In a social gathering to discuss changes ushered after the abrogation of Article 370, a young Kashmiri woman’s confident assertion stood out. Following the Kartapur Corridor and Ram Mandir inauguration, she said the Sharda Peeth Temple would soon open to all. The temple is currently located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). When queried as to what was the basis of her distinct conviction, she replied “Modi ki Guarantee”.
But what is ‘Modi ki Guarantee’? Is it a mere catchphrase or an emotion? Is it an election slogan or something more tangible? To understand this, we need to trace back to May 2014, when Prime Minister Modi assumed office. Moulded by his humble beginnings, PM Modi’s sensitive governance model tectonically transformed the nation, now poised to become the world’s third-largest economy. Akin to the comic duties of the Trimurti, PM Modi’s salient role in Bharat’s developmental journey can be broadly classified as a creator, protector and destroyer.
Creator
PM Modi has created a strong edifice for a Viksit Bharat by ensuring the welfare of the poor, empowerment of women, well-being of farmers and enabling opportunities for youth. The Congress peddled the empty rhetoric of ‘Garibi Hatao’ for decades, whereas in the past decade, nearly 25 crore Indians have been lifted out of multi-dimensional poverty. With imperative essentials having been provided and rural incomes rising, less than 5 per cent of Indians are below the poverty line. While previous governments were infamously known for their slum demolitions during the emergency, the Modi government has built over four crore geo-tagged pucca cement houses for the poor.
Prior to 2014, there were only 2.19 crore water connections but today, 14 crore rural households have access to fluoride and arsenic-free clean drinking water. Before 2014, there were 15 crore bank accounts and in the last nine years of the Modi government, the number has increased to 51 crore with 55.5 per cent of women account holders. The abolishment of Triple Talaq and passage of the historic Women’s Reservation Bill hitherto ignored by previous Congress governments has galvanised our nari shakti.
With the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana providing assured remuneration to 1.4 crore persons, unemployment rates have reduced from 5.8 per cent to 3.2 per cent in 2022-23. India emerged as the third largest start-up ecosystem globally and eight crore first-time youth entrepreneurs have availed credit through PM Mudra Yojana.
Protector
PM Modi has instilled faith in his role as a protector of our people. Nearly 55 crore vulnerable citizens are protected by the world’s largest health insurance plan funded by the Modi government. The Congress-led UPA rule was riddled with hapless farmer suicides. In stark contrast, PM Modi has ensured a safety net for farmers with the PM-KISAN scheme, benefitting over 11 crore farmers with Rs 2.6 lakh crore given as assistance. The PM Fasal Bima Yojana insurance scheme has given Rs 1.5 lakh crore in claims.
During the pandemic peril, when the Opposition was impugning indigenous vaccines, PM’s stellar leadership protected our people by administering more than 220 crore vaccination doses. ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ is trusted not just in India but around the world. Whenever our citizens have encountered danger abroad, be it the Middle East, Sudan, Ukraine, Afghanistan and recently Qatar, PM Modi has been there for them.
Destroyer
While the UPA government was plagued by scandals, the Modi government’s true secularism and social justice has been the non-discriminatory and honest delivery of schemes to people. An effective combination of digital infrastructure, complemented by Aadhar and Jan Dhan accounts, helped achieve this by rooting out corruption and brokers.
When PM launched the United Payments Interface (UPI) in 2016, the Opposition mocked — would the poor eat data or atta? The Modi government through Direct Benefit Transfer has transferred Rs 34 lakh crore for central schemes directly to the people without any pilferage. By identifying and removing 10 crore fake beneficiaries, 2.75 lakh crore has been saved. India achieved financial inclusion in seven years which would have otherwise taken 47 long years.
‘Modi ki Guarantee’ symbolises the trust of the poor, the faith of our farmers, the hope of our women, the aspirations of our youth and their combined conviction in PM Modi’s leadership. Having experienced personal progress as a consequence of his government’s performance, citizens across the nation rationally rely on PM Modi’s words ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ (Together with all, Development for all and Trust of all). Toiling tirelessly to secure their family’s future, they intuitively believe that PM Modi and his government are there at every step of the way, sincerely supporting and enabling them to realise their dreams.
This, in my understanding, is ‘Modi ki Guarantee’.
CR Kesavan, a former member of the Prasar Bharati Board, is with the BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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