Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that “each paisa of every rupee released by his government from Delhi” now reaches the beneficiaries because his government has rooted out middlemen and corruption from the system.
Taking a dig at former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s remark that “if one rupee is released from Delhi, only 15 paisa reaches the poor”, Mr. Modi said that his government had ensured every single penny reached the poor.
Mr Modi expressed commitment of his government to provide house to every family by 2022 while dedicating over one lakh houses built under Pradhan Mantri Avas Yojna in his home state Gujarat’s Valsad district.
"While talking to women beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, I was watching the houses built for them. Even you would be wondering how such good quality houses were built under the scheme," Mr Modi said after interacting with some of the beneficiaries in various districts of Gujarat through video conferencing from Valsad.
"This was made possible because there is no place for bribe or paying commission in my government. If one rupee goes from Delhi, the entire 100 paise reach the house of the poor,” he said, adding his government has shown “guts” to end corruption from the system.
"Mothers and sisters could say with satisfaction that they got homes as per the rules and they did not have to pay a single rupee bribe for the same,” he added after interacting with a few beneficiaries via video conference.
Mr Modi stressed on transparency brought in in the system after he became Prime Minister following a landslide victory in 2014 national polls.
"Gujarat has taught me a lot. This lesson has taught me to fulfil dreams within a specific time. It is my dream, it is our endeavour to ensure that every Indian family has its own home by 2022," PM Modi said while handing over a key of a new house to a woman beneficiary from Gujarat.
If housing for all was his theme of his speech in Valsad, in his next destination in Junagadh, PM talked about his another ambitious scheme to provide healthcare services at affordable costs to every citizen of the country.
While inaugurating a Gujarat government built hospital in Saurashtra’s Junagadh, PM talked about Ayushman Bharat and said it will transform health sector in the country.
“Health sector must keep pace with the technological advancements globally. The coming of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana- Ayushman Bharat will transform the health sector and ensure the poor get top class healthcare and that too at affordable price,” PM said.
He also said prices of medicines have fallen drastically after his government started Jan Aushadhy stores to sell generic medicines across the country.
During his day long visit to his home state Gujarat, PM Modi dedicated houses under PMAY, laid foundation for a drinking water scheme, inaugurated a hospital and fisheries colleges, attended convocation of Gujarat Forensic Sciences University (GFSU) and also attended a meeting of Somnath temple Trust in presence of BJP patriarch LK Advani, party chief Amit Shah and former CM Keshubhai Patel besides other trustees.
