31-January-2024: Union Budget 2024, VVIF Kisan Bharat Yatra, Sarbeswar Basuramatary, Parbati Baruah, Walmart Foundation

31 January 2024

• Anticipation Peaks as India Gears Up for Union Budget 2024, Last Stop Before Lok Sabha Elections 2024

  The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, is set to present the Annual Union Budget in the Parliament on February 1, just a day away. This crucial financial statement is not only significant for outlining the government's economic policies and priorities for the upcoming year but also holds special importance as it precedes the looming Lok Sabha elections.

• Walmart Foundation Announces Three Strategic Grants to Strengthen Agriculture in Maharashtra

  The Walmart Foundation has unveiled fresh grants exceeding $3 million, directed towards BAIF Development Research Foundation, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), and Collective Good Foundation (CGF). These grants are dedicated to fostering sustainable agriculture practices, empowering smallholder farmers in the state of Maharashtra.

• From Daily Wager to Padma Shri Laureate: Assam's Sarbeswar Basuramatary's Inspiring Journey of Agricultural Triumph

  In the verdant landscapes of Assam's Panbari Village, amidst the lush fields of Chirang district, a remarkable farmer, Sarbeswar Basuramatary, has defied the odds to become a beacon of inspiration. At 61, he proudly wears the prestigious Padma Shri, the nation's highest honor, as a testament to his unwavering dedication to agriculture and integrated farming. Sarbeswar's journey is a testament to the transformative power of education. Despite hailing from a humble background, his dreams were tethered by financial constraints that prevented him from pursuing higher studies. 

• Dr US Gautam, ICAR, Flags Off MFOI, VVIF Kisan Bharat Yatra in KVK, Delhi

  Krishi Jagran achieved a significant milestone as it officially inaugurated the MFOI, VVIF Kisan Bharat Yatra at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ujwa, Delhi, on January 30, 2024. The ceremony, graced by esteemed chief guests including Dr US Gautam, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR, New Delhi, Rajbir Singh, CEO, NHRDF, along with MC Dominic, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran, and Shiny Dominic, Managing Director, marked the commencement of a transformative journey covering the northern states of India.

• India's First Female Elephant Mahout, Parbati Baruah Honoured with Padma Shri: A Look at Her Journey

  In a groundbreaking achievement, Parbati Baruah, the trailblazing 67-year-old from the royal lineage of the Rajahs of Gauripur, has shattered gender stereotypes as India's first female elephant mahout, earning her the esteemed Padma Shri, the nation's fourth-highest honor. Parbati's journey with elephants began in her childhood, a passion she embraced wholeheartedly. Seizing her first elephant at the tender age of 14, she embarked on a lifelong mission to redefine societal norms in a traditionally male-dominated field.