First year of Modi’s
Era
Exactly
a year before, on the same date, our nation was on a big celebration. For the
first time after a long time, a single party won the absolute majority of seats
in general elections defying the predictions of people who call themselves
great psephologists. The coalition era ended and a new chapter in the history
of modern India started. There is no doubt that this was possible only because
of one and only MR.MODI. His electrifying campaign at the back drop of such
dismal performance of the previous 10 years of UPA rule raised enormous hopes among
the common people, middle class, upper class, and the intelligentsia that most
of the Indians wanted a change in the old guard. I too was one among them. One
among those who were fearful about the future of India in the hands of such
incompetent RAGA, the continuation of dynastic politics and the poor
governance. I have written an article at that time about the necessity of a
person like MODI as PM for India. Now after one year, I must say, I am more
than happy about the performance of the present MODI government. The time when
the Budhu RAGA is on some sort of a nationwide tour after a 58 day long sabbatical,
I thought I have a moral responsibility to analyze the first year of NAMO whom
I supported and come out with some facts.
What
modi Government did in this one year:
- 1.
Dismantling the socialist era planning commission
and forming a more representative NITI AYOG in its place with new rigor and
vigor. This body will not only look at the long term economic policy like PC
but also deliberates on long term socio economic , defense , security and other
issues that can transform India.
- .2 Accepting the 14 finance commission
recommendations in Toto, there by Devolving 42% of the total central pool of
taxes to states -a whopping 10 % increase at one stroke . This is the dawn of
new era of “cooperative and competitive federalism. A real game changing
decision which empowers the states to devise their own policies to achieve the
nationally set goals. A review at the number of centrally sponsored schemes (CSS)
so as to improve the productivity, accountability and the results at the ground
level.
- 3.
A change from the “one size fits all “to “empowerment
of states “that is a truly remarkable change that has the potential to change
the future course of centre-state interactions.
- 4.
Auctioning of the coal blocks, a whopping 2lack
crores to the exchequer, nobody could have dreamt of that figure except the CAG
during the corrupt UPA regimes.
- 5.
Passing of the coal act, mines and minerals act
that will have the provisions to share the auction money with states from which
the ores are originating, again a move aimed at strengthening the state
finances.
- 6.
For the first time the international rating
agencies have improved India’s growth projections due to the steps taken to
reign in fiscal deficit , current account deficit and to spur growth. The IMF
is calling India “the bright spot in Asia “- that tells the scenario.
- 7.
Passing of amendments to juvenile justice act so
as to treat the juveniles between 16-18 years committing heinous crimes as
adults.
- 8.
Passing of the GST bill in the lok Sabah, the
biggest financial reform proposal in the post independent India that upon
becoming an act can add 2% GDP.
- 9.
All the above achievements in addition to
excellent foreign policy initiatives .the look east has now become “the act
east “with more focused approach toward our ASEAN neighbors.
- 10.
Worldwide tours to rope in investments from Japan,
china, Australia, Canada.
- 11.
Excellent reception to the USA president obama
and clearing the hurdles for the operationalisation of “123 agreement “ with an
ambitious target of achieving 100GW through non fossil fuel based sources. A
very important step to achieve energy security.
- 12.
PM jan dhan yojana – a highly successful
financial inclusion scheme which opened nearly 10 cr bank accounts to the
hitherto uncovered population , the number which the previous governments could
not able to achieve in 5 years was done in 10 months.
- 13.
Making the cleanliness the central point of the
debate by announcing “ the swatch bharath abhiyan “ from the red fort. Providing
house hold and community toilets is the first priority of this scheme which can
have a major impact on the health indicators of the country.
- 14.
“Make in India “initiative to convert India into
a major manufacturing hub so as to create the all important jobs to our youth,
an essential step to cash in India’s demographic dividend otherwise could
become our demographic nightmare.
- 15.
“Digital India” program to connect India ,
“namami gange “ –to clean up our national river and an outlay of 20000 cr for
the five years ,a fourfold increase in the total amount spend on ganga cleanup under successive
governments in the last 30 years with no avail.
- 16.
