Union Minister of Tribal Affairs and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Arjun Munda interacted with the media today in New Delhi regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Universal Health Coverage – Leaving No One Behind’. Focus of the interaction was Government of India’s initiatives to provide health security for the poorest of the poor. The briefing was held in the presence of Union Minister of State (Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), Smt. Shobha Karandlaje; MP (Lok Sabha), Shri Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma; and MP (Rajya Sabha), Smt. Indu Bala Goswami.

Shri Munda informed that the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was launched in Ranchi, Jharkhand, on September 23, 2018 and is providing health security to the poorest of the poor in the country. This is the world’s largest government funded healthcare program targeting more than 55 crore beneficiaries, aiming to provide insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per annum.

The Minister expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, for the launch of National Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA) Elimination Programme on 1^st July 2023. It aims at addressing the significant health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among tribal population of the country. Shri Munda informed that the mission aims to screen over 8 crore tribals for SCA, out of which over data for 90 lakh people has already been collected.

Shri Munda further informed about a mammoth initiative by the Government, Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN), to bring about a 360-degree development in tribal areas. The PM JANMAN Mission targets the development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) who have been left out by the schemes of various Ministries/Departments. This Mission has a financial outlay of around Rs. 24,000 crores, and focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministries. Tribal Health is one of the key focus areas under PM JANMAN, the Minister explained. The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be nodal and coordinating Ministry, whereas each of other 8 sectoral ministries and departments will implement the interventions related to them, he added. The Minister also said that now through Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, it is aimed to ensure 100% saturation of government programmes which benefit people directly including tribals living in remotest areas.

The Minister noted that the healthcare sector in the country had achieved more in the last 9 years than what was done in the preceding 70 years and holistic healthcare has been placed among the top priorities of this government. The Ayushman Bharat scheme under health infrastructure mission is creating modern health facilities at the district level. There were only 8 AIIMS in the country but that number has gone up to 23 now, of which 20 are fully functional. He further revealed that testing facilities have been created and more than 1.6 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are being established. A healthy individual, a healthy family and a healthy society are the essentials to make a fit India, Shri Munda added.

Giving more details, Shri Arjun Munda said that under the vision of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the country has seen an unprecedented revolution in the field of health. Today, for the first time in the country, health is being linked with development. In fact, a widespread sentiment of “Healthy Nation, Wealthy Nation” has now been created in the country.

In the last few years in the country –

1. 1,63,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were opened for primary health, which is one center available for every less than 10,000 population.
2. With the aim of having one medical college in every district, their number has been increased from 350 to more than 700 in the last 9 years.
3. In the last 9 years, the number of MBBS seats has been increased from 52,000 to more than 1,80,000.
4.  Also, the number of PG seats has been increased from 31,185 (in 2014) to 70,674 at present.
5. In the last 9 years, more than 10,000 Jan Aushadhi stores were opened in the country and now their number is being increased from 10,000 to more than 25,000. Affordable medicines are being provided which were once beyond the reach of poor people. Through Jan Aushadhi Yojana, the poor of the country have so far saved more than Rs 25,000 crore.
6. The price of Heart Stent has been reduced from Rs 1.25 lakh (2017) to Rs 38,000 and the price of Knee implants has also been reduced drastically.
7. Before 2014, there were only 8 AIIMS in the country, today their number has increased to 23.
8. A grid has been created by connecting 5,000 blood banks in the country together on the National Portal, so that people can know in a transparent manner which blood group is available in which blood bank.
9. Today, 55 crore people in the country have got the guarantee of free health cover up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY scheme.

An important component of Ayushman Bharat programme is to establish Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWCs) in the country, now known as Ayushman Arogya Mandir. Ayushman Arogya Mandir integrates promotive, preventive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative aspects of universal health coverage with the goal of providing comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) close to people’s homes.

As of 18^th December 2023, the cumulative achievement reported in these Ayushman Arogya Mandirs is as follows:

• Footfall – 227.41 crore
• Wellness session – 2.81 crore
• Hypertension screening – 55.72 crore
• Diabetes screening – 48.49 crore
• Oral cancer screening – 32.83 crore
• Breast cancer screening – 14.92 crore
• Cervical cancer screening – 10.05 crore

Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has the courage and conviction to break the taboos of the past. Prime Minister went beyond the rulebook to do away with almost 2,000 obsolete rules, Dr Jitendra Singh said today.

PM Modi has also initiated a series of administrative reforms with the extensive use of technology to create an enabling environment, he said.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said this while addressing the 52^nd Pre-Retirement Counselling (PRC) Workshop in New Delhi.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Prime Minister has the courage and conviction to break the taboos of the past. Prime Minister went beyond the rulebook to do away with almost 2,000 obsolete rules.

“Rules such as denial of pension if an employee rendered less than 10 years of service, missing employees denied entitled benefits till seven years have passed, dependent divorcee daughters not granted pension benefits, all such obstructionist rules were scrapped,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, administrative initiatives under the leadership of PM Modi, such as the Pre-Retirement Counselling workshops, Anubhav Awards and Pension Adalat have ensured timely disbursal of pensionary benefits to the large number of retiring employees every year, he said.

“Ease of Living was made possible for the retired employees by first introducing Digital Life Certificate for continuation of pension and now Face Recognition Technology has been introduced for DLC. Bhavishya portal, Digilocker, CPENGRAMS exclusively for Pensioners have been launched to facilitate retiring and retired employees,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, PRC Workshops have been made comprehensive and integrated with all concerned Departments including Pension disbursing banks, CGHS and SCOVA meetings institutionalised with Pensioners Associations, reflecting the ‘Whole of Government’ approach.

Stating that today there are three crore pensioners, more than the working employees, Dr Jitendra Singh said, they constitute a resource pool who will help achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat@2047.

