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New Delhi, Construction of two crore more houses will be done under the Pradhan Mantri Awas <keyword id="19955331" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yojana" source="keywords">Yojana</keyword> (<keyword id="20414289" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gramin" source="keywords">Gramin</keyword>) in the next five years, <keyword id="19955404" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance" source="keywords">Finance</keyword> Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> said on Thursday. Presenting a vote on account or an interim budget for 2024-25, she said the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) continued despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and the target of constructing three crore rural houses will be met soon. "Despite the challenges due to COVID-19, the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) continued, and we are close to achieving the target of three crore houses," <keyword id="19916494" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sitharaman" source="keywords">Sitharaman</keyword> said. "Two crore more houses will be taken up in the next five years to meet the requirement arising from the increase in the number of families" she said in her pre-election budget . The PMAY(G) is a social welfare programme to provide housing for the rural poor in the country. Under the scheme, an assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh is given in plain areas and Rs 1.30 lakh in hilly areas. The cost of the scheme is borne by the central government and a state government in a 60:40 ratio.

2 crore more houses to be constructed under PMAY(G) in next 5 years: FM

The country will add 1.25 lakh kilometers of roads under phase III of PM Gram Sadak Yojana spending ₹ 80,250 crore. While presenting budget allocation for the ministry of roads and highways, the Finance minister mentioned the projects undertaken in the last four years. She said, “ The <keyword id="2844663" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharatmala">Bharatmala</keyword>, Sagarmala and Udaan projects have worked towards reducing rural and urban divide.” She also called for One Nation, One Card for connectivity. Sitharaman also pushed for public private in metros to develop metros across the country and aid completion of sanctioned projects. The metro rail project has also been a milestone setter as 300 km of new projects were approved, while 210 km stretch operationalised. The total length of metro rails have now reached 657 km. Comprehensive restructuring of <keyword id="6373156" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-highways">national highways</keyword> programme under the 2nd phase of the Bharatmala project is also set to be operationalised. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">YEAR </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">BUDGET ALLOCATION </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">2018-19 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;"> ₹ 78625.5 crore </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;">2019 (interim) </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;"> ₹ 80016 crore </td></tr></tbody></table> In the Interim Budget, the government had increased the budget for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways by 5.58%. Highways sector is one of the best performing areas. The government expenditure in the area went up from ₹ 34,345 crore in 2014-15 to ₹ 78,625 crore in 2018-19. India’s road transport network is amongst the longest in the world, with over 5.5 million kms. The network aids the movement of almost 64.5% of all goods in the country and 90% of its passenger traffic. The ministry has big plans coming up in the next few years. By 2022, the ministry has plans to construct 200,000 km of national highways in the country. For financial year 2019 itself, the ministry has set target to award 15,000 km projects and construction of 10.000 km of national highways. A total of about 295 major projects for bridges and roads are also expected to be completed during the same period. The ministry’s Bharatmala project is its latest high end endeavour, which aims at improving connectivity in border and other areas. The project is set to cost ₹ 5.5 trillion for the development of about 50,000 km of road networks.

Union budget 2019: Will lay 1.25000 kms of rural roads says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

The <keyword id="20417468" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="department-of-drinking-water-and-sanitation" source="keywords">Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation</keyword> has received a budgetary allocation of Rs 77,390.68 crores for the fiscal year 2024-2025. This figure reflects a minimal increase of only 0.5 per cent from the revised estimate of Rs 77,032.65 crore announced in budget 2023-2024. A substantial portion of this financial year's allotment for the <keyword id="22519676" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drinking-water-and-sanitation" source="keywords">Drinking Water and Sanitation</keyword> department is directed towards the <keyword id="19971121" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jal-jeevan-mission" source="keywords">Jal Jeevan Mission</keyword> (JJM), which received Rs 69,926.65 crore, a marginal rise from the revised estimate of Rs 69,846.31 crore in 2023-2024. This flagship programme aims to provide functional household tap connections to every rural household by 2024, focusing on ensuring regular and adequate <keyword id="19939560" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="water-supply" source="keywords">water supply</keyword>. Additionally, the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) has been allocated Rs 95 crore, a huge rise from the Rs 3 crore it got in the last revised estimate. The <keyword id="20200832" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swachh-bharat-mission" source="keywords">Swachh Bharat Mission</keyword> (Gramin), which focuses on maintaining Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and enhancing waste management in rural areas, has been allocated Rs 7,192 crore. This allocation remains consistent with the budget for the previous fiscal year and continues to support <keyword id="22519675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sanitation-efforts" source="keywords">sanitation efforts</keyword> nationwide. The budget also includes significant funding for water supply and sanitation at Rs 64,302.85 crore, an increase from the previous year's Rs 64,138.41 crore. For economic services, the budget includes Rs 35.78 crore for the Secretariat and capital outlay on general economic services. This is an increase from Rs 32.65 crore in the revised budget, indicating a focus on enhancing administrative and infrastructural capacities. Additional allocations include Rs 7,632.19 crore for Northeast India, aimed at improving water and sanitation facilities in these regions. Grants-in-aid to state governments have been set at Rs 5,169.86 crore, while grants to Union Territories are allocated at Rs 250 crore.

