Modi woos Gujarat sarpanchs with Rs10,000 & stability

The setting was perfect. Thousands of sarpanchs from across the state assembled at Mahatma Mandir on Tuesday to listen to chief minister Narendra Modi. He did not disappoint them, though they would have liked to hear a few more political barbs from him. The event was organised by the state government but the stage was crowded with BJP leaders. Apart from ministers, those seated on the dais included BJP MPs, MLAs and office bearers. However, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, was reportedly unwell and did not attend the sammelan.

Addressing the sarpanchs, Modi, who completed 4,000 days as CM, announced the launch of Mission Balam Sukham or Nutrition Mission in a bid to battle malnourishment in the state. He said that the government would inject funds and Anganwadi and Asha workers would be trained to curb malnourishment. “We will also rope in elderly women to ensure that proper nutrition is provided to young children,” he said.

The CM announced that Rs10,000 would be paid every year towards miscellaneous expenses related to village development.

The announcement was greeted by loud cheers by the sarpanchs. Declaring defecation in open by women as a shame, he affirmed that toilets would be built in every household. He also announced construction of pucca houses for the rural folk.

The sarpanchs of three select villages in north Gujarat showered praises on the government, talking about the tremendous monetary benefits and recognition that they received in the last 10 years.

Modi attributed the unprecedented development in the state to political stability attained in the past decade. “Gujarat has never seen this kind of stability on the political front. This has enabled us to take brave decisions and achieve people-oriented administration. The result is that Gujarat has become synonymous with development,” he said.

The CM then sought support from the sarpanchs in the upcoming elections to enable him to build a ‘grand’ Gujarat. He also said that the credit for development in Gujarat went to each of the 6 crore Gujaratis.