'Sagar Khedu' scheme to change status of saltpan workers: Modi

Patdi, Surendranagar, Apr 6 (UNI) The Rs 11,000 cr 'Sagar Khedu' (Sailors of Sea) scheme chalked out by the Gujarat government, will bring sweeping changes in socio-economic status of thousands of saltpan Workers, spread over 3,000 villages all along the 1,500 km long coastline of Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said here today.

The Chief Minister was addressing a programme commemorating the 77th anniversary of the historical Dandi March by Mahatma Gandhi.

Modi said thousands of salt workers were an ignored section of Indian society during the over six decades of post-independence Congress Governments. He said all the white commodities--Salt, Cotton and Milk -- are the major products in the region.

''It was for the first time in post-independence era that BJP government has come out with the Sagar Khedu scheme of Rs 11,000-cr in the 11th five year plan, which includes welfare schemes for saltpan workers to bring them to the mainstream of development of the nation, '' Modi said.

The Chief Minister said the Gujarat Government is setting up state-of-art Jetty at a cost of Rs 18-crore to enhance the exports of salt for benefits of the salt workers.

Criticising the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, Mr Modi said it was sheer injustice on their part in not setting up Chief Salt Commissioner's office in Gujarat, though the state is producing over 70 per cent of total salt production of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Gujarat Road and Urban Development Minister I K Jadeja said his ministry has decided to construct 3,000 houses at the cost of Rs 19-crore for salt workers of Surendra district.

On the occasion, Mr Modi distributed identity cards to 42,000 salt workers. He also gave cycles and educational scholarships to children of saltpan workers.

UNI