NT Reporter
Panaji
Expressing confidence that Goa will become a fully developed state by 2035-2037, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday said Goa will be the first state in the country to achieve the goal.
Shah launched the Mhaje Ghar Scheme and several other projects at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium, located on the Taleigao Plateau. He also laid the foundation stone for 19 projects, costing Rs 2,411 crore, under six schemes.
Shah appreciated Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet team for coming out with the Mhaje Ghar Scheme, which, he said, “will empower 10 lakh population in the state”.
Addressing a largely attended crowd, Shah said, “For the past 15 years, I have been visiting Goa. I have observed many schemes and developmental projects being implemented every year. Goa will be fully developed by 2035-2037; it will not take until 2047.”
Stating that the per capita income of Goans has increased by three times after the BJP government came to power in the state, the Union Home Minister appealed to the people to celebrate this Diwali with ‘swadeshi’ spirit by shunning foreign goods and promoting Indian products. He said such a collective resolve by 140 crore citizens will help India realise its dream of becoming a supreme nation. “There is nothing bigger than being self sufficient,” he said.
Shah recalled that on the eve of Navaratri, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reduced GST on 395 products by one third which, he said, is benefitting citizens of the country in a big way. “GST has been reduced to nil on several essential food items. It has been reduced to 5% on daily essentials,” the Union Home Minister said.
Since India’s independence till now, nobody dared to introduce such a cut on sales tax or GST, which Prime Minister Modi could do, he said. “That is why this Diwali will be auspicious for all Indians,” Shah said.
He said the nation can also address the issue of unemployment by providing momentum to our economy through ‘Make in India’ by inviting people to manufacture in our country.
Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, cabinet ministers, ruling MLAs and others were present on the occasion.