Charity for winning polls won't help rural India develop: Modi

The Gujarat CM targets the Centre's rural development schemes

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today targetted Centre's rural development schemes, saying that 'charity' for winning elections instead of solid development work will not help improve rural India.

This is for the first time Modi attacked the socialist agenda undertaken by the Congress-led UPA for rural welfare.

Apparently hinting at popular schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guranttee Act (MNREGA) and other cash doling schemes introduced by the Congress government, Modi said this will not empower people to be self-reliant.

"We have said one thing about rural development that it should have an element of responsibility. But, a trend of charity has begun in the country these days, because they (Centre) have no other objective than winning the elections," Modi said.

"Solid development should take place which can empower people to stand on their feet and can help develop economy of a village. If this doesn't happen then no matter how much we keep giving, change will not occur," he asserted.

He was addressing a large gathering of farmers at the National Conference on Panchayati Raj and Rural Development here. Farmers from 26 states and four union territories are participating in the conference.

"I believe that biggest dream of any government in India can't be bigger than eradicating poverty from villages by encouraging economic activity and creating employment," Modi said.

Stating that the all-women model (Samras Gam scheme) in Gujarat aptly defines women empowerment, Modi lauded the aim of one panchayat here of having a poverty-free village by encouraging economic activity.

"A group of women from a gram panchayat in Kheda came to me demanding that we should give them a scheme which encourages economic activity, because if the activity gathers pace then there would be no unemployed and no poor in the village," he said.