PM Modi's Jibe At Congress-Led Governments: 'From 15 Paisa To 100%, Every Rupee Reaches the Poor Now'

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi , in a resounding affirmation of India's unwavering progress, addressed the Republic Media Network's Republic Plenary Summit 2025 , held at Delhi's Bharat Mandapam on Thursday, March 6. The summit, themed 'Limitless India', brought together esteemed thought leaders, policymakers, and visionaries to deliberate on the nation's ascent as a global powerhouse. PM Modi's keynote address was a testament to his government's unrelenting commitment to transformative governance, underlining the remarkable strides India has made in the last decade. PM Modi, with his characteristic candour, shared his vision for a limitless India, where good governance, economic growth, and social development converge to create a brighter future for all citizens. In a scathing critique of past governments, PM Modi underscored his administration's unwavering commitment to India's progress, stressing the difference between the erstwhile "ek rupaiya-15 paisa" era and his government's transparent governance. 

The prime minister reminisced about a bygone era where only a fraction of the allocated funds reached the intended beneficiaries, with a substantial portion being siphoned off. Drawing a sharp comparison, PM Modi proudly declared that under his leadership, every single rupee allocated for welfare schemes reaches its intended recipient, a testament to his government's unyielding pursuit of transparency and accountability.

Transparency and Accountability in Governance

PM Modi explained the government's efforts to increase transparency and accountability in governance. He mentioned the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, which has transferred over 42 lakh crore rupees to the accounts of the poor. Taking a jibe at the previous governments, PM Modi jibed, saying, "You should also remember that time when the government itself used to accept, the prime minister himself used to say that if one rupee was sent, then 15 paise used to reach the poor....which paw used to eat that 85 paise (85 paisa kaun panja kha jata tha)?" 

While taking a dig at the previous Congress -led government's in the country, he stated that today, every rupee reaches its intended beneficiary, with 100 paise reaching the last person.

As India continues its unstoppable march towards becoming a global superpower, PM Narendra Modi reaffirmed his government's dedication to propelling the nation's growth at the Republic Plenary Summit 2025. He highlighted the transformative impact of his government's policies and initiatives over the past decade. Addressing the event, PM Modi stated, "How big changes and results have come in just one decade. In the last 10 years, we have succeeded in bringing 25 crore people out of poverty. This number is more than the total population of many countries." He asserted on the government's efforts to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living for millions of Indians.

India's Rise As Global Power

PM Modi's speech also stressed India's growing influence on the global stage. He mentioned that India is set to become the world's third-largest economy, with the country making rapid progress in various sectors, including infrastructure, technology, and innovation. The Prime Minister's vision for a limitless India is built on the pillars of good governance, economic growth, and social development.

Rajiv Gandhi’s ‘15 Paise’ Acknowledgment

The issue of corruption and inefficiency in India's welfare programs has been a longstanding concern and it surfaced after a Prime Minister under Congress-rule affirmed the issue publicly. In 1985, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi acknowledged that only 15 paise of every rupee allocated for welfare reached the intended beneficiaries. The prime minister’s admission had brought the deep-seated corruption and mismanagement plaguing India's public services to light.

After Rajiv Gandhi’s famous 1985 remark as PM, India's then Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) later estimated that only 15 paise reached the poor, while 40 paise went towards administrative overheads and 45 paise was lost to corruption.

However, the situation turned after the present government’s efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, implementing measures such as Aadhaar, Jan-Dhan Bank accounts and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to improve the efficiency of welfare programs, ensured that every paisa reaches the beneficiary directly. 

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