PM to launch 3 schemes in June: Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu

Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation and Housing for all by 2020 would be launched as promised. Mr Venkaiah Naidu criticised Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for targeting the RSS and said BJP leaders have reached the dignified pedestal because of the character building by RSS.

“RSS is ready for selfless service. People and country benefit from the organisation. We have reached this stage because of our hard work and character building by the RSS, but Congress reached this stage not because of hard work, but due to dynasty,” he said.

Mr Venkaiah was speaking to the media here in connection with the submission of one- year report card of the NDA government’s performance. He said the major achievement of the Narendra Modi government is that it made India a destination for investment, provided clean and corruption free government and ended ‘policy paralysis.’ There was despair, despondency and disappointment in the entire country a year back.

The world looked down on India. There was no leadership, no decision making. There was policy paralysis, fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, trade deficit, current account deficit and above all trust deficit. Prices zoomed, inflation was high, the GDP rate was coming down and various parameters of India were downgraded. “But we set things in order,’ he added.

Naidu said Smart Cities and AMRUT would change the face of urban India while the third scheme will ensure housing for all by 2020.

The Centre, he said, has already completed the consultation process with all stake holders including the states and finalised modalities.

Listing the NDA government’s achievements in one year, he said the government opened 17 crore bank accounts for the common man, launched Jan Surksha Bheema Yojana providing Rs 2 lakh accident insurance, Atal pension of Rs 1,000 after 60 years with a small contribution, checked spiralling prices of essential commodities, saved Rs 3.50 lakh crore public money, took up Swachh Bharat, waste to energy and compost programme.

Naidu said reviving the Indian economy was the second biggest achievement of the government as the fiscal deficit was brought down to 4 percent and revenue deficit to 2.6 percent. “We ensured good and clean governance and there was not a single instance of corruption during the last one year,” he said.