Meenakshi Lekhi said- Funds raised from the auction of gifts received by PM Modi dedicated to Namami Gange project

New Delhi (ANI): Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday said the funds raised from the auction of gifts and souvenirs received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are dedicated to the Namami Gange project. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India is organizing an e-auction event which will showcase a variety of gifts and mementos received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This electronic auction features an extraordinary collection of artefacts that showcase our rich heritage.

Speaking to ANI about the e-auction programme, Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi said, “The auction is a very old program of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which he used to organize when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. “It was organized the way it used to be.” , ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Programme’.
He said, “After becoming the Prime Minister, Prime Minister Modi started auctioning all the gifts received by him. Whatever amount will be received from the auction, the amount collected from it will go to Namami Gange Project.”
“The program started on October 2, time is till October 31. With very little time left, we hope that no serious buyers will be left out and we will be able to raise a good amount. I would like to request all citizens of the country to place their bids for these pieces and become their rightful owners in these last few days,” Lekhi said.

“This electronic auction marks the fifth edition of a series of successful auctions, the first of which was held in January 2019,” according to an official statement from the Culture Ministry.
Giving information on the ongoing e-auction, Union Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said that as the Durga Puja and Dussehra festivals are progressing, the e-auction is gaining momentum. Lekhi said that in the last 4 editions more than 7,000 items have been electronically auctioned and this time there are 912 items for electronic auction.

The statement said that this important initiative of the Central Government is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of our national river Ganga and the improvement of its fragile ecosystem.
The funds generated through this auction will contribute to this noble cause, thereby strengthening our unwavering commitment towards the protection of this invaluable national asset.
Lekhi was speaking at a press conference about the ongoing e-auction of PM Mementos, which is the fifth successful edition of the series. He provided information about the e-auction ending on October 31, 2023 and highlighted the significant interest received in it.
A notable aspect of the event was the curated souvenir exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, which attracted over 15,500 visitors, the release said.

“To ensure inclusivity, the exhibition included select tours, tours conducted in sign language for the hearing impaired, and tours with tactile experiences for the visually impaired,” the statement said.
This important initiative of the Central Government is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of our national river, Ganga, and the improvement of its fragile ecosystem.
According to the statement, the funds raised from this auction will strengthen our unwavering commitment towards the protection of this invaluable national asset.
“The general public can participate in the e-auction by logging on to this link https://pmmementos.gov.in/#/,” the statement said.