In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day promise, interviews for Group B, C and D posts in Central Government will be done away with from January 1 next year with an aim to end corruption in such jobs. And prior to Diwali next month, the Government will come out with the Gold Monetisation Scheme besides sovereign gold bonds and coins with Ashok Chakra to boost the country’s economic growth.
Besides announcing these in his monthly Mann ki Baat radio programme on Sunday, Modi also talked about diversity being India’s beauty, apparently against the backdrop of incidents of violence with communal and casteist overtones. Further, he dwelt on his pet Swachchhta Abhiyan apart from Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana wherein he lauded the role of media houses and some Parliamentarians.
He also stressed the importance of organ donation, highlighted the one-of-its-kind upcoming Indo-Africa Summit here and expressed his excitement over his impending UK trip next month to inaugurate the house in london where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar lived.
“The Government has completed the entire process to do away with interviews for lower rank jobs from January 1, 2016. People were getting robbed for getting employment and even then they can not get jobs. It often crossed my mind as to why there was the need for an interview for small jobs. I have never heard of a psychologist who can evaluate a person during an interview of one to two minutes,” Modi said.
On the gold-related schemes, Modi said will launch “some important schemes” during this Diwali festival, prior to ‘Dhanteras’ when gold is purchased by people. Diwali is on November 11. “We have brought Gold Monetisation Scheme. Under this, you can deposit your gold in a bank and bank will pay interest to you for that like on your cash,” Modi said.
Talking about the Sovereign Gold Bonds scheme, he said people will not get any gold bar but a piece of paper which will have the same value as that of gold. “When you return that piece of paper, you will get money as per the value of gold at that time... We are going to initiate this,” he said.
“I am also happy to announce that we will be bringing out Gold Coins with Ashok Chakra. It has been 70 years since
Independence, but till now we are using foreign gold coin or gold bullion bars which is also used by foreigners. Why can’t we have swadeshi-mark coin,” he asked.
Modi also expressed his excitement over his impending UK visit. “A day after Diwali (November 11), I am going to Britain. ... I am excited about my visit to Britain and the reason for it is special. A few weeks back, I had gone to Mumbai to lay foundation stone for a big memorial for Ambedkar.... Now, in london, I will formally inaugurate the house where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar lived, which recently became Indian Government’s property and a place of inspiration for 125 crore Indians,” he said.
On his first visit to Britain, Modi is expected to have a two-day stay there before travelling to Turkey to attend the G-20 Summit. He will hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron and meet other leaders besides addressing the Indian diaspora at Wembley stadium.
Pointing out that organ donation is an important issue, he said the need for kidneys, heart and livers is high but less number of transplants happens.
Modi also lauded MPs Karia Munda, Ashok Gajapati Raju and Cl Ruala for their active participation in the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.