Education, healthcare and electricity-for-all, in major infrastructure push in J&K by PM Modi today

Highlights PM visits Jammu, Srinagar and Leh with focus on education, healthcare

AIIMS, IIT, IIM, Ladakh University, IIMC, NIT among education projects

PM Modi declared that J&K now has 100% electrification of households

A mega push for education and healthcare were among dozens of development projects that Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir today. During his day-long visit to the state, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stones for two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences or AIIMS, the country's premier research-cum-healthcare institution - one each in Jammu and Srinagar. But the highlight of PM Modi's visit was the declaration that Jammu and Kashmir has now become a state which has 100 per cent electrification of households under the central government's Saubhagya Scheme.

PM Modi visited Jammu, Srinagar and Leh today. His first stop was Leh, where he interacted with locals and dedicated key education and power projects to residents of the region. He then went to Jammu, where he launched several educational and and infrastructure projects.

At his public rallies in Jammu and Leh, the prime minister slammed the Congress over their false promises to farmers while they were in power. PM Modi highlighted how the Congress had promised to waive Rs 6 lakh crore of farm loans in 2008-09, but only waived Rs 52,000 crore. He added that his government has taken concrete measures and not short-term ones by opening Jan Dhan accounts, for direct benefit transfers. He said that his government will now disburse Rs 75,000 crore directly to farmers' bank accounts under the PM-KISAN scheme.

He also reached out Kashmiri Pandits during his rally in Jammu saying, "We haven't forgotten their persecution. I always feel their pain, and am committed to delivering justice." PM Modi mentioned the Citizenship Bill, and spoke about the rights of those who came to India to escape religious persecution in neighbouring countries.

Watch PM Modi's full speech in Jammu:

BJP and Jammu have a strong bond. Addressing a rally. Watch. https://t.co/rdtSKyJKs3 - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 3, 2019

The last stop in PM Modi's day-long visit to J&K was Srinagar, where the prime minister made a stop at the famous Dal lake. In Srinagar he inaugurated dozens of projects, mostly on education. He then addressed a gathering at the Sher-e-Kashmir conference centre.

Prime Minister Modi, who in one of his previous visits to the state had said he has a vision of Jammu and Kashmir where he sees "books instead of guns in the hands of the young boys and girls", launched dozens of educational institutions in the state.

FOCUS ON EDUCATION

Apart from laying the foundation for two AIIMS institutes in Jammu and Srinagar, PM Modi also inaugurated the University of Ladakh. The two AIIMS institutes will be built in Vijaypur (Jammu) and Awantipora (Srinagar). Setting up of the two new AIIMS would transform health care facilities, as well as health education and training in state, a statement by the PM's Office said.

The University of Ladakh, whose foundation was laid today, is the first-ever university to be set up in Ladakh region of the state. Once built, it will be a cluster university comprising degree colleges of Leh, Kargil, Nubra, Zanskar, Drass and Khaltsi. The university will have administrative offices in Leh and Kargil.

PM Narendra Modi interacts with locals in Leh during his visit to J&K today

PM Modi also laid the foundation of the northern regional centre campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Jammu. IIMC is among the leading institutes for journalism and mass communication in the country.

During his speech in Jammu, PM Modi said that an IIT - India's premier institute for engineering and technology - is being constructed in Jammu. He also said that the state will have an IIM as well, for which land will be allocated soon. The Indian Institutes of Management or IIM are the countries top management institutions.

The prime minister further said that while Jammu will get an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), the Kashmir Valley, which has three universities, will get an National Institute of Technology or NIT.

Prime Minister Modi also digitally launched various projects under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). He unveiled plaques via video-conference to lay foundation stones of 54 new model degree colleges, 11 professional colleges and one women's university across India. He also inaugurated 16 model degree colleges, and 66 entrepreneurship, innovation and career hubs in India.

Besides these, PM Modi laid the foundation stones of three model degree colleges in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, Kupwara and Baramulla.

Watch PM Modi's full speech in Srinagar and the launch of multiple projects:

In Srinagar, PM Shri @narendramodi is interacting with and answering questions of college students from across the country. https://t.co/If1yEtylvY - BJP (@BJP4India) February 3, 2019

ELECTRICITY FOR ALL

In a major announcement in Srinagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that 100-per cent electrification of households has been achieved in Jammu and Kashmir under the central government's Saubhagya Scheme. At the function he will also laid the foundation stone of the 624-MW Kiru hydroelectric project in Kishtwar. It is a run-of-the-river project across the Chenab.

Pushing for clean energy in the state, the prime minister inaugurated the 9-MW Dah hydroelectric project in Ladakh earlier in the day. Located in Dah near Datang village, this too is a run-of-the-river project.

During his first stop - in Leh - PM Modi also dedicated the 220-KV Srinagar-Alusteng-Drass-Kargil-Leh transmission system to the state. The foundation stone of this prestigious project was laid by PM Modi in August 2014, and has been completed recently.

Speaking at the launch, the prime minister said confidently that "Today I have inaugurated those projects whose foundation was laid by me earlier. We have delivered what we promised earlier. Once again I assure you that I will come back soon for the inauguration of the projects whose foundations have been laid by me today."

Watch PM Modi's full speech in Leh:

Delighted to be in Leh. Addressing a public meeting. https://t.co/s4BEV8naRA - Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 3, 2019

The 400-KV D/C Jalandhar-Samba-Rajouri-Shopian-Amargarh (Sopore) transmission line was also dedicated to the nation by PM Modi today.

These projects have augmented the grid connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir.

BETTER ROAD CONNECTIVITY

Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of 1,640-metre span double-lane bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir's Sajwal.

The project will provide an alternative route for residents of Sajwal and Indri Pattian. With the completion of this bridge, the distance between Sajwal and Indri Pattian, currently 47 km apart, will be reduced to just 5 km, a statement from the PM's Office said.

Prime Minister Modi, who had called Jammu and Kashmir a "priority" after coming to power in 2014, last visited Jammu, Srinagar and Leh on May 19, 2018 to lay the foundation stones of various infrastructure projects currently under construction in the state.

(Inputs from PTI)

