DEOGARH: Over 73,000 families of Deogarh have benefitted from various central government schemes during the 10-year rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Union Minister and BJP’s Sambalpur Lok Sabha candidate Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday.
Addressing a public meeting at Tileibani here as part of his election campaign, Pradhan said 73,777 families of the district have got rice, houses, toilets, Ujjwala gas, Mudra loan, old-age pension, women self-help group assistance and rural employment amounting to nearly Rs 2,200 crore. The PM Modi-led government has given around Rs 3 lakh to each family of Deogarh under various welfare schemes for the poor.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm among women and youths of Deogarh for BJP. Deogarh has witnessed change since the time of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Around 2,200 crore has been spent on development of Deogarh district under Modi government,” he claimed.
Giving a detailed account, Pradhan said rice worth Rs 568 crore has been provided to 2.63 lakh beneficiaries of Deogarh under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. Under Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY), around 17,000 houses have been provided in rural and urban areas at a cost of Rs 223 crore. Similarly, 35,165 toilets have been built at a cost of Rs 91 crore under the Swachh Bharat Mission and cooking gas worth Rs 3.28 crore provided to 20,529 beneficiaries under Ujjawala Yojana.
Besides, Rs 354.88 crore has been allocated under MGNREGA and 1,39,869 people have been given Mudra loan amounting to Rs 554 crore. Under the Stand Up India initiative, Rs 2.56 crore worth loans have been provided to the youths of tribal community. Similarly, Rs 234 crore loan has been arranged for women self-help groups. At least 16,700 beneficiaries including elderly citizens, PwDs and widows have been paid allowances amounting to Rs 145 crore.
“Prime Minister Modi is sending money from Delhi. But the amount is dwindling by the time it reaches Deogarh. The central government is sending Rs 2,183 for per quintal of paddy to farmers. But due to deduction by the state government, the farmers are not getting the right price for their crops. A twin engine government is needed to deliver exactly what PM Modi is offering,” he alleged.
The union minister said if a double engine government is formed in Odisha, all eligible beneficiaries in Deogarh will be given pucca houses under PMAY. The MSP of paddy will be increased to Rs 3,100 per quintal. The problem of having clean drinking water will be solved. The vacant posts of teachers in schools will be filled up while the health sector will see major improvements.
Earlier in the day, Pradhan reached Deogarh BJP office from where he headed to Tileibani Niktimal Siddheshwar temple in a huge motorcycle rally.