Development As A Mass Movement: PM Modi's Maiden Speech
Development As A Mass Movement: PM Modi's Maiden Speech
In his first speech in the Parliament which is the motion of thanks, India's PM Narendra Modi has discussed how India needs to move to becoming “skill India” rather than a “scam India”. He also aims at seeing development as a mass movement and not a programme. This is a model of development that will incorporate skills building and empowering youth with entrepreneurial skills. The PM also indicated that India needs to harness the power of its demographic dividend.
More than certificates, skills are needed to survive in the world according to the PM who then called on the President's address as “inspirational” while giving the vote of thanks. The government has created a Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Development as a mass movement along the lines of Indian Freedom Movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi is what the nation now needs for release from the clutches of a stagnating economy,said the PM as he shared the vision for India in his maiden address.
Giving voice to the need for poverty reduction and alleviation, the PM also discussed how hunger must end and the urgent need to reduce inflation is critical. He aims for every family to have a house, basic utilities such as power and water as well as sanitation by the year 2022, around 8 years from now. He also emphasised his orientation towards cooperative federalism where each state will take best practices from the other. As the PM has also worked in the past as a CM, he will definitely have more insights regarding how to improve Centre-State relations with regard to many issues such as water and power sharing.
He also aims for a Clean India by 2019, which will be the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji. Most clear in his message is the promise to work for upliftment of Muslims and take every political party and State government along in the quest for development.
The PM also mooted the idea of dividing the Food Corporation of India into 3 different parts namely procurement, storage and distribution. He has also mentioned the need for improving R&D facilities so that land productivity is enhanced and there is high protein content in the pulses. He also talked of developing the north-east as a hub for organic produce.
The Prime Minister also called for better soil testing facilities and development of agro-based industries. In a country which has a lot of challenges ahead of it, the PM's address strikes a right note with those looking to see where India's growth story is headed. For the average person too, there are many positives such as the need for controlling inflation. Price rise cripples the ability of Indian citizens to access a better quality of life. Many people in India go hungry because they cannot afford food. Steps need to be taken so that workers are accorded the respect they deserve and the Indian citizens as well as farmers get the help they need. If India achieves self sufficiency in resource management and development, the best of times will be here to stay. One hopes to see an India where hunger and poverty no longer exist.
