Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his eleventh Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Thursday, talking about a developed India in 2047, calling out crimes against women and expressing concern over the surge in natural disasters in the country.
While he is all set to become the longest-serving elected Prime Minister of the country by 2029, Modi, since 2014, has underscored the potential of the people, the promise of development, and the importance of national prosperity in his August 15 speeches.
Each speech has been about furthering the development goals and building upon the successes of the previous years while encompassing the nation’s long-term interests and ensuring everyone is a stakeholder in the Indian growth story.
The PM’s speeches have been a report card that he shows to the people about the achievements of his government.
Financial Inclusion
Year of Promise- 2014: In 2014, when Modi delivered his first address, he promised to take banking to every household in India.
2015- Report Card: In his speech in 2015, PM Modi declared that in a span of just one year, 17 crore zero-balance accounts were opened.
Today, a decade later, that one small step towards banking has proven to be a giant step towards financial inclusion. From instant credit access to loans for all, from entrepreneurs to street vendors, the Jan Dhan Yojana became the bedrock for financial inclusion for a billion people. Nearly 53 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened till now.
Rural Transformation
Year of Promise- 2014 and 2019: PM Modi promised rural transformation, starting with the idea of Adarsh Gram Yojana in 2014, electricity for over 18,000 villages in 2015, and the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019.
Year of Report Card:
2015- Target of toilet building was nearly achieved.
2016- More than 2 crore toilets built.
2017- More than 14 thousand villages that were in darkness even after Independence, have been provided with electricity.
2021- More than four and a half crore families have started getting water from taps.
2023- Concrete roads are being built in villages.
Over the years, this sustained focus on India’s villages and their welfare has elevated living standards. From the mapping of rural village land under Swamitva to the Common Service Centre, the previous idea of trickle-down impact of governance has now transformed into a bottom-up approach to governance which PM Modi has shared repeatedly from the ramparts of Red Fort.
Equal Stakeholders
Year of Promise- 2014: In his first address in 2014, PM Modi rather unconventionally, stressed the importance of building toilets across the country.
Report Card- 2021: Authentic efforts to construct toilets in 100% of households.
Across the years, the cumulative impact of these women-centric reforms is visible in their stake in India’s socio-economic development today which has brought a sea change from women’s development to women-led development.
Push for Manufacturing
Year of Promise- 2014: The Prime Minister, in his first address in 2014, spoke about the importance of ‘Make in India’.
Year of Report Card- 2021, 2022: The message of Atma Nirbharta was reiterated during the Covid years, and today, India is not only emerging as a key destination for manufacturing but also holds an integral position in the global supply chain. From ‘Make in India’ to ‘Atma Nirbharta’ to ‘PLI’, the message has been of making a dash for manufacturing, from India, for India and the world.
A Promise to The Nation in The Darkest Hours
Year of Promise- 2020: In 2020, the PM stood before an anxious nation, battling the first wave of the coronavirus. That year, he promised the nation a vaccination drive that would begin at the earliest.
Year of Report Card- 2021, 2022: A year later, in 2021, and over 50 crore doses later, the Prime Minister had delivered on the promise. In 2022, when over 200 crore doses had been administered, the country witnessed another instance when a promise made on August 15 had been fulfilled.
For The Farmers
Year of Promise- 2014, 2016: In 2014, PM Modi repeated Shastriji’s slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan and there were phenomenal changes for farmers over the years. Whether it was helping them with Neem Coated Urea or PM Kisan Sampada Yojana for infrastructure development, PM Modi gave his report card, about Kisan Samman Nidhi.
Year of Report Card- 2018: In 2016, when Modi first spoke about the importance of insuring farmers nationwide, not many would have been able to quantify the magnitude of the programme. Today, eight years later, and after claims of more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore have been settled, the programme is a resounding success.
From farm inputs in 2014, the conversation has now moved to diversification and better market access in 2024.
Building for Tomorrow’s India
Year of Promise- 2016: In 2016, the Prime Minister told the nation about 270-odd projects that had been stuck for over a decade, and how the government was ensuring they were completed at the earliest. Today, the Prime Minister speaks about the National Infrastructure Pipeline that amounts to over Rs 100 lakh crore.
Year of Report Card- 2023: This tectonic shift in India’s infrastructure story has been a constant theme of the August 15 address of Modi. A rising capex each year coupled with the push for faster completion of critical projects is a hallmark of the Modi government.
Northeast India
Year of Promise- 2015: PM Modi spoke about the need for infrastructure, rail connectivity, and digital connectivity and his government’s focus on eastern India.
Report Card- 2018: PM Modi said in 2018 that new educational institutes are being set up in Northeast India, new sports facilities are being given, as well as new opportunities, and he said that in a span of four years, Delhi was brought to the doorsteps of Northeast India.
Digital India
Year of Promise- 2014: In 2014, PM Modi spoke of Digital India, its importance, and its unused potential in various fields.
Report Card- 2018: In the speech of 2018, he spoke about how the dream of Digital India is becoming a reality and how it is making inroads into India. In 2022, he spoke about how the Digital India movement of developing semiconductors, entering the 5G era, and spreading the network of optical fibres is not just to establish ourselves as modern and developed, and in 2023, he gave a report card on Digital India making international inroads.
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