Page 11 - NIS English 16-31 May 2023

policies the government enacted, they all took a holistic By combating corruption and forgery, schemes such
approach. For example, during the first five years of the as MGNREGA were altered, and beneficiaries received
PM Awas Yojana, 1.5 crore families received pucca direct benefits. More than 90% of MGNREGA workers'
houses, a figure that has now risen to more than 4.5 cards have been linked to Aadhaar, preventing Rs 40,000
crore. The majority of the houses are owned by women crore from falling into the wrong hands. Technology
who have become millionaires in some way. Looking has played an important role in this transformational
at the second level's impact, this scheme has created journey. India now has modern technology, whereas in
thousands of new job opportunities in every village. the past, it took decades for new technology to arrive.
At the third level, this scheme has given people the The central government has now freed technology
opportunity to take risks while also increasing the from government control. The emphasis in the country
confidence of the poor. is on developing new technology that meets the needs
Be it the Mudra Yojana or the PM SVAMitva Yojana, of the country. Work on futuristic technology research
social impact at all three levels is visible in the schemes. and development is being carried out in mission mode.
Be it DBT or facilities like electricity, water, and toilets, India is now growing at the fastest pace in the world.
they have started a revolution on the ground. These The manner in which India has developed its own 5G
schemes have given the poor a security cover filled with technology is being debated around the world.
self-reliance as well as a sense of respect and security. It is the effect of technology that, because of JAM
These plans were scoffed at in the initial year because Trinity (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile), 10 crore fake
of traditional thinking, as beneficiaries of government
many subjects were left to schemes have been
chance. But today, these thrown out, and benefits
schemes have given pace to have reached the right
India's rapid development; person at the end. Aadhaar
and have become the basis was given constitutional
to build a developed India. status as a result of this.
Poor, Dalit, deprived, More than 45 crore Jan
backward, tribal, general Dhan bank accounts
class, middle class— were opened in mission
everyone is experiencing mode. DBT has so far
a visible change in their transferred Rs 28 lakh crore
lives since the last nine years. In the country today, to crores of beneficiaries. DBT means commission
work is done in mission mode with a well-thought- off, leakage off. There has been transparency in
out approach. Governance has evolved into service. dozens of schemes and programmes as a result of it.
Welfare of the poor has become the medium of our Similarly, government procurement also used to be a
government, and instead of appeasement, satisfaction major source of corruption in the country in the past.
has become the basis of development. The poorest of Even this, however, has changed. GeM is now used
the poor now have the assurance that they will receive exclusively for government procurement. Tax-related
what is rightfully theirs. This is social justice in its arrangements have become faceless. A system like
truest sense. GST has checked black money.
There are numerous such programmes, and they “This Amrit Kaal of independence belongs to the
have had a significant impact on reducing poverty in efforts of all of us. When the power of every Indian and
India. According to an International Monetary Fund the hard work of every Indian are applied, then we will
report, despite global pandemics such as COVID, be able to fulfil the dream of a developed India as soon
the central government's initiatives have nearly as possible. "The number of countrymen who tread
succeeded in eradicating extreme poverty in India. with honesty is increasing, which guarantees a grand
This is a transformation in which crores of families India. My countrymen are the guarantee of a grand
have benefited from programmes such as Ayushman India. I assure you that I believe in that.”
Bharat, Ujjwala, Anna Yojana, One Nation-One Ration
Card, low-cost medicines, free vaccination, and life (Excerpts from PM Narendra Modi's
insurance. This is a paradigm shift. address at a conclave)

New India Samachar May 16-31, 2023 9