Chief Minister presents Rs.7.30-cr incentive awards to 298 ‘samras' villages of central Gujarat

Chief Minister presents Rs.7.30-cr incentive awards to 298 ‘samras' villages of central Gujarat

“2,133 ‘samras grams' in Gujarat elected sarpanchs through consensus”

“There are many more government schemes which don't need funds”

“Education of every girl child, nutritious food for every family, toilet in every home and drip irrigation in every farm the minimum goals”

– Narendra Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi presented incentive awards worth Rs.7.30-crore to 298 ‘samras gram' panchayats and felicitated their sarpanch (village heads) from seven districts in central zone at a glittering function at Anand today.

Villages which elect their panchayat members through consensus instead of elections attain the status of ‘samras gram'. The seven districts covered today are Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Kheda, Dahod, Panchmahals and Surendranagar.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that several villages in the past had been centres of rivalry between a few influential families and the village panchayat elections also used to be marred by avoidable clashes, leading to neglect of development works in the village. Contesting elections has its charm and appeal, but consensus could be more appealing. With the introduction of ‘samras gram' in the state, he said that such villages now manage their own affairs better than other villages. The concept is democratic and yet more effective. Such villages in cooperation with the officials can do wonders and literally become Eden Garden.

Mr. Modi said that there are many more government schemes which do not require any funds. He called upon the village panchayats to take advantage of such schemes.

Describing ‘samras gram' as Gujarat's yet another gift to the nation, Mr. Modi welcomed the sarpanchs of Maharashtra, who have come to Gujarat to study the novel scheme.

He described Gujarat's massive check dams' network to check rainwater going down the rivers into the sea, implemented at village level, as another unique scheme which is paying handsome dividends in the form of recharging wells and raising the underground water table, to last till another monsoon. He said that ‘nirmal gram' is another successful state government initiative. It began with four such villages ten years back and now number about 6,000. The minimum goals are education of every girl child, nutritious food for every family, toilet in every home and drip irrigation in every farm.

Additional Chief Secretary for Panchayat Rajnikant Patel gave details of the scheme.

Prominent among those who attended the function included Panchayat Minister Narottam Patel, Education Minister Ramanlal Vora, Ministers of State for Health Parbat Patel and Jashwantsinh Bhabhor, Deputy Whip Ambalal Rohit, MPs Smriti Irani and Mansukh Mandviya, Gujarat Mahila Commission Chairperson Lilaben Ankoliya, MLAs Jyotsna Patel and Shrish Shukla, District Panchayat Presidents, ex-MP Deepak Patel and Principal Secretary Sangita Singh.

Gujarat shines again as Power Hub

Gujarat shines again as Power Hub

3 Discoms awarded for meritorious performance

New Delhi : Gujarat Government's three major power companies are awarded for outstanding performance in the Power Sector for the year 2009-10 and 2010-11. The Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL) has been awarded Gold Shield for the year 2010-11 and Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation limited (GETCO) has been bestowed the Gold Shield for 2009-10. The Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) has been awarded the Bronze Shield for the year 2009-10.

The awards were jointly received by V. N. Maira, Chairman & Nityanand Srivastava MD, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Limited (UGVCL) – Gold Shield for the year 2010-11. Shri S. K. Negi, MD and B.B. Chauhan, Chief Engineer Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation limited (GETCO) received the Gold Shield for 2009-10, and Mukesh Puri, Chairman and A. N. Kharti, MD Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) were awarded the Bronze Shield for the year 2009-10 from Union Minister for Power Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde here.

It is a remarkable transformation for a state which was power deficient with its Electricity Board saddled with huge loss barely a decade ago, but now has 4,000 MW of surplus electricity to offer to other states and a vibrant energy sector.

Highlighting the achievement of power sector in Gujarat, Shri Mukesh Puri, Chairman of MGVCL said that Gujarat is a power surplus state and Government of India has also acknowledged the unquestioned leadership of the state in power sector. In Gujarat, urban and rural areas including industries as well as all habitations are given 24 X 7 power supply and it is a remarkable, he added.

CM visits Suzlon group's energy headquarter ‘One Earth'

•India needs a fresh breeze of leadership in public life

•Dynastic politics is being practiced in the guise of giving way to younger generation

India needs a fresh breeze of leadership in public life. Dynastic politics is being practiced in the guise of giving way to younger generation. This will spell new troubles for India, said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

As a part of his Pune visit, the Chief Minister went to the leading energy sector group Suzlon's headquarter - ‘One Earth'. Mr. Modi shared his motivational thoughts during a discussion held on the theme of ‘contemporary politics' and ‘youth leadership'.

Chief Minister gave highlights of Gujarat's initiatives in developing transportation facilities through sea-route and the development in the field of natural energy resources. He said that Gujarat is on top in the country in earning carbon credit.

Chief Minister pointed out that in the past, Gujarat did not use its natural resources for development. “Entire 1600 km. coastline of Gujarat was proving a burden for the state”, he said. With the development of ports, Gujarat has now emerged as India's gateway for global trade. The state is also developing eco-friendly modern cities of 21st century such as GIFT city, knowledge city, health city, port city, twin city, transport city, he said.

Mr. Modi said that Gujarat has set up 32 new universities in last decade. Among them are some specialized universities which will give best human resource to the world.

Suzlon group chairman and CMD Tulsi Tanti greeted the Chief Minister and described him as nation's most farsighted and dynamic political leader who has earned international recognition for Gujarat. Mr. Modi also had discussions with Suzlon's board of directors on the development of energy sector.

Gujarat is on top in donation of blood, eye and body: Hon'ble CM

Service of visually impaired is one of the highest humane activities, says CM

At diamond jubilee celebration of Blind Men's Association managed H.V.Desai Eye Hospital in Pune of Maharashtra, Gujarat Chief Minister said that Gujarat is on top in entire country in donating blood, eye and body.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the programme Chief Minister said, “All these three humane activities are taking place in Gujarat on great scale.” He also stressed the need to eradicate malnutrition in order to shun the problem of blindness from the society.

Chief Minister expressed happiness that Pune's Blind Men Association is in process of setting up a world-class eye-care research institute and hospital. He also lauded the services of Padmashri Niranjan Pandya who is devoted to the welfare of visually challenged people.

On behalf of the hospital, Chief Minister distributed free-of-cost spectacles to the patients who have undergone eye treatment. Mr. Modi praised the charitable activities being carried out by the Association and also hailed the donors.

Describing the service of visually impaired people as one of the highest humane activities he said that all those who selflessly devote their life to the service of humanity are worthy of acclamation. Apart from the cataract operations for human beings, Gujarat has also cared for animals by carrying out cataract operations and providing them dental treatment, he said.