Junagadh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of the various projects, in Junagarh on Thursday, Aug 23, 2018. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and MoS for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala are also seen. (PIB Photo via PTI) (PTI8_23_2018_000213B) *** Local Caption *** Gandhinagar : In a packed Thursday in his home state Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 1.15 lakh homes to women as a rakshabandhan gift, laid the foundation stone for a group water scheme, inaugurated a government hospital, a milk processing plant, and a girls hostel – all totaling a financial commitment of over Rs 2750 crores, delivered a convocation address, chaired a Somnath temple trust meeting and even coined a new slogan, ‘saaf niyat, sahi vikas’. Furthermore, he reiterated his commitment to ensure a house for every Indian over the next four years (2022).
At a public meeting in Jujwa village of Valsad district, the Prime Minister saw the collective ‘e-gruhpravesh’ of the 1.15 lakh residential units built at a cost of Rs 1,727 crores uder the Pradhanmantri awas yojna (rural), even as he spoke to beneficiary women across 26 districts. “It is a rakshabandhan gift to my sisters across Gujarat,” he said adding that it was his dream to ensure a house of his own for every Indian by 2022.
Modi did not forget to take his trademark swipe at the Congress saying it was more satisfying for him since it ensured that every paisa in a rupee is delivered to the beneficiary since no middleman is involved. He was apparently referring to a statement by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who had once said that for every rupee that leaves delhi only 11 paise reach the intended beneficiary. “Only the politicians were heard to build lavish homes in the days olf old, now even the commoners benefit.”
The Prime Minister also took the opportunity of his public engagements in his home state to replace his last election slogan of ‘saab ka sath, saab ka vikas’ with a new of ‘saaf niyat, sahi vikas’.
Delivering the fourth convocation address at the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar, Prime Minister Modi said that the development in this specialised stream of science was essential for detection of crime and to maintain balance in society through punishment of criminals. It is looking at the importance of DNA technology in forensic investigations that his government has approved the DNA technology (Use and Applications) Regulation Bill,2018.
Earlier, Modi also laid the foundation stone of the Rs 586 crore Astol group water supply scheme for the benefit of tribal villages in the tribal Dharampur and Kaprada talukas. “This water supply scheme is proof of our commitment to the smallest of tribal hamlet groupings,” he added.
The Prime Minister who inaugurated a clutch of projects in Junagadh town of saurashtra region including a government district hospital building, a girls hostel at the agricultural university and a milk processing plant in the cooperative sector worth over Rs 500 crores said that the Pradhan mantri jan Arogya yojna, also termed Ayushman Bharat, would transform the public health sector and ensure top class healthcare for the poor.
The government has started jan aushadhi stores to make medicines available cheaply. “India needs lot of doctors and para medical staff and the new medical colleges that are coming up will ensure it.”
Modi also attended a meeting of the Somnath Trust in Gandhinagar which was attended by former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel and BJP president Amit Shah.