CM launch fifth round of Garib Kalyan Mela via video conference

Published By : Admin | August 17, 2012 | 22:46 IST

CM launch fifth round of Garib Kalyan Mela via video conference

8184 development works worth Rs.521 crore to be dedicated to people

12 lakh houses handed over to poor during last decade

Launching the fifth round of Garib Kalyan Mela (GKM) via video conference today.Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that with GKM the state government has not merely given government benefits to the poor for which they were entitled, but has also made them strong enough to fight with price-rise and health problems.

In about 24 GKM slated to be held today at various panchayat seats of 52 talukas, aids worth Rs.215 crore will be distributed by different ministers. Prior to this, benefits worth Rs.10,000 crore have already been distributed to 74 lakh beneficiaries in around 869 GKM.

Speaking via video conference the Chief Minister said the existence of middlemen and ‘commission-companies’ has been vanished due to GKM. Gujarat government has earned a repute of being a government which is committed to the service of poor throughout their lives, he said.

Highlighting the works done under GKM the Chief Minister said the present government has handed over 9.80 lakh houses to all the BPL families in 0-16 category. Gujarat is the first state in India where no single 0-16 BPL family left without a house facility. Now, the state government has undertaken a mission to allot houses to BPL families of 17-20 category.

Alerting the women regarding opposition’s delusive announcements of giving houses to them Chief Minister said that in the past 40 years they merely managed to give some scattered houses to 10 lakh people. Whereas, the present government has handed over houses to 12 lakh poor during last decade.

Different ministers will dedicate various development works on the Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays of every week in 910 taluka panchayat seats of 64 talukas of 10 districts. In all, 8184 development works worth Rs.521 crore will be dedicated to people.

The state government will also felicitate about 18,392 former panchayat representatives for their services. Giving details of this the Chief Minister said that Gujarat has given an invaluable price to the nation in the form Panchayati Raj. Former Chief Minister late Balvantray Mehta who implemented the Panchayati Raj was of Congress. But rising above the partisan politics the present government will felicitate all the living representatives who have given their contribution for panchayats.

Mentioning the great response given by people from all walks of life to the state government’s decision to put complete ban on gutkha, Chief Minister said the decision will create an atmosphere of social revolution which will also give impetus to the financial prosperity of the people.

He said that by giving computer training to youths under empower programme the state government has cut down the educational imbalance between the rich and poor. Nearly 2.5 lakh youths have received training under the programme and gained a new confidence.

He said the present government does not believe in resorting to playing vote-bank politics and deluding poor by political sloganeering. The government believes in giving poor their due benefits and in working hard for their welfare.

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PM Modi chairs 51st PRAGATI Meeting
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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the 51st meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform aimed at fostering Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, by seamlessly integrating efforts of the Central and State governments, at Seva Teerth, earlier today.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed seven critical infrastructure projects across the Railways, Power and Road sectors covering nine States worth around ₹30,000 crore. These projects, pivotal to economic growth and public welfare, were reviewed with a focus on timelines, inter-agency coordination, and timely issue resolution. Prime Minister also reviewed Ken Betwa Link Project and Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

While reviewing power sector projects, Prime Minister emphasized the need to accelerate rooftop solar adoption across urban areas, with a special focus on cities, residential clusters and public institutions. He underlined that rooftop solar should be taken up in mission mode to reduce electricity costs, improve energy security and promote clean energy at the household and community level.

While reviewing road and port connectivity projects, it was emphasised that Vadhavan Port should be developed as a model of port-led, multi-modal development, where every major mode of transport is seamlessly integrated to create a future-ready logistics ecosystem. The project should not be seen merely as a port, but as a national gateway connected through coastal shipping, inland waterways, dedicated freight corridors, high-speed rail connectivity, highways and airport linkages.

Prime Minister emphasised the need for effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and underlined that the mission should move beyond infrastructure creation and ensure measurable outcomes through regular monitoring, citizen participation and convergence between various stakeholders. He asked States to expedite the completion of solid waste management-related infrastructure, including waste processing plants and GOBARdhan plants.

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At the beginning of the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary informed that, in pursuance of the directions of the Prime Minister, a system of monthly review of social sector schemes at the State level has also been operationalised. This mechanism aims to ensure regular monitoring, faster resolution of implementation issues and greater accountability at the State and district levels. As part of this initiative, Swachh Bharat Mission has been taken up for review at the State level in the first instance.