PM lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation development projects at Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
Lays foundation stone of Sant
Shiromani Gurudev Sri Ravidas ji Memorial to be constructed at a cost of more
than Rs 100 crores
Lays foundation stone of two road projects to be developed at a cost of more
than Rs 1580 crores
Dedicates doubling of Kota-Bina rail route to the nation developed at a cost of
more than Rs 2475 crores
“Sant Shiromani Gurudev Sri Ravidas ji Memorial will have grandeur as well as
divinity”
“Sant Ravidas ji provided strength to the society to fight oppression”
“Today, the nation is moving forward with the spirit of liberation and
rejecting the mentality of slavery”
“In Amrit Kaal, we are trying to eradicate poverty and hunger from the country”
“I know the pain of hunger and self-respect of the poor. I am a member of your
family and I don’t need to look into the books to understand your pain”
“Our focus is on welfare of the poor and empowerment of every section of
society”
“Today, be it Dalit, deprived, backward or tribal, our government is giving
them due respect and new opportunities”
The Prime
Minister, Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation,
development projects in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh today. The projects include
laying the foundation stone of Sant Shiromani Gurudev Ravidas ji Memorial to be
constructed at a cost of more than Rs 100 crores, two road projects to be
developed at a cost of more than Rs 1580 crores and dedicating to the nation
doubling of Kota-Bina rail route to the nation developed at a cost of more than
Rs 2475 crores.
Addressing the
gathering, the Prime Minister said that one can witness the ‘sagar’ (ocean) of
harmony in the land of Sagar today with the presence of saints, the blessings
of Saint Ravidas and the huge crowd comprising different sections of society.
He mentioned that the foundation stone of Sant Shiromani Gurudev Sri
Ravidas ji Memorial was laid today to further the shared prosperity of the
nation. With the blessings of the saints, the Prime Minister recalled taking
part in the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ of the divine memorial earlier today and expressed
confidence that he will come to inaugurate the temple on its completion in a
few years. As a Parliamentarian from Varanasi, the Prime Minister informed
about visiting the birthplace of Saint Ravidas Ji on multiple occasions and
also paid tributes to him today from Sagar in Madhya Pradesh.
The Prime
Minister said Sant Shiromani Gurudev Sri Ravidas ji Memorial will have
grandeur as well as divinity which will flow from the teaching of Sant Ravidas
ji. He informed that the memorial is steeped in the spirit of ‘Samrasta’ as the
soil of more than 20000 villages and 300 rivers have been used in it. Families
from Madhya Pradesh have sent grain for ‘Samrast Bhoj’ and five Yatras also
concluded today at Sagar. “These yatras mark a new era of social harmony”, the
Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister said when inspiration and progress
(Prerna aur Pragati) come together a new era is heralded. He mentioned the
projects i.e. two road projects and the doubling of Kota-Bina rail route and
said that these development projects will provide better facilities to the
people of Sagar and nearby areas.
The Prime
Minister observed that the foundation stone of Sant Ravidas Ji Memorial and
Museum is taking place at a time when the nation has completed 75 years of
independence and the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal lie ahead of us. He emphasized
forwarding the heritage of the land while also taking lessons from our past.
Noting that the nation has completed a journey of a thousand years, the Prime
Minister said that the emergence of evils in society is a natural occurrence.
He underlined that it is the strength of Indian society that a saint or a
Mahatama like Ravidas ji emerges time and again to ward off such evils. He
informed that Saint Ravidas ji was born in an era when the Mughals ruled over
the land and the society was struggling with imbalance, oppression and tyranny.
He mentioned that in such a time, it was Saint Ravidas ji who was creating
awareness and preaching ways to ward off evils of the society. Quoting Sant Ravidas
ji, the Prime Minister said that on the one hand, people are tackling caste and
creed while on the other, evil is gradually depleting humanity. The Prime
Minister informed that Saint Ravidas ji was raising his voice against
malpractices prevalent in the society while also rekindling the soul of the
nation. Highlighting the bravery and patriotism of Sant Ravidas ji during the
Mughal rule, the Prime Minister quoted him and said that dependency is the
biggest sin and that those who accept it and do not take a stand against it are
not loved by anybody. In a way, the Prime Minister emphasized, Sant Ravidas ji
provided strength to the society to fight oppression, and Chatrapati Shivaji
used it as an inspiration to lay the foundations of Hindavi Swarajya. He said
that it was this feeling which found its way into the hearts of lakhs of
freedom fighters during India’s struggle for independence. “Today, the nation
is moving forward with the same spirit of liberation and rejecting the
mentality of slavery”, the Prime Minister added.
Quoting Sant
Ravidas on social equality and availability of amenities for all, the Prime
Minister said that in the Amrit Kaal, we are trying to eradicate poverty and
hunger from the country. He recalled his determination to provide food to poor
and deprived sections during the pandemic. “I know the pain of hunger and
self-respect of the poor. I am a member of your family and I don’t need to look
into the books to understand your pain”, Modi said. Free ration was ensured for
more than 80 crore people under Pradhanmantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, a feat,
said the Prime Minister, is being appreciated globally.
