen the rural drinking water system.

Grading, sorting, and processing of fruits and vegetables will be possible for farmers, exporters, and traders in and around Varanasi at an integrated pack house being built at Karkhiyaon. During the event, the Prime Minister will dedicate this project to the nation. It will aid in the expansion of agricultural exports from Varanasi and the surrounding region.

He will dedicate various projects under the Varanasi Smart City Mission, including the redevelopment of Rajghat and Mahmoorganj government schools, the beautification of internal city roads, and the redevelopment of the city’s six parks and ponds.

The Prime Minister will also dedicate various other infrastructure projects including the ATC tower at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport; the 2 MW solar power plant at water works premises, Bhelupur; 800 KW solar power plant at Konia Pumping Station; the new Community Health Center at Sarnath; infrastructure improvement of Industrial estate at Chandpur; rejuvenation of temples of Kedareshwar, Vishweshwar and Omkareshwar Khand Parikrama among others.