“The smart city project” aimed at creating the
future cities to necessarily prepare the urban India which is going to have
80cr population by 2050 .
- 17.
Establishing the SIT immediately after coming
to power containing members with impeccable integrity to track the black money
stashed abroad. Passing a very strong black money undisclosed foreign income
and assets) act that will have tough provisions for confiscating the illegitimate
and unaccounted money stashed away by the Indian citizens abroad.
- 18.
A new
bill to curb the black money generation inside the country by tightening the
screws on “binami transactions “ is due to come very soon.
- 19.
Passing of the LBA with the Bangladesh –that
will solve the 40 year old humanitarian problem existing on both the sides of
the border.
- 20.
Successful evacuation of Indian citizens and
others from the war hit Yemen and the phenomenal help extended to earth quake
hit “Nepal “. Immediate decision making during Jammu Kashmir floods to release
1000cr as disaster relief and timely help to AP during HUD HUD cyclone.
- 21.
Implementation of biometric attendance
punching system to the central secretariat staff to enhance accountability –
might have back fired in losing the Delhi polls, nevertheless improved the
decision making -an important pre requisite to achieve the goal of enhancing
the ease of doing business in India.
- 22.
Making June 21 , the international “yoga day “.
Getting the Indian brand value to yoga which had its origins in India but has
been very popular in the west and china.
- 23.
Recently announced social security schemes like
PM jan suraksha yojana ( a life insurance coverage of 5 lacks at a premium of
336rs per year) ,PM accident insurance scheme( 2lack insurance at a premium of
just 12rs per year ) , ATAL pension
yojana for senior citizens , sukanya samrudhi yojana for the girl child as part
of “beti bachao , beti padao “ scheme.
- 24. Utmost importance to citizen participation in governance through a real time online participation and suggestion posting portal www. mygov.in . any body can participate in discussions in areas of his/her liking.
These
are some of the achievements immediately coming to my mind. In addition to them,
the positive image that MODI created for India worldwide, the image makeover he
single handedly pioneered was amazing. After he became PM, a strange sense of
national feeling that “I must feel proud to be an INDIAN “ is palpable and is yet to find expression in the hearts and minds of many youth. His pitch for development –“sab
ka saath –sab ka vikas “ was a welcome change and his time and again utterances
of “INDIA FIRST “ should over shadow the irresponsible statements of some of
his MP’s like sakshi maharaj – some blown out of proportion by the
irresponsible , TRP savvy , opposition backed media.
Yes
there are some unresolved problems and honest criticism .Delay in granting
Special category status to AP (requires elaborate discussion –write a piece on
this soon),Delay in decision making in appointing the CVC,CIC,lokpal ,
apprehensions on the amendments to land acquisition act (which I think are very
essential in improving the business environment and getting the much needed
1 trillion dollar infrastructure financing -again requires a deep study) ,etc.
Nobody
is perfect but it is the idea of attaining perfection, striving for
continuous improvement, heart full of passion, mind full of hope, belly full of
dreams and each word echoing the honesty of patriotism and every second
dedicated to the 120 cr peoples progress and the above achievements I discussed
will far outweigh the yet to be done things in this one year and I hope the
stable government will resolve the issues sooner than later.
My
friends , our beloved PM MODI is doing everything that is necessary and
imperative for the future of India , in this journey there may have been some
tough decisions in which we must be with him as the age old saying goes “no
pain no gain “. But sincere request to you is not to believe the lies being
spread in media as the government is being anti poor, anti farmer as what these
budhus have done for the poor , minorities , the farmers is not empowerment but
making them beggars and they have always
looked at them as vote banks.
I think,
in the success of PM MODI, lies India's success. In his vision, lies India's
march .His failing is the greatest tragedy that can happen to Indian sub
continent .I have put the title of this piece as modis era as I truly believe
that his was the most original thought for the betterment of India after
mr.Nehru .I pray the nature to give him good health and you to give him at
least 20 years to reshape the India and make it again the “vishwa guru “. the solution to worlds problems lie In
India’s leadership, in our success lies the world success as we are the only culture on this
planet that truly believed and honestly lived on the principle of “vasudhaika kutumbakam
“….
Thank
you.
