Modi credits people for choosing stable & strong government to ensure India’s success
PM launches development works worth Rs 4,200 crore in U’khand
Friday, 13 OCTOBER 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the people for the success of the country as they chose a stable and strong government at the Centre after a long gap. He said he carries the trust and confidence of 140 crore Indians in his global presence. Modi said this after laying the foundation stones for and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth about Rs 4,200 crore in sectors including rural development, road, power, irrigation, drinking water, horticulture, education, health and disaster management, among others in Pithoragarh on Thursday.
Addressing the public he said that the world is recognising India and the contribution of Indians. Recalling the despondency of the past, he noted the strong voice of India at the global stage that is beset with challenges. The PM informed that more than 13.5 crore Indians came out of poverty in the last five years and credited the all-inclusive approach of the government where those in the remotest of places also receive government benefits. He pointed out that even though the previous governments introduced slogans of ‘Garibi Hatao’ it is ‘Modi’ who says that poverty can be uprooted by taking ownership and responsibility. “Together we can eradicate poverty,” he emphasised. He mentioned India’s Chandrayan which managed to land successfully on the south pole of the moon and achieve what no nation could do so far. “The place where Chandrayan landed has been named Shiv Shakti and the identity of Uttarakhand is now on the moon,” he said. The PM underlined India’s sporting prowess and talked about the joy of the all-time high medal tally in the country. Uttarakhand sent eight athletes in the contingent and teams of Lakshya Sen and Vandana Kataria won medals. Regarding support to athletes and sports, he said that he had laid the foundation stones were laid for the hockey ground in Haldwani and the velodrome in Rudrapur.
“Every village in Uttarakhand has produced those who protect India’s borders,” Modi said while mentioning that the present government fulfilled their decade-old demand of One Rank One Pension. So far, more than Rs 70,000 crore have already been transferred to former soldiers under the One Rank One Pension scheme which has hugely benefited more than 75,000 families of former soldiers. “One of the priority areas of the government is the development of border areas,” he said, while adding that the development of new services is taking place at a fast pace here. Pointing out the lack of development in border areas during the past governments, the PM spoke about their fear of land being usurped by neighboring nations with the infrastructural developments. He informed that more than 4,200 kilometres of roads, 250 bridges and 22 tunnels have been built in border areas in the last nine years. Mentioning the projects of today, Modi stated that plans are underway to bring the railways to the border areas.
He further said that Vibrant Village scheme has turned the last villages into the first villages of the country. “Our effort is to bring back people who have left these villages. We want to increase tourism in these villages,” he said. He said that due to wrong policies of the past with regard to water, medicine, roads, education and medical facilities, people had to leave their homes. He said new facilities and infrastructure are coming up in Uttrakhand in these areas.
Acknowledging the calamity-prone nature of Uttrakhand the PM said that in the coming 4-5 years Rs 4,000 crore will be spent on projects to prepare to deal with natural disasters. “Such facilities will be built in Uttarakhand so that in case of disaster, relief and rescue work can be done quickly,” he said.
Earlier, the PM also met the soldiers in the border region and viewed an exhibition of folk art and products made by local residents in the district. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and others were also present on the occasion.
