In a second visit to Maharashtra within a week ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday initiated the process of distribution of more than one lakh homes to the beneficiaries under three Government different schemes at Solapur in western Maharashtra.
Modi — who also laid the foundation stone for AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects worth around Rs. 2,000 crore on the occasion — expressed his delight of inaugurating the largest housing society under the PM Awas Yojna.
Speaking in an emotionally choked voice, the Prime Minister recalled the wish from his childhood days about living in such homes. Modi said the nation was currently in a bhakti mood with the Pran Pratishtha at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya scheduled to take place on January 22. “Ram always taught us to be true to our words and promises.... It gives immense satisfaction when the dreams of thousands of families are realized and their blessings become my greatest wealth,” Modi said.
“It is a matter of great joy that these 1 lakh families will light Ram Jyoti in their pucca homes in the evening of 22nd January... Ram Jyoti will become an inspiration to them to ward off the darkness of poverty,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation more than 90,000 houses completed under PMAY-Urban in Maharashtra and 15,000 houses of Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur, whose beneficiaries comprise thousands of handloom workers, vendors, power loom workers, rag pickers, Bidi workers, drivers, among others. He also initiated the distribution of first and second instalments to 10,000 beneficiaries of PM-SVANIDHI in Maharashtra during the programme.
A teary-eyed Prime Minister recalled assuring the people during the foundation stone laying ceremony of this project that Modi himself would come to hand over the keys to their houses upon completion of the project. “Today Modi has fulfilled his guarantee....Modi’s guarantee means fulfilment of a guarantee,” he said.
While praying for the prosperity and happiness of the beneficiary families, Modi said: “Our government is trying from the first day to ensure that there is good governance in the country by following the ideals of Shri Ram and honesty reigns in the country. It is Ram Rajya only that inspired the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas”.
Modi — who had on January 12 launched, commissioned and dedicated various projects worth Rs 30,500 crore — used the occasion to reach out to the people in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May this year, by listing out the achievements of his ten-year-old governments on various fronts.
Drawing an analogy to the city of Solapur with Ahmedabad about being the city of ‘Shramiks’, the Prime Minister highlighted his connection to the city of Solapur during his time at ‘Purvashram’ and said that it was the Padmashali families that provided food to him even though their living conditions were poor.
Modi recalled being presented with a weaved artwork of Lakshmanrao Inamdar, a lawyer who was instrumental in shaping the Prime Minister’s life and said that it still remains an important part of his life today.
Lamenting that earlier poverty alleviation programmes failed to provide results owing to lack intent and pilferage by middlemen, Modi said: “Unlike in the past, we have taken the benefit of the government schemes directly to the beneficiaries. In the last 10 years, more than 30 lakh crore rupees have been transferred directly to the accounts of women, farmers, youth and the poor”,
The Prime Minister said that 25 crore people in the country have come out of poverty in the last nine years.
Highlighting the role of many cities like Solapur in the economic expansion of the country, Modi credited the double-engine government for continuously improving facilities like water and sewage in these cities. He also noted the development work of connecting cities with good roads, railways and airways taking place at a fast pace. “Be it Sant Gyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi Marg or Sant Tukaram Palkhi Marg, work on these is also going on at a fast pace. The work of the four-lane highway between Ratnagiri, Kolhapur and Solapur will also be completed soon”, he said.
Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar and Founder of Raynagar Federation Narsayya Adam were among those present on the occasion.