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New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi, in an open letter to the country’s citizens on the first anniversary of his second term as Prime Minister, listed abrogation of Article 370, settlement of the Ram Temple issue, criminalisation of Triple Talaq and the amendment to the Citizenship Act among the key achievements during his second term. He said that his government’s decisions in the last one year were aimed at fulfilling the dream of making India a global leader.
“The decision on Article 370 furthered the spirit of national unity and integration. The Ram Mandir judgment, delivered unanimously by the Supreme Court of India, brought an amicable end to a debate persisting for centuries. The barbaric practice of Triple Talaq has been confined to the dustbin of history. Amendment to the Citizenship Act was an expression of India’s compassion and spirit of inclusiveness,” PM Modi said, according to a PIB release.
“But, there have been many other decisions too that have added momentum to the nation’s development trajectory. The creation of the post of the Chief of Defence Staff was a long pending reform that has improved coordination among the armed forces. At the same time, India has stepped up preparations for Mission Gaganyaan. Empowering the poor, farmers, women and youth has remained our priority. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi now includes all farmers. In just one year, more than Rs 72,000 crore has been deposited into the accounts of over 9 crore 50 lakh farmers. The Jal Jeevan Mission will ensure supply of potable drinking water through piped connections to over 15 crore rural households. A huge campaign of free vaccination is being conducted for better health of our 50 crore livestock, ” the PM added.
He said that for the first time in our country’s history, farmers, farm labourers, small shopkeepers and workers in unorganised sector are assured of regular monthly pension of Rs 3000 after the age of 60 years. Besides the facility of availing bank loans, a separate department has also been created for fishermen. Several other decisions have been taken to strengthen the fisheries sector. This will boost the blue economy. Similarly, it has been decided to constitute a Vyapari Kalyan Board for timely resolution of the problems of the traders, the PM said. Higher quantum of financial assistance is being provided to more than 7 crore women attached to self help groups. Recently the loans without guarantee for self help groups has been doubled to Rs 20 lakh from the earlier Rs 10 lakh, he said.
Keeping in mind the education of tribal children, we have begun the construction of more than 400 new Ekalavya Model Residential Schools. Several people friendly laws have been ushered in during the last year. Our Parliament has broken the decades-old record in terms of productivity. As a result, whether it be the Consumer Protection Act, the amendment to Chit Fund Law or laws to provide more protection to women, children and Divyang, their passage in the Parliament was expedited. As a result of the policies and decisions of the government, the rural-urban gap is shrinking. For the first time, the number of rural Indians using internet is 10% more than the number of urban Indians, the PM added.
“The list of such historic actions and decisions taken in national interest would be too long to detail in this letter. But I must say that every day of this year, my government has worked round the clock with full vigour, taking and implementing these decisions,” the PM said.
The PM said, “This day last year began a golden chapter in the history of Indian democracy. It was after several decades that the people of the country voted back a full term government with a full majority. Once again, I bow to the 130 crore people of India and the democratic ethos of our nation. During normal times, I would have been in your midst. However, the present circumstances do not permit that. That is why, I seek your blessings through this letter, ” he said.
Back in 2014, the people of the country voted for a substantive transformation. In the last five years, the nation saw how the administrative apparatus broke itself free of status quo and from the swamp of corruption as well as misgovernance. True to the spirit of ‘Antyodaya’ the lives of millions have been transformed, he said and added from 2014 to 2019, India’s stature rose significantly. The dignity of the poor was enhanced. The nation achieved financial inclusion, free gas and electricity connections, total sanitation coverage, and made progress towards ensuring ‘Housing for All.’
India demonstrated its mettle through the surgical strike and air strike. At the same time, decades old demands such as OROP, One Nation One Tax- GST, better MSP for farmers were fulfilled.
In 2019, the people of India voted not merely for continuity but also with a dream- of taking India to new heights. The decisions taken in the last one year are directed at fulfilling this dream, the PM said.