PM Modi Interacts With 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna'Scheme Beneficiaries In Poll Bound Goa

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi interacted with beneficiaries and stakeholders of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna Goa Scheme through video conferencing on Saturday.

At the event, also attended by Goa Chief Minister (CM) Pramod Sawant, Modi said Goa needed continuation of the double engine government to fulfill its aspirants. "Goa needs continuation of development by double engine government. Goa needs clear policies like the way they are today and a stable government," he said.

By "double engine government", he meant the continuation of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) government at the center and in the state as well. Goa is bound for assembly elections in February next year.

The PM said that "Goa can become 'swayampurna' (self-sufficient) only when it makes cent per cent use of the developmental avenues and possibilities" and that 'Swayampurna Goa' was a means to fulfill the aspirations of common people.

"Swayampurna Goa is an assurance of well-being and health of our mothers and sisters. Swayampurna Goa will provide employment and self-employment opportunities to youths and unemployed people," he went on to say.

He further added, "It is not just a program of five months or five years, but it is a first phase of the vision for the next 25 years. Each one from Goa will have to contribute to achieve the goal. And that is why Goa needs continuation of development by double engine government. Goa needs clear policies like the way they are today and a stable government."

Swayampurna Goa Scheme

Atmanirbhar Bharat Swayampurna Goa Scheme was launched by CM Pramod Sawant on October 1, 2020, inspired by the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan of PM Modi. The major objective of the scheme is to ensure that every village in the state becomes self-sufficient (swayampurna) by “harnessing resources available within the area”.

A part of the scheme is also aimed to ensure that no eligible village resident of Goa is left out of benefits of any of the state and central government welfare programs. For this, the scheme not only ropes in government officials but also teachers and students, who are called 'Swayampoorna Mitra' to increase their reach to every village panchayat.

The scheme is decided to run for three years in three phases, from 2020 to 2023. The first phase was launched on October 2, 2020, and got completed on October 2, 2021. 41 village panchayats were identified to receive help from state and central government in the first phase.

"Due to Swayampurna Goem program, benefits of 86 different state and central schemes could reach a large section of Goans, which has resulted in 40% increase in horticulture produce, 10% increase in dairy produce and six per cent increase in floriculture produce in Goa since the pandemic", CM Sawant had said on Thursday.

He had further said that since the launch of the Swayampurna Goem program, Rs 20 crore loan had been sanctioned to 15% of dairy farmers in Goa thus far, with a benefit of Rs 1.60 lakh per farmer.

Also, Goa achieved a 100 percent target of providing electricity connection to every household added Narendra Modi.

 Assembly Elections 2022

Goa will go into the election in February 2022. Along with the BJP trying to keep hold of the state for the third time since 2012, Trinamool Congress (TMC) is also taking steps to increase its clout to the state.

TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has said that she will visit Goa between October 28-30. Earlier on Friday, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had announced the appointment of Goa's former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro as its vice president. Faleiro has joined TMC last month, leaving Congress.

Congress, on the other hand, has appointed P. Chidambaram and Dinesh Grundu Rao to tour the state and discuss issues with the party workers. The Congress, in 2017 assembly elections, had emerged as the single largest party but fell short of three seats from the majority. That had led to the BJP taking over power in the state with the help of alliances with smaller parties.