Gandhinagar: The 11th edition of statewide Garib Kalyan Mela (welfare fairs for poor) will kick off across Gujarat on 3rd January. In total 39 GKMs will continue till January 5 across 33 districts. Chief Minister Rupani will launch GKM at Porbandar while Dy CM Nitin Patel will launch it from Mahesana district. Ministers will join GKMs in various districts and towns. The 11th edition of GKMs aims to distribute Rs. 2307 crore worth benefits of Government schemes to 11.83 lakh beneficiaries. At Porbandar, CM Rupani will distribute Rs. 12.74 crore assistance to 3,414 beneficiaries. According to a note issued by the State government, in 10 editions so far total 1,491 GKMs were held in which 1.34 crore poor beneficiaries were given Rs. 23,890 crore assistance.

The concept of GKMs was introduced by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi aiming to deliver government benefits directly to beneficiaries without middlemen. GKM for Ahmedabad city is scheduled to take place on January 4.

In this edition of GKMs, the beneficiaries will be given sewing machine upto Rs. 20,000, Kadiya kit, latest technology equipments for plumber and welders, upto Rs. 47,000 worth paper cup, paper dish, masala units, beauty parlour kits to Sakhi mandal women and stainless steel 5 litre capacity pressure cookers for Ujjawala scheme beneficiaries.

DeshGujarat