Published on: 10/13/2015IST

The Narendra Modi wave rode to the seat of power in the summer of 2014. Winning absolute majority and representing over a billion dreams, Narendra Modi achieved his dream of becoming India’s PM and has been an unstoppable force ever since. From stalled projects to foreign policy building to launching welfare schemes and reviving the economy, Modi and his government have been hard at work fulfilling peoples’ expectations. Here are 17 major changes that the Modi-led government at the Centre has achieved since coming to power.

1. Launched Jan Dhan Yojana That Brought Crores To India’s Banking System

Jan Dhan Yojana, the Prime Minister’s plan to include millions of citizens into the banking system, has met with resounding success. More than 75 million accounts have been opened so far under the scheme that envisages at least one basic banking account in every household that will also give credit, insurance and pension facility to the account holders. The success of the scheme can be gauged from the fact that two states, viz., Kerala and Goa as well as Chandigarh, Puducherry and Lakshadweep have achieved 100 per cent financial inclusion. Jan Dhan Yojana was announced by Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech early this year.

2. Juvenile Justice Act Was Reframed To Punish 16-Year-Olds

 The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act that will treat minors above 16 years as adults for heinous crimes like rape, acid attack and murder. This is an important Bill that comes in the wake of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case. To protect the interests of juveniles, the Bill also makes it clear that no juvenile can be given the death penalty or sentenced to life imprisonment. The last time this Act was overhauled was in 2000.

3. Planning Commission Has Been Junked Along With Goms And Egoms

India’s 12th Five-Year plan, as commissioned by the Planning Commission, will not live to see the light of 2017 when it was supposed to end. Instead, Narendra Modi scrapped the Soviet-era government scheme and invited citizens to shape the future of the country, no doubt adding more admirers to his flock with the bold and innovative move. The government might replace the Planning Commission with a bevy of economic advisors along the lines of US thinktanks. Nine empowered groups of ministers (EGoMs) and 21 groups of ministers (GoMs) that were in operation because of coalition politics have also been disbanded under Modi’s rule to allow ministers to take faster decisions and add accountability to their actions.

4. Lean Ministry That Prefers Austerity

Fewer ministers in the cabinet means lesser travel expenses for the exchequer. However, going one step further, the government has banned first-class travel for its ministers, cut down on five star seminars and they have to get clearance from the Prime Minister’s Office before going for foreign tours. The Finance Ministry has a target of reducing non-planned expenditure by 10 per cent through effective use of these austerity measures.

5. Recognising Power Of Neighbours Like Nepal And Bhutan

Having good relations with your neighbours is a must for any country. Especially when there is another country (read China) trying to do the same to your neighbours as well. Thus, Modi’s visit to Nepal – the first by an Indian PM in 17 years – and his subsequent visit to Bhutan are foreign policy masterstrokes designed to help India increase its soft power in its neighbourhood.

6. Developing Deep Relations With Japan And Bonhomie With China

At the same time, in keeping with Modi’s Look East philosophy, he won the hearts of Japan and pushed his agenda of bringing in high-speed trains to India using Japanese technology and finances. And when Chinese President Xi Jinping came visiting, Modi spoke of peace and progress even as border skirmishes between the two countries threatened the two leaders’ dialogue. Modi restrained himself well and won favourable reviews from the Chinese party.

7. Standing Up To Pakistan’s Bullying

On the other hand, the Modi Government has taken a firm stand against Pakistan’s continued attacks on the border. Perhaps for the first time, an Indian government has decided not stay silent on insurgency as well as rebuff pressure from Kashmiri separatists. Then defence minister Arun Jaitley had emphatically stated that as long as ceasefire violations continue, India will have no dialogue with Pakistan.

8. Recognising The Potential Of North East India

The Modi wave had spread to India’s North East during Elections 2014 and the region’s faith was rewarded with more than an outlay of over Rs 50,000 crore in Budget 2014. A new sports university, a new channel called Arun Prabha and an annual festival celebrating the diversity of India’s North East has also been mooted. More importantly, however, good roads and railways will now be constructed to improve the region’s connectivity to India and ward off threats from China.

9. Launch Of Make In India Scheme

Make In India is a major new national program started by Narendra Modi that is designed to facilitate investment and innovation in the country as well as add jobs by establishing industries. There is also talk of reforming India’s labour laws to allow for investment in the country. The international campaign has already caught the attention of many industries across the world.

10. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan Campaign That Went Viral

Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is a nationwide campaign to clean the country of its rubbish and dump. It was launched on October 2 this year by Modi himself at Rajghat. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is India’s biggest cleanliness drive and with Modi using his Twitter profile to nominate celebrities and famous people to take part in the initiative, the campaign has already created its intended buzz.

11. Getting Its Way With The WTO For Food Security

 

To ensure that the Food Security Bill does not clash with international policies, India has held up talks with the World Trade Organisation, much to the chagrin of world leaders. However, in a major victory for India, that deadlock has now cleared with India holding firm on its stand to support its farmers. 

12. Stable Government That Is Unafraid Of Reforms

From selling stake in ailing public sector companies to increasing limits on FDI in other sectors and bringing in much-needed laws that ease common man’s life, Narendra Modi’s government is keen to transform the face of the country after winning absolute majority in Parliament. With no need for coalition partners, Modi’s BJP-led government can focus on creating change that the country needs.

13. Focus On Economic Reforms And Policy Implementation

Modi’s government has identified infrastructure and defence as its immediate core concerns. On the defence front, there is already talk of trying to turn the country into an exporter of arms rather than inflate the exchequer with huge import bills. As for infrastructure, the Modi government has already initiated work for high-speed trains and creating a Diamond Quadrilateral rail corridor connecting the major metros. It has also begun work on cleaning the Ganga river and Modi’s 100 smart cities project.

14. Digitising The Country

Narendra Modi’s penchant for technology is well-known. Combine that with the IT revolution and the huge number of youth employed in the sector, it should come as no surprise that Modi is now looking beyond by talking about broadband connectivity in villages, mobile governance and a network of telemedicine in rural areas. Little wonder that even Mark Zuckerberg couldn’t resist stopping by to meet Modi on his recent visit.

15. Tourism Boost To Add Jobs And Help Increase Foreign Exchange

The country’s tourism sector is set to experience a major shift as more and more tourists have begun considering the country as a vacation destination after the government overhauls its visa system and introduces visa-on-arrival for all major countries. This is likely to spur more jobs in the tourism sector as well as bring in some much-needed foreign exchange into the country.

16. Capturing The Diaspora And World’s Attention

We don’t have to tell you how Modi left the US and Australia charmed with his speeches in Madison Square Garden and Sydney’s Allphones Arena. Modi vowed to keep pushing for change in India so that the country takes a turn for the better and drives more growth and opportunities for its citizens.

17. Ending Open Defecation By Building Toilets

In 2010, the UN released statistics that were shocking—more people had access to a mobile phone in India than a toilet.  India’s massive drive to address toilet infrastructure, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to ending the practice of open defecation is admirable. Modi has launched a massive drive to build 111 million toilets in the next five years at an incredible rate of one toilet per second!

Photo: © Reuters (Main Image)

10/13/2015 | | Permalink