50 Crore Indians Lifted Out of Extreme Poverty in 12 Years: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that around 50 crore Indians have come out of extreme poverty over the past 12 years. Addressing security personnel during Diwali celebrations in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, he credited various government welfare schemes for transforming the lives of poor families.

He highlighted initiatives such as Jan Dhan accounts, PM Awas Yojana, Mudra loans, SVANidhi, Ayushman Bharat, free food grains, Swachh Bharat and Har Ghar Jal, saying these programmes have improved access to housing, healthcare, education, financial support and basic facilities.

The Prime Minister also linked poverty reduction with the decline of Naxalism, stating that extremist violence had earlier deprived remote tribal communities of schools, hospitals, roads, mobile connectivity and employment opportunities.

Highlighting development in Left-Wing Extremism-affected regions, Modi cited the construction of over 15,000 km of roads, more than 9,500 mobile towers, nearly 175 Eklavya schools, around 50 ITIs and 50 skill development centres. He also mentioned new banking and postal facilities, rehabilitation of surrendered Naxals and infrastructure development under PM JANMAN.

Calling the Bastar Olympics a symbol of positive change, he said children in the region are now choosing sports instead of guns, reflecting the transformation brought by development and peace.