Page 20 - NIS English 1-15 September 24

78th Independence Day
Cover Story

Unprecedented progress

of infrastructure in

a decade

Infrastructure plays an important role in the
development of any nation, which not only
propels development but also makes life easier.
Creates new opportunities for employment and
self-employment. PM Gatishakti has given a new
form to the development of infrastructure and
the construction of infrastructure in India has
become a symbol of revolutionary changes.

n In the past decade we have witnessed humongous
infrastructure development by providing state of art
railways, airport, ports, robust roadways, broadband
connectivity so that facilities reach the last mile such
as ensuring every village and even forest zones get a
school, modern hospitals and Arogya mandirs are built
in faraway places to provide affordable healthcare to
the marginalized through Ayushman Bharat schemes.
Several medical colleges and hospitals are being built.
Sixty thousand ponds ‘Amrit Sarovars’ have been
revived and replenished. Optical fiber networks have
already been installed in Two lakhs Panchayats. Many
farmers are benefitting now due to the huge network of
Today our nation has opened up
canals. Four crore pukka homes have given a new lease
of life to the poor. Three crore new homes have been immense possibilities and new
promised in an effort to further this national agenda.
opportunities. We need to focus on
n Talking about the Defence Sector, we were in the habit
two more advancements which have
of questioning any increase in the Defence Budget. No
catapulted our economic growth and
one ever tried to know where the funds were utilized.
The Defence Budget was spent on imports from other
development. First is the development of
countries. I am deeply grateful to our Defence Forces
as we see their promise in becoming self-reliant in this modern infrastructure in which we have
sector as well.
grown leaps and bounds. Second is Ease
n In the field of Defence Manufacturing India has also of Living. The common people should also
marked its presence. I am elated to say that our defence
have access to an affordable dignified
sector which was dependent on importing even small
items, has gradually emerged and is establishing lifestyle and basic amenities.
itself as exporter and manufacturer of various Defence
Equipment.

n Our North East India is now a hub for medical have been able to fulfill the needs of the Dalits,
infrastructure and this transformation has helped us exploited, deprived, backward, tribals, indigenous and
touch the lives by delivering accessible healthcare till inhabitants of forests, hills and far flung border areas.
the last mile. We have constructed roads connecting the
remotest of villages and borders to bring these regions n Fulfilling the needs of our fisherfolk brothers and sisters,
to the mainstream. transforming the lives of our livestock keepers, striving
for comprehensive development—this has been a
n Through these robust infrastructure networks, we part of our policies, our intentions, our reforms, our
18 New India Samachar September 1-15, 2024