Report to list Centre’s achievements

Saubhadra Chatterji and Smriti Kak Ramachandran

NEW DELHI: The official report to mark seven years of the NDA government, which will be published by the Press Information Bureau, describes efforts by the government and especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi on three aspects, reforms, welfare, and the management of the coronavirus disease pandemic.

HT has reviewed a draft of the report, compiled on the basis of inputs from various departments.

Titled “Firm resolve for transformational changes: 7 years of good governance”, the 188-page document has 11 sections including those titled: Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas; women power; Swachh Bharat; minimum government maximum governance; emerging world power; new India; and united India against Covid.

The ruling dispensation has already taken a call not to organise any public function on the anniversary on account of the pandemic.

Instead, the Bharatiya Janata Party has set a target of covering 100,000 villages and organising 50,000 blood donation camps across the country for its cadre on May 30. Ministers have been asked to visit at least two villages or interact with people through video.

The draft report supports the three farm laws passed on September, which the government believes will make for more efficient and open agricultural markets, create new opportunities for farmers, and reduce the influence of intermediaries. Farm groups have been protesting against the laws since

November.

The annual report dedicated a page each to the farm laws and quotes Prime Minister Modi as saying: “Now potato growers, mango farmers or tomato cultivators can negotiate with chips, juice or sauce companies at the time of sowing and it will help them avoid any loss in future.”

In the 17-page section on Covid-19, the draft says: “The primary test for any good government is how its arrangements to handle a disaster. In such situations, a strong and sensitive leadership that respects scientists and experts is required.”

India was feted for its handling of the disease during the

THE REPORT DEDICATED A PAGE EACH TO THE NEW AGRICULTURE LAWS, QUOTING PRAISE BY THE PM