With an eye on 2019, PM asks BJP CMs to better implement Centre's poor welfare schemes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked all Bharatiya Janata Party chief ministers to better implement his government's policies for the welfare of the poor in their respective states.

The day long meet of BJP CMs, Deputy CMs and key party office bearers ended with constituting a committee headed by Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to make a report on the BJP's 'garib kalyan agenda', or the agenda for welfare of the poor.

The committee is likely to submit its report to BJP president Amit Shah in a couple of weeks,  which would then be adopted at the BJP's National Council meeting in Kozhikode, Kerala from September 22 to 25. Other members of the committee include Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das.

Chouhan said the report of the committee will identify the best schemes for the welfare of the poor in particular BJP ruled states, which will then be replicated in all BJP ruled states in a time bound manner. While Chouhan insisted the move had nothing to do with any elections, Prime Minister Modi and Shah have been imploring the party to reach out to the poor and the utmost importance of winning elections.

In his address, the PM asked the CMs and Deputy CMs to implement central schemes in "mission mode". He identified several schemes launched by his government for the welfare of the poor, including Ujjwala scheme to provide cooking gas cylinders to poor families, crop insurance scheme, new textiles policy, 'beti bachao, beti padhao' etc. He also said how sportspersons PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik have added to the prestige of the country by winning medals at the Rio Olympic games and contributed to women's empowerment.

Six issues were selected for the proposed 'garib kalyan agenda' - welfare of the poor, farmers welfare and improvements in agriculture, including better irrigation, women empowerment, job opportunities for youth, good governance and environment protection, water conservation, etc.

Today's meeting was part of a series of meetings convened by Shah to strengthen party's engagement with the government at the Centre and BJP ruled state governments.