Shed political bias to realize PM’s dream projects: Min

Thiruvananthapuram: Union minister of state for tourism and information technology Alphons Kannanthanam has said that Kerala should shed its political bias and differences to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘dream projects, aimed at the welfare of poor and ordinary citizens of the country’.

“He (Modi) is the prime minister for all and not just for the BJP. His dream is to enable people of this country to live with dignity. We all believe in a federal system and want the Centre and state governments to work together to implement various welfare schemes,” he said while inaugurating the

Mudra

(a national loan scheme for self-employment and entrepreneurship) campaign in the capital city on Tuesday.

Kannanthanam also urged the IAS officials and bankers to give priority for the needs of poor and ordinary citizens. “They should realise that they are duty bound to work for ordinary people and should change their attitude. The general notion that Kerala wouldn’t change for better is wrong,” he said.

On the Mudra scheme, the minister said 76% of the loans disbursed so far was availed by women while 55% went to people from backward and SC/ST communities. “The bankers should entertain poor people who come seeking loans and if being denied they should give the reasons in writing. The bankers and government officials should listen to poor people as great ideas come from them rather than from the so-called intellectuals,” he said.

MLA V S Sivakumar who presided over the function, also urged the banks to cater to the needs of poor people. BJP MLA O Rajagopal also spoke.