“When India celebrates its centenary of Independence, the youth will shape the Viksit Bharat@2047, along with valuable support by a growing population of veterans,” he said.

Secretary, DoP&PW & Secretary, DARPG, Shri V. Srinivas; DG, CGHS, Smt. Roli Singh; CGDA, Ministry of Defence, Shri SG Dastidar; and CGM, SBI, Ms Shalini Kacker also spoke on the occasion.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacted with the participants of the Grand Finale of Smart India Hackathon 2023 and addressed them today via video conferencing.

The Prime Minister interacted with Mr Soikat Das and Mr Protik Saha from National Institute of Engineering, Mysuru, Karnataka who worked on the theme of Transportation and Logistics by the Ministry of Coal. They are building an IoT-based system for railway cargo. The Prime Minister told them that the Hackathon is a learning opportunity for him too and he is always eager to interact with the participants. Looking at the beaming faces of the participants, the Prime Minister said that their enthusiasm, willpower and desire for nation-building has become the identity of India’s youth power. The team which included students from Bangladesh too informed the Prime Minister that they are trying to address the problem of under and overloading of railway coal wagons which leads to losses or fines. They are using IoT and AI-based technologies for that. The team comprises 6 members 3 each from Bangladesh and India. The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that their effort will benefit Indian railways, which is undergoing a transformative phase. He informed that logistics is the focus area and hoped that many more students from Bangladesh come to India in future and mentioned that the ‘Study in India ‘ programme will help such students.

Ms Tiwari Harshita S and Mr Jethwa Jay P from Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad

worked on the project of improving the medium-resolution images received by the ISRO’s Moonlander by converting them to super-resolution images using image processing and AI to create a hazard map of the moon. The output of the project will help determine a safe landing spot and navigation path for future missions. The Prime Minister suggested getting supervision and guidance from the team at ISRO along with various space startups in the country. The Prime Minister said that India’s space program has become a ray of hope for the world after Chandrayan 3’s success and has changed the outlook of foreign nations towards India. He underlined that the present era is a perfect time period for the youth who wish to contribute towards India’s space sector as he mentioned the space sector being opened up to the private sector for the youth to flourish. He also mentioned ISRO opening up its facilities for new-age startups and suggested they visit IN-SPACe headquarters located in Ahmedabad.

Ankit Kumar and Syed Siddiqui Hussain from Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Sambalpur, Odisha worked on Open Innovation in the context of mental health of children and created a rating that will help parents and medical professionals by forewarning them. On the urging of the Prime Minister, a woman member of the team also briefed the Prime Minister about the project. Congratulating the team for picking up an important area, the Prime Minister elaborated on the problem of mental health among the young population and emphasized the importance of the Education Department working on such issues and exploring ways to scale up and deploy the discovered solution in educational institutions. “Mental health of the youth is important for making India Viksit”, he said. He also told them about the MY-India portal.

Ms Reshma Masthutha R from Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati, Assam interacted with the Prime Minister using the AI tool Bhashini. Bhashini tool for real-time translation was used for the first time at such an event. The Prime Minister emphasized that Ms Reshma and her team who hail from the South of India are true ambassadors of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Her team worked on creating input-based AI generative designs of components of hydropower plants using a web application, thereby helping India become a self-reliant nation in energy and reducing dependency on fossil fuels. The Prime Minister stressed finding ways to connect the power sector with artificial intelligence as both are extremely important for Viksit Bharat and critical to shaping India’s future. He also stressed the need to achieve efficiency using AI-based solutions in power production, and power transmission along with monitoring consumption. Highlighting the government’s achievement of transmitting electricity to every village and family in the past years, PM Modi emphasized the government’s focus on small-scale solar plants in agricultural fields and rooftop solar plants in towns and suggested finding AI solutions to the same. He also requested them to visit the Northeast.

Mr Rishabh S Vishwamithra from Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh worked on Blockchain and Cyber Security by NTRO to provide solutions for detecting phishing domains using artificial intelligence. The Prime Minister, talking about the ever-evolving challenges of cyber fraud, emphasized the need for high alertness in the context of new technologies. He mentioned deep fake videos by generative AI and stressed the need to be vigilant before believing any photo or video. He mentioned India’s campaign to create a global framework for AI.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed happiness about the dedication of the young generation to provide solutions for the problems of the country. He reiterated the success of previous hackathons. Startups and solutions that came out of the previous hackathons are helping both the government and society.

Recalling the mantra of 21st century India i.e. Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan and Jai Anusandhan, PM Modi said that every Indian is forsaking the inertia of status quo. Mentioning India’s rise as the third largest economy the Prime Minister talked about India’s UPI success, vaccine success during the pandemic.

Addressing the young innovators and domain experts, PM Modi reiterated the importance of the current time period that will decide the direction of the next one thousand years. The Prime Minister asked them to understand the uniqueness of the current time as many factors have come together, such as India being one of the youngest countries in the world, its talent pool, stable and strong government, booming economy and unprecedented emphasis on science and technology.

“Technology has become a big part of our lives today”, the Prime Minister stressed. Emphasizing the role of young innovators, he pointed out that an upgraded version of technology comes up just when one starts getting used to it.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the next 25 years of India’s Amrit Kaal will be a defining period for the young innovators. He underlined the common goal of a self-reliant India and stated the objective of not importing any new and being dependent on other nations. Giving the example of defence sector which is working towards self-reliance, he pointed out that India is forced to import some defence technologies. He also stressed the need for self-reliance in semiconductor and chip technology. PM Modi also highlighted India’s high aspirations in the quantum technology and hydrogen energy sectors. He said that the government is giving special emphasis to all such sectors by creating a modern ecosystem of the 21st century, but its success depends on the success of the youth.

