Dantewada (Chhattisgarh), May 7: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Monday flagged off the 6,100-km long "Vikas Yatra" of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.
Addressing a public meeting in Dantewada which is known as a Maoist stronghold for about three decades, Advani said that he was very happy to see that Chhattisgarh was taking rapid strides on the path of development under the leadership of Raman Singh.
Recalling his role in the creation of Chhattisgarh as the union home minister in Atal Bihai Vajpayee government which facilitated the creation of the new state on Nov 1, 2000, Advani said the pious land of Chhattisgarh is unforgettable for him.
"During the last decade, under the dynamic leadership of Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh government has started a number of welfare schemes for the betterment of common man specially Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the poorest of the poor section of the society," he said to widespread applause from by the tribal gathering.
In the six-phased yatra, which comes ahead of assembly elections due later this year, Raman Singh will travel through 81 out of state's total 90 constituencies. The programme conclude June 20.
Talking to media persons in Dantewada, 380 km south of Raipur, Raman Singh, who has been heading the government in the mineral-rich state since December 2003, said besides taking the achievements of last 9 years to masses, observing how government's initiatives/decisions impact the life of people would be the focus of this yatra.
Providing food security to 42 lakh families, health care of up to Rs.30,000 to 52 lakh families, tendu leaf encouragement/wage amount to tribal people, paddy bonus to farmers, solar study lamp to school students, solar lanterns for poor families, tablet devices to 80,000 school students, laptops for engineering/ medical students were some of the decisions showing the commitment of the state government towards upliftment of poor sections, he said.
