North News
New Delhi, November 16
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday that while previous governments used to frame policies to suit vote bank politics, the current dispensation has ensured that people’s faith in government is restored. The Prime Minister said his government is moving forward with the mantra of progress “of the people, by the people and for the people”. “When in many countries governments change with every election, people in India elected our government for a third time. Earlier, governments were run to win polls and policies were made to suit vote bank politics. But we have ensured that people’s faith in government is restored,” he said.
Prime Minister , addressing the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2024, on Saturday noted that despite the prevalence of misinformation in the digital age, the people continued to place their faith in the government, helping to drive the country’s growth.
Modi discussed the importance of risk-taking, recalling how India’s ancestors had embraced risk to promote Indian goods and services globally. He pointed out that this culture had been lost in the post-independence period but was revived in the past decade under his leadership. “Youth today are finding opportunities and taking risks,” he said, citing the registration of more than 1.25 lakh startups as evidence of this cultural shift.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the changing landscape of sports, noting that what was once considered a risky profession is now embraced by youth, even from smaller towns. He cited the success of women entrepreneurs, with around 1 crore women in self-help groups running their own businesses as a testament to India’s growing entrepreneurial spirit.
Emphasizing the government’s development model, Modi discussed initiatives that combined investment with job creation. He pointed to projects like the nationwide provision of LPG gas connections, which have not only improved living standards but also generated significant employment. The government, he said, prioritized providing gas connections to every household, increasing the number from 14 crore in 2014 to over 30 crore today.
Modi also presented an approach of “spending big for the people and saving big for the people,” referencing the increase in India’s budget from Rs. 16 lakh crore in 2014 to Rs. 48 lakh crore today. He highlighted the impact of direct benefit transfers (DBT) and Ayushman Bharat, which had saved billions for citizens, as part of the government’s efforts to balance increased public spending with cost savings for the people.
In a nod to Hindustan Times’ centenary, Modi congratulated the newspaper for its historic journey, acknowledging its role in shaping public discourse during key moments in India’s history. He also reflected on the newspaper’s coverage of India’s independence and the post-independence era, remarking on its special role in documenting the nation’s transformation.
