Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday participated in the Paschimbanga Divas celebrations in Hooghly district of West Bengal and launched, dedicated and laid the foundation stones of multiple development projects spanning railways, agriculture, rural development, fisheries and animal husbandry sectors.
The state-level celebrations, held at Tarakeswar in Hooghly, were organised under the theme “West Bengal: Heritage, Harmony and Development.” During the programme, the Prime Minister also released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), under which more than ₹18,880 crore was transferred directly to the bank accounts of over 9.44 crore farmers across the country.
Addressing a large public gathering, Prime Minister Modi said this year’s West Bengal Day held special significance, stating that the aspirations envisioned for Bengal’s future after Independence were gradually becoming a reality.
“This time, this date of West Bengal Day is even more special. The dream that was envisioned for a bright future of Bengal after Independence, the vision that the great souls of Bengal had conceived, today, in a way, for the first time, we are witnessing those dreams turning into reality on West Bengal Day,” he said.
Calling upon people to create a new chapter in the state’s progress, the Prime Minister said, “May this historic date become the inspiration for the development of West Bengal. Let us create a new and glorious history.”
Highlighting the projects unveiled during the event, he said development initiatives worth hundreds of crores of rupees related to railways, roads, agriculture and fisheries would provide fresh momentum to the state’s growth and strengthen the rural economy.
“Today, there is inauguration and foundation stone laying of development projects worth hundreds of crores of rupees. These projects related to rail, road, agriculture and fisheries will give a new momentum to Bengal’s development and strengthen the rural economy here,” he said.
Recalling the state’s role during the Partition period, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and other eminent personalities who contributed to preserving Bengal’s identity.
“Bengal endured bloodshed, Bengal lost its own people. It witnessed the fragmentation of its homeland but Bengal did not allow its identity and sense of self to be destroyed,” he remarked.
The Prime Minister said Paschimbanga Divas was not merely a commemoration of a date but a remembrance of Bengal’s rich and ancient heritage.
“On Paschimbanga Divas, as we mark West Bengal Day, we are not just remembering one date, we are remembering an entire history. We are paying homage to Bengal’s heritage that is thousands of years old,” he said.
Referring to the government’s vision of a developed India by 2047, PM Modi underlined the importance of Eastern India’s growth under the Mission Purvodaya initiative.
“India is working towards the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The biggest foundation of this resolve for a developed India is the development of Eastern India. For this, we are working on Mission Purvodaya,” he said.
The Prime Minister said commitments made to the people of West Bengal were being fulfilled in a time-bound manner and announced that every eligible poor family in the state would benefit from the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme. He also highlighted the implementation of the Annapurna Scheme, expansion of piped drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission, age relaxation in government jobs and free bus travel for women.
PM Modi said several long-pending infrastructure projects, including the completion of Kolkata Metro’s Orange Line work at Chingrighata Crossing, a new divisional railway hospital in Howrah, road overbridges in Purba Medinipur and the Sankrail-Santragachi rail link project, were progressing rapidly.
Emphasising farmers’ welfare, the Prime Minister welcomed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in West Bengal and announced the state’s inclusion in the Digital Agriculture Mission. He also said that Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jhargram districts would receive focused support under the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
Highlighting the fisheries sector, he said expansion of the Fraserganj Fishing Harbour in South 24 Parganas and development of a modern fish market in Birbhum would strengthen livelihoods and boost the state’s economy.
Reiterating that Eastern India would play a crucial role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister stressed that development should go hand in hand with social harmony and cultural preservation.
