Minister from UP government Sri Ahmad Hussain ji, the local representative from the area Sri Surendra Singh ji, our MLC Sri Kedar Nath Singh ji, respected sister Durga Devi ji, Sri Arvind ji and my dear brothers and sisters who have gathered here in large numbers.
The government of India has envisioned a new programme - The Saansad Aadarsh Graam Project. I, being a parliamentarian need to take responsibility of a village under this plan too. I have been reading different versions in the newspapers about my decision to adopt Jayapur village for this plan. Each one gives some version and this baffles me. I am surprised at how some fertile brains are working to spread stories about my decision to adopt this specific village. Such reasons given are ones that even I am not aware of. Why I chose this village has a very simple reason and the reason is that when Bhartiya Janta Party chose me to contest elections from Banaras, that time a big tragedy occurred where 5 people lost their lives in a fire in Jayapur. The first ever name that I became aware of after being selected for the Banaras constituency was that of Jayapur. That too I heard in a moment of crisis. Though I was neither the MP nor we had a government here, I called up the government officials, I called up my party workers and asked them to reach here for help. So this is the reason Jayapur occupied a place in my mind and my heart. So our relationship started in a moment of crisis and those relationships that spring from crisis often last a lifetime. So this is the reason for my association with Jayapur. I consider this as a fortunate association. Rest all the stories being spread are false and they have no basis. None that I am aware of.
Now some people are writing that the Prime Minster is adopting a village. Well, this scheme is such where it is the other way round i.e. the villages are adopting a parliamentarian. Whatever position we may hold, either that of Minister, Chief Minister or even a Prime Minister, nothing can be compared to the learning that we can receive from the villagers. If I intend to become a good people’s representative, if as a public representative I want to understand people and their problems, learn something worthwhile then I cannot do so by sitting with clerks and officers. I can gather this knowledge only by interactions with the learned and experienced people of the village. They might not have been to school or had college education but what they have is a vast store of knowledge and experience. They have such a vast body of experience that they know practical ways of resolving issues, which can be a great learning experience for the public representative. This is why I have chosen Jayapur and I request you to adopt me in return and teach me ways to resolve your issues. Even after so many years of Independence our villages remained where they were then. Why so? It is now your turn to say that for the past 60 years you sat in your offices at Lucknow and Delhi and made endless policies and spent millions to no avail. Now listen to us and do what we think is better for us.
I am also witnessing that the villages are competing to be adopted for this scheme. They are expecting the Parliamentarian to choose their village for adoption. The reason for this is a misconception among the villagers that if the parliamentarian adopts their village, a lot of money is going to flow in. Well this scheme has no money. This scheme does not involve money for if there is money, and then there will definitely be a corrupt person to pocket that money. The reason for launching this scheme was that despite running several schemes and spending lots of money, there was no change in lives of the villagers. The idea of this scheme is to find answers to these very questions.
A few days back I invited the senior bureaucrats for tea during Diwali. These are those top notch officials who practically run the country. All of them are so highly placed that a common citizen cannot possibly approach them. I called them and gave them a job. I asked them to visit the place of their first posting. That very place where they must have been posted for around a year, where they started their careers and received their initial training. I asked them to revisit those places with their children and families. Tell them how you started as a fresher, how you functioned out of your first office and try and remember those people who helped you. Take your families to meet your acquaintances there. I asked them to spend at least three days in that very same location. And think how far they have reached in these 30-40 years whereas the village you started in remained where it was. Go and see for yourself and show the same to your family also. I want to create sensitivity, something that invokes some kind of proactive thought, where they think that it is their responsibility to bring to the forefront all those who supported them when they were new. The public representatives need to think to bring development to all those who have been instrumental in bringing them onto the national political scene. Hence it is my vision to go among these very people, work along with them and see that the government policies designed for them are fully implemented. See if there is the desired change in the village. If there is a difficulty in launching these programmes, then whatever policy level changes need to be made can be decided. If the MP is successful in achieving this, then the entire machinery of the government will get accustomed to working for people.
