Modi’s sops reaching poor Indians
State protects, promotes the economic and social well-being of people
The Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution projected India as a welfare state. It states: “The welfare state is a form of government in which the state protects and promotes the economic and social well-being of the citizens, based upon the principles of equal opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth and public responsibility for citizens who are unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.”
Early features of the welfare state like social insurance and public pensions, developed in industrialised West since the 1880s. The Great Depression and the two world wars ushered in this concept to address problems of unemployment and financial crisis. In his book Sybil, Benjamin Disraeli stated: “Power has only one duty – to secure the social welfare of the people.” In European terminology, this translates into a “state of well-being”. King Ashoka put forth this idea in the 3rd Century BC, when he adopted “Dharma” as a matter of state policy. He declared, “All are my children”.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has carried this concept forward. For him as PM, there’s only one religion – India First; and he has stated that his only worship is for the welfare of the over 130 crore Indians. His welfare schemes are reaching out to all Indians, especially the poor.
The schemes of social welfare include financial assistance to rural poor for constructing their houses, a health insurance scheme for the poor, financial inclusion, ensuring piped water to all, free health care to newborns as also pregnant women and mothers, free coaching at elementary level, mentorship to higher educational institutions, pension to retailers, farmers, street vendors and those in the unorganised sector, education loan guarantees, interest subsidies on education loans, price support to farmers, 10 per cent reservation to the economically weaker sections.
There are schemes like an initiative for women hygiene and employment, maternity benefits to employed women, free LPG connections to five crore BPL women, encouraging girls for higher technical education, promoting start-ups of women entrepreneurs, cash incentives to the girl child, electricity for all, retirement, health, old-age disability, employment and maternity benefits to workers.
Steps have also been initiated for extending financial assistance to weavers, making rural citizens digitally literate, assistance to divyang beneficiaries, cash transfer to bank accounts of poor, scheme to train over 40 crore people in different skills by 2022, irrigating farms to ensure “per drop, more crop”, life insurance and accidental insurance cover to all, the Make in India initiative, boosting domestic manufacturing for an ‘ Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The test of time arrived with the Covid-19. The PM ensured strengthening of the medical infrastructure on a war footing. Today, at 77.3 per cent, India’s Covid-19 recovery rate is one of the highest in the world and our fatality rate is as low as 1.7 per cent. During the pandemic, around 345 million farmers and other needy were provided financial support. Some 800 million people were provided free foodgrains for eight months and
80 million families got cooking gas. Nearly 200 million mandays were created for migrants.
The PM announced a ` 20 lakh crore economic package and steps for economic revival to turn the Covid-19 “crisis into an opportunity”. The PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was extended till November, benefitting
80 crore of the poor. The ‘one nation one ration card’ system enables migrants access to the public distribution system. For the benefit of farmers, the PM launched the ‘Kisan Rail’ to transport vegetables, fruits and other perishables to help increase farm incomes. The PM’s credibility was evident as the entire country, on his appeal, took to clapping or lighting of lamps in March last to exhibit their solidarity in fighting the Covid-19 menace. The PM’s leadership is praised worldwide. His approval rating on April 21 was 83 per cent, according to a US-based research firm. The IANS–C voter Covid-19 tracker showed that trust in his leadership jumped to 93.5 per cent on April 21 from 76.8 on March 25, 2020.
All these only indicate that the entire world acknowledges India not only As a leading entity but also as a welfare state. When soldiers are motivated and their morale is high, an army wins a battle. India, with 130 crore motivated and patriotic Indians and their government doing monumental work to ensure their welfare is a force to reckon with and a torch bearer to the entire world.
MODI ANNOUNCED a 20 lakh crore economic package and steps for economic revival to turn Covid “crisis into an opportunity”.