CMO’s special cell to prepare Gujarat-China MoUs blueprint

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping began his India tour from Ahmedabad, during which three MoUs were signed.

The Gujarat government has signed an MoU with the most populous province of China Guangdong (Cantonor Kwangtung), while Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) inked an MoU with China’s third largest city Guangzhou. Besides, an MoU between China Development Bank and Industrial Extension Bureau has been signed for development of an industrial park. The MoUs are to focus on bilateral growth in infrastructure, technology, education, business and industries.

Patel on Thursday said the MoUs will strengthen bilateral ties between the two states, which have a long coastline and are known as manufacturing hubs. She said that with the help of a dedicated cell, the Gujarat government will chalk out an action plan based on the blueprint prepared by authorities of Gujarat and China.

During the meeting, Patel extended an invitation through the Chinese authorities to NRIs settled in China and also invited the Chinese authorities to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2015.

7th Garib Kalyan Mela begins today

The seventh edition of the annual Garib Kalyan Mela will begin on Friday from Jamnagar. Through 127 such melas across the state, Chief Minister Anandi Patel will dole out a total aid to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore to some 10 lakh beneficiaries. This time Garib Kalyan Mela, under which the state government gives away aid under various schemes from housing to education and livelihood, is also the platform for achieving the 100 days target set by the Patel government for itself under Gatisheel Gujarat. Started in 2009 by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, so far in six editions the government has claimed that it has provided aid to the tune of Rs 12,004 crore to some 81 lakh beneficiaries through 1,098 melas.
As to the format of the melas, presided over by the CM, they have been organised at taluka or district level. The BPL families from urban as well as rural parts have been handed over aid or other benefits directly at melas rather than issuing through multi-layered distribution system involving various authorities. Often for the ruling BJP, the Garib Kalyan Melas have proved to be a rallying point, be it in local, state or Lok Sabha elections.    ENS