The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated a 180 KW capacity rooftop solar power plant for the District Court in Khunti, Jharkhand. Addressing a large gathering, which included large numbers of tribal women, the Prime Minister said that it was quite appropriate that a solar energy project was being inaugurated on Gandhi Jayanti. He said Mahatma Gandhi had always showed how to live in harmony with nature through his thoughts and deeds.
The Prime Minister spoke of his recent visit to the United Nations, and said all leaders present there had expressed concern over global warming and the threat it posed to mankind. He said India was not responsible for this, as our ancestors never taught us to harm nature. However, the Prime Minister added that in order to save humanity from this crisis, India would make its contribution. He said solar energy use was one way of doing so. The Prime Minister mentioned that it was significant that this initiative of a district court functioning through solar power had been undertaken in Jharkhand, a state rich in coal reserves.
The Prime Minister said that there were instances where the dispensation of justice in courts had suffered due to the non-availability of electricity. He said that this initiative of a solar powered court complex had shown a way to ensure that such a situation did not arise. The Prime Minister exhorted the people to use LED lamps to conserve energy and lower their electricity bills.
The Prime Minister paid homage to former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary, and noted that the country had recently celebrated the Golden Jubilee of India’s victory in the 1965 India-Pak war, which had been won when Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister. He also recalled his recent visit to Tashkent, where he had unveiled a statue of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
The Prime Minister inaugurated a mega credit camp for Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana at Dumka, and handed over loan documents and Mudra cards to 5 beneficiaries. He expressed happiness at the large gathering of people both in Khunti and in Dumka, and said this shows how keen the people of Jharkhand are for development. The Prime Minister complimented the State Government and people of Jharkhand, for the remarkable progress made by the State in “ease of doing business,” as reflected by the World Bank in a recent report.
The Prime Minister announced that 42 lakh people have been given loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana so far, and a total of Rs. 26,000 crore have been disbursed. He said this will help small entrepreneurs expand their businesses, and escape the clutches of moneylenders. He said there were 20 lakh women among the beneficiaries.
The Prime Minister said 31 lakh people had surrendered their LPG subsidy so far, under the “Give it Up” campaign. Handing over new LPG connections to 3 BPL families, the Prime Minister thanked all those who had given up LPG subsidy, so that it could be given to the poor who needed it the most.
The Prime Minister also launched online, a project for the conservation and development of historic Maluti temple complex in Dumka district.
The Governor of Jharkhand Smt Draupadi Murmu, the Chief Minister of Jharkhand Shri Raghubar Das were present at both functions at Khunti and Dumka. The Minister of State for Petroleum (Independent Charge) Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and the Minister of State for Finance Shri Jayant Sinha were present at the function in Dumka.
