Rajkot: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who today arrived in Rajkot city of his home-state Gujarat and was accorded a grand welcome despite spells of monsoon rains, said that Rajkot had a special importance for him and he would never forget the ‘love’ of the people here.

This incidentally was the first non-electoral visit of any Prime Minister to the city after around 40 years. (The last one was of the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1977)

Addressing a function at racecourse ground here in which several records were set in terms of distribution of aid equipment to around 18500 divyangs, PM Modi said, ‘ Rajkot has a special importance for me. Had Rajkot not elected and sent me to Gandhinagar, I would not have reached Delhi,’ he said.

‘I had started my political journey from Rajkot, I can never forget the love of the people of Rajkot,’ he said.

On the occasion elaborating about the steps of his government including one sign language and Sugamya Bharat scheme for the cause of assistance to Divyangs, he said that he gave priority to participate in functions of Divyangs.

He said that in around 30 years since 1992, the earlier governments had organized only 55 camps for Divyangs while his government which had started various other initiative to help divyangs as a sensitive government on its motto of Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas has in last 3 years organized around 5500 camps. The government on these lines also make home for all mission till 2022 a reality.

He also urged the young entrepreneurs to involve in innovation and start-ups for divyangs for which his government would provide all possible help.

Modi said that he had also done many things for Divyangs including lowering the pass marks for them to 25 against 35 for normal ones while he was CM of the state. He urged their family members to take benefit from the Rs one a month insurance scheme.

DeshGujarat