Budget 2024-25: Drinking water and sanitation dept gets a mere 0.5% boost

In her <keyword id="19906106" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Interim-Budget" source="keywords">Interim Budget</keyword> speech in February 2024, <keyword id="20385790" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Union Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> celebrated what she termed as the Modi government's landmark achievement: unleashing 'nari shakti' or women's power through various initiatives since 2014. Among these, the creation of one crore 'Lakhpati Didis' — women whose annual household income exceeds one lakh rupees — under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), has garnered significant attention. <h2>The hype around it </h2>Imagine being a <keyword id="20416259" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lakhpati-Didi" source="keywords">Lakhpati Didi</keyword> — a rural woman whose annual household income exceeds Rs. 1 lakh. These women are not just financial achievers; they are community leaders who inspire others through their entrepreneurial journeys. Their success stories highlight the transformative impact of self-help groups (SHGs) and collective action in rural India. Launched amid much fanfare on August 15, 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme aims to empower women through diverse skill development programs, from producing LED bulbs to operating agricultural drones. Partnering with entities like Patanjali, Flipkart, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the initiative also focuses on branding and marketing these products, ostensibly connecting women with credit lines and MUDRA loans for financial support. Almost an year on, the scheme is all set to get some well-deserved boost in the Budget 2024 to be presented on July 23. However, the time also apt to examine if it has actually contributed to <keyword id="20009191" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-empowerment" source="keywords">women empowerment</keyword> in the country. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111915324" title="Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to table Economic Survey in Parliament today" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> <h2>The reality check </h2>Critics argue that such schemes may inadvertently tether women's SHGs to corporate networks, potentially benefiting transnational agribusiness giants aligned with the government. Programs like 'Namo Drone Didi', allocated Rs. 500 crore in the Interim Budget, exemplify this trend by integrating women into digital agriculture, albeit under the influence of corporate agendas. Further, while the Interim Budget championed the narrative of women's economic prosperity, it failed to adequately address their basic needs. Despite claims of empowerment, essential schemes such as PM Awas Yojana (Rural) and Har Ghar Jal have seen significant budgetary underspending, raising concerns about the government's commitment to women's welfare beyond mere rhetoric. For instance, the underutilisation of funds in Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and the shrinking allocations for crucial subsidies like nutrition and education further highlight the disconnect between budgetary outlays and on-ground impact. This trend suggests a shift in responsibility towards state governments without commensurate support from the Union government, leaving vulnerable populations like widows and rural women at risk. Overall, the well-intentioned narrative around the scheme needs better translation and execution on ground to achieve desired outcomes. <h2>Looking ahead </h2>Until now, the budgetary allocation for women-centric programs have remained disproportionately low, with the Ministry of Women and Child Development having been allocated Rs 26,000 crore in 2024-25, an increase of 2.52% compared to the previous budget. This paltry investment underscores a broader pattern of neglecting systemic issues such as gender-based violence, social discrimination and pro-corporate stance. As Budget 2024 approaches, stakeholders eagerly anticipate policies that not only boost economic growth but also empower rural women as entrepreneurs and leaders. While Lakhpati Didi stands poised to empower rural women with opportunities and support, more steps are needed to make it more sustainable. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111689743" title="Union Budget 2024: A handy FAQ guide to decode the upcoming budget" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Budget 2024: Can Lakhpati Didi Yojana’s reality inspire better focus on women?

