PM Modi in Gujarat: visits hometown Vadnagar, launches projects

This is PM Modi's first visit to his hometown since becoming the Prime Minister.

Residents of the town thronged the streets to welcome the Prime Minister. He offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Temple. He also stopped briefly at the school in which he had studied as a child.

The Prime Minister visited GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar, and unveiled a plaque to mark its dedication. He also interacted briefly with students.

At a public meeting, the Prime Minister launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush, to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage. It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage.

The Prime Minister distributed e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO - an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs. He also launched some development works.

Addressing an enthusiastic gathering, the Prime Minister said that coming back to one's home town and receiving such a warm welcome is special. Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar, the Prime Minister said.

"I go back with your blessings and assure you that I will work even harder for the nation," the Prime Minister said to the people of Vadnagar.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that he had got to inaugurate projects related to the health sector, particularly Intensified Mission Indradhanush. He mentioned how the Government had brought down the prices of stents, and said that the Government is working constantly to make healthcare affordable for the poor.

Mentioning his interaction with students from the medical college, the Prime Minister said that as a society, we require more doctors who can serve the people.

Modi is on a two-day visit to Gujarat on Sunday and arrived in Vadnagar, which is some 100 kms from Ahmedabad.

In Bharuch, PM Modi laid the Foundation Stone of Barrage over Narmada river and flagged off a train, Antyodaya Express.

He said the train connects people and particularly helps those who are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and work away from their home.

"The Antyodaya Express is a commendable initiative by the Railway Ministry," he said.

He said "nobody understands farmers problem apart from me...Earlier, UREA was not avaliable.... Now under my government, UREA is available easily," said Modi at the public rally in Bharuch.

"We decided that 100% neem coating of urea has to be done so that it can only be used in farming & not in chemical factories. Neem coating of urea helped farmers and stopped corruption as well as theft," he said.

He said Gujarat's strides in animal husbandry have helped farmers.

"I told UP CM Yogi Adityanath to send a team to Gujarat and study the Pashu Arogya Melas. They did that and organised a similar one in Varanasi," he said.

"Gujarat knows how to protect animals. Gujarat only state to work towards animal welfare," he said.

He said he would work harder and the Government of India would take steps towards the empowerment of fishermen. "We do not want our fishermen to live in poverty," he said.