My Govt is committed to uplift backward classes: Modi

Deesa, Gujarat, Oct 9 (UNI) Chief Minister Narendra Modi today increased the monthly stipend of students from backward classes residing in hostels from Rs 450 to Rs 600.

This was announced at a function of the Thakor community in Deesa of Palanpur district in north Gujarat, where Mr Modi expressed his Government's commitment for the uplift of backward classes in the state. ''Since I was born into a backward class family, I know the miseries and pain of social discrimination suffered by the people of backward class community. It is my Government's commitment to mitigate the sufferings of not so privileged people in Gujarat. We are determined to rid them of poverty and backwardness,'' he said.

Talking about his government's initiatives, Mr Modi said, ''Through various irrigation schemes our Government has turned the barren lands, owned by farmers belonging to the backward class, into produce yielding farms. In the past five years due to good rainfall and the successful recharging of underground water, files on drought are gathering dust in the government office.'' ''Apart from this, we have accomplished the arduous task of providing electricity to downtrodden families residing in remote villages. Now a poor family can avail electricity connection at a nominal charge of Rs 50,'' he said.

UNI