Shillong, May 31: ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’ was organised across the country at state capitals, district headquarters, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
The Sammelan conceptualizes elected public representatives across the country directly interacting with the public to get feedback about the various welfare programmes being run by the government.
In Meghalaya, Union Minister of State for DoNER and Cooperation, B. L. Verma attended the programme, which was held at the State Convention Centre, Shillong.
Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Prestone Tynsong, Minister for C&RD, Meghalaya Hamletson Dohling were also present.
Verma, while addressing the gathering, said that the present government believes in ensuring the welfare of every section of the society and the development of every area of the country.
He said during the corona pandemic, the national leadership had ensured that no one in the country was deprived of food and other essentialities.
The Minister further stated that the people of this country have been immensely benefited from various welfare schemes and developmental programs launched by the government during the last eight years.
Speaking very highly of the free LPG connection scheme, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the Minister said that the scheme was a kind of blessings for the Indian mothers and sisters.
Terming a hugely successful initiative, he said that it has allowed around nine crore Indian women to lead healthy lives because they no longer have to work in smoky kitchens.
The Minister, while talking about the PradhanMantri Jan DhanYojana (PMJDY), a national mission for financial inclusion, said that the primary objective of the government’s flagship scheme has been to ensure access to financial products and services.
He informed that so far, 45 crore 21 lakh accounts have been opened across the country.
Verma said that benefits like scholarships, subsidies, pensions, and COVID relief funds are credited to the bank accounts, including Jan Dhan Accounts, through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), a feature which was not evident in erstwhile governments.
On the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, the Minister reiterated, has proved to be a boon for the small and marginal farmers.
He informed that so far a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to the 12 crore eligible farmer families and the money is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
The Minister, with great satisfaction exclaimed that under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, housing for all has been envisaged and so far 2.39 crore families have been allotted houses under the scheme.
The Minister, while speaking of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, said that it is the biggest government-sponsored healthcare scheme in the world.
So far, three crore people have received benefits under the scheme and beneficiaries of PM-JAY belong to the most deprived section of the Indian population, he added.
Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Prestone Tynsong, while expressing his gratitude to the Central Government, said that since 2014 the benefits of the initiatives taken by the present government have percolated down to the grassroots.
He expressed his firm belief that in the days to come, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the country can see itself among the most powerful countries of the world.