The policies of the NDA Government has some far reaching consequences for making India a better place. Many poor families have been benefitted
This past Saturday, I had the privilege of spending some time with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. Sitting amongst a motley group of curious youngsters and elderly at Mangrahi, a village in east Champaran, Bihar, Singh encouraged people to strive to make their village and panchayat super clean and beautiful. Cleanliness breeds happiness, which in-turn lays the foundation of prosperity. Even as the drizzle did not dampen the passion of the Minister, what intrigued me was the remarkable simplicity, and content of Singh's conversation. There was no flattery, no big talks, no false promises and no grandiose facade, which is often expected and is normal for high-profile Ministers. There were plain talks and innumerable examples of how the Government was committed to reboot the programmes and policies to suit the poor and marginalised. As someone trained in sociology, I had to reckon, some of the policies of the present NDA Government were truly remarkable.
“I had eight gas connections between my two residences in Motihari and Delhi,” Singh quipped, “and was safe home with Rs 1,000 subsidy at over Rs 150 per gas cylinder per month.” Simplifying the narrative, he added, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji told us, if you are earning so much, you can give up the subsidy and re-route it to the poor, eight poor families will benefit. This was not it. Modi also changed the system and said let the subsidy money go directly to the account of the beneficiaries. lakhs of poor families are much happier today because of this.”
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said recently that the Direct Benefit Transfer for lPG scheme has helped save the Government a staggering Rs 15,000 crore. The Give It Up campaign is a smart piece of social intervention. Other than highlighting the Government's intent on bringing about structural overhaul to correct the systemic flaws, it also demonstrates the sharp focus on social engineering and empowerment of the poor. What Singh was trying to convey was that we have been slaves of a status-quoist system where the vested interests continued to trample upon the rights and needs of the poor. The lPG programme is one example of the distinctiveness of the vision of Prime Minister Modi. It is bringing about a silent yet revolutionary change that is sparked from the kitchen of the poor, and it has some far reaching consequences for the future of a better India.
Singh also spoke of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. lauding the local headman (mukhiya) Kapildeo Sahni for his efforts to get over 300 people to open a bank account, Singh informed the audience how over 22 crore people have opened the account under this scheme so far, which has led to Rs 40,600 crore deposits into our banks. “What this means is that every deserving poor gets his due share in a transparent manner besides of course an accidental insurance cover of one lakh rupees and life cover of Rs 30,000 which is payable on the death of the beneficiary,” said Singh while giving example of how for some families, who lost their members, this amount has come as a big economic cushion to ward off adversities.
Just as he had finished his animated narrative as well as the new Income Disclosure Scheme and how noose was being tightened around hoarders of black money, an elderly man whispered requesting Singh for a recommendation of transfer of his son-in-law. Singh declined with a smile and said how under the current regime culture of transfers, jobs and postings at will of politicians was becoming as rare as rhinocerus on Motihari roads.
“Instead of asking for transfers, I prefer requesting companies to help us achieve the mission of Swachch Bharat,” Singh said pointing to the Corporate Social Responsibility programme of agri business company Syngenta which is running its Inculcating Cleanliness, Education, Awareness & New Habits programme in east Champaran villages, which includes construction of vegetable markets (mandis) and toilet block besides awareness programs on cleanliness and hygiene. My belief is that there has been a dramatic shift in policies, focus and governance, got a definite impetus by listening to Singh.
On my way back to Delhi, when I read about the rapid pace of village electrification on the Press Information Bureau daily feeds that I subscribe to — by July 24, 9,134 villages had been electrified out of the targeted 18,452 unelectrified villages — my hope got a further boost.