Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that when a government welfare scheme achieves 100% coverage with the target audience, it ends the politics of appeasement.
He was interacting with the beneficiaries of welfare schemes in Gujarat’s Bharuch via videoconferencing. The event was to mark 100% saturation of four key State government schemes in the district which will help provide timely financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries.
“When the government schemes achieve complete coverage of targeted beneficiaries, it ends discrimination and the need for a recommendation to get the benefits,” the Prime Minister said.
He emphasised the need to create awareness about the welfare schemes. “If there is lack of information about government schemes, they either remain on paper or its benefits are cornered by those the scheme is not meant for,” he said.
The Prime Minister interacted with the beneficiaries and talked about how the schemes under “Utkarsh Initiative” had helped them. “Utkarsh Initiative”, carried out by the district administration from January 1 to March 31 this year, was aimed at ensuring complete coverage of schemes providing assistance to widows, the elderly and destitute citizens.
According to the the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), 12,854 beneficiaries were identified for the four schemes in the district and all were provided with financial assistance under the respective schemes. During the drive, taluka-wise WhatsApp helpline numbers were announced to collect information about those who were not receiving the benefits.
Subsequently, Utkarsh camps were organised in all villages and wards of municipality areas for applicants to provide necessary documents for on-the-spot approval.
Incentives were also given to Utkarsh assistants to further facilitate the drive, according to details shared by the PMO.