I want to create an environment where the residents of Jayapur feel empowered about taking a decision for their well being. I have been seeing that Jayapur is in limelight these days a lot. Many government officials have visited the place. The village was cleaned, roads repaired. On asking why these special efforts are being made, it was the preparation for Modi ji’s visit. The villagers held the view that if Modi ji visits the village frequently it will become very clean. Are you correct in thinking this way? Now that the village has been cleaned, I would appreciate that you take a call that now all of us work together to keep the village clean. Isn’t this the beginning of an ideal village? I want you to think about the oldest tree in the village. Have you ever spared it a thought? Has the village school master ever thought of taking his students to that tree and tell them about its age, that it is some 150-200 years old, that generations from grandparents to parents to these children have played under this tree? This will foster a bonding with that tree. Today no village might know about its oldest tree. Why is this so? Are we no longer fond of them? Do we think about the elders of the village, how many are above 100 years of age, how many are above 75 years or more? How many children of the village sit with these elders and talk about the old days, about the childhood of their elders. How was their school, how were their teachers, what were the food habits at that time, how did they cope with the changing seasons. Have you ever tried this? Sadly, the closed and family like environment so common in a village scenario has suddenly started shrinking. Can we work together to bring back this environment?
Let me ask you. Do you know the day when your village was established? There must be a day when this village came into existence. If you do not know then go to the government offices and find out when this village found existence in government records. If no record exists then decide upon a day which would be celebrated as the day when this village was born, like we celebrate our birthday. All those who have left the village in order to earn their living will also come back that day. All the senior people of the village who have attained 75, 80 or 90 years should be honoured. Tell me, on such a day, will you not clean the village? Will there be change in the mindsets or not? If someone from the village has gone out, and one day if he returns, on finding the school fan missing, he will donate one?
How do we make our village an ideal one, not with the help of the government, but by awakening the collective strength of the society. We will decide that no child in the village would eat without first washing their hands. Tell me, do we need the government for this kind of a job. I was reading a report about a neighboring country where 40 out of 100 children die because of diseases related to not washing hands. Means 40 children out of hundred died because they did not wash hands. How much do we love our children? If the kids fall sick everyone feels sad. So let us all decide that no child from this village will ever eat anything without first washing his hands. You will not expect a prime minister to be talking about these issues. There must be some mistake. Well our leaders in the past were so accustomed of talking tall, that it never changed the ground realities. I am not here to talk big. I have to achieve a larger goal by these small targets.
I want to ask the people of this village, some must have passed 10th, some must have passed 12th grade, some might be graduates, people of different age groups like 50 or 60 years old- have you ever been to the school where your child goes to study? Have you seen the school? Do you check if the teacher comes or not? Is the drinking water clean or dirty, if there is a toilet or a library in the school, if the computers in the school are in a working condition or not. Have we ever taken an interest in these issues? What we have done is admitted our children in school, dumped our child there at the mercy of the teacher and left him to his fate. This attitude doesn’t work. We have to be more proactive. We can decide to make a committee of the members of one neighborhood who will go each day and supervise the functioning of the school. Tell me then, our school, however small it might be, will truly turn into a temple of learning or not. It is such an easy job.
I often tell the poor families in the villages to celebrate the birth of the girl child. But do we really celebrate the birth of a girl. Some families often end up feeling sad if a girl child is born. The daughter in law of the household has to face everybody’s ire. Will our Jayapur village celebrate the birth of a girl child? The goddess of wealth enters our household, so this should be celebrated or not, should we not be equally proud of our daughters. See, how few girls are being born in comparison to the number of boys. The reason of this is that the daughters are killed in the womb itself. If we kill the girl child in the womb itself so how will the social cycle function. If 1000 boys are born and only 800 girls are there, 200 boys will remain unmarried. What then will happen to our villages, our society? And is this the job of the government? Isn’t this our responsibility as a society to protect and honour our women? That is why I am here today, in Jayapur. We have decided whatever we were doing is past, now we have to think of a new way forward. I even say this that if you have a farm or a small piece of land, sow five plants when your daughter is born to celebrate the occasion. The girl will grow up and so will the trees. When she is old enough to get married, sell those trees and you will get the money to marry her off.
