Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Friday launched the eighth edition of the annual statewide 'Garib Kalyan Mela' from Bochasan village of Borsad tehsil in Anand district.
In the inaugural function, she distributed assistance worth Rs 4.10 crore to 4,268 beneficiaries.
This included Rs 3.19 crore under housing schemes to 2,852 people and Rs 45 lakh assistance to 919 youth under employment and other welfare schemes, an official release said.
Patel said the 'Garib Kalyan Mela' was started by the state government to ensure economic empowerment of the poor, not as a charity.
Alleging that that there was a time when poor and needy citizens were treated as vote banks only, Patel said this is not the case at present under the BJP-rule in the state.
She listed various schemes launched by the state government to help farmers, women, students and those who need affordable medical treatment.
Patel also paid tributes to the freedom fighters of Borsad, a place through which Mahatma Gandhi's famous Dandi march passed.
Patel criticised the previous Congress government by alleging that they have done nothing after declaring Dandi March route as Heritage Route.
The Chief Minister will remain present at Vaghai in the Dangs district on Saturday to distribute assistance worth Rs 15.38 crore to 14,856 beneficiaries, it added.
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