PM Modi's assertion of working 24x7 for 2047 not just a slogan: Sitharaman
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that he is committed '24x7 for 2047' is not just a slogan but what he really puts in practice, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.
Speaking at a function to release a book 'The Art of Implementation: How Modi ki Guarantee is Delivered', edited by BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Sitharaman listed out projects such as the opening of zero balance 'Jan Dhan' accounts, rolling out of Janaushadhi Kendra across the country and completing projects dating back to five decades as examples of the prime minister’s work ethic.
The finance minister said that after coming to power in 2014, the prime minister had spelt out a clear three-point agenda – complete pending projects, ensure saturation coverage of all initiatives and help aspirational districts in implementing various development initiatives.
"When the prime minister mentions '24x7 I am committed for the sake of 2047', it is not just a slogan. That is what he does," she said.
Sitharaman said the government's performance in terms of implementation of projects was remarkable only because of the personal interest with which Prime Minister Modi ensures execution of every project.
"He makes sure that the officials are at it. He doesn't let go. He is in relentless pursuit of ensuring that a particular scheme, designed with a particular objective, is implemented properly," the minister said.
The senior BJP leader said Prime Minister Modi was criticised when he unveiled the Swachh Bharat initiative and the Jan Dhan scheme to open zero balance accounts for the poor.
Citing the example of Jan Aushadhi Kendra – shops selling generic medicines, Sitharaman said the scheme was rolled out in 2008 by the previous UPA government, which managed to open only 80 such shops by 2011 against the plan to have the same in each of the 600 odd districts.
Sitharaman said the Modi government scaled up the initiative and currently there are more than 11,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras functioning all over the country.
"The Art of implementation, how much ever you study and how much ever you talk about it, is actually a big contribution Prime Minister Modi is making for generations of Indians," she said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar also attended the programme.
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Udupi CNG fuel shortage: Long queues of vehicles has become a common sight
Udupi (Karnataka) Apr 29: The coastal district of Udupi is going through a severe shortage of Compressed Natural Gas for Automotive applications.
Although the number of CNG fuel-based vehicles is increasing, the number of CNG filling stations in Udupi district has not risen. In the existing bunks, the supply is not as high as the demand. Due to this, motorists, especially rickshaw drivers have to wait for hours to get their fuel tanks filled.
“I've been waiting for not less than four-five hours everyday for the past one week. Most of the time my vehicle is idle and I am not able to take up fares, as a result of which I have lost so much of income and my bank obligations will take a beating if this continues any longer," Sundar Shetty, a rickshaw driver in Udupi said.
CNG fuel is not being supplied to existing bunks as per demand. And as the demand is high, the stock depletes quickly and sometimes the rickshaws are parked overnight in a queue for early morning refuelling, leaders of the CNG Autorickshaw Drivers Association said.
In Udupi town, there is only one bunk that has CNG facility, but most of the time it is empty.
“Due to high investment on land, equipment and daily stocks, there are not many takers for this business” the bunk owners said.
There is only one CNG station in Kundapura taluk out of three in Udupi district. There are more than 5,000 CNG based vehicles in the district.
The sight of hundreds of rickshaws and other vehicles waiting to fill CNG fuel at the CNG bank in Koteshwar every day from 4 am is very common.
Sometimes one has to wait till 8-9 o'clock. However, there is no guarantee that everyone will get fuel. Similar are the conditions in Karkala and Kundapur taluks of Udupi district.
The rickshaw drivers and other CNG users have appealed to the Udupi district authorities and approached the Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to put pressure on the government to normalise supply and to open more bunks.