PM Modi told the young innovators that “the world is confident that in India it will find low-cost, quality, sustainable and scalable solutions to global challenges. Our Chandrayaan mission has increased the expectations of the world manifold” and asked them to innovate accordingly. Explaining the goal of Hackathong the Prime Minister stated “The aim of Smart India Hackathon is to solve the country’s problems and create employment through solutions. Through Smart India Hackathon, the youth power of the country is extracting the Amrit of solutions for developed India.” Expressing trust in the youth power of the nation, the Prime Minister asked them to keep the resolution of Viksit Bharat in mind while finding a solution to any problem. “Whatever you do, may it be the best. You have to do such work that the world follows you” PM Modi concluded.

Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan made his presence virtually.

Background

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of youth-led development, Smart India Hackathon (SIH) is a nationwide initiative to provide students a platform to solve the pressing problems of Ministries and Departments of the Government, industries and other organizations. Launched in 2017, Smart India Hackathon has gained massive popularity among young innovators. In the last five editions, innovative solutions have emerged in different domains and stand out as established startups.

This year, the Grand Finale of SIH is being held from 19th to 23rd December. In SIH 2023, more than 50,000 ideas were received from 44,000 teams, which is almost a sevenfold increase compared to the first edition of SIH. Over 12,000 participants and more than 2500 mentors will participate in the grand finale scheduled at 48 nodal centers across the country. A total of 1282 teams have been shortlisted this year for the grand finale to provide solutions on various themes including Space Technology, Smart Education, Disaster Management, Robotics and Drones, Heritage and Culture etc.

The participating teams will tackle and provide solutions for 231 problem statements (176 software and 55 hardware) posted by 51 departments of 25 Union Ministers and State governments. The total prize for Smart India Hackathon 2023 is more than Rs 2 crore, where each winning team will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh per problem statement.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received a telephone call today from the Prime Minister of Israel, H.E. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu.

PM Netanyahu briefed Prime Minister on the recent developments in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

The two leaders shared concerns regarding the safety of maritime traffic.

Prime Minister reiterated the need for continued humanitarian aid for the affected population and emphasized an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict, including the release of all hostages, through dialogue and diplomacy.

The two leaders agreed to remain in touch.

In his address after inaugurating the “Good Governance Week 2023” in New Delhi today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh lauded change in work culture following a series of Governance reforms brought under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in the last over nine years.

Best Practices in Good Governance introduced in recent years also reflect change within us and in our attitude, said the Minister.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, these Good Governance reforms have a long-term socioeconomic impact as well.

With PM Modi’s policy of ‘Maximum Governance, Minimum Government’, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Government has today brought transparency and citizen participation towards achieving ‘Ease of Living” for the common man.

“The colonial era practice of attestation of documents by Gazetted Officers was abolished soon after PM Modi first took office as Prime Minister in 2014. In January 2016, Interviews were abolished for lower Grade posts in Government, with merit the sole criteria for selection,” he said.

Dr JItendra Singh said PM Modi has initiated a visible change in work culture, both in the Executive and Polity. Optimum use of technology is being made to achieve transparency and delivery of services to the common man, he said.

“If we have to grow in this global world, we have to follow these global strategies, the global culture. This is what has happened in the last 9-10 years, it’s not documented, it’s not written, but it’s happening within us. I don’t know how far we are realizing that it has (happened),” he said.

Pointing out that Public Grievances have multiplied tenfold since 2014 to over 20 lakhs annually on the CPGRAMS portal, Dr Jitendra Singh said, this reflects the growing faith reposed in the Government by the people in alleviating their problems.

“CPGRAMS is now well integrated with PG portals of several State Govts & UT Administration. Government aims to achieve Zero pendency in public grievances,” he said.

The DoPT Minister said, Pensions is the first Department in the Government to use Face Recognition Technology for submission of Digital Life Certificate to avail continuation of pension.

“We have about more than 10,000 pensioners above the age of 90, and almost 3,000 above 100 years of age, drawing pension as much as their salary. And there the fingerprints become a little unreliable, so we hit upon the idea of face recognition,” he said.

Referring to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Modi government amended it after 30 years in 2018 with an aim to make the bribe giver equally culpable.

“On the one hand, as the Prime Minister said, ‘Zero Tolerance towards corruption’ and on the other hand, a performing officer deserves to be given full protection and an enabling working environment,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Mission Karmayogi is another success story.

“In the Rozgar Mela, we have introduced Mission Karmayogi Prarambh. Any post, any department, you train yourself for that,” he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, Swachhata turned into a mass movement after the PM spoke about it from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Swachhata lent dignity to the women folk, he said.

“Today government has earned more than Rs.1,100 crore just by disposing of scrap, so we’ve also contributed to the nation’s economy,” he said.

During the Inaugural Session of the Good Governance Week, Dr Jitendra Singh launched CPGRAMS Mobile app and e-office Advanced Analytics Dashboard. He also released DARPG publications, – Journey of 25 Regional Conferences from 2014-2023, Annual Report of CPGRAMS 2023 and a Coffee Table Book on Special Campaign 3.0.

Secretaries to Govt of India, besides senior government functionaries from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were present at the function.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Labour & Employment Shri Bhupender Yadav today said India has gained a global stature under Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership and the world recognises its leadership in climate action, innovation and technology.

Addressing a press conference on India’s Rising Stature Globally Shri Yadav said, “India successfully reached the Moon spending just Rs 615 crore. India is the first country to reach Moon’s south pole. One of the most significant takeaways from India’s space journey with Chandrayaan 3 is the importance of self-reliance. While India’s initial missions leaned on international partnerships, Chandrayaan-3 was a step towards self-sufficiency.”

Shri Yadav said, “This has been made possible by the visionary leadership of Shri Narendra Modi ji.”

