Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’ at historic Ridge Maidan Shimla to mark the completion of eight years of the Central government led by him and also released the 11th installment of financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme by transferring an amount of around Rs. 21,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families of the country.
Addressing the gathering, Modi expressed his happiness to be present in Himachal on this occasion and 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
Appreciating the good work done by the Jai Ram Thakur Government in the State during the pandemic, Modi said that the Himachal Pradesh Government has shown the way to other States of the country by becoming first in administering 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 and said that Baddi area played a major role in supply of medicines to combat corona pandemic.
Modi 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, adding that lakhs of families of Himachal have been benefited by this decision of the Union Government.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while welcoming the Prime Minister thanked him for choosing Shimla the capital of Himachal Pradesh for organizing the ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’, adding that Himachal Pradesh has immensely benefited by the benevolence of the Prime Minister. 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 the last few months, he added.
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. The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of projects of national importance, worth Rs 11,000 crores, he added.
The Chief Minister said that the State has also succeeded in getting approval of a Medical Device Park from the Government of India, adding 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.
He said that like the four States which had gone to polls recently, the 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 a rousing reception at Annadale helipad by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, 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 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.