Mini cities need to be developed for country’s development: PM

New Delhi, Feb 16 (HS): The Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the mini cities of the country have to be developed if the overall development of the country was needed.

He was addressing the people on Sunday while unveiling a 63 feet high statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Smriti Upavan, situated at Padaav.

Modi said that in the budget, the provisions have been made to provide Rs. 100 Cr. to the mini cities for their infrastructure development purposes which would come into its accounts.

He also inaugurated 36 developmental projects including a 430-bed Super-Specialty Government Hospital and laid foundation stone for 14 developmental projects.

“In just 21 months, this 430-bed hospital is ready to serve the people of Kashi and Purvanchal,” the PM said.

Addressing a gathering at Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Memorial Centre in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Deen Dayal Upadhyay Ji showed us the path of Antyodaya, which was the rise of the last person in the society.

Taking inspiration from this idea PM said that 21st century India was working for Antyodaya. He added that on this holy occasion, about Rs.1250 crore worth of projects which have been launched, would benefit the entire Purvanchal, including Varanasi.

“All these projects are part of the resolution of rejuvenation going on in the entire Purvanchal including Kashi for the last 5 years. In these years, development works worth about Rs. 25 thousand crores have been completed or in progress in Varanasi district,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the government has given top priority to roads, highways, waterways, railways, especially regarding infrastructure.

“These development works are not only taking the nation forward, but also generating employment opportunities, especially tourism-based employment, which has great potential in Kashi and surrounding areas,” he said adding, “a few days ago, the President of Sri Lanka who came here was mesmerized with the divine atmosphere here.”

In line with the Deen Dayal Ji’s thoughts that self-reliance and self-help should be at the center of all schemes, the Prime Minister said that efforts were constantly being made to bring these ideas into the government’s plans and culture.

Modi said that the government was continuously working to reach the last person in the society, to bring the benefits of development to them. “Now the situation is changing and now the last man in the society is given top priority,” he added.

While giving examples of Make in India, Startup India and Mudra Yojana schemes with figures, Prime Minister said that the government was continuously working to provide benefits of development to the person standing in the last line of society.

“Today, more than 50 crore countrymen, who have been assured free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, are the only people who have been on the last rung of development for 70 years.”

“90 lakh poor families got housing in the country, 1.5 crore families got gas connection under Ujjwala scheme,” said the PM.