The Union Minister drew attention to how India surprised the world with its response to Covid pandemic. “When the Covid pandemic struck, the world thought India would collapse. Not only did India not collapse but its response to Covid became an example for the world. India carried out not just the largest vaccination drive but also the world’s fastest such drive. What’s more? The vaccines were Made in India. India also helped countries in need with vaccines. India’s Covid vaccine Maitri programme has helped more than 100 nations.”

Highlighting the global praise India gathered for its Covid response,Shri Yadav said, “WHO has also acknowledged that ‘a prepared India is a prepared world’.”

Speaking of India’s economic resilience, Shri Yadav said, “There was fear that the Indian economy would collapse after Covid. But under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India turned the crisis into an opportunity. The world commended India’s efforts in combating COVID-19. International organisations like the IMF, World Bank, and others acknowledged India’s remarkable V-shaped economic recovery, surpassing that of China and the US.”

“When many doubted we will recover and that at best our recovery will be U-shaped, India bounced with a V-shaped recovery.”

He said the IMF, World Bank and several global heads have acknowledged India as the bright spot amid an otherwise global downturn. “In 2022, India likely topped its former colonial master Britain in gross domestic product, becoming the world’s fifth-largest economy. The World Bank forecasts India’s GDP growth for FY23/24 to be at 6.3%. India’s growth continues to outpace major economies like the US (2.1%), China (4.4%), and the Eurozone (0.7%) (IMF, October 2023),” Shri Yadav said.

He also drew attention to how global giants were turning to India as their manufacturing hub.

“Apple has started assembling its latest iPhone 15 in India. Taiwan’s Foxconn has teamed up with Vedanta to jointly make semiconductors in India,” the Minister highlighted.

Shri Yadav said India is set to overtake Germany in terms of GDP in 2025 and Japan in 2027 to become the third-largest economy after the US and China.

The Union Minister highlighted, “PM Modi has pledged to make India a developed country by 2047 when it celebrates the 100th anniversary of its independence, the realisation of Amrit Kaal.”

“Prime Minister Modi’s personal convictions about India’s role in the international system, its spiritual and civilizational roots that envisages the world as a family (Vasudhev Kutumbakam) and happiness for all (sarve bhavantu sukhinah) have been integrated into policymaking. This has helped him win the faith of the people including the Indian diaspora and this has instilled confidence in people about their own roots. This is because PM Modi believes that only a secure India that is confident of its place in the world will be able to deal with issues from a position of strength,” the Union Minister said.

Shri Yadav said that India’s soft power, including its rich cultural heritage, is playing a crucial role in its global dominance. India’s ancient traditions, such as Yoga and Ayurveda have gained worldwide popularity because of Shri Modi ji’s efforts. “The Oscar wins for Naatu Natu and The Elephant Whisperers is a big win for our soft power. Added to this is the Indian diaspora spread across the world which is fostering cultural exchanges and promoting India’s values, traditions, and ideas.”

The Union Minister drew attention to the fact that ever since Shri Narendra Modi ji assumed office as the Prime Minister of India, he has not enhanced India’s position at a global level but also left a huge impact on world leaders. World leaders have heaped praise on Modi ji unequivocally.

He said, “In the last 10 years, India has built a positive sentiment in the country at all levels. Today, our youth are becoming job givers rather than job seekers.  India is number 1 in starting new startups every day. We are Number 2 in the number of startups. Number 3 in largest start-up ecosystem. Today, India has the 3rd largest number of Unicorns in the world.  In 2021, we added a Unicorn every 29 days. In 2022, we added a Unicorn in every 9 days.”

Shri Yadav highlighted the positive gains made by India in climate action by the country that reflect global leadership.

“India has shown active participation in global climate change initiatives and commitment to renewable energy. We are among the 26 countries to have shared its National Communication with the UNFCCC based on Greenhouse Gas inventory of 2019 along with Initial Adaptation Communication. India has initiated forums for climate action such as International Solar Alliance, LEAD-IT, CDRI, IRIS, Green Credit Initiative and International Big Cat Alliance. India achieved in 2020-21 the renewable energy target it had set for 2030.”

This, the Union Minister said, has been made possible due to the leadership of PM Shri Modi ji who has set sustainable development and global cooperation in climate action as his priority area.

Shri Yadav also highlighted India’s efforts in peacekeeping efforts around the world.

“The country has also provided disaster relief to countries affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. We are a leading producer of generic medicines and affordable healthcare solutions. The country is also developing new technologies for healthcare, such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence. We have been sending aid to countries in the middle or violent conflicts or wars as a humanitarian duty.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated Swarved Mahamandir in Umaraha, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today. The Prime Minister paid tributes to the statue of Maharishi Sadafal Dev Ji Maharaj and also took a round tour of the temple complex.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that today is the second day of his visit to Kashi and that every moment spent in Kashi is filled with unprecedented experiences. Recalling the annual celebrations of Akhil Bhartiya Vihangam Yog Sansthan two years ago, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to become part of this year’s centenary celebrations and said that Vihangam Yog Sadhna has accomplished the unforgettable journey of a hundred years. He highlighted the contributions of Maharshi Sadafal Dev Ji towards knowledge and Yog in the previous century and said that its divine light has transformed the lives of millions of people around the world. On this auspicious occasion, the Prime Minister noted the organization of 25,000  kundiya Swarved Gyan Mahayajna. He expressed confidence that every offering to the Mahayajna will strengthen the resolve of Viksit Bhart. He bowed his head before Maharishi Sadafal Dev Ji and also paid his respects to all saints who have forwarded his vision.

