By Our National Affairs Bureau
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his reply in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address said that in the last five years Government has brought new thoughts and new approach to the governance. Referring to Digital India as one of the examples of this new thinking and new approach governance, Prime Minister said that only 59 Gram Panchayats had Broadband connectivity before 2014 but in the last 5 years over 1.25 lakh panchayats have been provided with Broadband connectivity.
He said, there were 80 thousand Common Service Centers in the country in 2014, but today their number has increased to more than 3 lakh 65 thousand. More than 12 lakh rural youth are ensuring online delivery of all the services of the government in these centres.
Prime Minister said BHIM App is being recognized globally as a secure digital transaction platform. He said a record transaction of over Rs 2 lakh 16 thousand crores took place on BHIM App in the month of January. He said RuPay Card is also gaining acceptance in many countries.Prime Minister said, another example of this government’s approach is the Jal Jeevan Mission. He said this mission, which aims at connecting every household with piped water supply, is also an excellent example of the model of local governance.
He said that even though the Central Government has started this mission, but its management will be at the village level. The village committees will implement it, manage the funds and take decisions related to the setting up of pipeline, building of tanks etc.
Prime Minister Modi said that Central Government, State Government and District Administration are working with synergy for the development of more than 100 aspirational districts of the country. He said that Aspirational District program with district as its implementing agency has emerged as one of the best example of cooperative federalism.
He said Government is taking all the efforts for the development of poor, tribals in these Aspirational Districts.
Prime Minister said that in the last 5 years work has been done to honour all the tribal fighters of the country. Museums are being built all over the country, research institutes are being set up and tribal art and literature is being digitized.Eklavya Model Residential Schools are set up to ensure quality education of talented children of tribal areas.
“Apart from this, 3 thousand forest wealth centers are being established in tribal areas to generate more income from forest produce. It will involve 30 thousand self-help groups. Of these, 900 centres have also been set up and more than 2.5 lakh tribal companions have been associated with them”, Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister stated that this government has taken several steps for women empowerment. “For the first time in the history of the country, the admission of daughters in military schools has been approved. The work of appointment of women in the Military Police is also going on”, Prime Minister said.
More than 600 one-stop centers have been built for the safety of women in the country. Self defence training is being imparted to girls from class VI to XII in every school of the country. A national database has been created to identify and track sex offender. In addition, there are plans to set up anti-human trafficking units in every district of the country. To deal with serious cases of sexual violence on children, the POCSO Act has been amended to widen the scope of the offenses under it. More than one thousand fast track courts will be built across the country for timely justice.
Prime Minister said that the aim of $ 5 trillion economy is ambitious but we have to think big and move ahead. “Let me reassure you that India’s economy is strong. India is pursuing a dream of $ 5 trillioneconomy with full speed and full potential”, the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister emphasised that to fulfil the dream$ 5 trillion economy the government is focussing on village and city infrastructure, MSMEs, textiles, technology and tourism.Several steps have been taken to take all these sectors forward. All the processes including tax structure have been simplifiedto give momentum to Make in India. These steps will ensure new enthusiasm in the country about manufacturing.The merger policy in the banking sector has already started yielding meaningful results.
Prime Minister stated that the most aspirational youth of the country lives in the small town which is also the foundation of the new India.“Today more than half of the digital transactions in the country are taking place in small cities. Half of the startups being registered in the country are in Tier-2, Tier-3 cities. That is why we are focussing on the construction of modern infrastructure in Tier-2, Tier-3 cities at a rapid pace. Highway and rail connectivity are being rapidly improved”, the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister said that recently250th route was launched under UDAN scheme. This has made air connectivity affordable and accessible in 250 small cities of India.“From independence to 2014 where there were only 65 operational airports in the country, they have increased to more than 100 in the last 5 years. The target is to develop 100 more airports by 2024, mostly in Tier-2, Tier-3 cities”, Prime Minister said.
