Ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday gifted Odisha mega projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore. PM Modi, who inaugurated the permanent campus of IIM Sambalpur, also addressed a massive ‘Guarantee Samavesh’ at Remed Ground on Saturday.
While speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said, “Modi Ki Guarantee works for those who do not have anything. In Odisha, there is a huge tribal population. But for years together, tribal communities were neglected and used as vote bank. I worked with tribals for years together and today the BJP government is giving prominence to tribal development, and the budget has been increased in the last 10 years towards the same.”
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PM Modi further said that it is the BJP who recognised and made the representative of tribal community Droupadi Murmu President of India. The entire world was listening carefully when she addressed the Parliament three days back. But it was the Congress and its allies who tried their best against her and even insulted her.
“It was not just an insult to Droupadi Murmu Ji, rather it was an insult to the entire tribal community and also the people of Odisha. Today, the BJP government is bringing the achievements of tribals and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) to the fore in the nation’s development. For the first time, PM Janman Yojana worth thousands of crores has been made and nearly lakhs of people of 1700 communities will benefit in Odisha with development in the form of employment and basic amenities including houses, water, road and employment,” said Modi.
According to the PM, projects worth Rs 70,000 crore have been inaugurated or foundation stone laid in Odisha. The Centre is not leaving any stone unturned for the development of Odisha.
“Two days back, interim budget was presented and it aims to empower the poor, women, youths and others. This budget guarantees everybody’s development. It is Modi’s guarantee that each poor in the country will have pucca house,” said Modi.
Pucca Houses for Poor, MSP for Farmers to Electricity
Over 4 crore poor families have been provided their own pucca houses in the country. Around 25 lakh beneficiaries of pucca houses are in Odisha. The Centre is working for the beneficiaries who have been left out. The Centre has announced to construct 2 crore more houses in the budget, he said.
“My aim is to ensure that no one stays in temporary shelters. PM Kisan Saman Nidhi farmers have got direct benefits. Around 40 lakh farmers from Odisha have also benefited from the scheme. The BJP government has sent Rs 30,000 to each farmer’s account and ensured hike in MSP. The Centre is procuring more paddy from the farmers. Before 2014, paddy procurement worth Rs 36,000 crore was done by those in power. In 10 years of our government, Odisha paddy farmers have got Rs 1.10 lakh crore towards MSP. In this budget also, several schemes have been launched for the farmers through which their income will increase,” said PM Modi.
According to Modi, BJP government is working to make lives of people easier and increase in income of every individual. In the last 10 years, electricity has been provided to the areas which were still in dark. Electricity has also reached 25 lakh families in Odisha. The BJP also brought LED revolution and now the party’s efforts are on to ensure that the electricity bill of poor becomes zero. Hence, rooftop solar power scheme has been announced for 1 crore families, said the PM.
"In a place where there is Konark Sun temple, the sun will bring new hopes to the people who live here. There will be new employment opportunities under the scheme as well," he said.
Arogya Ayush Mandirs, Gas Connection To Free Ration
“Today, women are getting benefits from 6500 Arogya Ayush Mandirs in Odisha. The BJP government has provided drinking water facilities through pipelines to over 60 lakh families in Odisha. Around 55 lakh women have been provided free gas connection under the Ujjawala scheme. There was a time before 2014 when the youths of the country were depressed. But now things have changed as there is a strong BJP government behind them. Those who did not have anything to give banks as guarantee, now they have Modi Ki Guarantee,” said the PM.
Sambalpur is one of the important centres for Make In India and Atma Nirbhar Bharat. Due to the Centre’s efforts, 1000s of new micro industries have been set up in Odisha. Be it raw materials or any other help, Centre has extended help to entrepreneurs which has benefited labourers and other workers, he stated.
The BJP is providing free ration and 3.5 crore people in Odisha do not have to think about food for the next five years. A lot of people from Odisha are migrating and working in large numbers in Gujarat and contributing to the state’s development, he said adding, “We have understood the problems of the migrant workers. Earlier, they were deprived of having ration card of a particular state. We have now brought One Nation, One Ration Card policy and the people of the state will also benefit from this.”
New India Vision Has Been Possible Because Of PM Modi: BJP National VP Baijayant Panda
Earlier addressing the ‘Guarantee Samavesh’, BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda said, “There is no such problem in the world where India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s help is not sought. There is massive development in states having double-engine governments. In Odisha, some people are trying to take credit for the schemes of the Centre. Modi government is providing rice, pucca houses to people across the country.”
“No matter what people say, it is PM Modi who is providing such schemes in Odisha as well. In Ayodhya, the grand Ram Temple has been constructed and people across the country are elated. The new India vision has been possible due to PM Narendra Modi. In Odisha, the popularity of the BJP has also grown. We will get an opportunity to elect PM Narendra Modi for the third time. An opportunity will also come to form government in Odisha as well,” the BJP VP added.
Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal also said, “Be it road, railway or any other project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always extended help and support to Odisha. There is a need to ensure a double-engine government in Odisha. I thank PM Modi for inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 68,000 crore.”
On the other hand, Congress’ Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar trained guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not attacking the BJD government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “I had earlier asserted that the PM would not utter a word against the Odisha Chief Minister. It is confirmed that the BJP has wed the BJD. This is why the BJP cannot speak against the BJD. All the BJD leaders have become BJP.”
He added that both the parties are in a coalition and Pandian has struck a deal with Home Minister Amit Shah.