The Prime Minister noted the collective efforts of government, society and Sant Samaj in the transformation of Kashi. The Prime Minister called Swarved Mahamandir an epitome of this collective spirit. The Prime Minister said that the temple is a captivating example of divinity as well as grandeur. “Swarved Mahamandir is a modern symbol of India’s social and spiritual strength”, he added. Describing the beauty and spiritual richness of the temple, the Prime Minister also called it a ‘Yoga and Gyan Teerth’.

Recalling the economic material and spiritual glory of India, PM Modi said that India never let material progress become a medium of geographical expansion or exploitation. “We pursued material progress through spiritual and humane symbols”, he said. He gave examples of vibrant Kashi, Konark Temple, Sarnath, Gaya stupas, and universities like Nalanda and Takshashila. “India’s architecture reached unimaginable heights around these spiritual constructs”, PM Modi pointed out.

The Prime Minister underlined that it was the symbols of India’s faith that were targeted by foreign invaders and reiterated the need to revive them after independence. Lamenting the thought process behind not taking pride in one’s heritage, the Prime Minister said that the revival of such symbols would have resulted in the strengthening of the country’s unity as he gave the example of Somnath temple which remained neglected for decades after independence. This, Shri Modi said, led to the country slipping into a feeling of inferiority. “The wheels of time have turned again today and India is taking pride in its heritage and proclaiming freedom from the mentality of slavery”, the Prime Minister said. He said that the work which began in Somnath has now turned into a full-fledged campaign and gave the example of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Mahakal Mahalok, Kedarnath Dham and Buddha Circuit. PM Modi also mentioned the ongoing work on Ram Circuit and soon to be inaugurated Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The Prime Minister emphasized that holistic development is possible when a nation incorporates its social realities and cultural identities. “That is why, today, rejuvenation of our ‘teerths’ is taking place and India is creating new records of modern infrastructure creation”, the Prime Minister said. He took the example of Kashi to illustrate this point. New Kashi Vishwanath Dham premises, which completed two years last week, has imparted new momentum to the economy and jobs in the city. “Now the meaning of Banaras is -Development, modern facilities along with faith and cleanliness and transformation”, said the Prime Minister giving details of improved connectivity. He mentioned 4-6 laning of roads, ring road, upgradation of railway station, new trains, dedicated freight corridor, renovation of Ganga Ghats, Ganga Cruise, modern hospitals, new and modern dairy, natural farming along Ganga, training institutes for the youth and jobs through Saansad Rozgar Melas.

Highlighting the role of modern development in making spiritual journeys more accessible, the Prime Minister mentioned excellent connectivity to Swaraveda Temple which is located outside the city of Varanasi. He said that it will emerge as a major centre for the devotees coming to Banaras, thereby opening avenues for business and employment opportunities in surrounding villages.

“Vihangam Yoga Sansthan is as dedicated to spiritual welfare as it is to serving society”, the Prime Minister said, adding that Maharshi Sadaphal Dev Ji was a Yog devotee Saint as well as a freedom fighter who fought for independence. He emphasized the need to carry forward his resolutions in Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. The Prime Minister put forth 9 resolutions and urged them to comply with them. Firstly, the Prime Minister mentioned saving water and creating awareness about water conservation, second – creating awareness about digital transactions, third – increasing cleanliness efforts in villages, localities and cities, fourth – promoting and making use of indigenous Made in India products, fifth – traveling and exploring India, sixth- increasing awareness about natural farming among farmers, seventh – including millets or Shri Ann in your daily life, eighth – making sports, fitness or yoga an integral part of life, and lastly supporting at least one poor family to uproot poverty in India.

Throwing light on the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, which witnessed the Prime Minister’s participation yesterday evening and later today, the Prime Minister urged every religious leader to spread awareness about this journey. “This should become our personal resolution”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister, Shri Narendra Nath Pandey, Sadguru Acharya Shri Swatantradeo Ji Maharaj and Sant Pravar Shri Vigyandeo Ji Maharaj were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today. Shri Modi flagged off the Kanyakumari – Varanasi Tamil Sangamam train and launched multi language and braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature on the occasion. He also took a walkthrough of the exhibition and witnessed a cultural program. Kashi Tamil Sangamam aims to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi – two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed everyone not as guests but as his family members. He underlined that arriving in Kashi from Tamil Nadu simply means traveling from one abode of Lord Mahadev to the other namely Madurai Meenakshi to Kashi Vishalakshi. Highlighting the unique love and connection between the people of Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the Prime Minister expressed confidence in the hospitality of the citizens of Kashi. Along with the blessings of Lord Mahadev, the Prime Minister emphasized that the participants will return to Tamil Nadu with Kashi’s culture, delicacies and memories. Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the use of Artificial Intelligence in real-time translation of his speech in Tamil for the first time and reiterated its usage in future events.

The Prime Minister flagged off the Kanyakumari – Varanasi Tamil Sangamam train and launched multi language and braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature on the occasion. Quoting Subramania Bharathi, the Prime Minister said that vibrations of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam are spreading throughout the country and the world.

Shri Modi noted that lakhs of people including heads of mutts, students, artists, authors, craftsmen and professionals have become part of Kashi Tamil Sangamam since its inception last year and it has become an effective platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas. He expressed satisfaction on the joint initiative by Banaras Hindu University and IIT, Chennai where IIT, Chennai is providing online support to thousands of students from Varanasi in Science and Mathematics under the Vidya Shakti Initiative. These recent developments, the Prime Minister said, are proof of the emotional and creative bond between the people of Kashi and Tamil Nadu.

