During a speech that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made in Maoist-hit Dantewada in Chhattisgarh today, he focused upon the value of peace in society.

“There is no future in violence. If there is a future, it is in peace,” said PM Modi to applause.

He added that jobs for the youth are at the core of his government’s policies and that his efforts will always be to ensure that the fruits of development reaches the poorest of poor.

This is his first visit to the Maoist-affected region after he became Prime Minister.

During the course of the PM’s one-day visit, two important MoU’s are likely to be signed. They relate to a proposed Raoghat-Jagdalpur rail line and the construction of an Ultra Mega Steel Plant (UMSP) in Bastar district.

The 140 km Raughat-Jagdalpur rail line will be constructed at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore through an SPV between the Chhattisgarh government, National Mineral Development Corporation, SAIL and IRCON International Ltd, having equity of 10 per cent, 43 per cent, 21 per cent and 26 per cent respectively. The rail line will make connectivity with Bastar region easier.

PM Modi was also scheduled to visit Naya Raipur for inauguration of the new police headquarters, but it was cancelled after the stage where he was scheduled to attend a rally collapsed on Friday. Nearly 50 persons, including several police personnel, were injured.

Dantewada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with specially abled children at Saksham Education City, Jawanga, Dantewada, in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh is also seen. PTI Photo Dantewada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacting with specially abled children at Saksham Education City, Jawanga, Dantewada, in Chhattisgarh on Saturday. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh is also seen.

With the Maoists calling for a boycott, several layers of security have been put in place for Modi’s visit. Many senior police officers have been camping in Dantewada for the past few days.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited Education City and Livelihood College in Dantewada, the twin projects conceived and started by then Collector O P Chaudhary in 2011.

During an interaction with students at Education City, he advised them to remain focused on their goals and not to judge their life through the prism of success or failure.

Modi told them that he saw 125 cr Indians as his family members and working for them never tires him.

While answering a student’s question on how he dealt with stress after working for 18 hours a day, he said he never counts the number of hours he works.

“I never calculate how many hours I work because the moment one does that it is not so enjoyable. One can never get tired while working, what tires a person is not being able to work. The more one works the better it is. When you finish your homework, don’t you feel happy and satisfied?

“When we live for our own people one cannot get tired. The people of India are my own. Won’t I feel happy to work for them,” he told them while taking their questions.

(With PTI inputs)

- Manohar