Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the Gramodaya se Bharatodaya Abhiyan, or village self-governance campaign, on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. “We have launched this campaign to ensure change in villages,” Modi said, while addressing a gathering at Ambedkar's birthplace Mhow in Madhya Pradesh. The prime minister added that the programme was inspired by the Dalit icon’s vision for social harmony and use of modern technology, PTI reported.

Modi emphasised the need to strengthen the economy of rural India in order to expedite the country’s development. He added that the new campaign is aimed at spreading awareness about the various schemes that the Centre has launched keeping rural India in mind. “India's development won't happen through five or 50 cities and industrialists, and the foundation of villages will have to be strengthened for sustainable development,” he said.

At the event, the prime minister also announced that 18,000 villages that do not have access to power will be electrified in 1,000 days, or even earlier. He also noted that optical fibre lines were being put in place in 2.5 lakh villages to ensure digital connectivity, and that the government has resolved to double farmers’ income by 2022.