The Prime Minister said that “Kashi Tamil Sangamam furthers the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.” This spirit was behind the organization of Kashi Telugu Sangamam and Saurashtra Kashi Sangamam, he said. The spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat got further strength from the new tradition of celebration of other statehood days in all the Raj Bhavans of the country. PM Modi also recalled the establishment of the sacred Sengol in the new Parliament under the supervision of the Aadinam saints reflecting the same spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat. “This flow of spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ is infusing the soul of our nation today”, he said.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that India’s diversity has been moulded in the spiritual consciousness as signified by Great Pandian King Parakram Pandian who had said that every water in India is Gangajal, and every geographical location of the country is Kashi. Reflecting on the time when the centers of faith in Northern India were constantly under attack by foreign powers, the Prime Minister highlighted King Parakram Pandian’s efforts to keep the heritage of Kashi alive with the construction of Tenkasi and Sivakasi temples. Shri Modi also recalled the fascination of the dignitaries taking part in the G20 Summit towards India’s diversity.

The Prime Minister said that in other countries, nation has been defined in political terms whereas India, as a nation, is constructed out of spiritual beliefs.  India, PM Modi said, has been unified by saints like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanjuam. The Prime Minister also recalled the role of yatras of Aadina saints to Shiv Sthans. “Due to these Yatras, India has remained eternal and unwavering as a nation”, Shri Modi added.

Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction with the peaking interests of the country’s youth towards ancient traditions as he observed that a large number of people, students and youth from Tamil Nadu are traveling to Kashi, Prayag, Ayodhya and other pilgrimage sites. “Darshan of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, who established Rameshwaram along with Lord Mahadev, is divine”, the Prime Minister said, noting that special arrangements are also being made for Ayodhya visit of those attending the Kashi Tamil Sangamam.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need for knowing each other’s culture as this increases trust and develops rapport. Giving an example of the two great temple cities, Kashi and Madurai, Shri Modi said that Tamil literature talks about both Vagai and Gangai (Ganga). “When we come to know of this heritage we feel the depth of our relations”, he said.

Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the confluence of Kashi – Tamil Sangamam will continue empowering India’s heritage, and strengthening the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister hoped for a pleasant stay for those visiting Kashi and also thanked renowned singer Shriram for captivating the entire audience with his performance.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Ministers of State, Dr L Murugan among others were present on the occasion.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today. Shri Modi took a walkthrough of the stalls and visited the Viksit Bharat Yatra Van and Quiz event. The Prime Minister also interacted with beneficiaries of various government schemes and also addressed them on the occasion. During the program, the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Oath was also administered.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister acknowledged the participation of all Members of Parliament in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in their respective constituencies across India and said that he is taking part in VBSY in Varanasi as a Parliamentarian and a ‘Sevak’ of the city. Prime Minister Modi underlined the need to ensure the delivery of government schemes to the deserved beneficiaries in a time-bound manner and without hassle and said, “Beneficiaries need not run around the government. The government must reach out to the beneficiaries instead.” Informing that 4 crore families have been handed pucca homes under PMAY, Shri Modi pointed out the need for saturation of any schemes and emphasized the need to reach out to the people who have been left behind. The Prime Minister said that VBSY aims to record the experience of the beneficiaries while including those who have been left behind so far. “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is an examination for me”, the Prime Minister said, adding that he wants to hear from the people if the desired results have been achieved. Recalling his interaction with the beneficiaries a while ago, the Prime Minister mentioned the benefits of schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Ayushman Cards. Highlighting the impact of positive work on the officers who are implementing the government schemes on the ground level, Shri Modi said that it gives them a renewed sense of enthusiasm and contentment. “Impact of implementation of government schemes on the ground unlocks a new dimension of happiness in the government employees, and it is being made possible by Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction and elaborated on the transformative power of knowing the impact of the schemes firsthand. He said that knowing that the schemes are ridding kitchens of smoke, pucca houses infusing new confidence, the poor section feeling empowered and reduction in the differences between rich and poor are all sources of great satisfaction.

Prime Minister Modi said that successful schemes create a sense of ownership among the citizens. A person who gets a loan and other facilities feels that this is his country, his railways, his office, his hospital. When this feeling of ownership arises, the desire to do something for the nation also arises, PM Modi said. This will instill confidence among the people for a better future for the coming generations.

Prime Minister Modi recalled the time before independence when every action initiated in the country was for the common goal of achieving an independent India. “Every citizen was contributing towards independence in their way”, the Prime Minister said acknowledging that it created an atmosphere of unity which ultimately led to the Britshers leaving India. The Prime Minister emphasized inculcating a similar vision to fulfill the resolve of a Viksit Bharat and taking the nation forward with respect for every individual. “Once the seeds of Viksit Bharat are sown, the result of the next 25 years will be reaped by our future generations”, he said, “Every Indian needs this mindset and resolve today.”

He said that the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is a national endeavour, not a work of any political party, a sacred duty. People should directly participate in this. “If one is satisfied just by reading about it in the newspapers, he is losing out on something important”, said the Prime Minister. He also expressed personal satisfaction to be able to attend various facets of the Yatra.

