New Delhi/Jaipur, July 2. The Chief Minister Smt. Vasundhara Raje called on the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at his office in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. This was her first formal meeting with Shri Modi since he assumed office. Meeting lasted for about 45 minutes.

During the meeting, the CM apprised the Prime Minister about various issues of the state’s interest in detail and sought special central government assistance for redressal of the problems faced by the state government. She said that her state needed additional aid from the union government in view of its special geographical conditions, frequent droughts due to insufficient rains and scarcity of surface and underground water etc.

The Chief Minister told Shri Modi that geographically Rajasthan was the biggest state of the country and it faced several challenges including the security of the longest international border. The cost of development was more in comparison to other states in the deserts, hilly terrains and tribal regions. In such circumstances, several criterions for the central assistance were not applicable for Rajasthan, she added.

Smt. Raje further stated that access to electricity, water, road, medical facilities and other basic infrastructural services at the remotely-situated villages and small hamlets was a very big challenge. In view of such conditions, a special central assistance for Rajasthan would be appropriate, she demanded.

Smt. Raje also talked about different measures being undertaken by her government for empowerment of women in the state and particularly the Bhamashah Scheme. She apprised the PM about several issues of Rajasthan being pending before the centre for decisions and demanded for early disposal of the same in the interest of the state and its people. The centre should give top priority and full co-operation to Rajasthan for its overall development, the CM added.

Chief Secretary Shri Rajiv Mehrishi also accompanied the Chief Minister during this meeting.