Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra aims to bring more transparency and accountability in schemes and in the system: Anurag Singh Thakur

Mumbai : 10 January 2024

Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri. Anurag Singh Thakur was present in Mumbai today to flag – off Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Vans in Mahim.

Speaking on the occasion about the developments in the country in the last few years, the Minister said, “In last ten years, what was done has never happened before. Four crore pacca houses were made for the poor. 80 percent of these houses are registered in the name of women. Earlier in rural areas clean toilets, clean water and cooking gas was not available for women. Their days started with problems and ended with problems. But a change has come in the lives of women now. Now women have a roof over their head. Twelve crore toilets have been built and thirteen crore houses have been connected through Nal Se Jal, every village now has electricity, ten crore women now have Ujwala gas free of cost, sixty crore people have received treatment worth five lakh free of cost under Ayushman Bharat and eighty crore Indians have received free grains for thirty months . The Prime Minister has promised free ration for next five years as well.”

Referring to the changes in governance in the past few years Shri Thakur said, “In 10 years, a country of 140 crore cannot be completely changed. But many changes can be brought under the leadership of the Prime Minister since he works with honesty. The present Government has identified and disqualified 4 crore fake ration cards and 4 crore 20 lakh fake LPG connections. The money saved was used for welfare schemes for the poor. The Government has facilitated Ease of Doing Business. More compliances will be eased off in the coming days. More than 1,800 old laws have been abolished. Colonial criminal laws have been replaced with laws that facilitate justice rather than punishment. Today India is the 5th largest economy of the world and will soon be the third largest. We have kept a target of making India developed by 2047. This will give the citizens better infrastructure, a better life, a better economy and bring about welfare of the poor. This is in the interest of the nation.”

Shri Thakur also pointed out the important place that sports has received in Government Schemes through initiatives such as Khelo India and Target Olympic Stadium. “In the last few years, Khelo India has led to a lot of development in sports. India is winning a record number of medals across International Tournaments. The Prime Minister has encouraged sports and fitness. Now the parents urge children to play games. The Government has done for players what was never done before. Today there are 23 National Centres of Excellence and 59 Sports Authority of India training centres. 1000 Khelo India centres will be opened in the next two months where ex players will be given five lakh rupees per annum to run these centres” he expressed.

Referring to various initiatives for the development of the youth, Shri Thakur stated, “National Education Policy has encouraged education in the mother tongue. Now various professional courses like medicine are being introduced by Governments in regional languages. So are High Court judgements. Through Mera Yuva Bharat App, any person can join to contribute towards a Vikasit Bharat. Through this opportunities for experiential learning will be available to youth. Rashtriya Yuva Diwas will also be celebrated across the nation from Nashik in Maharashtra this year.”

Finally elaborating on the ongoing Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Shri Thakur said, “The purpose of Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is to bring benefits of Government Schemes to the doorsteps of people. This Yatra is reaching more than two lakh panchayats across the country. Till date, 11 crore people have benefitted through the Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. More than 1 lakh people have benefitted through Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra in Mumbai. Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra aims to bring more transparency and accountability in schemes and in the system.”

Encouraging those present to be part of Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra Shri Thakur said, “I urge all of you to contribute towards building a Vikasit India by 2047. We must promise to contribute in some sector in the next twenty-five years. The road from Atmanirbhar Bharat leads to Vikasit Bharat. I urge the youth to join My Bharat portal and contribute towards a Viksit Bharat.”

On the occasion, various beneficiaries of Government schemes also narrated their experiences after having availed benefits of Government Schemes. Among them were Laxmi Wakhande, a PM FME beneficiary who started a started papad business with a Rs 5 lakh loan, Shaheen Farooqui, a PM SVANIdhi beneficiary who took a Rs. 2 lakh loan for starting a bag making business after covid and divyang beneficiary Anandi Gir who received a photocopy machine to start a business from BMC.

Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Shri Prasad Lad and Mahim Corporator Ms. Sheetal Patil were present amongst other dignitaries on the occasion.

We have kept a target of making India developed by 2047. Better life, better economy brings about welfare for poor.

: I&B Minister @ianuragthakur at #ViksitBharatSankalpYatra programme at Mahim today pic.twitter.com/rf3UkZYcDZ

— PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) January 10, 2024