Vikshit Bharat 2047: PM Modi’s reform drive boosts 2024 electoral prospects

Narendra Modi’s successful back-to-back terms as India’s Prime Minister have catalysed transformative growth domestically and elevated the nation’s standing globally. On the 75th Independence Day, Modi introduced Amrit Kaal or ‘The Era of Elixir,’ outlining his vision for ‘New India’ by 2047. This comprehensive plan aims to reshape India over the next 25 years, focussing on rapid profitable growth, improved living conditions, infrastructural advancements, and the restoration of global trust. Amrit Kaal strives to lay the foundation for a restructured Indian economy and society, emphasizing inclusivity, technological progress, and sustainable development. The vision aspires to position India as a formidable global leader, addressing challenges and garnering international respect. The Panch Pran or the five fundamentals of Amrit Kaal include the: 1. goal of developing India 2. elimination of any trace of the colonial mindset 3. honour and pride in our roots 4. development of unity, and 5. a sense of duty among the citizenry These initiatives under Narendra Modi’s leadership contribute to establishing a holistic, sustainable paradigm of development that transcends sectors and societal segments. While the vision aligns with international standards, it distinctly reflects India’s cultural essence, aiming to foster a profound sense of national pride among its citizens. Modi’s strategic approach involves transforming challenges into opportunities, steering India toward an intense and inclusive trajectory of development. This forward-looking, long-term perspective underscores the commitment to shaping a future that not only meets global benchmarks but also preserves and celebrates India’s rich cultural heritage. Inclusive development supplants piecemeal reforms of earlier governments: Launched on 24 April, 2023, during the National Panchayati Raj Day Programme, the Inclusive Development (Samaveshi Vikaas) campaign spearheaded by the prime minister marks a strategic initiative. With a thematic emphasis on high-impact value and significant public participation (Jan Bhagidari), the campaign adopts a “whole of society approach”. Prioritising areas such as employment generation, health, social inclusion, social security and livelihood creation, each participating ministry/department ensures a comprehensive outreach, aiming for 100 per cent coverage of the campaigns’ beneficiaries. This concerted effort underscores the commitment to fostering inclusive development by addressing critical aspects of societal well-being. The pursuit of inclusive development is rooted in the primary objective of establishing a sturdy foundation for macroeconomic stability, aiming to benefit broader segments of society—an inherently legitimate goal. Despite global strides in poverty reduction, a pervasive sense of increasing inequality has fuelled discontent with development outcomes. Inclusive growth, the cornerstone of this endeavour, is characterised by economic growth that is equitably distributed across society, offering opportunities for all. Achieving inclusive development entails not only enhancing average achievements but also diminishing disparities in these achievements. It is a multifaceted approach involving the creation of employment opportunities, poverty reduction, and ensuring that essential services in health and education are accessible to all, especially the marginalised. This comprehensive vision extends to promoting equality of opportunity, empowering vulnerable sections through education and skill development, fostering ecological sustainability, advocating for good governance and contributing to the establishment of a gender-sensitive society through women empowerment initiatives. The following campaigns are launched under Inclusive Development Reforms: (1) Samagra Awas-Convergence under PMAY-G: In this campaign, a sanction of additional 45 lakh PMAY-G houses over and above 2.50 crore already sanctioned has been ensured along with the saturation of benefits provided in convergence with schemes providing electricity, LPG, water connections and toilets in all PMAY-G houses. The campaign continued between April 2023 to August 2023. (2) Financial Literacy at the District Level: The main purpose of this campaign is to create awareness and increase the outreach of various banking and financial services and social security schemes. The campaign has been carried out in 500 districts and is expected to provide need-based training and awareness to 2.0 crore SHG members. Through village-level awareness programme, about 2.5 crore SHG members will be enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and 3.0 crore under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY). During the campaign period, 750 SAKSHAM centres have been established across states as a one-stop solution for financial awareness, service delivery and basic grievances redressal. The campaign started from 11 January 2023 till August 2023. (3) Promoting Digital Transaction at the GP level: The main purpose of this campaign is to create awareness and increase the outreach of various digital modes of transactions among women SHG members and their households. The nationwide campaign is carried out to create awareness to 50,000 Gram Panchayats with 3.0 crore number of transactions and deployment of 20,000 SHG Members as Business Correspondents Sakhi /Digipay Sakhi/ Paypoints. Apart from this, awareness camps have been organised at the Gram Panchayat level also. This campaign started on 1 February 2023 and continued to August 2023. (4) Social Mobilisation of Eligible Rural Women in SHG Network: This campaign aims to motivate eligible rural women to join the SHG Network, to bring eligible SHGs into VOs (Village Organisations) fold, to bring eligible VOs into Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) fold and to release capitalisation support to eligible SHGs. The campaign aims to mobilise a total of 10 crore rural households by end of the FY 2023-24 to bring all vulnerable and marginalised rural households under SHGs and draw benefits provided through this Government initiative. It