Modi The Transformer

All the former Prime Ministers of India were born before Independence of the country, except Narendra Modi.  He is the first Prime Minister of India who is born after Independence and represents the new generation. He  believes all the people who are born after independence are the new representatives of the country.  Until now, India have 15 Prime Ministers, out of whom former Prime Ministers VP Singh and HD Deve Gowda were governed Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka respectively as chief ministers.  Before Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India, he was Chief Minister of Gujarat for more than a decade.  As chief minister, his all round development of Gujarat rendered him an image of national leader.  He worked as Sangh Pracharak. He took the responsibility of Secretary of BJP Gujarat state unit, later General Secretary at national level, but nobody had recognized his unique ability to run the government and administration, before he became Chief Minister of Gujarat.  He proved himself to be the best Chief Minister of the country.  He dealt with  many crises while he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Many tried to malign the image on the Godhra incident, but he continued  to work for the development of Gujarat,  and this was the reason,  people of Gujarat elected him Chief Minister not only once, twice, thrice  but for the fourth consecutive term.   Given his good performance in Gujarat, his promotion to national level  was destined.  After former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee fell ill, BJP was looking for a dynamic personality to lead the country, and the party, at that time,  found out the jewel, Modi.

Narendra Modi was born on September 17, 1950 at Vadnagar, Gujarat, in a very poor family. But poverty never deterred him from achieving his goals.  He struggled. He made contacts. He started dialogue with the common man, and gradually the basic instinct to serve mother Bharati increased.  At his young age, he demonstrated that nobody could stop him from serving Mother India.  Today, he is the Prime Minister of the largest democracy of the world. Unquestionably, he must have seen ups and downs in his career, but he never left the right path serve the country.   His passion for serving the nation became his religion.  BJP declared Modi its chief of 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign committee in BJP’s executive meet at Goa.  With his unremitting hard work and charismatic speeches, he turned the tide of Indian politics forever. He not only got a mandate with aplomb, which nobody had achieved in last 30 years, but also won the heart of Indians.  It was itself a history for India.  He  infused self-confidence  into the Indians, and started work for the poor. Now it is quite clearly visible that poverty is disappearing from our nation.

After Vajpayee’s government, Modi government is the first one in the country’s whose programmes, activities, plans and policies echoing Indian culture, people’s aspirations and values.  Modi government’s first priority is India, Indian and Indianness.  Global acceptance of India has been increased much more in last two years four months, which was at dismal condition in last 68 years since independence.  India’s image at international level was pathetic before Modi come to power; however, he had started profound historical work to make India glorious.  We should rise above partisan politics, and give credit for his excellent work on this field.  Successful foreign diplomacy of Modi is the hallmark of the government.

The government has initiated a number of schemes in the interest of the poor.  Banks’ doors have been opened for the poor, therefore, poor are able to open their bank accounts.  Now, bank accounts are connected with Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima, Atal Pension Scheme and other life safety schemes. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has ensured that the poor get  the subsidies directly to their own bank accounts.  Nearly 10 million people have left the government subsidies, which will be used to bolster the poor households.   Implementing such initiatives government has saved around Rs 14,000 crore, by which poor families in the country will get free gas connections through Prime Minister Ujjwala Scheme. The government plans to provide free gas connections to 60 million people by 2019.  Around 47, 630 members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) got the benefit of monthly pension as government delivered Rs 8,200 crore rupees in 2015-16.   Modi government is committed to the development of villages. Villages are being connected  with paved roads.

By 2022, government plans to provide each poor man with home.  Electrification of every villages in the country is going swiftly. To reduce the power consumption of costumers, the use of LED bulbs is being promoted by the government. Millions of youth have started their own venture with the help of Mudra Bank.   Make in India, Skill India, Start-Up India and Prime Minister Mudra Scheme  have generated adequate employment for the youths of India.  Nearly 50 million people took advantage of these schemes and turned  out to be self-employed and are earning their own livelihood, which is an important milestone.  July 15, 2015, Prime Minister Modi launched the Prime Minister Skill Development scheme, wherein 20 million people  have  been trained as per their interest of trade, out of  whom 40 per cent are women.

 Modi’s popular schemes

Digital India, Prime Minister Jan-Dhan Yojana, Clean India campaign, Prime Minister Ujjwala Scheme, Sanshad Adarsh Gram Yojana,  Atal Pension Yojana, Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao, Prime Minister Skill Development  Scheme, Stand Up India, Sukanya Samrudhi Yojana, Mudra Bank Yojana, Prime Minister Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Surakhya BIma Yojana , Kisan Vikas Patra, Agriculture Insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sinchai  Yojana,  Swasthya Health Card Scheme, HRIDAY (The National Heritage City development and planning augmentation Yojana), Indtradhanush, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Rural Skills Development Scheme, Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana, Udaan Project.

Towards illumination

India has never seen such renovation in the backbone of India economy, the power sector. Today, the admiration from foreign agencies   for transformation of India’s power sector is highly regarded.  From the ramparts of Red Fort Prime Minister Modi declared to electrify 18, 452 villages until March 2018.  By July 3, 2016, government records showed that with a mission, Power Ministry has completed electrification of 8,631 villages. One can easily predict that the target will be achieved with ease.

Internationally famed

After Modi came to power, India’s image has changed significantly at global stage.  Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic itineraries all over the world bring respect and values for Bharat.  Modi bestows prominent position to Bharatiya culture and tradition and trade in his foreign visits.  India has joined the MTCR league of countries, so now India can sell missile technologies to other countries. First time in the history, without signing NPT, most probably India is going to being a part of NSG. Celebrating June 21 as International Yoga Day is a landmark achievement.

Focus on agriculture

Narendra Modi has started many inventive programmes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Rashtriya Mudra Swasthya Parikshan Card, Kisan TV, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana etc. to boost agrarian sector of India.

Rising economy

Although Indian economy suffers from global inflation and continuous droughts from last two years, Modi put it on the right track. Around 207 million bank accounts were opened through Jan-Dhan Yojana. 1.8 million people have been getting the benefit of  Atal Bima Yojana.  During the UPA government, national highways’ construction was 2 to 4 kilometres per day, but under the Modi regime it increases to 24 kilometres per day. Moreover, there are 8 kilometres of railway tracks being built in a day.

Corruption-free government  

So far, the Modi government has given a clean, corruption-free and transparent government to the people of India. There is no single allegation against the Modi government during the last two years. The government has passed Black Money Bill in the Parliament and formulated a Special Enquiry Committee to look into the black money matters.

The writer is BJP’s National Vice President and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

 by Prabhat jha