NE NEWS SERVICE
SAGAR, AUG 12
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation, development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The projects include laying the foundation stone of Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial to be constructed at a cost of more than Rs 100 crores, two road projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,580 crores and dedicating to the nation doubling of Kota-Bina rail route to the nation developed at a cost of more than Rs 2,475 crores.
Modi performed the ‘bhoomi pujan’ and laid the foundation stone of Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial at Badtuma village in the presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Governor Mangubhai Patel and Union Minister Virendra Kumar. Modi bowed down before the idol of Sant Ravidas with folded hands. The prime minister also inspected the miniature model of the upcoming memorial-cum-temple at this function.
- PM Modi lays foundation stone of temple-cum-memorial of Sant Ravidas to be constructed at a cost of more than Rs 100 crores
- Lays foundation stone of two road projects to be developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,580 crores
- Dedicates doubling of Kota-Bina rail route to the nation developed at a cost of more than Rs 2,475 crores
- I know the pain of hunger and self-respect of the poor. I am a member of your family and I don’t need to look into the books to understand your pain: Modi
- Today, be it Dalit, deprived, backward or tribal, our government is giving them due respect and new opportunities: PM
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that one can witness the ‘sagar’ (ocean) of harmony in the land of Sagar today with the presence of saints, the blessings of Saint Ravidas and the huge crowd comprising different sections of society. He mentioned that the foundation stone of Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial was laid today to further the shared prosperity of the nation. With the blessings of the saints, the Prime Minister recalled taking part in the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ of the divine memorial earlier today and expressed confidence that he will come to inaugurate the temple on its completion in a few years. As a Parliamentarian from Varanasi, the Prime Minister informed about visiting the birthplace of Saint Ravidas Ji on multiple occasions and also paid tributes to him today from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.
The Prime Minister said Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji Memorial will have grandeur as well as divinity which will flow from the teaching of Sant Ravidas ji. He informed that the memorial is steeped in the spirit of ‘Samrasta’ as the soil of more than 20,000 villages and 300 rivers have been used in it. Families from Madhya Pradesh have sent grain for ‘Samrast Bhoj’ and five Yatras also concluded today at Sagar. “These yatras mark a new era of social harmony”, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister said when inspiration and progress (Prerna aur Pragati) come together a new era is heralded. He mentioned the projects i.e. two road projects and the doubling of Kota-Bina rail route and said that these development projects will provide better facilities to the people of Sagar and nearby areas.
The Prime Minister observed that the foundation stone of Saint Ravidas Ji Memorial and Museum is taking place at a time when the nation has completed 75 years of independence and the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal lie ahead of us. He emphasized forwarding the heritage of the land while also taking lessons from our past. Noting that the nation has completed a journey of a thousand years, the Prime Minister said that the emergence of evils in society is a natural occurrence. He underlined that it is the strength of Indian society that a saint or a Mahatama like Ravidas ji emerges time and again to ward off such evils. He informed that Saint Ravidas ji was born in an era when the Mughals ruled over the land and the society was struggling with imbalance, oppression and tyranny. He mentioned that in such a time, it was Saint Ravidas ji who was creating awareness and preaching ways to ward off evils of the society. Quoting Sant Ravidas ji, the Prime Minister said that on the one hand, people are tackling caste and creed while on the other, evil is gradually depleting humanity. The Prime Minister informed that Saint Ravidas ji was raising his voice against malpractices prevalent in the society while also rekindling the soul of the nation. Highlighting the bravery and patriotism of Sant Ravidas ji during the Mughal rule, the Prime Minister quoted him and said that dependency is the biggest sin and that those who accept it and do not take a stand against it are not loved by anybody. In a way, the Prime Minister emphasized, Sant Ravidas ji provided strength to the society to fight oppression, and Chatrapati Shivaji used it as an inspiration to lay the foundations of Hindavi Swarajya. He said that it was this feeling which found its way into the hearts of lakhs of freedom fighters during India’s struggle for independence. “Today, the nation is moving forward with the same spirit of liberation and rejecting the mentality of slavery”, the Prime Minister added.
Talking about the Garib Kalyan Schemes being run in the country, the Prime Minister said that unlike earlier, the nation is standing with dalits, poor, tribals and women at every stage of life. At the time of birth Matru Vandana Yojana and Mission Indradhanush for total vaccine security of the newborn children where more than 5.5 crore mothers and children have been immunized. He informed that the campaign to save 7 crore Indians from Sickle Cell Anemia is going on along with a campaign to free India from TB by 2025. Shri Modi also noted the decreasing incidence of kala-azar and encephalitis. Talking about the Ayushman Card, the Prime Minister said “People say that they have got Modi Card. For treatment needs of up to 5 lakh, your son (the Prime Minister) is there”.
Underlining the importance of education in life, the Prime Minister mentioned 700 Eklavya Schools in the tribal areas with books and scholarships and a robust mid-day meal system. He also listed measures like the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana for girls, scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students, loans to large numbers of SC, ST community members under the MUDRA loans. He also talked about cumulative financial help of 8 thousand crores to SC, ST youth under Standup India and the inclusion of 90 forest products under MSP along with Pradhan Mantri Awas with electricity, water and gas connections. “The people of SC-ST society are standing on their feet today. They are getting the right place in the society with equality”, he added.
