Gandhinagar, Aug 15 (IANS) Gujarat will work towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Shakti ki Sapta Dhara’ for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by strengthening manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, innovation, Gati Shakti, defence capabilities and soft power, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Saturday as he addressed the state-level celebration of the 80th Independence Day in Amreli.
Patel, who hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the Police Parade Ground, said Gujarat would play a leading role in implementing the vision outlined by the Prime Minister from the Red Fort.
“Gujarat is leading the way in realising the mantra of ‘Virasat se Vikas’ with the spirit of ‘Nation First’,” he said, adding that the state would move towards its goal of celebrating 75 years of statehood in 2035 and achieving ‘Viksit Gujarat 2047 for Viksit Bharat’.
The Chief Minister said Gujarat’s development over the past two-and-a-half decades had combined modern sectors with its cultural and spiritual heritage.
He cited semiconductor manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence and green energy alongside the preservation of Ayurvedic heritage and reconstruction of the Somnath Temple as examples of this approach.
“From semiconductors, AI and green energy to the reconstruction of Somnath, Gujarat represents a remarkable blend of modernity and spirituality,” he said.
Patel identified the Garib, Yuva, Annadata and Nari (poor, youth, farmer and woman) Shakti as the four pillars of Gujarat’s development.
“Startups, incubation centres and skill-development initiatives were creating employment opportunities for young people, while farmers were being supported through daytime electricity, adequate water and digital platforms such as e-NAM,” he said.
He also said the state was working to increase women’s participation in the economy and promote green growth through initiatives including ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and ‘Mission LiFE’.
Highlighting the state’s economic expansion, Patel said: “Four Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences had resulted in 13,255 MoUs worth Rs 15.89 lakh crore, with the aim of giving further momentum to MSMEs and traditional industries. Gujarat’s 1,600-kilometre coastline handled more than 40 per cent of the country’s cargo and that modern fishing harbours and cold-chain facilities were supporting fishermen.”
He also referred to pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and expanded healthcare infrastructure, including medical colleges, taluka-level dialysis centres and cancer day-care centres.
The Chief Minister announced that eligible rural families would be given residential plots free of cost where adequate government or village settlement land was unavailable, with the state prepared to purchase private land for the purpose.
He also announced Rs 3,428 crore for the renovation and improvement of 210 km of roads across 214 roads.
For more than 16.75 lakh Anganwadi children aged three to six, the daily allocation for hot supplementary nutritious snacks will rise from Rs 5.10 to Rs 8.50 for 300 days a year.
The government has earmarked an additional Rs 173 crore for the measure. The annual family-income ceiling under the Overseas Education Loan Scheme for students from unreserved categories has also been raised from Rs six lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Patel said the nationwide celebration of the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’ had renewed patriotic sentiment and called for preserving the country’s heritage while pursuing development.
“Gujarat’s selection to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games reflected its organisational capabilities and would provide an opportunity to showcase its culture and hospitality globally,” he added.
The celebrations in Amreli, the birthplace of state’s first Chief Minister Dr Jivraj Mehta, featured a helicopter flower shower, police band performances, a cultural presentation on ‘Maru Amreli’, a bagpiper band comprising tribal girls from Ambaji, yoga demonstrations, a Nari Shakti programme, women’s rifle drill, motorcycle stunts, dog and horse shows.
Patel greeted citizens from an open jeep and planted a tree at the parade ground. Senior state officials, elected representatives, students and a large number of citizens attended the programme.
–IANS
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