AMN /New Delhi
Reprimanding BJP MPs and MLAs for not maintaining restraint while talking to media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that sometimes workers talk ill of media, ‘but we only provide fodder to them.‘
Media is not to be blamed, he said while interacting with the Bharatiya Janata Party MPs and MLAs through video conferencing with the help of his ‘Narendra Modi App’.
Mr Modi reminded them that this was affecting their image as well as the party’s.
“We make mistakes and give ‘masala’ to the media… as if we are great social scientists and experts to analyse issues… the moment you see a camera you start speaking. So this half-baked stuff is picked up,” he said.
Addressing lawmakers and legislators, Mr Modi thanked party president Amit Shah and office-bearers for the opportunity.
He said party workers have worked hard as opposition and now they were serving in the government. ‘We reached here because we were connected to the people. MPs worked as family with workers in their constituency. They should take work to the people and convey problems of ground level to the government,’ he said.
Maximum Dalit, SC-ST and OBCs MPs and MLAs are from the BJP, he said, adding that lawmakers represent aspirations of the people and it is important to have public connect.
He congratulated Jharkhand party workers for the success in state Municipal Corporation polls.
Asking lawmakers to improve their followers, he advised them to have a regular dialogue and develop feedback mechanism using technology.
‘We were able to implement GST successfully using technology and getting feedback,’ he said and called for making the country cash-free using Apps.
In Gram Swaraj programme, MPs and ministers were staying in 20,000 villages, having population more than 1000, Mr Modi said. ‘We are trying gauge the development in villages. As many as 1,000 IAS officers have gone in 500 districts and explained to people about various government schemes, ‘ he informed, adding that the work was being done between April 14 and May 5.
This way, the official machinery also gets strengthened, he said.
The Prime Minister said around 16,000 LPG panchayats took place and in one day, 11 lakh free connections were given during that. LPG network has changed, Mr Modi said, disclosing that 10 crore gas connections were given.
He said Joint Secretaries were acting as guardians in 115 aspirational districts where progress was not at par with the respective states.
Mr Modi said on April 26 at 0900 hrs, he will talk to party workers in Karnataka in connection with Assembly polls.
Mr Modi said picture of employment changing. People have skills and women self help groups were looking for innovative ways to earn.
‘Our work is to help farmers in using soil health cards and educate them on various aspects and hold workshops for them, ‘ he said, adding that ryots can reduce their burden if they pick up supplementary jobs also.
Mr Modi called upon party MPs and MLAs to inform the farmers about Swaminathan Committee report so that they can take advantage of it.
He also said in villages, people should select representative through consensus to reduce tension.
MPs should get connected to some hospital and give service and tell people about Modicare or Ayushman Bharat, also known as National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS).
Children should be taught, youths should be imparted Skills and the old should be provided with medicine (padayee-kamayee-davayee).
Between 8-10 villages, there should be a wellness centres, he said.
New 800-1000 hospitals will come up with private partnership, and this will change the medical scenario in the country, he added.
The Prime Minister also enquiring about water level in Brahmaputra from Bokajan (Assam) MLA Dr Numal Momi.
If lawmakers have more than 3 lakh twitter followers, then he will talk to people in their constituency, Mr Modi said while exhorting them to remain connected to people using technology.
The Prime Minister talked to various MPs and MLAs, including Bhopal MP Alok Sanjar, Udaipur MP Arjun Lal Meena and Ahmedabad (W) MP Kirit Solanki, through the App and replied to their queries.