Ahead of the Assembly elections, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday began an extensive outreach exercise, embarking on a 'Mission 2030 Jansampark' Yatra as part of which he will visit 18 districts and hold interactions with people to seek their views for his government's Mission 2030 scheme.
The Yatra, another in the series of Gehlot's outreach efforts in the run-up to the elections, will be conducted over nine days in which 3,108 km will be covered and public meetings and interactions will be held in the districts of Jaipur, Sikar, Churu, Nagaur, Hanumangarh, Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Pali, Sirohi, Jalore, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and Chittorgarh.
Speaking at the launch of the yatra in Jaipur, Gehlot emphasised that his government has taken care of all, be it the poor or the middle class. “I have often said, 'you will tire of asking, but I will not get tired of giving'.” He also said that when it is said that the Congress can retain power, people respond by insisting that the Congress will win.
He took potshots at the ruling dispensation in Delhi, saying everybody, from the vice president to the prime minister to ministers, was making frequent trips of Rajasthan. “The vice president is going to five places in Rajasthan today. In the last one month, he has visited the state at least on five occasions,” he said.
He said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes to Rajasthan next, he should declare before the people that he will not discontinue any scheme or law brought in by the Congress government.
The Mission 2030 programme was launched by Gehlot in August with the aim of collecting feedback from the people on the government's schemes and their inputs for the Mission 2030 document that would contain a blueprint for making Rajasthan the most developed state by 2030.
Around 74 lakh suggestions have been received so far from 45 lakh citizens on the Jan Kalyan App launched by the government to collect inputs for Mission 2030. Doorstep surveys have also been conducted by Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Mitras and Mahatma Gandhi Seva Preraks, a toll-free phone number.
The yatra will be conducted over nine days, taking a break of two days on October 1 and 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The chief minister is scheduled to hold 16 public meetings, 11 townhall meetings, five road shows, ten small meetings, eight meetings with the youth, and four meetings with women.
Gehlot began the yatra with an interaction with jewellers, gem traders and astrologers at the Birla Auditorium in Jaipur. At the end of the yatra, Gehlot is set to launch the Mission 2030 document.
With the Mission 2030 exercise that culminates with his yatra, Gehlot is aiming to conduct a massive public outreach in which feedback can be collected from the people on the government's schemes and an assessment can be made about where the ruling establishment can course-correct.
Over the past several months, Gehlot has made a concerted effort to build an image of a leader who cares for the welfare of the people. The government's welfare schemes are his main election plank for the coming polls. His imprint on the campaign is unmistakable, with the publicity material meant for the outreach bearing only his photo.
