New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday interacted with beneficiaries of various schemes at Surat's Olpad in Gujarat and emphasised India's economic progress saying India has become the fifth largest economy in the world.
"Increasing GDP figures and overtaking the UK are evident examples of our continuous growth. This progress is not ordinary and we need to maintain this enthusiasm," he said.
Highlighting the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the Prime Minister mentioned, "The whole world has appreciated our efforts of implementing the largest vaccination program during COVID-19 and the way it has helped us in revitalising the economic activities."
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Virtually interacting with citizens of Surat, PM Modi stated that it was a matter of good fortune for him to see the confluence of thousands of beneficiaries of different schemes, "a double engine government, Bhupendra-Narendra Sarkar". According to the Prime Minister, 97% of rural households in Gujarat are receiving tap water.
Mentioning various the BJP government's schemes, he said: "One Nation, One Ration Card has benefitted migrant workers the most as it facilitates ration distribution to the beneficiary in any part of the country."
"The special Mega Medical Camp is a way of connecting people through Sewa," he added, congratulating CM Bhupendra Patel for the initiative.
"Better health paves the way for a better future. With this, in the last years, we have laid special emphasis on health infrastructure as well as on public awareness and on prevention of diseases," PM Modi mentioned.
He emphasised that a strong network of multi-specialty hospitals has been set up all over Gujarat. "Medical colleges have increased from 11 to 31 in the last two decades. AIIMS is also coming up and many medical colleges are proposed," he stated.
Rs 2 Lakh Crore Directly Transferred To Bank Accounts Of Farmers Across India: PM Modi
PM Modi highlighted the government's efforts towards agriculture and supporting farmers as he said: "It is the priority of our government to support crores of small farmers of the country at every step. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi is one such effort. Under this scheme, about Rs 2 lakh crore has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of farmers across the country."
"In the earlier governments, big announcements were made in the name of farmers, but nothing reached the farmers' account. The double-engine government is working to keep the interests of the farmers paramount. Due to this honest intention, the farmer of the country and Gujarat are blessing us again and again," he added.
The Primer Minister also said that three crore houses were built for the poor across India in the last 8 years and of these, 10 lakh houses were constructed in Gujarat alone.
The interaction comes as the ruling BJP looks to ensure that it remains in power in Gujarat while the new entrant AAP and the Congress in opposition have started announcing their poll promises to woo voters with the western state set to go to polls later this year.