The Modi government believes in two-way communication, Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore today said, citing the Centre's decision to send Union Ministers to different parts of the country to present its "report card" on completion of its two-year rule.
Speaking to PTI, Rathore said the implementation of programmes effectively is the focus and forte of the present government and claimed that over Rs 35,000 crore of public money has been saved simply by weeding out fake beneficiaries from various government schemes.
Noting that the issue of fake beneficiaries was not addressed by previous governments, Rathore said "we have been able to control such a humongous systemic fault. This money has been saved, thus, it is not going just to the treasury but to the people."
The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said the government has planned a massive outreach exercise under which 30 teams comprising ministers would be visiting eight states each to give the people "report card" of Modi government's first two years.
Dismissing criticism by opposition parties that the government is in a celebration mode, he said "this is not celebration but presenting our report card to the people."
He said the government believes in two-way communication which is why Union Ministers are reaching every nook and corner of the country.
"This is two-way communication. Did you ever see any central government doing it?," he said.
Rathore also said public broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR) are already running a series of interviews with ministers, while other publicity wings of the government were also working to make people aware of the government's achievements.
The Department of Field Publicity (DFP), he said, has organised 30 programmes in different villages and in another month it would reach 100 villages.
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Col (retd) K K Sharma, a Kargil war veteran, recalled some of the gut-wrenching memories of the war that was fought at 16,000-19,000 ft and claimed over 500 lives.
Young jawans and seasoned officers, all laid down their lives to protect their country. But, it cemented India's image globally for fighting this war with glory, he said.