He asked beneficiaries and citizens to actively propagate the word about the Yatra as ‘positivity begets positive atmosphere”, he said. Calling VBSY a grand resolution, the Prime Minister exhorted it to be realized through ‘Sabka Prayas’. He concluded that a Viksit Bharat that will be financially strong will address and resolve all the problems of its citizens. “The path of getting rid of all difficulties passes through the resolution of Viksit Bharat. I assure the people of Kashi that as your representative and for the national responsibility given by you, I will not spare any efforts”, he concluded.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building at Surat Airport, Gujarat today. He also took a walkthrough of the new terminal building.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“The new integrated terminal building in Surat marks a significant leap in the city’s infrastructure development. This state-of-the-art facility will not only enhance the travel experience but also boost economic growth, tourism and connectivity.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Diamond Bourse today in Surat, Gujarat. Before the program, the Prime Minister also visited Panchtatva Garden, viewed the Green Building of Surat Diamond Bourse & SPINE-4, and signed the visitor booklet. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister had also inaugurated the new terminal building at Surat Airport.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that a new diamond has been added to the magnificence of Surat city. “It is not an ordinary diamond, but the best in the world”, Shri Modi said underlining that the radiance of the Surat Diamond Bourse is overshadowing the largest of edifices in the world. He credited the humbleness of Shri Vallabhbhai Lakhani and Shri Laljibhai Patel and the spirit of taking everyone along behind the success of such a huge mission as he congratulated the entire team of  Surat Diamond Bourse on the occasion. “Surat Diamond Bourse will now come to the fore along with India’s pride during discussions about diamond bourses in the world”, he emphasized. The Prime Minister said, “Surat Diamond Bourse showcases the abilities of Indian designs, designers, materials and concepts. This building is a symbol of New India’s capabilities and resolutions.” Shri Modi congratulated the entire diamond industry, the people of Surat, Gujarat and India on the inauguration of the Surat Diamond Bourse. Recalling his walkthrough of the Surat Diamond Bourse earlier today, the Prime Minister highlighted the architecture and mentioned the Green Building which can become an example for environment advocates around the world, the overall architecture of the building which can be used as a tool for learning by architecture and structural engineering students, and the Panchtatva Garden which can be used as an example for a lesson in landscaping.

Talking about the two other gifts for Surat, the Prime Minister mentioned the inauguration of a new airport terminal at Surat and the elevation of the status of Surat Airport as an International airport. The gathering gave a standing ovation for the fulfillment of this long pending demand.  He informed about the commencement of the Surat Dubai flight and the soon-to-start flight to Hong Kong. “With Surat, Gujarat now boasts three international airports”, he added.

Throwing light on his personal connections and learning experiences with the city of Surat, the Prime Minister mentioned the spirit of Sabka Saath Sabka Prayas. “The soil of Surat differentiates it from the rest”, Shri Modi said, noting that the cotton produced in the region is unmatched. Highlighting Surat’s journey of highs and lows, the Prime Minister stated that Surat’s magnificence attracted the British when they first came to India. He recalled the time when Surat was the manufacturing hub of the largest ships in the world and the port of Surat would hoist flags of ships from 84 countries. “Now, that number will increase to 125”, he added. Throwing light on the hardships faced by the city, the Prime Minister mentioned serious health ailments and floods and recalled how the spirit of the city was questioned. The Prime Minister expressed confidence noting today’s occasion and mentioned that Surat has become one of the top 10 growing cities in the world. He highlighted Surat’s excellent street food, cleanliness and skill development. He underlined that Surat which was known as the Sun City earlier, transformed itself into Diamond City, Silk City and Bridge City through the hard work and dedication of its people. “Today, Surat is the Dream City for lakhs of youth”, he exclaimed. He also noted Surat’s stride in the IT sector and said that it is historic in itself for a modern city like Surat to get such a magnificent building in the form of Diamond Bourse.

The Prime Minister said, “People of Surat know Modi’s guarantee for a very long time.” He said that the diamond bourse is an example of Modi’s guarantee for the people of Surat. Recalling his interaction with the people associated with the diamond trade and the 2014 World Diamond Conference in Delhi, where special notified zones for the diamond industry were announced, the Prime Minister said that the journey has led to a big diamond center in the form of Surat Diamond Bourse, making possible many aspects of diamond trade under one roof. “For artisan, workman and businessman, for all, Surat Diamond Bourse has become a one-stop shop”, he added. The Bourse will have facilities like international banking, safe vaults and jewelry mall leading to 1.5 lakh new jobs, he informed.

Further dwelling on the capabilities of Surat, the Prime Minister mentioned India’s stride from 10th to 5th place in the world economy. “Now Modi has given the guarantee that, in the third innings, India will be among the top 3 economies of the world”, he said. The government has a roadmap for the next 25 years and is working on the goals of a 5 trillion dollar economy and a 10 trillion dollar economy, he added.

Mentioning the efforts to increase exports, the Prime Minister said that the country’s diamond industry will have a big role to play. He asked the titans of industry to explore ways of increasing Surat’s role in increasing the country’s exports. Stating the leading position of India in diamond jewelry exports, silver cut diamonds and lab-grown diamonds he pointed out that in overall global gems-jewelry exports, India’s share is just 3.5 percent. “If Surat decides, then our share in gems-jewelry export can touch double-digit”, the Prime Minister said, reiterating the government’s support for the sector. He mentioned measures like declaring the sector as a focus area for export promotion, promotion of patented design, diversification of export products, collaboration for better technology,  promotion of lab-grown or green diamonds and special provisions for green diamonds in the budget. He expressed confidence that the sector is bound to get benefitted from the positive global outlook towards India and the growing stature of ‘Make in India’ brand.

The Prime Minister said that the government is increasing the capacity of Surat to further the potential of the people by giving special emphasis on building modern infrastructure in the city. Highlighting Surat’s connectivity, Shri Modi mentioned Surat International Airport, Metro Rail service, and Surat’s Ports including Hazira Port, deep water LNG terminal and multi-cargo port. “Surat is continuously connecting with international trade centers. Very few cities in the world have such international connectivity”, he added. He also mentioned Surat’s connectivity with the Bullet Train Project and the ongoing work on the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor which will strengthen rail connectivity of Surat to Northern and Eastern India. Delhi-Mumbai Expressway is also going to provide new opportunities to the business of Surat. The Prime Minister urged everyone to take maximum advantage of the city’s modern connectivity and said, “If Surat moves forward, Gujarat will move forward. If Gujarat moves forward then the country will move forward.” Concluding the address, the Prime Minister also conveyed his best wishes for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit scheduled for next month

Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, Union Ministers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya and Shri Purshottam Rupala,  Union Minister of State, Smt Darshana Jardosh, Member of Parliament, Shri C R Patil, Chairman of Surat Diamond Bourse, Shri Vallabhbhai Lakhani and Shri Laljibhai Patel from Dharmanandan Diamond Ltd were present on the occasion.

