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Updated December 18th, 2018 at 23:11 IST

From Act to Action: PM Narendra Modi’s agenda for 2019

After the BJP faced an unexpected debacle in Assembly elections held at Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the print and electronic media is inundated with lessons and tips for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, at a media summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi true to his nature, instead of reacting to juvenile analysts, chose to go ahead and elaborate on the multi-faceted progress made by India post-2014.

Reported by: Gunja Kapoor
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After the BJP faced an unexpected debacle in Assembly elections held at Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the print and electronic media is inundated with lessons and tips for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, at a media summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi true to his nature, instead of reacting to juvenile analysts, chose to go ahead and elaborate on the multi-faceted progress made by India post-2014.

The PM has given a clarion call for 2019 and the agenda is clear: from Act (Parliament Act) to Action; from word to implementation. Undeterred by electoral consequences, the PM continues to stand tough on issues of corruption, probity in public life and dignity for the common man.

Corruption – Na Khaaunga, Na Khaane Doonga.

The Modi led NDA government has relentlessly pursued its cause against the cancer of corruption without worrying about its political ramifications. Right from demonetization, which is expected to
bring about tectonic shifts in social behaviour, to digital transfer of subsidies, to extradition of Christen Michel for interrogative investigation of the VVIP Chopper scam, it seems as if the PM has taken it upon himself to clean the cesspool of corruption.

  • By integrating (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile) JAM with all social and economic streams, subsidy leakages have been plugged. It is estimated that around INR 80,000 crore has been saved by direct transfer of benefits of 431 schemes into bank accounts of respective beneficiaries.
  • Income tax collections improved by 6.6% and 9% in 2016-17 and 2017-2018. Moreover, the number of new returns filed increased from 3.79 crore (2013-14) to 6.84 crore (2017-18).
  • With zero scope for human intervention and refund of input-tax credit being hinged upon GST compliance of the vendor, the tax system is self-regulating and self-imposing.
  • The high number of enterprises willing to be registered with GST, reflects that disciplined citizenry is the new normal. 

READ: Surging India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election pitch

The Court’s verdict on the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets has rehashed the PM Modi’s conviction, that he and his team are committed to good governance. Reforms like Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, (which aims to ensure economic offenders are not allowed to leave the land without settling their dues), Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), and Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 i.e. RERA to protect home buyers are long-term solutions to curb corruption and aid an equitable society.

Development – Saaf Niyat, Sahi Vikas

One would expect an incumbent government to bask in self-assessed glory and claim fulfillment of commitments. It appears the PM has left his work to talk for itself as he chose to make a forward-looking pitch to the country. His track record, right from his days as Chief Minister of Gujarat, suggests industrial growth is his preferred way to steer overall growth and social development.

  • Under the flagship program, ‘Made in India’, the number of mobile phone factories increased from just 2 to more than 120, which would have also contributed to job creation.
  • Pragati: is a monthly ICT-based, multi-modal platform, used by the Prime Minister to personally monitor project timelines and other details.
  • Sustained improvement in ease of doing business rankings (2014: 142 to 2018: 77) once again reiterates the underwritten commitment of the PM to make India an attractive
  • investment destination.
  • Impact of development initiatives can be measured by the number of people who have experienced a tangible change in their quality of life. For example

           -More people traveled by air than by AC trains; domestic air passenger traffic crossed 100 million in 2017

           -More than 12 crore entrepreneurs were funded through MUDRA

Time and again, on various platforms, the PM quotes data related to his flagship schemes. The intended message to the electorate is that he is designated to deliver expectations and finish the unfinished. It is a pronounced departure from the earlier trends, where the Prime Ministers did not believe in direct engagement with the voter.

READ: Ten things that PM Modi said at the Republic Summit that demonstrate a surging India

Governance for All - Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas

Certain privileged interest groups have frequently criticised the PM for talking about his humble upbringing. In reality, they are unable to appreciate the connect the PM attempts to establish with the last man in the line. We as a nation are so conditioned to see our leaders at a pedestal, it is difficult to acknowledge an empathetic leader.

By providing smoke-free kitchens through the PM Ujjwala Yojana, countless health and economic dividends have been extended to the poor and marginalized

In our bid to provide housing for all, we aim to deliver more than 1 crore affordable homes in rural areas and 1.2 crore in urban areas.

Although the National Food Security Act, 2013 was a pet project of the UPA, it needed the NDA to implement the scheme in all States and Union Territories. UPA implemented the Act in just 11 States.

READ: Surging India | Prime Minister Narendra Modi's keynote address at the inaugural Republic Summit. Watch full speech here

Modi led NDA has pursued upliftment of the economically downtrodden through empowerment, as against the lazy governance of freebies of the UPA. It must be noted, with initiatives like BHIM and Swachh Bharat, social disparities in terms of quality of life have also been bridged.

With unflinching determination, the PM spoke on multiple milestones achieved by in the past 4.5 years, reminiscent of his firm resolute to pursue the agenda – ‘Perform, Reform and Transform’. Far from any signs of governance fatigue, the Prime Minister’s intention to vanquish corruption, reach the last man in the line, and make India an economic power, stood unyielded like ever before.

Revisiting his own promises, is a reassurance to his voters, that he is here to deliver. I believe the PM will go to the electorate with his report card and a single promise - to finish the unfinished.

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Published December 18th, 2018 at 22:45 IST

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