Wooing the middle class ahead of the general elections, Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nirmala-sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> on Thursday announced a scheme to help those living in rented accommodations or slums to acquire a house. Parallely, she also announced building 2 crore more houses for the rural poor in the next five years under the continuing <keyword id="3905678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="PM-Awas-Yojana" source="Orion">PM Awas Yojana</keyword> (Grameen). Presenting a vote on account for 2024-25, also known as interim budget for the period till the new government comes into office after general elections, she said the Modi government in the last 10 years has endeavoured to provide each a house, water, electricity, cooking gas and bank account as part of the inclusive development. "Our government will launch a scheme to help deserving sections of the middle class 'living in rented houses, or slums, or chawls and unauthorized colonies' to buy or build their own houses," she said. The finance minister highlighted that the implementation of the PM Awas Yojana (Grameen) continued despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Despite the challenges due to COVID, implementation of PM Awas Yojana (Grameen) continued and we are close to achieving the target of three crore houses. Two crore more houses will be taken up in the next five years to meet the requirement arising from increase in the number of families," she said. In order to achieve the target of 'Housing for All' in rural areas, the <keyword id="19910940" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-rural-development" source="keywords">Ministry of Rural Development</keyword> is implementing Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G) with effect from 1st April 2016 to provide assistance to eligible rural households. The overall target is to construct 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by March 2024. The central assistance under PMAY-G is released directly to the State/UT considering the State/UT as a unit. Further release of these funds to beneficiaries in various Districts/Blocks/GPs is done by the respective State Government/UT Administration. "The amount of Central Share of funds released to the States/UTs for construction of houses under PMAY-G during the last five years, which is from the financial year 2018-19 to 2022-23 was around Rs 1,60,853.38 crore," according to an official statement in December.

Govt to launch scheme to help middle class buy or build own house; 2 cr more rural houses

New Delhi, Mar 17 () IT company Wipro on Tuesday announced completion of core banking solution in all branches of Kaveri Grameena Bank. "Wipro Limited on Tuesday announced the successful implementation of core banking solution for Kaveri Grameena Bank," the company said in a statement. Wipro had earlier provided solutions for 688 branches of Pragathi Krishna Gramin Bank. "Now, the company has completely migrated 479 branches of Kaveri Grameena Bank for the newly formed Karnataka Gramin Bank. The amalgamated RRB will leverage the core banking solution platform to deploy state-of-the-art technology in all its 1,167 branches," the statement said.The roll-out is part of the merger with Pragathi Krishna Gramin Bank to form Canara Bank sponsored Regional Rural Bank (RRB), Karnataka Gramin Bank.* * * * * * *Sterling &amp; Wilson board okays amalgamation of SW WAAREE arm * Sterling and Wilson Solar on Tuesday said its board has approved the draft scheme for amalgamation of its arm SW WAARE into it. "Board of Directors of Sterling and Wilson (SW) SOLAR at its meeting held on March 16, 2020 has, inter alia, approved the draft Scheme.. (which) provides for amalgamation and vesting of SW WAAREE, wholly owned subsidiary with and into SW SOLAR," a BSE filing said. The appointed date for the scheme is April 1, 2020. Besides, no equity shares will be issued by SW SOLAR to the shareholders of SW WAAREE as entire share capital of SW WAAREE is held by SW SOLAR itself. Morover, the scheme does not involve payment of any cash consideration. As on December, 31, 2019, the SW WAAREE had total assets of Rs 50.20 crore and net worth of Rs 36.66 crore. PRS KKS SHWSHW

Wipro completes implementation of core banking solution at Kaveri Grameena Bank

New Delhi, Dec 12 () A parliamentary panel on Thursday rapped the government for slow pace of modernisation of 22,000 village haats across the country and asked it to set a deadline for revamping rural marketplaces.
The panel also suggested the government to take steps towards making the scheme of modernising village haats 'GrAM' as a fully funded central scheme.
It also asked the government to take urgent steps for setting up of a committee of state agriculture ministers for early adoption of Model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Market Committee (APML) Act, 2017.
Placing its report in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture headed by BJP member P C Gaddigoudar said: "The committee is astonished to know that none of revamped and modernised gramin haats has been inaugurated so far".
The committee is of the view that gramin haats have potential to change the face of marketing of agriculture produce in the country and can significantly enhance the income of farmers.
"The committee, therefore, desire the department (of agriculture) to take all the necessary steps to enhance the pace of modernisation of gramin haats across the country and set a deadline for each state," the report said.
The report was on the action taken by the government on the recommendation of the panel on the issue of agriculture marketing and gramin haats.
The panel had recommended the government to finalise procedural formalities for early implementation of GrAM scheme, enhance number of gramin haats being targeted for modernisation under the scheme and ensure presence of one gramin haat in each panchayat in the country, besides exempting such haats from state APMC regulations.
Stating that the governments' replies were not satisfying, the committee said the Union Agriculture Ministry has informed that it is undertaking questionnaire-based survey of these haats, and so far survey of more than 11,000 rural haats have already been completed. The survey results has been shared with the Rural Development Ministry for development of basic infrastructure through MNREGA scheme by states.
Further, the ministry informed that it has circulated guidelines to all states and union territories to facilitate and promote better management in GrAMs and requested states to exempt the GrAMs from state APMC regulations, the committee said in the report.
The ministry has also informed that the physical infrastructure is being strengthened through MNREGA scheme and the government has also approved an Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund (AMIF) with a corpus of Rs 2,000 crore with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for developing and upgrading agriculture marketing infrastructure in 10,000 gramin haats and 585 APMC markets, it added.
With regard to funding for gramin haat modernisation, the committee said the availability of central government funds is necessary for expeditious completion of works under the GrAM scheme as "indecisiveness" of state governments regarding financing of works for such haats will delay the ambitious project.
"The committee, therefore, once again reiterate to make 'GrAMs scheme' as the fully funded central scheme," the report said.
In the 2018-19 Budget, the government had announced development and upgradation of existing 22,000 village haats to GrAMs.
With regard to the model APLM Act, the committee said it is anguished to note that despite specific recommendation, the government has not taken any step for constitution of a committee of state agriculture ministers in order to arrive at a consensus and chalk out legal framework for marketing of agriculture produce in the country.
"Unless urgent steps are not taken to reform platform for agriculture marketing and specifically APMC, farmers of our country will not be able to get remunerative pricing for their produce," the committee said and urged the government to take initiative in this regard without any further delay.
The government has informed that so far Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have adopted the law while Punjab has done it partially. And other states are at varied stages in the process of adoption, it added. LUX BAL

Par panel raps govt for slow pace of 22,000 village haats modernisation

New Delhi, Apr 18 () All postal employees, including Gramin Dak Sevaks, will get Rs 10 lakh compensation in case they succumb to COVID-19, the government said on Saturday. The postal services come under essential services and apart from regular services, the post offices are also delivering food packets, rations and essential medicines, among others, across the country by liasioning with local administration and police. "In the context of COVID-19 situation, it has been decided to extend payment of compensation of Rs 10 lakh to all postal employees, including Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), succumbing to the disease while brought on duty. The guidelines will come into effect immediately and continue for the entire period till the crisis of COVID-19 is over," the Ministry of Communications said in a statement. Additionally, it said Communications and Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad held a video conference with each state whereby chief post master generals and chief general managers were instructed to keep their postal network geared and active to help the needy throughout the country. PRS HRS

Postal employees to get Rs 10 lakh compensation in case they succumb to COVID-19

Chandigarh, May 15 () The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 1,500 crore for Punjab to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers, through state cooperative banks, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part of Nabard's Rs 25,000 crore nationwide special liquidity facility (SLF), which has been made available to state cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and microfinance institutions (MFIs), to ensure flow of credit to farmers for agricultural operations during COVID-19 pandemic, a release said. "Nabard has sanctioned a sum of Rs 1,500 crore, out of which an amount of Rs 1,000 crore has been sanctioned to Punjab State Cooperative Bank and Rs 500 crore to Punjab Gramin Bank," Nabard Chief General Manager (Punjab Regional Office) J P S Bindra said. Nabard has so far disbursed Rs 1,000 crore to Punjab State Cooperative Bank and Rs 100 crore to Punjab Gramin Bank for supporting agricultural and other activities of farmers, he said in the release. Bindra said this is a front-loaded liquidity support provided to these banks with a view to ensure credit flow to farmers for carrying out agricultural operations for kharif crops smoothly during this difficult situation. CHS VSD RVK

Nabard sanctions Rs 1,500 cr for Punjab to ensure credit flow to farmers

<keyword id="48812" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India-Post">India Post</keyword> is recruiting for the post of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS). There are as many as 10,066 vacancies in the states of Assam(919), Bihar(1063), Gujarat(2510), Karnataka(2637), Kerala(2086) and Punjab(851). According to the official job posting, the candidates who have passed the class 10th and have studied the local language can apply for the post online on the official website <a href="https://indiapostgdsonline.in/phase3/reference.aspx">indiapostgdsonline.in</a>. The registration will close on 4 September 2019. The Gramin Dak Sevak is responsible for selling stamps and stationery, conveyance and delivery of mail and other tasks assigned by Postmaster/ Sub Postmaster. Eligibility: The General category candidates within 40 years of age can apply for the post. For OBC, SCs/STs, the upper age limit is 43 and 45 years, respectively. The applicants are also required to have a basic computer training certificate with a minimum duration of two months or an equivalent Central Government/ State Government/ University/ Boards certificate. However, the applicants who have studied computers as a subject in class 10th,12th or at college level can submit their respective university certificates. How to apply: <ul><li>Visit the official website <a href="https://indiapostgdsonline.in/phase3/reference.aspx">indiapostgdsonline.in</a> </li><li>On the next screen, enter the verification details including registration number and submit. </li><li>Fill in the application form and upload your documents. </li><li>You can download the application form for future reference.</li></ul>

