PM Modi inaugurates Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University: Highlights

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday digitally inaugurated college and administration buildings of the Rani Lakshmi Bai (RLB) Central Agricultural University on Saturday. Named after the iconic freedom fighter, Rani Lakshmi Bai, the RLB University is located in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
The University started its first academic session in 2014-15 and offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
At the digital inauguration ceremony, Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath said that the formation of Central Agricultural University Maharani Laxmibai will not only benefit the Bundelkhand region but will help in furthering the PM's resolve to lead the farmers towards self-sufficiency.
There are already 4 State Agricultural Universities functioning in UP, said the chief minister.
PM Modi also addressed the inauguration ceremony. Here are the highlights:
* There was a time when Rani Lakshmi Bai (during the freedom struggle against the British) had said, "I will not give my Jhansi". We all remember this. Today a new roar is needed—Meri Jhansi-Mera Bundelkhand—which will make the self-reliant India campaign a success.
* When we talk of self-sufficiency in agriculture, it is not limited to food grains. Rather it is a matter of self-sufficiency of the entire economy of the village. The mission is to bring value addition to the products produced by farmers and sell in it India and the world.
* The goal of self-sufficiency in agriculture is to make the farmer a producer as well as an entrepreneur.
* Six years ago there was only one Central Agricultural University in the country. Today we have three functional Central Agricultural Universities. Apart from this, three more national institutes are being established namely, Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Integrated Farming at IARI-Jharkhand, IARI-Assam, and Motihari, Bihar.
* Be it the drone technology, artificial intelligence technology, modern agricultural equipment, young researchers and scientists will have to work continuously to make technology more and more useful in the country's agriculture.
* So far more than 700 crore rupees have been spent in UP under the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan, under which employment is being provided to millions of workers. I have been told that under this campaign, in Bundelkhand, hundreds of ponds have also been repaired and new ponds constructed.
* When these ponds are ready, it will directly benefit millions of families of Bundelkhand. Not only this, in Bundelkhand, work is also going on for the Atal Ground Water Scheme to raise the level of groundwater.
* Be it the Bundelkhand Express Way or the Defense Corridor, these projects worth thousands of crores of rupees will work to create thousands of employment opportunities here.
* That day is not far when this land of heroes, this area of Jhansi and its surroundings will become a big centre to make the country self-reliant in the defence sector.
* The mantra of 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and Jai Vigyan' will be echoed in all four directions in Bundelkhand region.