S. Phangnon Konyak, MP, Rajya Sabha
The year 2014 will have its own significance in history, not simply because the BJP won an absolute majority but because the country has seen a tectonic shift since 2014 when it comes to public delivery of goods and services. The years under the UPA government were horrendous, disgraceful and disconnected from reality. A strong wind of change came from the direction of the BJP and now people are directly reaping benefits. People-centric governance has consistently been the focus of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and this is why he is extremely popular among the people across the country.
In the eight years of governance under the dynamic and visionary leadership of PM Modi ji till date, India has grown by leaps and bounds. There is now an atmosphere of self-belief and confidence all around. Entrepreneurship has been given a massive boost. The fact that investors are increasingly confident when it comes to our start-ups is quite telling. What better encouragement than the Prime Minister himself emphasising on the importance of wealth creators and their contribution to the nation’s economy? Another revolution that has taken place under the initiative of PM Modi is financial inclusion through the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Yojana. The number of beneficiaries under this scheme has touched the 44 crore mark. People who earlier did not have access to banking and did not have any savings are now enabled and empowered. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is another initiative which has brought about complete transformation in people’s lives. In my state of Nagaland itself, especially in the rural areas, the change is quite visible. Women do not have to worry about collecting firewood any longer nor do they have to risk their health anymore. Perhaps, the most important change is that they now get to spend more time with their families. It may seem insignificant to us but for them, their worlds have undergone a significant change. The Jal Jeevan Mission is another personal project of the Prime Minister which needs to be mentioned. This mission of providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections is literally creating waves across the country. Coming back to Nagaland once again, the Jal Jeevan Mission is creating wholesome and holistic changes in people’s lives. The dream of getting piped water connections is now a reality. People no longer have to traverse kilometres to fetch water. It is also even more beneficial for womenfolk because it is mostly women who do the water fetching. I myself have seen the smiles on people’s faces. They say it’s like a dream that they finally have tap water connections. With tap water connection, many things are ensured – from health to safety to dignity etc. It would not be fair if I do not highlight the PM Awas Yojana. This particular scheme has not only provided an abode but most importantly, it has provided our women with the respect that they rightly deserve. The fact that women are key to these schemes are an important feature of Narendra Modi’s leadership qualities wherein he has never failed to reiterate that women are equal partners on the road to development and progress of the country. Nari Shakti of the country cannot be ignored any longer. I would also be amiss if I do not mention the world’s largest healthcare scheme in the form of Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which has provided relief and recourse to countless citizens. For the vulnerable section of Indian society, it was a distant dream to even think of undergoing medical treatment because of the high costs involved but now affordable healthcare is a reality for which our Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji deserves to be rightfully appreciated.
The public delivery of goods and services under the Modi government has been efficient and effective. The lingering gaps that separated the people from the government have now been filled and there is a special bond enjoyed between the people and the present-day government under Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji. What Modi ji is doing now is laying the foundations for a strong and self-reliant India. In the years to come, we will witness a vibrant India whose time has come to lead from the front. I’m aware there are many schemes, laws and policies passed by the Modi government which have been a blessing to the people of this country. From national security to environment to entrepreneurship to sports to education, the list is endless. However, I’ve made the choice of highlighting only the above-mentioned schemes this time mainly due to the magnitude of their impact. This is not to say other schemes are not doing the same. In a nutshell, I have tried to capture the essence of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji and the impact his astute leadership has on India’s 138 crore citizens. For the first time in many years, we have a Prime Minister who understands the pulse of the nation and who respects the people, their aspirations and lends support to their voices. Our nation is truly blessed and history will bear testimony to his leadership in the days to come.
