GANDHINAGAR: Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu attributed Gujarat Government's people-oriented proactive policies to the state's leading in the country in Centrally-sponsored peoples' welfare flagship schemes. He specifically praised Gujarat Government's Cleanliness Mission and Amritam Mission, making 158 municipalities open defection free (ODF) which is followed up by their compulsory biannual certification. Gujarat has been entitled to get grants, too. While Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara have been included as Smart Cities, he said, efforts are on to include Rajkot, Gandhinagar and Dahod.

Naidu was speaking at the review meeting of the working of the Centre's flagship schemes of his department here in presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and Minister of State for Minister of State for Urban Development Shankar Chaudhry. He said how the Central Government under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative changed the Centre-State relationship by asking Union Ministers to go to respective states and review the progress and problems of concerned departments in detail.

Naidu asked the State Government to complete the Prime Minister's Awas Yojna (PMAY) as per the target to be eligible for subsequent grants from the Centre. He suggested recycling of gutter water for industrial use. He wished Gujarat becomes a model state for others to emulate.