is expected that 20-lakh left-out households shall be mobilised and more than 60,000 SHGs shall be formed during the period. (5) Plantation Drive on Riverbanks: Under this campaign, plantation drive under Mahatma Gandhi NREGA to be conducted on the riverbanks. During the campaign period, around 4.0 crore plants are to be planted in around 20,000 km of riverbanks. The campaign started on 1 March, 2023 and continued till August 2023. (6) Swastha Mahila Samriddha Samaj: This campaign is led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), which aims to promote health as a credit-plus activity among Women SHGs in villages for making ‘Wellness’ a people’s movement and lay emphasis on prevention and control of cancer in women – focus on screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer. During the campaign period, 10 lakh cancer screening/awareness camps will be organised by PRIs/NRLM units on functional HWCs across the country. It is also expected that 2.5 crore women will be screened for breast cancer and cervical cancer each (25 for cervical cancer and 25 for breast cancer per 10 lakh camps) and cumulatively 8 crore footfall for access to women care at AB-HWCs at the end of the campaign period. This campaign starting on 14 January, 2023 continued till August 2023. (7) Natural Farming with SHG Women: This campaign will be led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW). The campaign will ensure the restoration of soil health, including the capture of atmospheric carbon to mitigate climate change, reversal of biodiversity loss at the farm and local ecosystem levels and maintenance/recycling of scarce farm resources. During the campaign period, formation/ facilitation of 10 women-only Farmer Produce Organisations (FPOs) (One FPO has a membership of a minimum of ten, which may go up to 2,000 based on the availability of members) and organising special campaigns on National/International important days will be ensured. An awareness campaign has already been organised involving around 440 (Progressive Women farmers/members of FPOs/RCs/SHGs and Krishi Sakhis of NRLM/SRLMs/Women Agri-preneurs This campaign started on 11 February 2023 and continued till August 2023. (8) Pashudhan Jagriti Abhiyan: Intensive Awareness in Aspirational Districts: This campaign is being led by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DoAH&D). This campaign aims to effectively transform the 112 most under-developed districts across the country by organising around 16,000 village-level camps to spread awareness on entrepreneurship and other schemes of the Department, Scientific Management of Disease and Conducting Animal Health Camps at Aspirational districts ensuring the Jan Bhagidari. Two animal health camps per district will be organised in all aspirational districts, and in each health camp, 100 farmers will be participating. The virtual camps will be disseminated on various social media platforms of the Department, and State AH district institutions will mobilise the farmers for Animal Health camps. In addition to this 224 Animal Health camps will be organised in all aspirational districts benefiting around 22,400 farmers. The campaign started on 22 February, 2023 and continued till August 2023. (9) SVAMITVA-Meri Sampatti, Mera Haq: This campaign is led by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR). The campaign aims to provide a ‘Record of Rights’ to property owners in the inhabited area (abadi) of a village by the use of the latest drone-based survey technology under SVAMITVA Scheme. It aims to generate 1.50 crore “Records of Rights”/ Property Cards under SVAMITVA Scheme by August 2023. The campaign started on 18 April, 2023 and will continue till 30 June. The benchmark projections of India’s poverty reduction could be attributed to a combination of high GDP growth along with high allocation and spending for the government’s pro-poor policies. With strong economic growth pegged at 7.5 per cent in the present year with optimistic projections in the coming years, the government’s approach towards poverty alleviation has been a comprehensive programme. The government led by Prime Minister Modi has stressed the concept of inclusive development that made the government’s strategy of poverty alleviation a ‘Jan Andolan’ (mass movement). Elements of inclusive growth: Skill development Harnessing the demographic dividend will depend upon the employability of the working-age population, their health, education, vocational training and skills. Skill development plays a key role here. To empower India’s youth and help the ‘Amrit Peedhi’ realise their dreams, the government has formulated the NEP focused on skilling, it adopted economic policies that facilitate job creation at scale and has supported business opportunities. Budget 2023-24 has allocated heavily towards enabling the youth for skill development. Under the Skilling Mission, more than 50 million people have been trained and another 15 million are being given training on the latest and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 The Yojana emphasises on skilling, reskilling and upskilling, and was started in 2015. It had different versions in 2017 and 2021. Now, in the year 2023, the focus will be back on skilling the youth to empower them and give them confidence. Areas to be covered are coding, AI, robotics, IoT, mechatronics, and 3D printing among others. Skill India digital platform The scheme was launched in 2015. Relevant programmes (skill development initiatives) have been going on since then through various ministries of the government. Now, the government will open 30 Skill India International Centres with the sole aim of arming the youth with the requisite knowledge to get international opportunities. National Apprenticeship Scheme This scheme is aimed at strengthening the youth from rural areas and economically disadvantaged families with the required hard and soft skills. The government also plans to provide support to 47 lakh youths in a time frame of three years by starting a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. As part of its Digital India endeavour, the Modi government will also set up as many as three centres of excellence for AI in leading institutions. The move will help create a strong AI network in the country. Financial inclusion Financial inclusion is the process of ensuring access to financial services to vulnerable groups at affordable costs. Financial inclusion is necessary for inclusive growth as it leads to the culture of saving, which initiates a cycle of capital formation and in turn economic development. