Prime Minister Narendra Modi today addressed ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’ at historic Ridge Maidan Shimla. This programme marks the completion of eight years of the Central government led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was organized across the country at State Capitals, District Headquarters, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The Prime Minister also released the 11th installment of financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on the occasion by transferring an amount of around Rs. 21,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families of the country. The Prime Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries of (PM-KISAN) across the country. He interacted with Tashi Tundup from Ladakh, Lalita Devi from Bihar, Pankaj Shani from West Tripura, Santoshi from Kalburgi of Karnataka, Arvind from Mehsana Gujarat virtually and with Sama Devi of Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh actually at The Ridge Shimla. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister expressed his happiness to be present in Himachal on this momentous occasion. He congratulated and wished the farmers as more than 10 crore farmers have received the money in their bank accounts through the PM Kisan scheme. He expressed happiness for releasing the financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme nationwide from Shimla.
He thanked the people for giving him the opportunity to serve 130 crore citizens The Prime Minister lamented that before 2014, the earlier government had considered corruption as an essential part of the system, then instead of fighting corruption, the government had succumbed to it, then the country was watching that the money for schemes was looted before reaching the needy. He added that today due to the trinity of Jan Dhan-Aadhaar and Mobile (JAM), the money is reaching the beneficiary directly in their Jan Dhan bank accounts. Earlier there was a compulsion to suffer smoke in the kitchen, today there is a facility to get LPG cylinders from the Ujjwala scheme. Earlier there was the shame of open defecation now poor have the dignity of toilets. Earlier there was helplessness to raise money for treatment, today every poor has the support of Ayushman Bharat. Earlier there was a fear of triple talaq, now there is the courage to fight for one’s rights. Narendra Modi, while appreciating the good work done by the Jai Ram Thakur Government in the State during the pandemic, said that the Himachal Pradesh Government has shown the way to other States of the country by becoming first in administrating first and second doses of covid-19 vaccine. He said that Devbhoomi Himachal was also his karambhoomi as for years he has worked in the State. He also appreciated the good work done by the Himachal Government in effective implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission in the State.
He said that Baddi area of the State played a major role in supply of medicines to combat corona pandemic. Prime Minister said that the contribution of every family of Himachal in the armed forces was immense and added that the BJP Government had implemented ‘One Rank One Pension’ and gave arrears to the ex-servicemen. He said that lakhs of family of Himachal have been benefited by this decision of the Union Government. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while welcoming the Prime Minister on the occasion thanked him for choosing Shimla the capital of Himachal Pradesh for organizing the ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’. He said that the State of Himachal Pradesh has immensely been benefitted by the benevolence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that it was due to his affection towards the State and its people, that Himachal Pradesh has got central schemes worth more than Rs 10,000 crore during the last four and a half years. He said that the special status of the State has been restored, due to which the State was now getting financial assistance on the ratio of 90:10 for various Central schemes. It was due to the blessings of the Prime Minister that the State got special central assistance of Rs 800 crore during last few months, he added. Jai Ram Thakur said that AIIMS has been opened in Bilaspur and Medical colleges opened at Hamirpur, Nahan and Chamba and this was possible only with the financial support of the Central Government. He said that the State Government organized Global Investor Meet in 2019 at Dharamshala which was graced by the Prime Minister.
He said that till date, more than Rs 50,000 crores have been invested in the State, out of which the ground breaking ceremony of Rs. 28,197 crore was inaugurated by the Prime Minister himself in a program organized at Mandi on 27 December 2021. Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of projects of national importance, worth Rs 11,000 crores, he added. Chief Minister said that the State has also succeeded in getting approval of a Medical Device Park from the Government of India. He said that an investment of Rs 5,000 crore would be made in this Medical Device Park to be built in Nalagarh which would provide employment to over 10,000 youth of the State. Jai Ram Thakur said that like the four States which had gone to polls recently, BJP government in the State would also ensure Mission Repeat and come into power in the 2022 Assembly Elections as people have full faith in policies and programmes initiated by the Central and State Governments. Earlier the Prime Minister was accorded rousing reception at Annadale helipad by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and other senior leaders. Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Member of Parliament and President State BJP Suresh Kashyap, Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Power Minister Sukhram Chaudhary, MLAs, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of various boards and corporations were present on the occasion at Shimla, whereas all the Ministers and MLAs joined the event virtually from their respective districts.
