Shillong (Meghalaya), Nov 25 : Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma today highlighted that the present government’s works have a spirit of service. He was addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra programme held at Laitkseh village under Mawryngkneng Block of East Khasi Hills District.
The Minister said, “Our visionary PM has made the deprived his priority.” He has affinity for the deprived people due to his personal experience with poverty and deprivation and said that they have become the top priority of the government and efforts are on to ensure that the amenities are delivered to their doorstep.
The Minister said that the kind of growth the region has witnessed in the last nine years is unprecedented. He credited the approach of the government for transformation. The Minister also informed that in the scope of cleanliness in villages the nation is aiming for saturation. Throwing light on other achievements post-2014, the Minister informed about LPG connections rising from 50-55 per cent of villages to approximately 100 per cent today, saturation of administration of life-saving vaccines to children, tapped water connections to households have increased manifolds in the last nine years, he remarked.
Verma while explaining about the spirit behind ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ said that social justice is ensured only when the benefit of all the government schemes reaches everyone in the same measure. In this Yatra, the government will go to every village of the country in mission mode and will make every poor and deprived person a beneficiary of government schemes, Verma added.
The Minister expressed his belief that there will be 100 percent achievement in the saturation of government schemes and said that he is looking forward to the day when every poor will have a ration card for free ration, gas connection from Ujjwala scheme, electricity supplied to the homes, tapped water connection, Ayushman Card and pucca house. The Minister further elaborated on his vision of every farmer and labourer joining the pension schemes and the youth availing the Mudra Yojna to realize their dreams. Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is Narendra Modi’s guarantee for the poor, deprived, women, youth and farmers of India,” he added.
The Minister took special mention of PM Vishwakarma Yojana and said that the new scheme indicates that the central government is committed to harnessing the potential of every individual in the journey to a developed India. He said that the scheme will provide modern training and tools to the Vishwakarma friends. The Minister expressed confidence that the four Amrit Stambhs of Amrit Kaal i.e. India’s women power, youth power, agricultural power and the power of our poor and middle class will take India to new heights and make India a developed India.
Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Alexander Laloo Hek during his address said that the government has successfully implemented Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to get rid of middlemen and check pilferage with the help of technology. Governance reforms introduced by PM Narendra Modi are not confined to governance, they have a huge socio-economic implication as well. Hek said that there are so many schemes and programmes under the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Fisheries department for the benefit of the farmers like Aquaculture Mission, Poultry Mission and Piggery Mission. According to him, the farmers can avail benefit of the various schemes and programmes with huge subsidies. “We are committed for the upliftment of the rural economy,” he added.
Various ‘Jan Bhagidari’ events like sharing of experiences by beneficiaries of the central schemes under Mere Kahani Meri Zubani, achieving 100 percent saturation of schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, ODF Plus status, drone demonstration in agricultural sector, health camps among others were major attractions at the event. Villagers came forward to share their experiences after availing the government schemes.
Mrs Baphira Nongdhar, a farmer from the village said that she was a teacher working at a private school but left that job in 2008. She turned to farming as her source of livelihood. She gained a lot of benefits from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra. She received a solar water pump and also received training on mushroom cultivation, organic farming and insect and pest control. She is a nominated member of the village for State Seed Production. She is also a registered potato grower. Presently, Kong Nongdhar is using the solar water pump for her farm and does not use any other form of irrigation method.
Another beneficiary Ms Markun Marboh said that she built her house through PM Awas Plus Yojana in FY 2021-22. She completed her house in 95 days as per the guideline. She had received 1.3 lakh rupees to build her house. She is a job card holder and had received more than Rs. 26,000 through MGNREGA to build her house. She received the 1.3 lakh rupees in three installments – first 52,000, second was 58,500 and third installments was Rs. 19,500. She now takes pride that she was able to build a shelter for her family with the required amenities. She will also receive pipeline through Jal Jeewan Mission. She has also received gas cylinder through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and now her house will have all the necessary connections. From Swachh Bharat Mission, a toilet has also been provided to her.
Mrs Mithilda Kharumuid who is a member of a Self-Help Group called ‘Minjurlang’ said that they have received benefits from National Rural Livelihood Mission. ‘Minjurlang’ is engaged in the production of turmeric. Every week, this group deposits Rs. 10 each in their group account. They have bought turmeric rhizomes using this money. They had also received a one-time grant of Rs. 15,000 from the Block. This SHG also encourages other women to join the same so that they get the benefits such as financial literacy.
The Minister distributed certificates to beneficiaries of PMAY-Gramin and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. A skit on the theme of’ Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke’ focusing on natural farming, environment protection and healthcare presented by the members of the Self-Help Group amused the audience with their variety and zest.
