PM Modi asks ministers to complete projects within deadline

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday advised his Council of Ministers to ensure projects were completed within the timeframe and due publicity given to the achievements of the government.

Addressing his Council of Ministers here this evening, Modi said the deadlines, especially of social sector schemes, are "sacrosanct" and should not be missed at any cost. He said when government announces a scheme, it increases the expectations of the people.

"People maintain a watch on the end results. To live upto the expectations of the people, we should not miss deadlines," Modi is learnt to have told his ministerial colleagues.

When some ministers said schemes of the previous UPA government are still fresh in the minds of the people due to massive publicity, Modi said if ministers give concrete proposals, the government can also highlight its achievements through billboards.

The Prime Minister showed keen interest in the progress made in his pet project Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. He was informed about several PSUs having made massive contributions for the project which did not receive due publicity.

When a minister was highlighting the work done by his Ministry, Modi said when I do not know about your achievements, how would a common man know.

He also suggested organising "Urja Divas" in villages and other places electrified after many years.

Modi claimed India's global ranking has increased manifold and it is the duty of the government to take it further. For that we will have to constantly monitor people oriented schemes which have been launched in the recent past, Modi is learnt to have said in a nearly three-hour-long meeting.

Some ministers were of the view that while the centre should give the due to the state governments for implementing schemes, it should not shy away from claiming credit which is rightfully its own.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur, Health Minister J P Nadda and Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan were among the prominent ministers present in the meeting.

Presentations were also made on Swachh Bharat Mission (urban and rural), housing for all by 2022, Atal pension scheme, Prime Minister Jeevan Suraksha and Jan Dhan Yojna, Prime Minister skill development scheme, setting up of six IIMs, three AIIMS and six IITs and the newly enacted Juvenile Justice law.

When asked if the controversy surrounding JNU came up for discussion, several ministers said "only items on the agenda were discussed".

At the last meeting of the Union Council of Ministers in January, it was decided to hold such interactions on the last Wednesday of every month.