The various schemes rolled out by the Central Government are aimed at the welfare of the poor and underprivileged sections of the country, Union Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said in Palakkad on Saturday.
He was speaking after inaugurating the ‘Vikasith Bharat Sankalp Yatra’, organized to take the development and welfare schemes of the Central Government to the people, at Vaniyamkulam panchayat in Palakkad district of Kerala.
The infrastructure in the country is witnessing rapid growth and the poor are benefitting from it, he pointed out.
“World-class standards have been ensured in infrastructure development. In 2014, there were 74 airports in the country, which has now increased to more than 150. Railways is making strides through trains, including Vande Bharat. Toilets have been constructed in more than 11 crore houses. More than four crore houses have been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. More medical colleges have been built. The number of medical seats has also been increased. All the benefits of these have reached the common man,” the Minister said.
Hardeep Singh Puri said the beneficiaries of the Central schemes should become their promoters and through the Viksit Bharat Yatra, the officials are directly approaching the people with services.
State Bank of India Shoranur Regional Manager Anu Raghurajan, Indian Oil Corporation Chief General Manager Rajendran, Vaniyamkulam Gram Panchayat members Praseeda, Subramanian, Prasad, Asha Devi and Shalini spoke on the occasion.
Beneficiaries of various central government schemes, including Ujjwala Yojana, NULM (National Urban Livelihoods Mission), and PM SVANidhi, shared their experience on the occasion. Tholpavakoothu artiste Padmashri Ramachandra Pulavar was felicitated on the occasion. The officials explained various Central Government schemes. Free cooking gas connections were provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
