This day last year marked a turning point in the post-Independence history of India. The day of days saw the election of Narendra Modi as the leader of BJP’s Parliamentary Party after the epoch-making victory in Parliamentary elections.
From day one Prime Minister Modi has proved himself as a statesman extraordinaire. His grand vision, innovative approach, his out-of-the-box thinking, unmatched stamina, passion and commitment to position India as a most dynamic country in the comity of nations and effective steps to translate the country’s potential into performance have compelled the world to view India from a new prism of transformation.
Ridding the country of a policy paralysis, Modi has provided a squeaky clean and dynamic Government wedded to democratic values coupled with exceptional efficiency. Keen on reforming outdated and hidebound ways of running government, he has been able to evolve a new work culture free of red-tape, gobbledygook and chicanery.
All his initiatives including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana for financial inclusion, ‘Make in India’ to pull off a manufacturing revolution, Digital India for inclusion of people’s voice in policy matters, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Kaushal Yojana and creation of a separate Skill Development Department to skill the rural youths for better employability, Ganga Rejuvenation Scheme, Sardar Patel Awas Yojana for providing houses to all the poor by 2020, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana for electricity to all villages, recently launched three schemes to provide social security cover to the common man, Mudra Bank to help small entrepreneurs, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana for protecting and empowering girls, improving Ease of Doing Business by easing the processes and procedures, leveraging India Diaspora for development of India etc bear a stamp of his unique thinking and working.
Replacing the outdated Planning Commission with National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) to help India adapt to changes in global context and perspectives again shows his seminal thinking. This has invested the States with autonomy in framing schemes and plans in tune with their specific requirements, resources and socio-cultural traits besides spending freedom. Shri Modi has repeatedly said from different fora that the States are the true strength of the country. In keeping with this thinking in a revolutionary step he has increased the States’ share in the divisible pool from 32 to 42 per cent.
A true democrat, Modiji has always stressed that leaders from all political hues should be on the same page. He wants a team India comprising all, irrespective of their political ideologies. He has sought to take on board all the Chief Ministers of States and included them in the Council of the NITI. He wants healthy competition among
The States for development that would, in turn, result in the development of India.
After a very long time India has got a global leader in Modi with eclectic world view and a firm believer in syncretism. All the States and leaders should leverage the wave of change blowing across the country to take India from strength to strength.
(Shivraj Singh Chouhan is Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh)