PM Narendra Modi distributes aids, equipment to over 27,000 senior citizens, disabled in Prayagraj

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to attend several programmes that would focus on social empowerment, infrastructure and farmers welfare in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, arrived in the city on Saturday (February 29).

The Prime Minister was received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath upon his arrival at the airport.

PM @narendramodi being received on his arrival in #Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/1oGhmJSohC — PIB India (@PIB_India) February 29, 2020

He then visited a distribution camp in the city and distributed assistive aids and devices to senior citizens and the differently-abled. In the mega camp, over 56,000 assistive aid and devices of different types will be distributed free of cost to over 26,000 of beneficiaries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi distributes assistive aids&devices to senior citizens & the differently-abled, at a distribution camp in Prayagraj. pic.twitter.com/rbX2VHEtzB

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 29, 2020

The cost of the aids and devices is over Rs 19 crore. 

The objective is to provide assistance through these aids and devices to the daily living and socio-economic development of the 'Divyangjan' and the senior citizens.

"Coming to Prayagraj have always given a feeling of purity and energy. I had come to this holy land in February last year during the Kumbh. Then, I had got a fortune by taking a dip in the Sangam river," PM Modi said while addressing the public in Prayagraj.

"The hygiene at the Prayagraj Kumbh was discussed all over the world and this was due to the hard work and efforts put in by the sanitation workers. Prayagraj got a new identity in the whole world. A new tradition was seen in Kumbh. I had got the opportunity to wash the feet and salute those sanitation workers," he said.

Even today, I have received a similar privilege on the banks of the Ganges. As the 'Pradhan Sevak', I had the opportunity to serve thousands of senior citizens and disabled people. Almost 27,000 people at the distribution camp have been given equipment here," he said.

After attending the event, PM Modi will head to Chitrakoot where he will attend the one-year celebrations of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi which was launched last year form Gorakhpur.

PM Modi will today lay the foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway and launch 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) all over the country from the district.

"Next-gen Infrastructure for a better tomorrow! Delighted to be laying the foundation stone for the Bundelkhand Expressway at Chitrakoot. This expressway will be the harbinger of progress for youngsters in the region and will also help the Defence Corridor coming up in the state," he tweeted earlier in the day.

The Bundelkhand expressway will connect Chitrakoot with 6 other districts in Uttar Pradesh -- Banda, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jalaun, Auraiya, and Etawah

The expressway will extend from Chitrakoot's Bharatkoop to Etawah's Kudrail village. A four-lane 296 km-long expressway will be linked to Agra-Lucknow Expressway in Etawah. It could also be built into a 6-lane expressway in the future.

The proposed budget to build the expressway is around Rs 15,000 crore.PM Modi will then address a public meeting in Chitrakoot.