We have to work together to develop new social structure. When the village celebrates its inception day, there will be no room for casteism. All will live in unity, casteism will not survive and once free of this social ill, no one can stop you from being a force so strong beyond everyone’s imagination. Hence this entire Aadarsh Gram Yojana involves implementing government schemes properly, on time and effectively. We have to implement it in a fashion that optimum results are obtained. The MP will provide necessary guidance and the work will gather momentum. Once the government officers realize how the work is to be done in the village, others too will follow soon.
I have an intense desire to do many things for this village and the district of Banaras which are now under my responsibility. But I do not intend to work in the usual format of the governmental set up utilizing the funds of the government treasury. I want to use the people’s power by encouraging people’s participation.
A while back our Village Pradhan, Durga Devi ji was giving her speech. I asked her about her qualification? She informed that she had studied till the eighth standard. Now see, how high was her confidence level because of her education. I felt proud; I was truly impressed by the manner in which she expressed her views. Don’t we want our daughters to be educated? If our Pradhan is educated, so shall be all the daughters of this village.
Why is it so, that even for taking polio drops someone from the government office has to come to call us? Shouldn’t the youth of the village take the responsibility to see that all children receive polio drops, that no child should be inflicted by polio, that there is no one who is handicapped? The government can bring you the polio drops but it is your responsibility to see that the children receive it. So we will take this responsibility, won’t we?
I have spent time with you, interacted with party workers and officials to understand your problems. I am confident that people in the administration which is primarily being run by the state government, will see to it that the tasks are undertaken and duly taken to their culmination. What the government needs to do and what as villagers we need to do… we will decide now. And I repeat, the MP will not adopt the village, rather the village has to adopt the MP. We have to work in a new direction and create an ideal village. I am grateful to the people of Jayapur. Naturally if I have made inquiries about the works being done, the organizational functioning, then I will try to find new ways too. But I do not wish to discuss this on the stage here. I will raise these issues at the necessary forums. At the same time I expect you people to sit together and decide what works you can undertake and to work on your own collective strengths.
I have heard that there is a water crisis in this village. The government will do what it needs to do. But let us decide that we will not allow even a single drop of rainwater to go waste. There will no longer be water crisis. But all of us have to work together for this. Whatever we have been doing is past. Now we have to think of a new way forward. We have to march ahead with our social strength. We will no longer wait for the government to do something for us. We will work together as a force and involve our neighbouring villages too. I have seen this happening in some villages. The people have done it and so will Jayapur do it.
I express my gratitude for the love and respect showered by you and I want to assure you that we will work together as a team to create a new Jayapur, a better Jayapur.
With this belief in my heart, I express my sincere gratitude to you all. Thank You!
(The original speech was in Hindi, this is the English rendering. Original speech remains the authoritative version)
Text of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's speech at Saansad Adarsh Graam event at Jayapur Varanasi
उज्जनिर रायज केने आसे? आपुनालुकोलोई मुर अंतोरिक मोरोम आरु स्रद्धा जासिसु।
Governor of Assam, Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya ji, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ji, my colleague in the central government and your representative here, former Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal ji, ministers of the Assam government, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, other dignitaries, and all my brothers and sisters who have come in such large numbers to bless us, I see even more people outside the pandal than inside.
This land of heroes like Saulung Sukapha and Mahavir Lachit Borphukan, this land of Bhimber Deuri, Martyr Kusal Kuvar, Moran Raja Bodousa, Malati Mem, Indira Miri, Swargadeo Sarbananda Singh and warrior woman Sati Sadhni, I bow with reverence to this great soil of Ujani Assam.

