Page 42 - NIS English 16-28 Feb, 2026

NATION | Development fillip from Kerala

Impetus to Development and

Employment Generation from Kerala

The effort of the central government is boosting Kerala’s development, giving new momentum and
continuity. On January 23rd, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched several new development
projects. From here, major initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation were launched nationwide with
the introduction of the PM SVANidhi credit card. Initiatives to strengthen rail connectivity and to
make Thiruvananthapuram a major start-up hub for the country also received a boost.

redit cards were once the privilege of the wealthy, ENSURING EQUITABLE URBAN
but now millions of street vendors across the DEVELOPMENT
Ccountry will also have access to them. Prime Today, the entire country is united in its efforts to make
Minister Narendra Modi launched this initiative from India a developed nation. Cities play a crucial role in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, in January. In the last building a developed India. For the past 11 years, the
11 years, extensive work has been done to connect central government has been investing significantly in
crores of citizens to the banking system. In the past, the urban infrastructure. The central government is also
condition of street vendors selling goods on roadsides working for the benefit of poor families in cities. Under
and in alleys was very poor. They had to borrow even a the PM Awas Yojana, more than 4 crore houses have
few hundred rupees at exorbitant interest rates to buy been built and provided to the poor across the country.
their goods. For the first time, the central government Of these, more than one crore houses have been built
created the PM SVANidhi scheme for them. After this for the urban poor. In Kerala alone, approximately 1.25
scheme, millions of people across the country have lakh urban poor families have received their own per-
received immense help from banks. Millions of street manent homes.
vendors have received a bank loan for the first time To help poor families save on their electricity bills, the
in their lives. Now, the Government of India is taking PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been launched. The
another step forward by providing these people with poor are receiving free treatment up to ₹5 lakh under
credit cards. This will benefit street vendors and those Ayushman Bharat. Schemes like the Matru Vandana
working on footpaths across the country. Yojana are working to ensure the health security of

40 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || February 16-28, 2026