Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lamented that the governments that ran the country after independence started a trend of being ashamed of the nation’s own culture and identity for political gains and failed to understand the importance of Bharat’s holy places.
Modi said the wrong has been rectified in the past 10 years with the help of policies focused on both ‘Vikas’ (development) and ‘Virasat’ (heritage).
Speaking at a programme here, the Prime Minister explained the benefits of such policies for the people of Assam, stressing on the importance of connecting historical and spiritual places in the state with modern facilities, a move aimed at preserving these sites and accelerating development.
Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects worth Rs 11,000 crore at the function. The key focus areas include projects to boost sports and medical infrastructure and connectivity.
He said the development projects would boost Assam’s connectivity to the North Eastern states and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.
Pointing out the record number of tourist footfall in the North East in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said even though the beauty of the region existed earlier, the number of tourists remained extremely low owing to the violence and lack of resources due to the neglect shown by previous governments.
He said the NDA government has increased the region’s development expenditure by 4 times.
“Modi’s guarantee means the guarantee of fulfillment”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned guaranteeing basic facilities to the poor, women, youth and farmers.
The Prime Minister reiterated his government’s emphasis in the last 10 years on electricity supply to each home. He informed that the decision was taken in this year’s budget to reduce the electricity bills to zero with the initiation of the Rooftop Solar Scheme where the government will assist one crore families to install solar rooftops.
“With this, their electricity bill will also be zero and ordinary families will be able to earn by generating electricity at their home”, he added.
Assam Governor Gulab Chand Katarai, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal attended the meeting.
UNI
