Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared his government’s commitment to the empowerment of the four pillars of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) – Youth, Women, Farmers and the Poor.

Addressing the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Gujarat’ programme via video conferencing, he said, “Every citizen wants India to become a developed nation in the coming 25 years. For this, everyone is making every possible contribution.”

During the programme, the PM performed ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ of more than 1.3 lakh houses across Gujarat built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and other housing schemes.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Modi said his government’s effort is to ensure that everyone has a pucca roof above him. ”Modern technology is being used in our housing schemes to build houses at a faster pace. Modi has stood guarantee for those who had no guarantee. The biggest beneficiaries of every poor welfare scheme are Dalit, OBC, and tribal families,” he said.

The PM said, “Today’s time is the time of creating history.” He compared this time period with that of the Swadeshi movement, Quit India Movement, and Dandi March when freedom became the goal of every citizen. The creation of Viksit Bharat has become a similar resolution for the nation, he said.

He reiterated that the construction of homes for the poor is taking place at a rapid pace when compared to the pre-2014 era. Pointing out the meager funding for the construction of houses of the poor, the leakages in the form of commissions, etc. during earlier times, he said the money transferred for homes of the poor is now more than Rs 2.25 lakhs and is being transferred directly into their bank accounts, eliminating the middlemen.

Mr Modi also touched upon the freedom of building homes according to the needs of the families while also building toilets, tap water connections, supplying electricity and gas connections. “These facilities have helped the poor in saving money,” he said. He also emphasised that the homes are now registered in the name of women making them homeowners.

He emphasised that the ‘poor’ include every community. Benefits of the schemes are reaching everyone without any discrimination. He also mentioned the ‘Mudra Yojna’ in which entrepreneurs of every community can get collateral-free loans. Similarly, Viswakarmas and street vendors were provided with financial means and skills. “The biggest beneficiaries of every poor welfare scheme are Dalit, OBC and tribal families. If anyone has benefitted the most from Modi’s guarantee, it is these families”, he said.

“Modi has given the guarantee of creating Lakhpati Didis,” the PM said, pointing out that the nation is already home to one crore Lakhpati Didis, including a large number of women from Gujarat. He reiterated the government’s effort to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next few years and said that it will hugely empower poor families.

He underlined the government’s emphasis on reducing the expenses of the poor and middle class. He mentioned free ration, inexpensive treatment facilities in hospitals, low-priced medicines, cheaper mobile phone bills, gas cylinders under Ujjwala Yojna, and LED bulbs reducing electricity bills.

PM Modi also touched upon the Rooftop solar scheme for 1 crore houses to reduce electricity bills and create earnings from the extra electricity generated. He informed that under the scheme, about 300 units of electricity will become free and the government will purchase electricity worth thousands of rupees every year.