Chai pe Kharcha

It was the ubiquitous tea that was a game-changer for the BJP government. Now, an expensive ‘Modi chai’ is leaving a bad taste among rural youth in the state
It was a simple, game-changing ‘Chai pe Charcha’ that catapulted Narendra Modi to national fame. In the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi had addressed a series of ‘Chai pe Charcha’ (connect with the electorate over a cup of tea) programmes that received tremendous response. Even US President Barrack Obama was charmed by PM Modi serving up the brew from a silver teapot on the lawns of Hyderabad House when he came visiting.

HOW PUNSARI IS UPPING ITS SMARTNESS QUOTIENT

This model village in Sabarkantha givesits residents complete access to WiFi, smart roadside libraries,air-conditioned schools and has not seen an FIR in three years

Dhaval Chauhan, 22, son of a farmer and a freshly-minted BTech graduate from Nirma University, decided to set up a firm in his village. He offers electrical and automation solutions to nearby vil lages, makes Rs 6 lakh a year and finds “no good reason“ to move to a big city.

Medicos' mantra to avoid rural areas - will pay, won't serve

Around 76 per cent of BJ Medical studentsopted to pay bond money so that they can skip serving in rural hospitals for ayear after completing MBBS; their number has gone up to 900 in four years

Already lagging behind many states on human development index, medical graduates' refusal to serve in rural areas despite signing bond only drags the state. The state's largest medical college, BJ, which was expected to show the way has proved to be a big defaulter on this front: three out of four students refused to serve the mandatory stint in rural hospitals last year.

The trend has been dismal with almost 900 students washing their hands off from the duty to serve the needy patients in rural areas since 2010.