Empowerment over entitlement

BJP’S Sankalp Patra 2024 champions atmanirbharta while the Opposition’s manifestos aim to cement a dependency on state

PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA Modi has unveiled the BJP'S Sankalp Patra for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a manifesto that, unlike those of other parties, holds significant weight and is treated with sustained commitment beyond the electoral season. It not only outlines the party's governance philosophy but also charts a strategic vision for the nation’s future.

These are not mere electoral promises but reflections of a profound commitment to national rejuvenation, ideological consistency and civilisational renaissance. The manifesto has been a testament to BJP'S resolve even when it was a peripheral figure in Indian politics, having committed to transformative policies such as making India a nuclear power, abrogating Article 370, banning Triple Talaq, and the reconstruction of the Ram Mandir, all of which it ultimately delivered.

Sankalp Patra 2024 outlines short-term policy measures and schemes that the party aims to implement, seamlessly integrating these with their overarching objectives for the nation's social, economic, and political development. it not only reflects the party’ s commitment to transformative governance and enhanced welfare models but also illustrates the synergy between their immediate plans and long-term visions, presenting a coherent roadmap for India's future.

It sharply contrasts with the welfare rhetoric of the opposition alliance and highlights the distinct perspectives the BJP holds regarding Indian polity and socio-economic challenges. The opposition alliance is committed to reviving the outdated socialist welfare model, merely tweaking it slightly and further burdening it with financially unsustainable promises of direct income transfers.

Unlike the freebies model of the Opposition, the BJP'S approach is to invest in human capital and expand the horizon of opportunities for the masses. Unlike the irresponsible promises with serious fiscal stability implications, the Modi government aims to empower the poor by aiding capacity building. Its policies are based on objective criteria and are backed by adequate provisioning. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ensures affordable housing for the poor; Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana provides electricity to households; Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana provides LPG cylinders; Har Ghar Jal Yojna provides piped drinking water to households; Swachh Bh ar a tab hi y an provides sanitation. all these policies for public provision of private goods are aimed at ensuring basic necessities to the deprived sections to enable them to strive for a better future.

The provision of LPG cylinders, toilets, and safe tap water drastically reduces the disease burden and morbidity. It also reduces the associated financial burdens and frees women from drudgery, enabling them to participate in economic activities and take advantage of government schemes to promote women's entrepreneurship, selfhelp groups, etc. Instead of making unsustainable promises, like cash transfers of 1 lakh to women, Sankalp Patra seeks to strengthen the existing efforts at self-reliance. It promises to make 3 crore Lakhpati Didis — a self-help group member who earns an annual household income of Rs 1 lakh. Already, nine crore women have been mobilised into more than 83 lakh SHGS under the Aajeevika Yojna. More than one crore women (34 per cent) have been mobilised in the last three years, and more than nine crore rural women have already become Lakhpati Didis.

Rather than succumbing to the allure of offering free electricity, the Sankalp Patra 2024 promises a transformative approach through the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which facilitates the installation of rooftop solar electricity units. This initiative not only promises to alleviate household electricity expenses but also opens avenues for income generation by allowing families to sell surplus power back to the grid. Such a strategy is poised to invigorate the entire solar energy sector, creating extensive employment opportunities in service and repair, in stark contrast to the unsustainable financial burdens imposed on power companies and government budgets by populist freebie politics.

These measures enhance the productivity of the populace, imbuing them with dignity and a secure future. BJP stands in sharp contrast to the culture of freebies promoted by the AAP and now zealously adopted by the Congress party, which prioritises shortterm relief over long-term empowerment.

The Opposition’s manifesto aims to cement a perpetual dependency on the state and politicians, whereas Sankalp Patra 2024 champions self-reliance (Atamnirbharta) and prosperity. In agriculture, for instance, the opposition's policies have narrowed the focus to merely supporting minimum support prices (MSP), while the BJP adopts a comprehensive strategy aimed at modernising and diversifying the sector to enhance the income of farmers and farm labourers.

Moreover, the BJP envisions transforming India into a robust manufacturing hub, maintaining a delicate balance between environmental sustainability and worker welfare. It is determined to industrialise India and create mass prosperity, thus reversing the impact of de-industrialisation India suffered under colonial rule and lost opportunity under socialist dystopia. Higher, stable, broad-based, and sustainable economic growth is an important cornerstone of the decolonisation process, which is the historicalroleofthebjpintheamritkaalofbharat.

The Sankalp Patra 2024 reflects a profound trust of the BJP in the wisdom of the electorate, who are increasingly resistant to the superficial allure of freebies and shortterm gains. This confidence is manifested in the document's focus on long-term structuraltransformationsandsubstantialinvestments in social, physical, and digital infrastructures. It outlines ambitious goals such as achieving energy independence through solar and nuclear power, expanding the high-speed rail network, advancing the Green Hydrogen mission, pursuing a manned moon mission, and intensifying efforts in research and development alongside implementing the Uniform Civil Code and advocating for One Nation One Election.

These and other such Sankalps underscore a vision that is both aspirational and transformative, laying the foundation of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The writer is National Vice President of BJYM, BJP’S Youth Wing