Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 30 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a series of development projects worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur. Speaking at the event, he said, 'Chhattisgarh ki tasveer badal rahi hai, taqdeer bhi badal rahi hai' (Chhattisgarh's image is changing, so is its fate), highlighting the ongoing progress in the state.

PM Modi also highlighted that 3 lakh people would enter their new homes under the PM Awas Yojana during Navratri. He added that this achievement was made possible because people 'trusted Modi's guarantee.'

'Today, on the auspicious day of Navratri, 3 lakh poor families of Chhattisgarh are entering their new homes. I wish all these families the best for a new life. It is only because of you all that a concrete roof over the heads of these poor families has become possible; I am saying this because you trusted Modi's guarantee,' PM Modi said.

As PM Modi handed the keys to the beneficiaries, he emphasised the development of tribal areas, noting that many of the 3 lakh houses were built in areas of Bastar and Surguja.

'The dream of building permanent houses for lakhs of families of Chhattisgarh was kept in files by the previous government, but we gave a guarantee that our government would fulfil this dream. As soon as Vishnu Deo ji's (Chhattisgarh Chief Minister) government was formed, a decision was taken in the first cabinet to build 18 lakh houses. Today, 3 lakh houses are ready. I am also happy that many of these houses have been built in our tribal areas. Many families of Bastar and Surguja will also receive their permanent homes,' PM Modi said.

PM Modi further highlighted the government's efforts for the tribal people, mentioning the Dharti Aba Tribal Development Campaign and the PM Janman Yojana.

'We are also running special campaigns for the development of tribal society. We have started the Dharti Aba Tribal Development Campaign for you. Even among the tribals, there are very backward tribal communities. For the first time, our government has created PM Janman Yojana for such extremely backward tribal communities,' he said.

Criticising the Congress, PM Modi explained that Chhattisgarh had to be made a separate state because 'the benefits of development were not reaching here.' He accused the Congress of 'committing scams' and claimed that they were never 'concerned' about people's lives.

'Chhattisgarh had to be made a state because the benefits of development were not reaching here. Development work could not be done under the Congress rule, and even if there was some development, Congress people used to commit scams. Congress was never concerned about your life, your facilities, and your children, but we are taking development schemes to every village of Chhattisgarh,' PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several major development projects in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur, worth over Rs 33,700 crore, spanning sectors such as power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing. He also flagged off the MEMU train service on the Abhanpur-Raipur rail section and dedicated the complete electrification of the Indian Railways network in the state. (ANI)