PM Modi launches Stand Up India from Noida

With an eye on Dalit votes ahead of the UP Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to improve lives of Dalits by giving them opportunity of growth through ‘Stand Up India’ initiative. Modi, during the launch of the programme on Tuesday, said that each bank in the country will have to sponsor two Dalits or tribal people with cheap bank loans under the programme so they could earn their livelihood and create job opportunities for others. Besides this, Modi also booked the first e-rickshaws on the Ola app during distributing 5,100 e-rickshaws under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna scheme.

Remembering Dalit leader Babu Jagjivan Ram on his birth anniversary Modi said: “Above party lines, the country must remember those who have contributed in nation building. 

“Babu Jagjivan Ram, who lived for the nation throughout his life, worked for betterment of Dalits and poor hence we should carry forward his work. 

As the Agriculture minister, Babu Jagjivan Ram did a lot to usher in the green revolution. He was the Defence minister in 1971 but it is unfortunate that contribution of such people is being ignored,” said Modi. He said Stand up India aims to empower every Indian and enable them to stand on their own feet. 

“The Stand up India scheme is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship 

among Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and women by giving loans in the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for setting up new enterprises. SC/ST and women entrepreneurs who avail loan would be given an RuPay Debit Card for withdrawal, besides comprehensive support like pre-loan training, facilitating loan, factoring and marketing,” said Modi.

During distribution of e-rickshaws PM Modi booked the first e-rickshaw through the Ola app and paid the money online at the venue. He also conducted a ‘Chai pe charcha’ discussing issues with 27 persons including e-rickshaw beneficiaries, labourers and e-rickshaw charging centre employees at the venue. Out of 5,100 e-rickshaws, Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida received 1,000 each while neighbouring Ghaziabad got 2,000 e-rickshaws.

As this was Modi’s second visit to Noida in the last four months, political analysts said that the decision to launch ‘Stand up India’ from the state is significant because the state will host the Assembly elections by 2017 and it has a 21 per cent Dalit population, the highest among all states. In December last, the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone for the Delhi-Meerut Expressway project.