Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India is one of the fastest growing economies but the real development would come only when his government was able to change the life of poor and down-trodden sections. Modi was addressing a function to distribute e-rickshaws under the `Mudra Yojna Scheme’ to 2100 persons at the Colvin College Ground on Friday afternoon. He also thanked the people of lucknow which helped in giving what he termed ‘the best Home minister of the country’.
“The e-rickshaws would definitely change the lives of the deprived section of the society. While holding a chaupal for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, I interacted with some families who benefited on Friday. I was happy when some claimed that they would now send their children to schools or make savings for the future,” pointed out the PM.
Further hailing the importance of e-rickshaws, the PM said that the person driving it could boost tourism in the country. ``There is already an increased flow of tourism. When a guest arrives India, his first encounter will be with the driver and his behaviour and approach will create the initial impression about our rich culture and tradition in their minds. So, the e-rickshaw drivers could do what crores of rupees, slew of efforts or even I could not do,. Besides, these e-rickshaws would help in maintaining eco-balance and could be a solution to combat global warming,” asserted the Prime Minister.
Modi indirectly targeted the Congress over the isssue of bank nationalisation. “Nationalisation of banks was done 40 years back so that they could work for the uplift of the poor but nothing worthwhile happened. After my government took the initiative, bot only did 20 crore citizens opened their accounts but their deposits boosted deposits by Rs 30,000. This is being used to make people self-reliant by providing them e-rickshaws,” he said.
Union Home minister and MP from lucknow, Rajnath Singh while hailing Modi’s efforts in changing the lives of poor and deprived sections, said that e-rickshaws will slowly remove the cycle rickshaw, for which the PM deserved the credit. “From opening banks accounts for the poor, Narendra Modi is the first PM to weild the broom and take to the streets and start the Swach Bharat Abhiyan,” said Singh.
Earlier, Narendra Modi also held chaupal with five selected families who were amongst the 2100 persons who got e-rickshaws on Thursday. Besides Modi and Singh, the others on the dais included Governor, Ram Naik, Mayor Dinesh Sharma and UP minister for Rural Engineering, Paras Nath Yadav.