It has been an eventful year in terms of major policy decisions and mega successes. Newspaper headlines were dominated by India’s ambitious Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, successful completion of the G20 Summit where a joint declaration was achieved and India’s economic recovery in 2023 wherein it became the fastest-growing economy in the post-Covid world and is on the cusp of being a $4 trillion economy.
But away from the media spotlight, Narendra Modi silently achieved something that touched the lives of common citizens. While aiming at being a $5 trillion economy, PM Modi strived to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s growth story.
Here are five key pillars of inclusive development where diverse communities were empowered while fostering a more equitable society — ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas’ — which has become an anthem of the Narendra Modi administration.
Governance at Your Doorstep
One of the key pillars of his five-pronged approach was the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’, where top ministers and senior-most bureaucrats are pressed into action to bring governance to people’s doorsteps.
Launched by the Prime Minister on November 15 from Jharkhand’s Khunti, this yatra is aimed at raising awareness among citizens about various welfare schemes of the Modi government to encourage their active participation in the spirit of what PM Modi calls ‘Jan Bhagidari’ (people’s participation). The idea is to achieve 100% saturation of these schemes.
This initiative, the largest-ever outreach by the Government of India, is set to cover 2.60 lakh Gram Panchayats and over 4,000 urban local bodies across the nation by January 25, 2024.
In just one month, the yatra has reached over 4 crore citizens across 1 lakh Gram Panchayats. Another 3 crore individuals have pledged their support. Be it PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana, Mahila Samman Savings Certificate, Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan, or PM Kisan Samman Nidhi — making citizens reap its benefits has been the idea behind the move.
Justice Worth Rs 24,000 Crore for Tribals
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan or PM JANMAN is providing support to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) — a micro-segment among the tribals — by ensuring the saturation of their households and settlements with essential amenities.
This scheme was inaugurated with a total budget of Rs 24,104 crore, focusing on 11 critical interventions through nine line ministries. An allocation of a whopping Rs 15,000 crore has been earmarked to implement the mission over the next three years.
Empowering Barbers to Masons
Imagine a world where traditional artisans and craftspeople like carpenters, blacksmiths, potters, barbers, and masons are recognised for their incredible skills. On September 17 this year, Prime Minister Modi unveiled the PM Vishwakarma to make this dream a reality.
With a financial outlay of Rs 13,000 crore, the scheme aims to provide artisans and craftspeople with recognition through a certificate and ID card. The scheme also offers credit support of up to Rs 1 lakh (first tranche) and Rs 2 lakh (second tranche) at a meagre interest rate of 5%. The initiative also includes provisions for skill upgradation, toolkit incentives, incentives for digital transactions, and even marketing support.
Lending an Ear to the Madiga Community
A long-standing demand of the Madiga community has been the sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes. On November 12 this year, in the heart of Telangana, PM Modi joined the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) rally in Secunderabad where he announced the formation of a committee to address the community’s demand.
The Prime Minister lent an ear to them and highlighted his commitment to prioritise the needs of the deprived. He emphasised on the government’s principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’.
When Turmeric Farmers Have PM’s Attention
Farmers in India — mainly those growing paddy, sugarcane and vegetables — get to make their grievances heard. But who would have thought a marginal section among them — turmeric farmers — too can have the Prime Ministers attention?
In October, PM Modi announced the setting up of a National Turmeric Board in Telangana, a long-standing demand of turmeric farmers across the country. Despite the fact that turmeric farmers lacked the political clout unlike their counterparts who produce sugarcane or paddy, PM Modi listened to them.
The Turmeric Board will focus on the development and growth of turmeric and turmeric products in India, which is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. The Board is also expected to help develop and grow the spice’s market in India, which controls over 62% share of the turmeric world trade.
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