In a recent public rally in Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the BJP government’s commitment to the welfare of the SC-ST, OBC communities. He criticized the Congress-DMK INDI alliance for their alleged neglect of these communities, accusing them of denying basic amenities like housing, water, and electricity.
Housing for All
The Prime Minister pointed out that the BJP government has provided housing to crores of people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). This scheme aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor by 2022. The beneficiaries of this scheme include Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), Low Income Groups (LIG), and Middle Income Groups (MIG).
Electricity to Every Village
Under the BJP government, electricity has been brought to every village. The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) was launched with the aim of providing continuous power supply to rural India. The scheme has been successful in electrifying all villages in the country.
Free Ration to the Needy
The Prime Minister also mentioned the provision of free ration to 80 crore needy people. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a food security welfare scheme that was launched by the Government of India during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme aims to provide each person 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month till November 2020.
The Prime Minister’s speech clearly outlines the BJP’s commitment to the welfare of the SC-ST, OBC communities. It remains to be seen how these initiatives will impact the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, and whether the BJP will be able to make significant inroads into the state.