GDS Recruitment 2019: India post is hiring to fill over 10,000 vacancies, apply @indiapost.gov.in

New Delhi, Mar 26 () Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday announced 5 kg of wheat or rice and one kg of preferred pulses free-of-cost every month for the next three months for 80 crore poor across the country to deal with the economic impact of the lockdown amid coronavirus outbreak.As many of 20.5 crore women Jan Dhan Account holders will get Rs 500 per month for next three months to run their households.For poor senior citizens, widow and disabled will get an ex-gratia of Rs 1,000.Also, the daily wage under MNREGA has been increased to Rs 202 a day from Rs 182 to benefit 5 crore workers.The minister said the government will front-load Rs 2,000 payment to farmers in the first week of April under the existing PM Kishan Yojana to benefit 8.69 crore farmers.Also, the beneficiaries of Ujjwala LPG scheme will get free cooking gas for the next three months, she said.This forms part of the Rs 1.70 lakh crore Gramin Kalyan Package. DP ANZ BALBAL

Govt to provide 5 kg grains, 1 kg pulses for free over next 3 months: FM

New Delhi, Jan 31 () The government has decided to invest more than Rs 100 lakh crore on building modern infrastructure in the country with a special emphasis on connectivity, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday.
 In a bid to improve connectivity, the government will also focus on creation of new highways, waterways, airways and I-ways (IT infrastructure), the President said addressing the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, on the first day of the Budget session here.
 "The poor and the middle-class hope and aspire for a modern 21st century infrastructure in the country. To fulfil this aspiration of the people more than Rs 100 lakh crore will be invested in the next five years. With a special emphasis on connectivity, the government is also focusing on creation of new highways, new waterways, new airways, and new I-ways," the President said.
 Rapid progress is being made towards providing better public transport facilities in urban areas, Kovind said adding, metro facility has now been extended to 18 cities in the country.
 So far, 670-km of metro lines have been operationalised, and work on another 930-km is underway, he said and added the residents of Delhi and NCR have greatly benefitted from the construction of Delhi-Meerut Expressway, as well as from Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
 He further said inland waterways are also being developed by the government and in December 2019, for the first time, container cargo reached Pandu in Assam via National Water Way-2.
 Under the Jal Marg Vikas Project, the multi-modal terminal at Haldia on River Ganga and the navigation lock at Farakka will be completed this year, Kovind said adding, it is also our endeavour to operate large transport cargo vessels on River Ganga by next year.
 On air connectivity, he said about 35 lakh people have so far travelled by air under the UDAN scheme and last year, 335 new air routes have been approved.
 Rural roads contributed significantly to the country's infrastructure, he said and added 1.25 lakh kilometers road will be constructed and upgraded under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna.
 Rural roads have now been expanded to every corner of the country through the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, he said adding third phase of the programme has been launched to strengthen rural roads and connect them to schools, hospitals and agricultural markets.
 On Noth East connectivity he said: "More than the physical distance of the North East from Delhi, it was the emotional disconnect that disheartened the people of the region. My Government has transformed this situation by working tirelessly during the last five years. Work is being done at an unprecedented pace in the North East to enhance connectivity, strengthen infrastructure and make people's lives easier."
 As a result of the government's efforts, he said by 2022, the capitals of Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland will be connected with the rail network.
 "The work on Agartala-Akhaura rail link is also progressing at a fast pace. In the year 2022, the construction of the new airport being built at 'Holongi' in Arunachal Pradesh will also be completed," he added.
 The President said, during the last few years, there has been extraordinary development of infrastructure related to tourism.
 "Recently a nationwide programme has been launched from Kolkata for conservation and beautification of the heritage buildings of the country. The tourism sector is also being strengthened by the modern infrastructure being developed under Swadesh Darshan and PRASAD schemes. New records are being created every day in the number of tourists visiting the 'Statue of Unity', the statue of Sardar Patel; which is the tallest in the world," he emphasised.
 Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) is a government scheme that focuses on identifying and developing the pilgrim sites across the country. NAM DRR

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