CM asks Centre to consider the BPL list of Tendulkar committee

Central government will not be able to enjoy power for more if it ignores the basic needs of poor: CM

Addressing the 1.35 lakh poor beneficiaries Garib Kalyan Melas (GKM) of 26 talukas through video conferencing today Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the original figure of BPL families in Gujarat is 32 lakh, but the Centre counts it ten lakh less than the original and provides 4.5 lakh ton less food-grain to the BPL families of Gujarat.

“The Centre is also doing injustice to the poor families of Gujarat by putting 32% cut on kerosene supply. The Central government will not be able to enjoy power for more if it ignores the basic needs of poor”, he said.

Chief Minister said the State government will ensure that not a single true beneficiary remains without his due benefits. “The government will also make sure that not a single false beneficiary takes away the benefits that are not his”, he said.

Mr. Modi said the State government has come up with Rs.40,000 crore of new package for Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojna and has implemented Rs.21,000 crore package for the seafarers. The State also has a package of Rs.25,000 crore for the welfare of urban poor. The state government will give Rs.18,000 ton edible palmolein oil on concessional rate to poor families during the festival days.

Regarding various pro-poor schemes the Chief Minister said that with a view to save the poor from malnutrition the state government gives fortified food to 80 lakh school children, anganwadi kids, poor pregnant women and girls. The state government provides lakhs of tons of food-grain, oil, wheat, rice etc to the poor.

The Central government seems to have no concern for soaring prices of essential commodities even when it has become a matter of great distress for the poor families, he said.

He also urged the poor families to take vows for becoming free from addictions, coming out the shackles of poverty and for giving education to their children.

The GKMs have been organized this year from April 12. Earlier, during past three years, the state government has given benefits worth Rs.8120 crore to 58 lakh poor through the medium of Garib Kalyan Mela.