Narendra Modi launches Swavalamban programme for the poor

Gandhinagar, Sep 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday launched the "Swavalamban" programme of the Gujarat government, a welfare scheme aimed at benefitting the poor.

"This programme is aimed at making the poor self dependent," Modi said at Gandhi Mandir here.

"A person breaks down completely when he becomes dependent on others. In such a situation, he would think of dying instead of living such life. There is no better thing than bringing such persons out from that miserable situation," Modi said during a function at Mahatma Mandir here.

The Prime Minister lamented over the prevailing schemes and programmes running in the country and said these would only make the poor under-confident and dependent on the government.

"Due to our bad luck, the schemes and programmes that run in our country are such that they make poor people dependent on government instead of making them self-dependent and self-confident. If government programmes stop, the poor will die of hunger," Modi said.

The scheme, which was launched on Modi's birthday, will focus on various sectors such as dairy, health and agriculture.

IANS