Talking about
the Garib Kalyan Schemes being run in the country, the Prime Minister said that
unlike earlier, the nation is standing with dalits, poor, tribals and women at
every stage of life. At the time of birth Matru Vandana Yojana and Mission
Indradhanush for total vaccine security of the newborn children where more than
5.5 crore mothers and children have been immunized. He informed that the
campaign to save 7 crore Indians from Sickle Cell Anaemia is going on along
with a campaign to free India from TB by 2025. Modi also noted the decreasing
incidence of kalaazar and encephalitis. Talking about the Ayushman Card, the
Prime Minister said “People say that they have got Modi Card. For treatment
needs of up to 5 lakh, your son (the Prime Minister) is there”.
Underling the
importance of education in life, the Prime Minister mentioned 700 Eklavya
Schools in the tribal areas with books and scholarships and a robust mid-day
meal system. He also listed measures like the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana for
girls, scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students, loans to large numbers of SC,
ST community members under the MUDRA loans. He also talked about cumulative
financial help of 8 thousand crores to SC, ST youth under Standup India and the
inclusion of 90 forest products under MSP along with Pradhan Mantri Awas with
electricity, water and gas connections. “The people of SC-ST society are standing
on their feet today. They are getting the right place in the society with
equality”, he added.
“Sagar
is such a district which has Sagar in its name and it is also identified with
the 400-acre Lakha Banjara Lake”, the Prime Minister remarked. He touched upon
Lakha Banjara who is associated with the region and mentioned that he
understood the importance of water many years ago. The Prime Minister lamented
that the past governments did provide drinking water to the poor and mentioned
the Jal Jeevan Mission which is accomplishing this work today. He informed that
piped water is reaching Dalit settlements, backward areas and tribal areas. The
Prime Minister further added that 75 Amrit Sarovars are also being built in
every district by taking forward the tradition of Lakha Banjara. “These lakes
will become a symbol of the spirit of freedom, a center of social harmony”, Modi
said.
The Prime
Minister emphasized that the government is giving due respect and providing new
opportunities for dalits, the deprived, backwards and tribals of the country.
“Neither the people of this society are weak, nor their history”, the Prime
Minister remarked as he highlighted that great personalities have emerged from
these sections of the society one after the other who have played an
extraordinary role in nation building. That's why, the Prime Minister said, the
country is proudly preserving their legacy. He gave examples of the
beautification of the temple at the birthplace of Sant Ravidas ji in Banaras,
the Global Skill Park being built here at Govindpura in Bhopal named after
Saint Ravidas, developing important places related to the life of Baba Saheb as
Panch-Teerth and the development of museums in many states to immortalize the
glorious history of the tribal society. The Prime Minister also informed that
the nation has begun celebrating the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda as
Janjatiya Gaurav Divas. He further added that Habibganj railway station in
Madhya Pradesh was named after Queen Kamlapati of the Gond community, and
Patalpani station is named after Tantya Mama. Concluding the address, the Prime
Minister emphasized that the dalits, backward and tribal traditions are getting
due respect for the first time in the country. He urged the nation to move
forward with this resolution of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and
Sabka Prayas' and expressed confidence that the teachings of Sant Ravidas ji
will continue to unite the citizens of India in its journey.
Governor of
Madhya Pradesh, Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj
Singh Chauhan, Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Virender Kumar, Union
Minister of State, Prahlad Singh Patel, Member of Parliament, VD Sharma, and
Minister from Madhya Pradesh Government were present on the occasion among
others.
Honoring
prominent saints and social reformers has been a special hallmark of the work
done by the Prime Minister. Driven by his vision, Sant Shiromani Gurudev Sri
Ravidas ji Memorial will be constructed in an area of more than 11.25 acres and
at a cost of more than Rs 100 crores. The magnificent memorial will have an
impressive art museum and gallery to showcase the life, philosophy and
teachings of Sant Shiromani Gurudev Shri Ravidas ji. It will also have
facilities for devotees visiting the memorial like Bhakt Niwas, Bhojanalay etc.
The Prime
Minister dedicated to the nation the project marking the completion of the
doubling of the Kota-Bina rail route. The project, which has been built at an estimated
cost of more than Rs 2475 crores, passes through Kota and Baran districts in
Rajasthan, and Guna, Ashoknagar and Sagar District in Madhya Pradesh. The
additional rail line will increase capacity for better mobility and will help
improve train speed along the route.
The Prime
Minister laid the foundation stone of two road projects at a cost of more than
Rs 1580 crores. These include a four-laning road project connecting Morikori -
Vidisha - Hinotiya and a road project that will connect Hinotiya to Mehluwa..