OREANDA-NEWS.The Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that Indian Railways has around 8000 stations and premises of some of the railway stations with very few trains and scanty footfall could be used for skill development activities. He said that skill development programme has been emphasised by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for the benefit of the people and Indian Railways like to help in this major project.. He also said that Railways will also help in marketing rural products made by self help groups and other such agencies so as to help common rural people. Referring to the Konkani-cuisine restaurant “Konkan Swaad Katta’ recently set up at Ratnagiri station in Konkan Railway, the Minister said that such initiatives will encourage traditional businesses and local talent and will help the financial empowerment local people and at the same time passengers will get to savour traditional Konkani dishes like, of the Kokam Sharbat, Puran Poli, etc. Referring to the marketing potential of the Railway PSU, IRCTC whose website is hit by several lakhs people everyday, the Minister said that a pilot project could be started to sell rural products through e-commerce activity of IRCTC website. The Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu was speaking at a function organized to release a book titled “Twenty Five Years Journey of Lupin Foundation” brought out by Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation and also to release a CD regarding tourism scenario in Sindhudurg, here today. The Railway Minister further said that non-state actors can intervene more in the field o economic development of common people and for this there is a need synergize between NGOs, Corporates and the Government. Shri Prabhu said that the agencies like NABARD have been playing important role in rural sector and rural empowerment and another agencies can take their help in rural development. This book presents story of Lupin Foundation’s 25 years work for rural India. Visiting through organisational memory lanes, the memoir portrays the development work, evolving of approaches and strategies during this absorbing journey of Lupin Foundation in the service of rural India, which began on 2nd Oct, 1988, long before the corporate social responsibility concept was accepted widely. In 2013, Lupin Foundation, an initiative of Lupin Ltd has completed 25 years of its journey of rural development. 

The video CD released by the Railway Minister in today’s function talks about various aspects of tourist potential in Sindhudurg in Maharashtra. The CD will also help in creating awareness about Sindhudurg as a new tourism destination in India. The Railway PSU, IRCTC can also promote tourism in this region. The development of tourism will bring jobs for the locals and help overall prosperity of the area.

Shri Dilip Chenoy, Managing Director and CEO of the National Skill Development Corporation, Shri N.K.Maini, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI, Shri H.R.Dave, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD, Shri Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII and Shri Sita Ram Gupta, Executive Director, Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation were among those present on the occasion.