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) - National Mission for Financial Inclusion, completed nine years of its successful implementation on 15 August, 2023. PMJDY creates a platform for universal access to banking facilities with at least one basic banking account for every household, financial literacy, and access to credit, insurance, and pension facilities. PMJDY accounts are eligible for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY). The Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile (JAM) architecture has enabled seamless transfer of government benefits to common citizens’ accounts. PMJDY-led interventions and digital transformation have revolutionised financial inclusion in India. These accounts contribute towards inclusive growth of all sections of society, especially the underprivileged which were hitherto unbanked. In a milestone achievement, more than 50 crore beneficiaries banked under PMJDY since its inception. Total deposit balances under PMJDY Accounts stand at Rs. 2,03,505 crore PMJDY accounts grew 3.4-fold from 14.72 crore in March 2015 to 50.09 crore as of 16-08-2023. Around 56 per cent of Jan Dhan account holders are women and around 67 per cent Jan-Dhan accounts in rural and semi-urban areas 33.98 crore RuPay cards issued to PMJDY accountholders. It has facilitated bringing savings to the formal banking systems freeing them from usurious money lenders. PMJDY has empowered women immensely. Overdraft is available in only one account per household, preferably the woman of the household. Technological advancement The world is moving towards an era of Industrial Revolution 4.0. These technological advancements have capabilities to both decrease or increase inequality depending on the way these are being used. Several initiatives have been taken by the government. For example, Digital India Mission, so that a digitally literate population can leverage technology for endless possibilities. Technology can revolutionise different sectors of the economy: Agriculture: Modern technology can help in making an agro-value chain from farmer to consumer more efficient and competitive. Manufacturing: Technology can resolve the problems of finance, procuring raw materials, land, and linkages with the user market. GST was made possible only with the help of sound technology. Education: Innovative digital technologies can create new forms of adaptive and peer learning, increasing access to trainers and mentors, and providing useful data in real-time. The Union government has taken initiatives in the field of e-learning ranging from Study Webs of Active-learning for Young Aspiring Minds, or Swayam, an online platform that hosts courses from Class 9 to the post-graduate level and enables students to learn remotely to Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (Diksha Portal) for distance school education. Prime Minister Modi emphasized on several occasions that foundational literacy forms a strong base for the youth and India is combining it with technology. The Union Cabinet chaired by the prime minister approved the new National Education Policy 2020, making way for large-scale, transformative reforms in both school and higher education sectors. This is the first education policy of the 21st century and replaces the 34-year-old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986. Built on the foundational pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability, this policy is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, suited to 21st century needs and aimed at bringing out the unique capabilities of each student. NEP aims at universalising school education (achieving a 100 per cent Gross Enrolment Ratio in preschool to secondary level) by 2032 and higher education (increasing the GER in higher education to 50 per cent) by 2035. Health: Technologies could transform the delivery of public health services and extend care through remote health services. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a national public health insurance fund of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage to low-income earners in the country. More than 22 crore people have registered in the scheme. The number of MBBS seats for aspiring doctors has increased from 51,348 to 91,927 in just nine years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has sought several measures to make medical education affordable. In comparison to 145 government medical colleges, now India has 260 such GMCs and the number of AIIMS has gone up to 23 in the country. Governance: Technology can cut down delays, corruption, and inefficiency in the delivery of a public service which can enhance efficiency and service delivery.  The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP), provides a holistic view of e-Governance initiatives across the country. Around this idea, a massive countrywide infrastructure reaching down to the remotest of villages is evolving, and large-scale digitization of records is taking place to enable easy, reliable access to the internet. The government has proposed to implement “e-Kranti: National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) 2.0” under the Digital India programme. Economic growth India is among the fastest-growing major economies in the world.  The IMF The IMF projects India to hit $6 trillion in 2028. India registered 7.8 per cent growth in the first quarter of FY24, bolstered by the government’s capital expenditure expansion and domestic demand. By the next decade, India is expected to grow to be one of the three top economies following the double engine approach which fosters all-round development, inclusivity and good governance. Today India is the fastest growing economy possessing robust democratic credentials and a mixed middle-income developing social market economy strategy. And this will allow India to reduce inequality, increase social expenditure and provide employment to all. Poverty alleviation Modi government has launched numerous schemes for poverty alleviation. