Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets head of Dawoodi Bohra community

MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who pledged support to the government's initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Make in India.

During the meeting, Modi sought participation of the Bohra community, which is present in about 400 districts of the country, for the Swachh Bharat campaign.

The Prime Minister suggested that the community should initiate Swachhta Abhiyaan competitions in schools in these districts and award the best-performing ones through the creation of laboratories or computer resources, a PMO statement said.

His Holiness lauded the Prime Minister's efforts to take India forward and pledged the community's support for his initiatives, the statement said.

The Dawoodi Bohra community, which was traditionally a trading community but has now made great progress in the manufacturing sector, also pledged its support to the 'Make in India' initiative of the Prime Minister, it said.

The community has expressed keenness to establish a smart city in Mumbai. The Prime Minister offered all support for such an endeavour. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was present on the occasion, also assured all support for the venture.

The Prime Minister also asked for suggestions from the community for the forthcoming Union Budget given their vast experience, particularly in bringing about positive results in the health and education sectors, the statement said.

Modi recalled his long and warm association with Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the former Religious Head of the Dawoodi Bohra Community, who passed away last year.