Coming out with a report card of its first fifty days in office in its second successive stint in power, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it is already ‘walking the talk’ on its promises of fast-paced development with ‘speed, skill and scale’ being manifested. Modi was sworn-in on May 30 this after the BJP won 303 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha in national elections-- the first time since 1971 that an incumbent government returned to power with such a thumping mandate.
India’s Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar presented the the report card listing the achievements of the government in the first 50 days in office, saying the country has felt assured that the pace of reforms, welfare and justice to all has increased as compared to the first term. The target of USD 5 trillion economy is not just a dream but a roadmap has been given for it, he told reporters.
Javadekar asserted that the first 50 days have shown that Modi government's second term will be more effective and will build on the success of its first tenure from 2014-19. The government, he said, has taken ‘historic’ decisions which show a clear roadmap of faster development in infrastructure, social justice and education, he said.
The minister said that the government has hit the ground running for welfare of all sections of the society, including farmers, traders, small businesses, unemployed youth and middle class. ‘With Rs 100 lakh crore of investment to be made in roads, railways, ports, airports and other infrastructure, the formation of Jal Shakti ministry, the mission to reach out to every house by 2024 with assured water supply, we are walking the talk with speed and many historical decisions,’ he said.
Citing the setting up of a national research foundation, giving labour, particularly unorganized labour, and small and medium-sized enterprises required help for flourishing, he said these efforts will not only increase the employment opportunities, but also ensure justice and welfare for all sections of the society.
‘In 50 days so much has been done for all sections of the society that people are assured of what Modi had said after assuming power that 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, aur sabka vishvas' (with all, development for all, with everyone's trust) and fast-paced development,’ he said.
‘People have seen action on this vision. Speed, skill and scale have been manifested in the 50 days. Farmers, soldiers, youth, labourers, middle class, traders, taking India forward, taking India's relations with neighbours forward, investment, development of resources, fight against corruption and social justice, have been the highlights of 50 days,’ he said.
Javadekar said important developments were Rs 6,000 assistance to all farmers, increase in Minimum Support Price of several crops by two-three times and codes for labourers which will benefit 40 crore informal sector workers through wage and job security, among others. The Minister highlighted the steps taken to boost investment in the country. Rs 70,000 crore has been provided for Public Sector Banks (PSB) recapitalisation. India is striving towards becoming a 5 trillion dollar economy.
On the foreign policy front, Javadekar said India has emerged as a global leader through BIMSTEC and G-20, while highlighting the significance of the visit of Prime Minister to Maldives and Sri Lanka. He also talked about the decisiveness of government in safeguarding children against sexual crimes through amendments to the relevant law.