Corruption was part of previous govts: PM
SHIMLA: The central government has taken several steps to create a transparent and sensitive system of governance and minimised the scope for corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.
Headlines before 2014 used to be on nepotism, loot and graft, he said, addressing a Garib Kalyan Sammelan to mark the National Democratic Allianceled central government’s eight years in power.
“Earlier people used to talk about ‘ atki-latki-bhatki’ schemes, nepotism and scams. But time has changed. Today people talk about the benefits of government schemes,” Modi said.
The current government has brought the politics of development to the mainstream and schemes for service, good governance and welfare of the poor have changed the meaning of governance for the people, the Prime Minister said. Instead of being the master, the government is now a servant of the masses, he added.
The practice of vote bank politics for decades harmed the country, Modi said.
We are working to build a new India, not a vote bank, he said. “We are trying to give a permanent solution to the problems, which earlier were considered permanent.”
Back then, Modi said, the security of our borders would be a major concern. Today, Indians feel proud of carrying out surgical strikes and airstrikes.
Today, India extends its hand as a giver, not as a seeker, Modi said. During the coronavirus pandemic, India supplied medicines and vaccines to 150 countries in which the pharma hub of Himachal Pradesh played a crucial role, he added.
The Prime Minister also conveyed his satisfaction on marking eight years by taking up the responsibility of the children who lost both their parents to the pandemic through PM CARES for Children on Monday. The suggestion to be in Himachal Pradesh for this occasion was accepted by him with promptness as the state has been his “karmbhoomi”, he said.
He always sees himself as a member of the family of 130 crore citizens and not as a Prime Minister, Modi said.
Only when he signs a file does he take the responsibility of the Prime Minister. As soon as that moment gets over, “I no longer remain Prime Minister and become a member of your family”, he said.
When the daily struggle of the poor has reduced, only then he is empowered and gets involved with new energy to remove his poverty, Modi said.
With this thinking, our government started empowering the poor from day one, he said.
“I can say with pride that almost every family of the country is benefitting from one or the other scheme,” he added,
Noting the contribution of every family of Himachal to the armed forces, the Prime Minister said it is this government that implemented One Rank One Pension after waiting for four decades and gave arrears to the ex-servicemen.
Modi said we have taken the initiative to make 100% benefit reach 100% of the beneficiaries. He said the Government has taken a pledge for reaching the saturation of the beneficiaries. “100% empowerment means ending discrimination, eliminating recommendations, and ending appeasement. 100% empowerment means that every poor gets full benefits from government schemes,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to work for the bright future of the coming generations, for the bright India of the 21st century.