NEW DELHI, Feb 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated new buildings housing the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the central secretariat and said these structures were an important milestone in India's journey towards 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) and reflected the government's commitment to citizen-centric governance and national progress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the inaugural programme of the 'Seva Teerth', the new building of the Prime Minister's Office, and two more Kartavya Bhawans, in New Delhi. (PMO)
Inaugurating the new PMO, named Seva Teerth, and two buildings of the central secretariat, called Kartavya Bhawan 1 and 2, Modi said it was critical for India to shed every trace of colonial mindset as the country took strides towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He also pointed out that decisions taken at the new Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavans will be aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.
"Seva Teerth, and Kartavya Bhavan 1 and 2 mark an important milestone in India's journey towards Viksit Bharat. These reflect our commitment to citizen-centric governance and national progress," he said at an event attended by central ministers, senior bureaucrats and other officials of the central government.
"The first quarter of the 21st century has now been completed, and it is essential that the vision of a developed India is reflected not only in policies and schemes but also in workplaces and buildings."
After Independence, he said, many important decisions and policies were made from buildings such as South Block and North Block -which earlier housed PMO, ministry of defence, ministry of external affairs, ministry of home affairs and finance ministry- but these structures were built as symbols of the British Empire and intended to keep India chained in slavery for centuries.
Ridding the country of slave mentality and formulating policies for the betterment of the citizens were the underlying themes of the PM's 35-minute address.
The inauguration of the new buildings marked a transformative milestone in India's administrative governance architecture and reflected the PM's commitment to building a modern, efficient, accessible and citizen-centric governance ecosystem, the PMO said. Key decisions taken at Seva Teerth earlier in the day included doubling the target of the Lakhpati Didi scheme -an initiative to help rural women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) achieve ?1 lakh annual household income - to 60 million people to boost women empowerment and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund -a scheme to stimulate investment in agricultural development- target to ?2 lakh crore to help boost farmer incomes. A Startup India Fund with a corpus of ?10,000 crore was also approved.
On the same day, the Union housing and urban affairs minister announced the renaming of Udyog Bhawan metro station to Seva Teerth Bhawan.
The PM said when buildings on Raisina Hill were inaugurated in the early 20th century, the then Viceroy had said that the new structures were built in accordance with the wishes of the British monarch, and were meant to impose the thinking of Britain's king on Indian soil. "HT