Background

Surat Diamond Bourse will be the World’s largest and most modern center for international diamond and jewelry business. It will be a global center for trading of both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewelry. Bourse will comprise state-of-the-art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for Import – Export; a Jewelry mall for retail jewelry business and a facility for International Banking and Safe Vaults.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacted and addressed the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra via video conferencing today. During the programme, the Prime Minister flagged off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to flag off the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in the five states of  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, and remarked that the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ vehicle is now reaching all parts of the country. In its one-month journey, the Prime Minister informed that VBSY has reached thousands of villages as well as 1500 cities which include smaller cities and towns. Noting that the VBSY could not begin earlier due to the Model Code of Conduct during elections, the Prime Minister urged the newly elected governments of the five states to rapidly expand the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra in their state.

The Prime Minister underlined the Jan Andolan aspect of Viksit Bharat Yatra Sankalp. “Even though Modi has flagged off the Vikas Bharat Sankalp Yatra, the truth is that today the countrymen have taken charge of it”, he said. He noted the enthusiasm and competition for welcoming the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee ki Gadi’ during his interaction with the beneficiaries.

Noting that it is the fourth occasion when the Prime Minister has connected with the journey of VBSY, he mentioned interacting with people from rural areas where he spoke about PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, natural farming, aspects of rural economy, and making India’s villages developed. Noting the involvement of a large number of people from urban areas in today’s program, PM Modi said that today’s focus will be on urban development.

The Prime Minister said, “Our cities have a huge role in the determination of a developed India. Whatever development took place for a long time after independence, its scope was limited to some big cities of the country. But today we are focusing on the development of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in the country. Giving strength. Hundreds of small cities of the country are going to strengthen the grand edifice of developed India.” In this regard, he gave examples of AMRUT Mission And Smart City Mission that are upgrading basic facilities in the small cities. These upgrades are directly impacting ease of living, ease of travel and ease of doing business. Poor, neo-middle class, middle class or rich people, all are getting the benefit of these enhanced facilities, said the Prime Minister.

“Government is focussed on reducing your issues as a family member”, the Prime Minister remarked. Highlighting the assistance provided by the government during the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister mentioned the disbursal of thousands of crores of rupees into the bank accounts of 20 crore women, ensuring free covid vaccine, free ration for poor families, and assistance worth lakhs of crores to small businesses. “Modi’s guarantee begins when expectations from others cease”, the Prime Minister remarked. PM Modi also mentioned connecting the street vendors and hawkers to the banking system who can now avail of loans easily under the PM SVANidhi Yojna. Noting that more than 50 lakh people have availed the bank’s assistance under PM SVANidhi Yojna so far, the Prime Minister informed that 1.25 lakh people have applied for PM SVANidhi through the VBSY. “More than 75 percent of the beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi Yojana are members of Dalit, backward and tribal communities including about 45 percent women beneficiaries”, the Prime Minister said adding that Modi’s guarantee is useful for those who did not have any guarantee for the bank itself.

The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to social security for urban dwellers. He elaborated on the expanding security net for the people in the urban areas. Atal Pension Scheme has 6 crore subscribers ensuring 5 thousand rupees monthly pension after the age of 60. PM Suraksha Bima Yojana and Jeevan Jyoti Yojana are providing life cover up to 2 lakh rupees. Claims worth 17 thousand crore have already been settled under these schemes, he informed. He requested everyone to get registered with these schemes and strengthen their security shield.

“Government is committed to saving money for urban families, be it exemption in income tax or low-cost treatment”, the Prime Minister said. Speaking about the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, the Prime Minister highlighted the inclusion of crores of urban poor where the Ayushman Card has helped them save Rs 1 lakh crore on medical expenses. He also mentioned the Jan Aushadhi Kendras where medicines are made available at an 80 percent discount, thereby helping save more than Rs 25,000 crores for the poor and middle class living in cities. The Prime Minister also informed about the government’s decision to increase the number of Jan Aushadhi Kendras to 25,000. Shri Modi touched upon the revolution of LED bulbs in the country under the Ujaala Scheme which has significantly reduced the electricity bills for urban families.

The Prime Minister also mentioned how the One Nation One Ration Card is helping migrant laborers. He also informed that in the last 9 years, more than 4 crore housing units have been given to poor families, one core of which was provided to urban poor beneficiaries. “Our government is also providing every possible help to middle-class families in fulfilling their dream of owning a house,” he said, mentioning the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, efforts to ensure reasonable rents for those who do not have houses of their own and special complexes for migrant laborers.

The Prime Minister said, “Public transport is another major means of providing a better life to the poor and middle-class families in cities. The work that has been done for modern public transport in the last 10 years is incomparable” He informed that 15 new cities got Metro service in the last 10 years as work on Metro is either complete or underway in 27 cities. Under PM -Ebus Seva Abhiyan electric buses are being run in many cities. “Just two-three days ago, the Central Government introduced 500 new electric buses in Delhi also. Now the number of electric buses run by the Central Government in Delhi has crossed 1300”, he informed .

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister noted that the cities are great mediums to empower both the youth and women and said, “‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ vehicle is also empowering both youth power and women.” He urged everyone to take maximum advantage of VBSY and take the resolve of a Viskit Bharat forward.

Background

Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is being undertaken across the country with the aim of attaining saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that the benefits of these schemes reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.

Thousands of Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra beneficiaries from across the country joined the event. A large number of Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs and local-level representatives also joined the program.