By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 25: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, on Saturday, underlined how the works of the present government at the Centre have a spirit of service. He was addressing a Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra programme held at Laitkseh village under Mawryngkneng Block of East Khasi Hills.
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 said that in the scope of cleanliness in villages, the nation is aiming for saturation.
Throwing light on other achievements post-2014, the MoS spoke about LPG connections rising from 50-55 per cent of villages to approximately 100 per cent at present, saturation of administration of life-saving vaccines to children, tapped water connections to households, which he said have increased manifolds in the last nine years.
While explaining the spirit behind ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’, he 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, the MoS added.
Verma expressed his belief that there will be 100 per cent achievement in the saturation of government schemes, while adding 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 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 realise their dreams.
Verma 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.
On the other hand, 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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi are not confined to governance, they have a huge socio-economic implication as well, he said.
Hek recalled that the schemes and programmes in the state under the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary and Fisheries department meant 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 to 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 per cent 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.
Many vllagers came forward to share their experiences after availing the government schemes.
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 self-help groups (SHGs) amused the audience with their variety and zest.