Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 8: Terming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s announcement to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) till Diwali this year in order to ensure free ration to those in need a great decision, the former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leader Kavinder Gupta said that the Modi led Union Government stands fully committed to stand by the people not only during the pandemic period but for all times to come.
Kavinder Gupta stated this after kick-starting development work in Ward No: 47 here today. The Corporator of the Ward Sharda Kumari was also present on the occasion as the former Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the work that is estimated to cost about Rs. 16 lakh.
Addressing the gathering at the function, Kavinder Gupta said that since most of the people living in this Ward belong to the BPL category therefore all of them will be entitled to the benefit of free ration till Diwali this year. He added that moreover, 3000 LPG cooking gas cylinders have already been provided under Ujjwala Yojana to various households in this Ward. He recalled that last year during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, Modi led Government provided free ration to more than 80 crore people for eight months and once again rising to the occasion it intends to provide free ration to the needy and poor people so that none sleeps hungry during the ongoing tough time.
While referring to the development agenda of the BJP, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that it continues to be the top priority of the Union Government even today. However, he acknowledged that the development works had to take back bench due to pandemic compulsions as a result of which the pace of works got affected a lot. He assured that development will soon pick up with full acceleration to cover up the shortcomings due to pandemic. He asserted that after health, development is the second determinant to measure the progress of a society.
Among those present on the occasion were district president, Vinay Gupta, Ankush Gupta district general secretary, Narinder Gupta Koki, Vivek Patyal, Dalbir Singh, Des Raj, Shakti Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Purshotam Kumar, Naam Dev, Jarnail Kumar and Harsal Chand.