Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said people don’t need to resort to bribes to avail of welfare schemes any more as he himself is their “familial connection” in government. “Today many are getting benefits from Modi’s guarantee ki gadi (vehicle). Many people would not have even known that they, too, are entitled to a government scheme. Due to old habits, they may feel they won’t get any benefit as they don't have any relatives or acquaintances in the administration. But Modi is your family, there is no need for anyone else’s connection,” he said. Modi was speaking via video conferencing with the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY), a campaign that seeks to cover those left out of his government's flagship welfare schemes. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, too, joined the event through video conferencing. As part of the campaign, said Modi, 4.5 lakh new applications have been filed for Ujjwala gas connections, one crore Ayushman cards have been issued, 1.25 crore health check-ups have been conducted, 70 lakh people have been screened for TB and 15 lakh sickle cell anaemia tests have been conducted. In less than 50 days, VBSY has reached 2.25 lakh villages, the Prime Minister said. He said: “I am going from village to village because I want to show that there is no bribery going on here; There is no nepotism; no relationships work here. This work is done honestly and with dedication.” Taking a swipe at Congress, Modi said 10 years ago, people would perhaps have lost courage while running around government offices. “And that is why I have reached your village because I am searching for those who are still left outside the welfare scheme net,” he said. “The person who has not got a house yet will get one. The person who has not got [LPG] gas will get it. The person who has not got an Ayushman card will get an Ayushman card.” The Prime Minister also said around 10 crore women in the country have joined self-help groups and banks have provided them assistance of more than Rs 7.5 lakh crore. “I have set a target of creating 2 crore lakhpati didis in the next three years,” he said.
