Modi reviews himself

Readers must have read the letter Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to the people of India on Friday, the full text of which was carried by this newspaper in its Saturday edition. It is a letter he has written to mark the second BJP-led government completing its first year in office, a significant day indeed. It is indeed important for people to read the letter thoroughly, especially in order to find out how Modi has assessed himself, and also to identify the areas in which, he thinks, his government had done well in the past one year. Modi, who has chosen to count his achievements since May 2014 when he had started his first term, has claimed that India's global stature had risen significantly in the past six years. According to him, the dignity of the poor has been enhanced, the nation has achieved financial inclusion, while free gas and electricity connections, total sanitation coverage, and 'housing for all' have together provided a never-before succour to the crores of poor and economically weaker sections. Other related issues he has highlighted in his letter include the priority set on empowerment of the poor, farmers, women and youth, among which again, the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has come to by and large include all farmers. The Prime Minister has also pointed out that in just one year, more than Rupees 72,000 crore has been deposited in the accounts of over 9.50 crore farmers across the country. This scheme in fact has come in quite handy during the lockdown, though the fact remains Assam has made a huge mess of it. The PM's letter also brings to focus the fact that the Jal Jeevan Mission will soon ensure supply of potable drinking water through piped connections to over 15 crore rural households, while farmers have greatly benefited from the massive free vaccination campaign of over 50 crore livestock. One must acknowledge that farmers, farm labourers, small shopkeepers and workers in unorganized sector have been, for the first time in our country's history, assured the provision of regular monthly pension of Rs 3,000 after 60 years of age. As the PM has pointed out, higher quantum of financial assistance being provided to more than 7 crore women attached to self-help groups has also brought about significant relief, especially in the current crisis period, while loans without guarantee for SHGs has been doubled from the earlier Rs 10 lakh. While these are only a few schemes positively impacting lives of the poor people, the PM's letter also mentions in great detail how the country has been tackling the COVID-19 pandemic in a much better way when compared to many developed countries. But then, while Modi's letter makes interesting reading and reflection on the current situation, it is for the citizens to read, analyse and discuss it in order to assess the ground realities through their own experience.