Gujarat CM opens hostel and school, presents kits and assistance to 4,500 elderly poor citizens

Rajkot: Just as every child desires to have parents’ umbrella cover, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said it is also everybody’s duty to serve the elderly citizens.

Speaking at a function to extend kits and assistance worth Rs.60-lakh to 4,500 elderly BPL category citizens at Swaminarayan Mandir at Rajkot, he said that he felt proud in felicitating and caring for them in their old age. He said that even his government is willing to play the role of legendary poor son Shravan Kumar who carried his infirm aged parents literally on his shoulders on a long pilgrimage by foot.

Mr. Rupani said that his government doesn’t want any person should live the life of a dependent, and hence started a scheme for elderly to go on pilgrimage, doubled the quantum of pension for widows, started sumptuous meals scheme at Rs.10 and opened shops to sell generic medicines at affordable prices.

As part of the government’s scheme to provide quality higher education, he said, the government opened a modern girls’ hostel built by Scheduled Caste Welfare Department at a cost of Rs.5.14-cr and under-construction Mahatma Gandhi Model Residential Boys’ School for students of Standard 9-12 being built by Vikasti Jati Welfare department at a cost of Rs.5.76-crore. He felicitated donors with shawls.

Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Atmaram Parmar listed the steps undertaken by the government for higher education of socially backward students. The government gives them Rs.3,000.

Rajkot Collector Vikrant Pandey said the kits given to elderly citizens by district administration include spectacles, easel, folding walker, wheelchair, tricycle and hearing aid.

Those present at the function included Mayor Jaimanbhai Upadhyay, MP Mohanbhai Kundariya, Municipal Finance Board chairman Dhansukhbhai Bhanderi, MLA Bhanuben Babariya, Pavitra Yatradham Board vice-chairman Rajubhai Dhruv, Deputy Mayor Darshitaben Shah, Additional Secretary K.G. Vanzara, Director of Social Welfare Pankaj Thakar, Director Scheduled Caste K.D. Kapadiya, leaders Anjaliben Rupani, Nitinbhai Bharadwaj and Kamleshbhai Mirani.

– Information