Pucca homes empower poor, says Modi

New Delhi/Varanasi: Addressing the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY) in his parliamentary constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the poor feel empowered and confident when they get a pucca house and gas cylinders for their homes. Mocking the Congress' slogan of "garibi hatao" (eliminate poverty), Mr Modi asserted that the poor now say that the day he got a gas cylinder stove in his house, the difference between the rich and the poor ended for him.

Participating in the yatra in Varanasi, Mr Modi said that once the seeds of "Viksit Bharat" are sown, the result of the next 25 years will be reaped by future generations.

In his address on the occasion, the Prime Minister acknowledged the participation of all members of Parliament in the VBSY in their respective constituencies across India and said that he is taking part in the VBSY in Varanasi as a parliamentarian and a "sevak" of the city.

Mr. Modi termed the yatra his own "examination" and a feedback mechanism to learn directly from people if welfare schemes meant for them are reaching them or not.

"The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is, in a way, my 'kasauti' (test) as well. It is my examination... Whatever I have said and whatever I am doing, I want to hear from you and from the entire country whether it has happened in the right proportion. Whether it has been done for the person for whom it was intended to and whether the work that was to be done has happened or not,” Mr Modi said.

Referring to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's garibi hatao slogan, Mr Modi said, "Giving the slogan of garibi hatao is one thing. But a poor now says that the day he got a gas cylinder stove in his house, the difference between rich and poor ended. He says his confidence went up when he started living in a pucca house and his children could stand with their friends in schools and colleges."

"The children felt humble living in a jhopadi (thatched house). There was no confidence. But on getting pucca houses, their lives are filled with self-confidence," he said.

Highlighting the need to ensure the delivery of government schemes to the deserved beneficiaries in a time-bound manner and without hassle, he said, “Beneficiaries need not run around the government. The government must reach out to the beneficiaries instead.”

Informing that 4-crore families have been handed pucca homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the Prime Minister pointed out the need for saturation coverage of any schemes and emphasised the need to reach out to the people who have been left behind.

The Prime Minister asked beneficiaries and citizens to actively propagate the word about the yatra. He stated that Viksit Bharat will be financially strong and will address and resolve all the problems of its citizens.

“The path to getting rid of all difficulties passes through the resolution of Viksit Bharat. I assure the people of Kashi that, as your representative and for the national responsibility given by you, I will not spare any efforts,” he added.

On Sunday evening, the Prime Minister arrived for a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi. During his stay, he is scheduled to launch 37 projects worth over Rs 19,000 crores for the development of the region.

After he arrived in Varanasi, people showered the Prime Minister's cavalcade with flower petals as it left the airport.

On the first day of his Varanasi visit, Mr Modi participated in the VBSY and launched the second edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam at the Namo Ghat. At the event, he also flagged off the Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express, which is to ply between Kanyakumari and Varanasi.

On Monday, Mr. Modi will participate in the VBSY programme at Barki gram sabha of the Sewapuri development block. He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for 37 projects worth Rs 19,155 crores in Varanasi and the Purvanchal region at the event.