People should take full benefit out of the welfare schemes of the government G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping, urged the people. The Minister was addressing after inaugurating the three-day-long Bharat Nirman Public Information Campaign at Medavakkam near Chennai today, organised by PIB. People should visit such awareness campaigns and know about all the welfare schemes and the ways & means to get full benefits, Shri Vasan asked the gathering. In this direction, the Minister commended the Public Information Campaigns that have been organized for the past seven years with the aim of enlightening the people about the various welfare/developmental schemes. For the benefits of the schemes to reach the common people, every one, right from Ministers to Panchayat leaders and the common people, should be involved, he noted. The exhibition that had been put up on the sidelines of the Campaign with more than 40 stalls highlights the priority schemes of the government. People should visit each and every stall, ask questions, and know about the schemes thoroughly. The UPA government at the Centre has been implementing various welfare schemes for the common people for the past nine years, for both rural and urban people, Shri Vasan pointed out. The Bharat Nirman schemes are implemented under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister. These schemes provide all the basic facilities in the rural areas, like drinking water, irrigation, electricity, telecommunication, medical, housing, etc. The government wants the rural areas to have same basic facilities like in cities, he added. Some of the priority schemes of the government are Right to Information, PM's 15-point programme for the welfare of the minorities, Jawaharlal Nehru New Urban Renewal Mission, etc., the Minister highlighted. Shri Vasan noted with pride the implementation of MGNREA out of which 4.8 crore families are benefited. Since 2006 till 2013, Rs. 2, 38,400 cr. has been spent on the programme. He pointed out that the mid-day meal scheme, the world's biggest such scheme, was thought of and implemented some 60 years back itself by the visionary leader, Shri K. Kamaraj, who also introduced the uniform system for students so that there will not be any social differences among the students while studying. This mid-day meal scheme has now been implemented throughout India by the UPA government. During 2013-14, Rs. 13,215 cr. has been allocated for this, out of which 12.5 crore students are benefited. Another important scheme is Food Security Scheme, which benefits 63% of rural population and 37% of urban population. Rs. 1, 27,000 cr. is the fund allocated for this, Shri Vasan said. For education, Rs.27, 258 Crore has been allocated to ensure education for all, which has benefited 20 Crore students and drastically reduced non-school going number. Similarly for the welfare of SC/ST, Rs. 66,158 crore has been allocated, which is 12% more than last years. For minorities, the fund allocated is Rs. 3,514 crore, which is again 14% more. The government is also focusing on the welfare on women & children, for which Rs. 1, 74,370 cr. has been allotted, The opening of all-women bank is a step in this direction, Shri Vasan pointed out. Shri Vasan noted that such campaigns are conducted for creating awareness about the schemes for which huge sums are allocated by the government. So people should fully utilise such opportunities and know about the schemes to reap full benefits out of the schemes. Later, Shri Vasan observed that all the sections of the society, cutting across narrow political interests, must join the efforts of the government in implementing welfare schemes. The Minister also released 12 booklets brought out by PIB on the welfare schemes. He also handed over loan benefits to various groups/students, organised by Indian Bank. Earlier, Shri K.M. Ravindran, Addl. Director General, PIB, Chennai, welcomed the gathering. Thousands of people from various sections of the society, including Women SHG members, students, etc., participated in the event.