Friends,
I can see that all of you in such large numbers, far and wide, are showering your enthusiasm, your excitement and your affection. And especially, my mothers and sisters, the love and blessings that you have brought in such huge numbers is our greatest strength, our greatest energy, a wonderful feeling. Many of my sisters are present here carrying the fragrance of the tea gardens of Assam. This aroma of tea evokes a very special feeling in my relationship with Assam. I salute all of you. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for this love and affection.
Friends,
Today is a big day for Assam and the entire North East. The long-awaited dream of Namrup and Dibrugarh is finally coming true today, and a new chapter of industrial progress is beginning in this entire region. Just a while ago, I performed the Bhoomi Poojan of the Ammonia-Urea Fertilizer Plant here. Before coming to Dibrugarh, I also inaugurated an airport terminal in Guwahati. Today everyone is saying that Assam has picked up a new pace of development. I want to tell you, what you are seeing right now, what you are experiencing, this is just the beginning. We have to take Assam much further; we have to move forward taking all of you along with us. The strength and role that Assam had during the Ahom Kingdom; Assam will become an equally powerful land in developed India. With the launch of new industries, the construction of modern infrastructure, advancements in semiconductors and their manufacturing, new opportunities in the agricultural sector, the progress of tea gardens and their workers, and growing potential in tourism, Assam is moving forward in every field. I extend my best wishes to all of you and to all the farmer brothers and sisters of the country for this modern fertilizer plant. I also congratulate you for the new terminal at Guwahati Airport. Under the BJP's double-engine government, this synergy of industry and connectivity is fulfilling Assam's aspirations and also inspiring our youth to dream big.

Friends,
The farmers of our country, our Anna Data, play a crucial role in building a developed India. Therefore, our government is working day and night keeping the interests of farmers paramount. Here, all of you are receiving the benefits of farmer-friendly schemes. Amidst the agricultural welfare schemes, it is also important that our farmers continue to get a continuous supply of fertilizers. This urea plant will ensure this in the coming years. About Rs 11 thousand crore will be spent on this fertilizer project. More than 12 lakh metric tons of fertilizer will be produced here every year. When production takes place here, supply will be faster and logistics costs will decrease.
Friends,
This unit of Namrup will also create thousands of new employment and self-employment opportunities. Many people will get permanent jobs right here as soon as the plant starts operating. In addition, there will be a large amount of work associated with the plant, including maintenance, supply, and construction. In all these areas, local people, and especially our young people, will find employment.
But brothers and sisters,
Just think, why is it that work for the welfare of farmers is only happening after the BJP government came to power? Our Namrup has been a center for fertilizer production for decades. There was a time when the fertilizers produced here powered the fields of the Northeast, supporting the crops of the farmers. Even when the supply of fertilizers became a challenge in many parts of the country, Namrup remained a source of hope for the farmers. However, the technology of the old factories became outdated over time, and the Congress governments paid no attention to it. The result was that many units of Namrup plant were shut down due to this reason. Farmers across the entire Northeast region suffered, and farmers throughout the country also faced difficulties; their incomes were negatively impacted, and farming became increasingly challenging. However, the Congress party did nothing to resolve this problem; they remained indifferent. Today, our double-engine government is addressing these very problems created by the Congress party.

Friends,
Just like in Assam, many fertilizer factories had shut down in other states of the country as well. Do you remember the plight of the farmers back then? Farmers had to stand in long queues for urea. Police had to be deployed at urea shops. The police used to lathi charge the farmers.
Brothers and sisters,
Our government is making every effort to improve the conditions which were worsened by the Congress. And they did it so badly, so badly that, even after working hard for 11 years, I still have a much more to do. During the Congress regime, fertilizer factories were shutting down. Whereas our government has started many plants on places like Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni, Ramagundam. The private sector is also being encouraged in this field. Today, as a result of this, we are taking strong steps in the direction of becoming self-reliant in the field of urea in the near future.
