Prayagraj: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday participated as the chief guest at a village outreach programme in Purushottampur, also known as Garapur, in Soraon tehsil of Prayagraj district. During the event, he inaugurated development projects worth ₹3.25 crore under the Viksit Bharat Ji Ram Ji Yojana and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming rural infrastructure and livelihoods.
Maurya unveiled statues of Mahatma Buddha, Lord Parashuram, Maharana Pratap, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr B.R. Ambedkar, along with a replica of the Ashoka Pillar, installed at the Amrit Sarovar complex. He also offered prayers at a temple within the premises before attending the village chaupal, where he interacted with residents and beneficiaries of various government schemes.
As part of the programme, the Deputy Chief Minister performed the traditional Annaprashan ceremony for two children and Godh Bharai rituals for two pregnant women. He also visited exhibition stalls set up by various government departments to review the implementation of welfare programmes and interact with officials.
At the event, Maurya digitally laid the foundation stone for projects worth ₹3.25 crore and distributed approval letters, house keys and symbolic cheques to beneficiaries of different government schemes. He also planted saplings at the Amrit Sarovar complex and the newly constructed Block Development Office campus.
Addressing the gathering, Maurya said Uttar Pradesh had witnessed rapid development under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He highlighted improvements in infrastructure, law and order, rural connectivity and welfare delivery, stating that the government’s priority was to uplift the poor, enhance farmers’ incomes and create employment opportunities for youth and women.
He said women’s empowerment remained a key focus, noting that millions of women across the country had become financially independent through self-help groups. He announced that the proposed Mahila Credit Card Udyami Yojana would provide credit support of up to ₹20,000 to women associated with self-help groups, enabling them to expand their economic activities.
Speaking on the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Maurya said the goal of a developed India and a developed Uttar Pradesh could only be achieved by ensuring prosperity in every household. He emphasised that access to housing, drinking water, healthcare, education and employment remained central to the government’s development agenda.
Later, the Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Sahson Block Development Office, built at a cost of ₹5.64 crore, including residential and non-residential facilities. During the ceremony, he presented symbolic cheques worth ₹8.73 crore and ₹2.24 crore to women’s self-help groups and handed over house keys to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and the Chief Minister Housing Scheme.
The programme was attended by Phulpur MLA Deepak Patel, Legislative Council Member Surendra Chaudhary, Gangapar BJP President Nirmala Paswan, former district president Kavita Patel, Sahson Block Pramukh Geeta Singh, senior district officials, departmental officers and a large number of local residents and beneficiaries.
