CM launches 7th Abhiyaan of ‘Garib Kalyan Mela’ at Jamnagar

Jamnagar, 17 September 2014

Launching the series of 7th Abhiyaan of ‘Garib Kalyan Mela’ at Jamnagar city today, Gujarat Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel said the scheme has opened-up new frontiers of economical growth for the rural poor, in particular for women.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister and her ministers had distributed the assistance worth of Rs 5.80-crore among the 10,559 beneficiaries.

Under the Golden Jubilee Chief Minister’s Urban Development Scheme, Smt. Patel also inaugurated 1908 urban development works amounting to Rs. 4662.39 lakh for the Jamnagar city.

So far, the scheme had successfully completed its as many as six editions, with first one commenced in year-2009. In these six Garib Kalyan Melas’ assistance of Rs 12,000-crore benefiting to 81-lakh beneficiaries was given through 1098 Melas conducted across the state, the Chief Minister added.

Smt. Patel said, The Garib Kalyam Mela scheme of the Gujarat Government was aimed at to offer its benefits directly to the poor beneficiaries in rural areas. In this 7th abhiyaan in total as many as 127 Melas will be held across the state to provide benefits worth of Rs 1000-Cr to over 10-lakh poor and deprived poor villagers.

The scheme has specific agenda to make the state’s poor and deprived people to live self-sufficiently and respectfully; and particularly to empower the women section, she added.

The Chief Minister also called on the people to take part in state-wide Swachhta Abhiyaan (Cleanliness Drive) starting in Gujarat from October 2, the birth-anniversary of the Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi, as Gandhiji always believed in that ‘Swachhta tya Prabhuta’ (God resides where cleanliness is) by observing cleanliness in public places like schools and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat Agriculture and Water Resources and District In-Charge Minister Mr. Babubhai Bokhiriya said, the concept of removing the middle men to offer full benefits directly to the poor people through Garib Kalyan Mela Scheme was the brain child of the Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Others who spoke on the occasion also included Gujarat’s Higher Education Minister Smt. Vasuben Trivedi, Jamnagar’s mayor Mr. Dineshbhai Patel, Gujarat Food & Civil Supply Corporation’s Chairman Mr. Bhupendra Lakhawala.

Others who remained present on the occasion included, member of parliament Smt. Poonamben Madam, member of legislative assembly Mr. Meghjibhai Chavda, Gujarat Municipal Finance Board’s Chairman Mr. Vijaybhai Roopani, BJP district president Mr. Mulubhai Bera, BJP City President Mr. Hashmukhbhai Hindocha, and other dignitaries and large number of people.