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna, (PMGKAY) is a Food Security Welfare Scheme inaugurated on 26 March, 2020. It strives to feed the poorest citizens of the nation through the Public Distribution System (PDS) to all the ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme. A total of 80 crore people have profited from this scheme and delivered free food grains with 5 kg of rice or wheat (as per regional dietary preferences) per person and 1 kg of dal to each family holding a ration card provided under PMGKAY. Garib Kalyan Rozgaar Abhiyaan, (GKRA) began on 20 June 2020, for the returnee migrant workers and rural citizens to empower them and provide employment. This scheme was able to employ migrant workers by focusing on the implementation of 25 different types of work and created an infrastructure in the rural areas of India with a resource envelope of Rs 50,000 crore. Atal Pension Yojana, (APY) which provides a monthly pension for people from the unorganized sector between 18 to 50 years, was launched on 9 May 2015. PM Ujjwala Yojna, (PMUY) inaugurated on 1 May 2016, has delivered more than 9 Crore free LPG connections to BPL families at subsidized rates. Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi scheme, (PMSVA Nidhi Scheme) inaugurated on 1 June, 2020 helped the street vendors resume their livelihood activities who were impacted by COVID-19. It facilitated loans to working capital up to Rs 10,000 at a subsidized rate of interest. Housing for all by 2022 under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). It was during the first wave of COVID-19 that Prime Minister Modi announced free ration for the marginalized section of society. The scheme was then extended during the second wave and was extended for another six months till March 2022. Through this scheme, 80 crore beneficiaries were given free ration each month. From Swachh Bharat Mission, Jan Dhan Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Startup India, to name a few, his historic decisions and policymaking ideas have weaved India into a newer outlook in front of the world – a strong developing nation. He has brought newer concepts to limelight along with the notable schemes which have seeped into the deeper levels of the Indian societal structure – financial, healthcare, social security. Under Swachh Bharat Mission, 10.9 crore toilets were built whereas under PM Awas Yojana, over 3 crore urban and rural houses were constructed. The schemes in different domains aided in improving the livelihood of people, thereby helping them to link with basic amenities, better facilities, skills and opportunities. To expand the level of insurance penetration in the country, PM launched Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana in 2015 and ever since, it has been instrumental in making insurance coverage accessible to the common man. Another significant scheme, Ujjwala Yojana which was launched in 2016 has played a key role in providing free LPG connections to millions of people without consumers going through the hassle of paying deposits to fuel retailers. Later, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched to encompass more people into the radius of the scheme. Along with a deposit-free LPG connection, it aimed to provide free refills and hotplates to the beneficiaries. Social development It means the empowerment of all marginalised sections of the population like SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, women and transgender. Empowerment can be achieved by improving institutions of the social structure i.e. hospitals especially primary care in rural areas, schools, universities, etc. Investment in social structures will not only boost growth (by fiscal stimulus) but will also create a healthy and capable generation to handle future work. Modi government has provided 10 per cent Reservation for Economically weaker Sections (General Category), Rs 22.6 lakh crore has been directly transferred to beneficiaries i.e. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Moreover, the constitutional status is also given to the OBC Commission. Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojna, (SAGY) was launched on 11 October, 2014, which has led to the social and cultural development in villages. This scheme aims to translate the comprehensive vision of Mahatma Gandhi about an ideal Indian village into reality. Gramoday se Bharat Uday, (GBU) launched on 14 April, 2016, emphasizes the development of villages for the proper development of the country. Aiming to make women socially and financially self-reliant, several schemes ranging from Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, a part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign to Poshan Abhiyaan were launched. Both in the formulation and implementation of the schemes or missions, the competence, integrity and performance of the leader is essential.  It’s a conceptualisation of an integrated and inclusive Bharat that is inherently imbued with Prime Minister Modi’s political leadership style that can bring about the potentialities of the capacities for performance bearing of the stakeholders which is explicit in his slogan of Sabka Haath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwash, Sabka Prayas. Prime Minister Modi’s leadership as the chief architect of post-Independence India’s most holistic overarching plan of development, inclusion and service delivery can be considered as the juggernaut of socio-economic reforms. Prime Minister Modi’s two successful consecutive tenures make Modi 3.0, the most conscientious and valid claim and a legitimate probability. The author is a senior faculty in the Department of History, ARSD College, University of Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the  Latest News,  Trending News,  Cricket News,  Bollywood News, India News and  Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.