Friends,
In 2014, only 225 lakh metric tons of urea were produced in the country. Do you remember that figure? Will you remember the figure? You gave me work 10-11 years ago, then the production was 225 lakh metric tons. Remember this figure. With hard work in the last 10-11 years, we have increased the production to about 306 lakh metric tons. But we must not stop here, because there is still much to be done. They did not do the work they were supposed to do back then, and that's why I have to put in a little extra effort now. And right now, we need about 380 lakh metric tons of urea every year. We have reached 306, we have to do 70-80 more. But I assure the countrymen, the way we are working hard, the way we are planning and the way my farmer brothers and sisters are blessing us, we will leave no stone unturned in filling this gap as soon as possible. That's why I have to work a little extra hard.
And brothers and sisters,
I want to tell you one more thing, our government is very sensitive towards your interests. Even the urea that we have to import from abroad at high prices, we do not let that burden fall on our farmers. The BJP government provides subsidies and bears that cost itself. Farmers in India get a bag of urea for just 300 rupees, but for that one bag, the Indian government has to pay other countries, from where we import it, approximately 3,000 rupees. Now think about it, we buy it for 3,000 rupees and sell it for 300 rupees. We do not let this entire burden fall on the farmers of the country. The government bears this entire cost itself, so that my farmer brothers and sisters don't have to bear the burden. But I would also like to tell my farmer brothers and sisters that you too have to help me, and that help is not just for me, but also for you, my farmer brothers and sisters, and that is to protect Mother Earth. If we don't protect Mother Earth, no matter how many bags of urea we use, she will give us nothing in return. Just as when we are sick, we have to take medicine in the right dosage – if we need two pills and take four, it harms our body instead of helping it – the same applies to Mother Earth. If we keep adding excessive amounts of fertilizer just because our neighbour is doing it, Mother Earth will turn against us. We have no right to kill Mother Earth by force-feeding her urea. She is our mother, and we must protect this mother too.

Friends,
Today, from seed to market, the BJP government stands with the farmers. Money is being transferred directly into farmers' accounts for agricultural work, so that farmers don't have to wander around looking for loans. So far, approximately 4 lakh crore rupees have been transferred to farmers' accounts under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Will you remember this figure? Or will you forget it? Rs 4 lakh crore has been deposited directly into the accounts of the farmers of my country. This year, two new schemes worth 35 thousand crore rupees have been launched to help farmers – 35 thousand crore rupees! The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the Dalhan Atma Nirbharta (Pulses Self-Reliance) Mission will boost agriculture.
Friends,
We are working keeping in mind every need of the farmers. Farmers are receiving support through Fasal Bima Yojana in case of crop damage due to adverse weather conditions. Procurement systems have been improved to ensure farmers receive fair prices for their produce. Our government firmly believes that the country will progress only when our farmers are strong, and we are making every possible effort to achieve this.
Friends,
After our government came to power at the center, we extended the Kisan Credit Card facility to livestock farmers and fish farmers as well. Kisan Credit Card, KCC, after getting the facility of KCC, our livestock farmers, our fish farmers, all of them are getting a lot of benefits. Remember this figure also, more than Rs 10 lakh crore assistance has been given to farmers this year through KCC. 10 lakh crore rupees. Farmers have also benefited greatly from the reduction in GST on bio-fertilizers. The BJP government is also providing significant encouragement to Indian farmers for natural farming. And I would like that some tehsils should come up in Assam which do 100% natural farming. You see, Assam can show direction to India. The farmers of Assam can guide the country. We have launched the National Mission on Natural Farming, and today millions of farmers have joined it. In the last few years, 10 thousand Farmer Producer Organizations - FPOs have been formed in the country. Keeping the North East in special focus, our government has also launched a mission related to edible oils, specifically palm oil. This mission will not only make India self-reliant in terms of edible oil but will also increase the income of the farmers here.
Friends,
We also have a large number of tea garden workers in this region. It is the BJP government itself which opened Jan Dhan bank accounts for seven and a half lakh tea garden workers of Assam. Now, because they are connected to the banking system, these workers can receive direct payments into their bank accounts. Our government is increasing the facilities of schools, roads, electricity, water and hospitals in the tea garden areas.
