Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled a plaque for the foundation stone of housing projects to be constructed under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’ here.
At a function held here, the PM also unveiled a plaque for the laying of Foundation Stone of an Electronic Manufacturing Cluster, and released the Chhattisgarh Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Policy.
Speaking on the occasion, the PM said that the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana would benefit people who cannot afford a house themselves.
He described this scheme as more than merely the development of infrastructure; he said it is a way to help the poor realise their dreams.
Modi said this scheme will also generate a lot of economic activity, and urged public bodies across all States to take the lead in implementation of this scheme. He described it as a step towards fulfilment of the vision of Housing for All by 2022.
The PM congratulated the Chhattisgarh Government for the ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy’ and said that in the last fifty years, countries which have laid stress on innovation have benefited, and have experienced economic prosperity.
He outlined the Central Government’s initiatives such as skill development and Mudra Yojana. Earlier, the PM unveiled a statue of Sathya Sai Baba, unveiled a plaque for the inauguration of Sri Sathya Sai Sowbhagyam – Centre for Human Development, and dedicated to the service of humanity, the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centre for Child Health Care.
In his address, Modi said that Governments should make sincere dedicated efforts to live up to the expectations of public while discharging the responsibilities entrusted by them.
He said that if a poor family living in slum gets a house to call its own, their confidence to dream and grow magnifies.
The PM expressed these thoughts while laying foundation of 40,000 houses to be built in Naya Raipur under National Programme of PM Housing Scheme, in a function organized at conference hall of Naya Raipur based Satya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital.
Under this scheme, 27,000 houses will be constructed separately in 26 cities of the State. On the occasion, PM also launched Chhattisgarh Government's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Policy, by clicking the button.
He also released a booklet based on this policy and later later unveiled the statue of Satya Sai Baba and inaugurated the newly-built conference hall there.
Mentioning about Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Modi said that Central and State Governments will together build houses for five crore families across the nation by year 2022. This includes two crore families of cities and three crore families living in rural areas, who cannot afford a house of their own because of their weak financial condition. The Central and State Governments both will work together to fulfill dreams of poor. We should decide now that what kind of India we want to present on 75th year of country's independence, as a tribute to those great figures who sacrificed their lives for freedom of this nation, he said.
To achieve this goal by year 2022, a large number of human resources will be required and hence, a large number of employment opportunities will also be created, Modi said.
About Entrepreneurship and Innovation Policy, the PM appealed youngsters to avail skill development not only for getting jobs but also for creating job opportunities, he said.
Modi said that innovation and development of entrepreneurship are the biggest need of the country today and added that innovation has been major tool for the countries that have progressed significantly in last 50 years. It is important that the innovation is focused on social welfare and economic development of the country. Society's progress is unimaginable without innovation. Hence, one should keep up the tradition of innovation, he said.
Entrepreneurship is extremely important in utilizing new inventions for benefitting the society, Modi said adding that 65% of our country's population is youngsters. World is looking up to India as a powerful nation.
Country should polish and channelize skills and talents of young population of the country and Government policies should encourage small start-ups and enterprises, he said.
The Prime Minister said : ‘It is a common notion across the world that public and private sectors drive economic development, but I am talking about the third sector, which is an individual sector, where every person is an entrepreneur. When each person in the country becomes an entrepreneur, nation will progress at an accelerated pace.’
With this objective, my government has started Pradhan Mantri Mudra Bank Yojana, under which two crore beneficiaries have been provided loans of up to `1 lakh without bank guarantee, for setting up small enterprises. Under this scheme, loans of 50,000 to `10 lakh are provided without bank guarantee, so that they may start their own business and contribute to the economic development of the country, the PM said.
Modi extended best wishes to Chief Minister Raman Singh and his team for implementation of the schemes. After unveiling the statue of Satya Sai Baba and inauguration of conference hall, the PM said that Satya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital is providing free health services to poor people, and the way they are providing facility of free cardiac surgery for children is simply commendable. Sai Baba of Puttu Parthi is often remembered for his miracles but his social works are rarely discussed, whilst his social works in education and health sector are no less than miracles in itself.
In his address to the programme, Chief Minister Raman Singh said that it is a moment of pride for Chhattisgarh to have PM gracious present.
The Chief Minister said that the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee constituted the new state of Chhattisgarh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a new energy and confidence to Chhattisgarh State.
The PM has given a new direction to the country with his vision and developing a new work culture with transparency.
As per the pure sentiments of our Indian Constitution, PM Modi constituted NITI Aayog for promoting cooperative federalism, under which states' share in allotment of development funds has been increased, Singh said.
The PM’s first visit to Chhattisgarh as Prime Minister was in Dantewada. With his blessings, Bastar is marching ahead on the path of development and is undergoing a speedy transformation, he said.
Naxalism is on the verge of its end. Road and rail connectivity is expanding. Bastar is emerging as a major centre for education, Singh said adding that the PM has taken such decisions that will transform the lives of many upcoming generations in the country.
The under-construction Steel Plant of National Mineral Development Corporation in Nagarnar of Bastar will start production in next six months, he said. CM Raman Singh thanked the Prime Minister for giving special preference to Chhattisgarh in development sector. The CM said that Prime Minister has on Sunday launched the Chhattisgarh Government’s ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy’.
Singh also mentioned about Chhattisgarh Government's relief package for drought-affected farmers of the State.
The CM said that it is an achievement for Chhattisgarh that foundation laying of PM Housing Scheme and launch of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy took place today in Naya Raipur at hands of the PM.
Union Minister of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation Vainkayya Naidu said in his address to the programme that with inauguration at hands of PM Narendra Modi, the PM Housing Scheme has been launched in entire country. Welfare of villages, poor people, farmers, labourers and women is the top-priority for the PM and he is proceeding in the same direction. Naidu said that PM has emphasized on development and good governance.
He praised CM Raman Singh saying that his leadership has catalyzed the development of Chhattisgarh and further said that Chhattisgarh Government is the first State government that had sent proposal under PMHousing Scheme, and got the first approval.
Naidu also mentioned about other schemes of social sector such as Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana, Prime Minister Insurance Cover Scheme etc.
It is noteworthy that under this scheme, construction of 27,000 houses in 26 cities of Chhattisgarh, at the cost of `1900 crores, has been approved. Besides, 40,000 houses will be constructed in Naya Raipur under Chief Minister Housing Scheme to achieve the objectives of Prime Minister Housing Scheme. Welcome address was given by Chhattisgarh Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat.
He said that Chhattisgarh has received first-ever approval under Prime Minister Housing Scheme and Centre has sanctioned `815 crores, which includes `190 crore as Centre's contribution.