The Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited the Union Territory (UT) of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DNHDD), and Gujarat from March 7-8, 2025.
- During his visit, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects for the UT worth over Rs 2580 crore.
- He then visited Gujarat, to inaugurate and participate in various programmes focusing on healthcare, women empowerment, and rural development.
PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu:
i.Inauguration of NAMO Hospital: On March 7, 2025, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Narendra Modi (NAMO) Hospital (Phase I) in Silvassa, DNHDD.
- The 450-bed facility, built with an investment of over Rs.460 crore, aims to enhance healthcare services, especially for the region’s tribal communities.
- It will provide state-of-the-art medical care to the people in the region, particularly benefiting the tribal communities.
ii.Multiple Development Projects: He also launched several development projects in Silvassa, with a total investment of over Rs. 2,580 crore.
- These projects include improvements to village roads, educational institutions, Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs), administrative buildings, Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), and water supply and sewage infrastructure.
- These initiatives aim to improve connectivity, foster industrial growth, promote tourism, create employment opportunities, and improve public welfare in the region.
iii.Rozgar Mela: PM Narendra Modi also distributed appointment letters under the ‘Rozgar Mela’ which provides benefits to beneficiaries under various schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Gir Adarsh Aajeevika Yojana(GAAY), and the Sylvan Didi Scheme.
- The Gir Adarsh Aajeevika Yojana aims to enhance the economic empowerment of women from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and Divyangjan in the region.
- GAAY, launched in December 2020 by the Administrator of the Union Territory, aims to boost the economic empowerment of women through small dairy farms in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
- The Sylvan Didi Scheme is an initiative designed to uplift women street vendors by providing them with aesthetically designed carts, with co-funding from the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors’ AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme.
- PMAY-U is a credit-linked subsidy scheme to facilitate access to affordable housing for the low and moderate-income residents of the country.
PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Gujarat:
i.Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign: On March 7, 2025, PM Narendra Modi launched the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign Programme in Surat, Gujarat.
- This campaign aimed to distribute benefits under the National Food Security Act to over 2.3 lakh individuals, ensuring greater food security for the local population.
ii.Lakhpati Didi Program: On the occasion of International Women’s Day (IWD), March 8, 2025, PM Narendra Modi participated in the Lakhpati Didi programme at Vansi Borsi village in Navsari district, Gujarat and interacted with the Lakhpati Didis. He also felicitated 5 Lakhpati Didis with Lakhpati Didi Certificates.
- He launched 2 key initiatives: Gujarat Scheme for Antyodaya Families for Augmenting Livelihoods (G-SAFAL) and Gujarat Mentorship and Acceleration of Individuals for Transforming Rural Income (G-MAITRI).
- G-MAITRI Scheme will offer financial assistance and continuous support to startups focused on creating a favorable environment for rural livelihoods.
- G-SAFAL Scheme will provide financial aid and entrepreneurial training to Self-Help Groups (SHG) of women from Antyodaya families across 2 aspirational districts and 13 aspirational blocks in Gujarat.
Note: Lakhpati Didi is an initiative aimed at empowering women of SHG to achieve an annual household income exceeding Rs.1,00,000, fostering financial independence and improved livelihoods.
