Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met seers associated with the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust at Sivagiri Mutt in Varkala, Kerala, and praised their enduring contribution to social harmony, equality and community welfare. The meeting took place during his day-long visit to the state, during which he also inaugurated, laid foundation stones for, and flagged off several major development projects.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Met Swamis associated with the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust, Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala. Their dedicated work in the fields of social service, education, spirituality and community welfare has made a lasting contribution to our social fabric. Rooted in the timeless ideals of Sree Narayana Guru, their efforts continue to promote equality, harmony and dignity across society.”
Earlier in the day, PM Modi was in Thiruvananthapuram, where he flagged off four new train services and inaugurated a slew of development projects spanning rail connectivity, urban livelihoods, science and innovation, healthcare and citizen-centric services. He said that the Union Government’s efforts for Kerala’s development had gained fresh momentum and emphasised that a developed Kerala is essential for achieving the vision of a developed India.
Addressing a public gathering, the Prime Minister highlighted significant investments made by the Union Government in urban infrastructure over the past 11 years and underlined its focus on the welfare of poor and middle-class families. He noted that more than four crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana across the country, including over one crore for the urban poor. In Kerala alone, nearly 1.25 lakh urban poor families have received permanent homes, he said.
PM Modi also spoke about initiatives aimed at reducing the cost of living and improving social security, including the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to cut electricity expenses, Ayushman Bharat providing free health cover of up to ₹5 lakh, and schemes such as the Matru Vandana Yojana for women’s health security. He added that the exemption of income up to ₹12 lakh from tax has benefited the middle class and salaried employees, including those in Kerala.
Highlighting financial inclusion, the Prime Minister said crores of people from poor, SC, ST, OBC communities, women and fishermen have been brought into the banking system, enabling easier access to loans, with the Union Government acting as a guarantor where collateral is lacking.
A key highlight of the visit was the launch of the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, marking the next phase of financial inclusion for street vendors. The UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility will provide instant liquidity, promote digital transactions and help beneficiaries build formal credit histories. PM Modi said that street vendors, who once struggled to secure even small loans at high interest rates, are now receiving institutional support through the PM SVANidhi scheme. He noted that credit cards were distributed to 10,000 beneficiaries in Kerala, including over 600 in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a major boost to rail connectivity, the Prime Minister flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains – Nagercoil–Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram-Tambaram, and Thiruvananthapuram-Charlapalli – along with a new passenger train between Thrissur and Guruvayur. These services are expected to enhance regional and long-distance connectivity across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while also boosting tourism, trade and employment.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram, which will focus on life sciences, the bio-economy, sustainable technologies and startup creation. In addition, he laid the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, aimed at strengthening advanced healthcare facilities in the region.
PM Modi also inaugurated the new Poojappura Head Post Office, a modern, technology-enabled facility offering postal, banking, insurance and digital services.
During his address, the Prime Minister also referred to the BJP’s recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation elections, describing it as the beginning of a new era of development and good governance.