Friends,
Our government is moving forward with the mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. This vision of ours has brought about a significant transformation in the lives of the poor in our country. In the last 11 years, due to our efforts, schemes, implementation of schemes, 25 crore people, remember this figure also, 25 crore people have come out of poverty. A neo middle class has emerged in the country. This has happened because the standard of living of poor families in India has continuously improved over the years. Some recent figures have come to light, which are indicative of the changes taking place in India.

Friends,
And all these things are very useful in the media, so I urge you to remember what I am telling you and share it with others.
Friends,
Previously, in the poorest families in villages, not even one out of ten families owned a motorcycle. Not even 1 out of 10 had it. According to the recent surveys, almost half of the families living in the village now have a bike or a car. Not only this, mobile phones have reached almost every home. Things like refrigerators, which were once considered a “luxury”, are now being seen in our neo-middle-class homes as well. Today, it has even found a place in the kitchens of villages. New data shows that despite smartphones, the trend of having TVs in villages is also increasing. This change did not happen on its own. This transformation is a result of the empowerment of the poor in the country, and the fact that the benefits of development are now reaching even the poorest people living in remote areas.
Friends,
The BJP's double-engine government is a government for the poor, tribals, youth, and women. That is why, our government is working to end decades of violence in Assam and the North East. Our government has always given top priority to the identity and culture of Assam. The BJP government highlights the symbols of Assamese pride on every platform. So, we proudly build a 125 feet statue of Mahavir Lachit Borphukan, we celebrate the birth centenary year of Bhupen Hazarika, the pride of Assam. We are giving global recognition to Assam's art and crafts, and to Assam's Gamosa (traditional scarf). Just a few days ago, Russian President Mr. Putin visited India, and when he was in Delhi, I proudly gifted him Assamese black tea. We give priority to every work that enhances the honour and dignity of Assam.
But brothers and sisters,
When the BJP does these things, the Congress party is the one that suffers the most. You may remember, when our government gave Bharat Ratna to Bhupen Da, Congress had openly opposed it. The National President of Congress had said that Modi is giving Bharat Ratna to dancers and singers. Tell me, is this an insult to Bhupen da or not? Is it an insult to art and culture or not? Is it an insult to Assam or not? This is what Congress does day and night, insulting. When we established a semiconductor unit in Assam, the Congress opposed that too. Don't forget, it was the Congress government that denied land rights to our brothers and sisters from the tea community for so many decades! The BJP government gave them both land rights and a life of dignity. And I am a tea seller myself, if I don't do it, who will? This Congress is still promoting anti-national thinking. These people want to settle those Bangladeshi infiltrators on the forest lands of Assam. Due to which their vote bank gets strengthened, they do not care if you get ruined, they have to strengthen their vote bank.
Brothers and sisters,
The Congress party has no concern for Assam or the people of Assam, or your identity. They are only interested in power, government, and continuing the practices they engaged in before. That is why they like illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators more. It was Congress that settled the illegal infiltrators, and it is Congress that is protecting them. That is why, the Congress party is opposing the revision of the voter list. We must protect Assam from this poisonous policy of appeasement and vote-bank politics practiced by the Congress. Today I give you a guarantee, to protect the identity of Assam, and the honour of Assam, BJP is standing with you like steel.
Friends,
Your blessings are my strength in building a developed India. Your love is my greatest asset. And that is why I find joy in living every moment for you. The role of Eastern India, our North East, is continuously increasing in building a developed India. I have said earlier also that Eastern India will become the growth engine of India's development. This new unit in Namrup is an example of this transformation. The fertilizer produced here will not be limited to the fields of Assam only. It will reach Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. This is no small matter. This is the contribution of North East in the fertilizer needs of the country. Projects like Namrup show that in the times to come, North East will emerge as a major centre of self-reliant India. It will truly become the "Ashtalakshmi" (eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi). I once again congratulate you all on this new fertilizer plant. Say with me:
Bharat Mata ki Jai.
Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
And this year marks 150 years of Vande Mataram, a moment of great pride for us. Let us all say:
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram.


