Six crore fake beneficiaries weed out: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the nation from Red Fort on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day celebration said that the country has been progressing well in social development front as his government had initiated a number of welfare schemes for common masses in last four and half years.

"Better targeting of government benefits has been achieved by weeding out about 6 crore fake beneficiaries. The honest taxpayer of India has a major role in the progress of the nation", said the PM. He added that it is due to honest tax payers that so many people are fed, and the lives of the poor are transformed.

He said that the recently concluded session of Parliament, was one dedicated to the cause of social justice. He emphasised on the vision of Housing for All, Power for All, Clean Cooking for All, Water for All, Sanitation for All, Skill for All, Health for All, Insurance for All, and Connectivity for All.

He said that he is impatient, anxious and keen to see India progress, eliminate malnutrition, and to see Indians get a better quality of life.

Indians are now coming together to build the nation, said the PM. He gave examples of the pace of development in various fields such as toilet construction, electricity reaching villages, LPG gas connections, house construction etc.

The Prime Minister mentioned 13 crore loans being disbursed under the Mudra Yojana, and four crore loans out of this number, being disbursed to first time beneficiaries of such loans.

The Prime Minister said that India is proud of its scientists. He announced "Gagan-Yaan" a manned space mission, to be undertaken by India by 2022, using its own capabilities. He said India would become the fourth nation in the world to do so.

Reiterating the vision to double farmers' incomes by 2022, the Prime Minister asserted that the aim is to accomplish tasks which seem extremely difficult. He said initiatives such as Ujjwala Yojana and Saubhagya Yojana are providing dignity to the people. He said organizations such as the WHO have appreciated the progress made in the Swachh Bharat Mission.