Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil hosted a dinner for some sanitation workers at his residence in Surat. Around 16-17 workers were invited to share the meal with his family. The food, prepared by Patil’s wife, Ganga Patil, was served by family members, including his son Jignesh Patil. The gesture was an expression of gratitude towards the sanitation workers for their contribution in Surat securing the second position in the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 rankings. Praise From PM After drawing praise from Russia for its forward-thinking approach, the management of Rampur Raza Library recently received a pat on the back from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During its 251st foundation day celebrations this week, the institution received a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising its efforts to set up a ‘world-class institute of study and translation’. The library distributed sweets to celebrate the recognition from the PM. During the annual festival of the Russian Library Association in June, Raza Library, which functions under the Culture Ministry, was acclaimed for its AI-powered talking book initiative. UN Benchmark An endorsement from the UN for a project initiated by Delhi L-G V K Saxena during his stint as KVIC chairman at Nichla Mandwa village in Udaipur, has prompted him to seek an assessment of the rejuvenated Baansera Park on the Yamuna floodplains as per UN standards. Reacting to Saxena’s social media post on the Rajasthan project, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification had termed it a “powerful example of community action turning barren land into a thriving ecosystem, advancing India’s Land Degradation Neutrality goals”. Saxena has now asked the DDA to conduct a study of the ecology of Baansera Park, where he had hosted several dignitaries during Navratri.
