AMN / NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the previous Congress-led UPA governments for not electrifying villages despite remaining in power for maximum time post-Independence. Interacting with the beneficiaries of Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana and Saubhagya Yojana through video conferencing, Mr Modi said that his government is not only focussed on electrification but has also reformed the distribution systems across the country.
He said that it was ‘unfortunate’ that over 18,000 villages in the country were not electrified in last 70 years. Mr Modi reminded that in 2005, then government had promised to electrify every village by 2009. He said the then President of the ruling party went a step ahead and said the government will bring electricity to every home. Needless to say, none of that had happened during their long tenure.
The Prime Minister said 28th April 2018 was a historic day for India’s development story, Leisang village of Manipur became the last village of India to be connected to a power grid. Mr Modi said most of the 18,000 villages were in remote areas, hilly areas, areas with poor connectivity. He said it was not easy to reach those villages but a dedicated team of people did it.
Mr Modi said Eastern India can play an even bigger role in India’s development journey. He said one of the priorities for government is the development of Eastern India. He said about 14,500 villages out of 18,000 villages not electrified were in Eastern India and government have changed that.
Mr Modi said 15th August 2015, he had made a promise, to electrify every village in 1000 days. He said under Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Gram Jyoti Yojana government strived to reach all dark corners of India.
During the interaction, Aarti Sharma from Jammu and Kashmir said for the first time we got a Prime Minister who cares for us and electrified our village.
People from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh said now that now there children can study better and they can see TV and also purchase heaters.