**Executive Summary**
The document is an English rendering of the Prime Minister's speech at the launch of development works in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, delivered on January 23, 2026. The speech highlights the Central Government's efforts to develop Kerala, particularly in areas like rail connectivity, welfare of the poor, and urban infrastructure. The speech emphasizes the PM SVANidhi Credit Card Scheme and other benefits for the poor and middle class.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Development Initiatives in Kerala:**
* Strengthening of rail connectivity in Kerala.
* Efforts to make Thiruvananthapuram a start-up hub.
* PM SVANidhi Credit Card launched to benefit street vendors.
* **Urban Infrastructure and Housing:**
* Central Government investing in urban infrastructure for the past 11 years.
* Over 4 crore houses built nationwide under PM Awas Yojana, with over 1 crore for the urban poor.
* Approximately 1.25 lakh urban poor in Kerala received permanent houses.
* **Welfare Programs:**
* PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana started to reduce electricity bills for the poor.
* Free health treatment of 5 lakh rupees available through Ayushman Bharat.
* Schemes like Matru Vandana Yojana implemented for women's health security.
* Income up to 12 lakh rupees made tax-free, benefiting the middle class and salaried individuals.
* **Financial Inclusion:**
* Connecting crores of countrymen to the banking system.
* SC/ST/OBC, women, and fishermen now have easier access to bank loans.
* The government is acting as a guarantor for those without collateral.
* PM SVANidhi scheme has provided bank loans to lakhs of street vendors.
* Credit cards are being provided to street vendors under PM SVANidhi scheme, with 10,000 beneficiaries from Kerala, including 600 from Thiruvananthapuram.
* **Science, Innovation, and Healthcare:**
* Central Government investing in connectivity, science and innovation, and healthcare in Kerala.
* Dedication of CSIR's Innovation Hub and establishment of a radio surgery center in a medical college to make Kerala a hub for these sectors.
* **Connectivity and Tourism:**
* Strengthening of Kerala's rail connectivity with Amrit Bharat Express trains.
* New passenger train between Guruvayur to Thrissur to facilitate pilgrimage.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: People of Kerala**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of development schemes, improved infrastructure, better connectivity, enhanced healthcare, and increased financial inclusion.
* **Action Required:** Participate in and benefit from the various initiatives launched by the Central Government.
**Stakeholder: Street Vendors**
* **Impact:** Access to credit through PM SVANidhi scheme and credit cards, improving their ability to conduct business.
* **Action Required:** Apply for and utilize the benefits of the PM SVANidhi scheme, including credit cards.
**Stakeholder: Poor and Middle-Class Citizens**
* **Impact:** Access to affordable housing, healthcare, and financial assistance through government schemes; tax benefits for the middle class.
* **Action Required:** Avail the benefits of housing schemes, healthcare programs, and tax exemptions.
**Stakeholder: Pilgrims and Tourists**
* **Impact:** Improved rail connectivity and easier travel between pilgrimage sites.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the new rail services for convenient travel.
Key Entities Referenced
Kerala: The Indian state where the development projects are being launched and the location of Thiruvananthapuram.
PM SVANidhi: A credit scheme for street vendors launched across the country.
PM Awas Yojana: A housing scheme mentioned for building houses for the poor.
PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: A scheme to reduce electricity bills for the poor.
Ayushman Bharat: A health insurance scheme providing free treatment.
Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM’s speech at the launch
of development works in Thiruvananthapuram,
Kerala
प्रव तथ: 23 JAN 2026 12:43PM by PIB Delhi
Governor of Kerala Rajendra Arlekar Ji, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Ji, my colleagues of the Union
Cabinet connected from different places, the pride of Thiruvananthapuram and newly elected Mayor, my
very old colleague VV Rajesh Ji, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen! Namaskaram!
Today, the efforts of the Central Government for the development of Kerala have received new
momentum. From today, rail connectivity in Kerala is strengthened, an initiative has been taken to make
Thiruvananthapuram a big start-up hub of the country. Today, a big beginning related to welfare of the
poor in the whole country is also happening from Kerala. Today, PM SVANidhi Credit Card has been
launched. From this, colleagues working as street vendors, on carts, and on footpaths across the country
will benefit. I give many many congratulations to the people of Kerala, to the countrymen, for
development, for employment generation, for all these schemes.
My friends,
To make a developed India, today the whole country is making efforts by uniting. In the making of a
developed India, our cities have a very big role. For the past 11 years, the Central Government has been
investing a lot in urban infrastructure.
Friends,
The Central Government is also doing a lot of work for the poor families of the city. Under PM Awas
Yojana, more than 4 crore houses have been built in the country and given to the poor. Among these, more
than one crore houses have been built for the urban poor. About one and a quarter lakh urban poor of
Kerala have also received their permanent house.
Friends,
So that the electricity bill of poor families is saved, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been started.
The poor are getting free health treatment of 5 lakh rupees from Ayushman Bharat. For the health security
of women-power (Nari-Shakti), schemes like Matru Vandana Yojana have been made. The Central
Government has made income up to 12 lakh rupees tax-free. This has been a very big benefit to the people
of Kerala, especially to the middle class, to the salary class.
My friends,
In the past 11 years, a very big work of connecting crores of countrymen to the banking system has
happened. Now the poor, SC/ST/OBC, women, fishermen, all these have also started getting bank loans
easily. Those who do not have any guarantee, the government itself is becoming their guarantor.
My friends,Those people who sell goods on the sides of roads, in streets, the condition of these street vendors was
also very bad earlier. They had to take even a few hundred rupees at expensive interest to buy goods. The
Central Government for the first time made the PM SVANidhi scheme for them. After this scheme, lakhs
of colleagues across the country have received much help from banks. Lakhs of street vendors have
received a bank loan for the first time in their life.
My friends,
Now the Government of India, moving one step ahead, is giving credit cards to these colleagues. A little
while ago, PM SVANidhi credit cards were given here too. In this, there are ten thousand colleagues from
Kerala and more than 600 from Thiruvananthapuram. Earlier, only the rich used to have credit cards, now
street vendors also have the SVANidhi credit card.
My friends,
The Central Government is also investing a lot in connectivity, science and innovation, and healthcare.
The dedication of CSIR's Innovation Hub in Kerala, the starting of a radio surgery center in the medical
college, which will help in making Kerala a hub of science, innovation, and healthcare.
My friends,
Today, from other parts of the country, Kerala's rail connectivity is more strengthened. The Amrit Bharat
Express trains which were flagged off a little while ago, from this, Ease of Travel in Kerala will get
strength, from this the tourism sector will also get much benefit. The new passenger train between
Guruvayur to Thrissur will make the journey even easier for pilgrims. From all these projects, the
development of Kerala will also get speed.
Partners,
The dream of a developed India will be fulfilled only through a developed Kerala. In this, the Central
Government is standing with the people of Kerala with full power. I give many many best wishes to all of
you once again. Now after this, thousands of people of Kerala, enthusiastic people, people full of self-
confidence, are waiting for my speech, and there too I will get a chance to speak very openly. I will get a
chance to talk thoroughly, and the media also not have much interest in this but will have more in that. So
I will complete right here in this program today, and then after 5 minutes, after going to the other
program, I will definitely tell many things there which are connected to the future of Kerala.
Many many thanks.
****
MJPS/VJ
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2217606) आगंतुक पटल : 347
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