Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday vowed to bring change and development to villages within five years, adding that a combination of budget and leadership will help achieve this goal.
"In the past 60 years, if we sum up all the money that went to villages, you would wonder why the villages did not prosper. We will make sure that changes are made in these five years. The budget and leadership combination will bring development to our villages. Mahatma Gandhi said that India lives in the villages. We need to think of how to develop our villages," Prime Minister Modi said in his address at the Panchayati Raj Day function.
"In some states in our country Panchayats make their five year plans and the work is done in definite direction. If we also decide that work that has to be done in five years then the results will be good. There must be a mindset of 'Gaurav' and 'Samman' towards our villages. We must be proud of our villages," he added.
The Prime Minister further called for more effort from government officials in villages.
"You just have to worry about the villages and the next generation, that will be enough. You don't have to spend on it from the budget. Can we make a little effort in a way that the government officials in villages meet one day and decide on 'apna gaaon apna vikaas'," he said.
Moving on to education in villages, Prime Minister Modi said, "If you ask a retired teacher in village to still give some time to teach children, he will always be ready. It is in his DNA. If a single village can bring five families out of poverty, then give a thought to what we can achieve for our country. We will not be able to develop the villages till we will not respect and develop an attachment for villages."
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Referring to the practice of husbands of women sarpanchs working in panchayat, PM Modi called for ending sarpanch-pati culture in panchayats and said, "In any village, the dreams of the people are big. School dropouts should worry us. Any child dropping out of school in the village is a cause of concern. Everyone must get education," he added.
The Prime Minister gave away the annual devolution index (states) awards, and e-panchayat awards, and congratulated the zila parishads and gram panchayats who were being felicitated on the occasion.
Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Chaudhary Birender Singh and Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Nihal Chand were also present on the occasion.