Driving change, continuity and consistency

After nine years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is confident, capable, uplifted and empowered

- ASHWINI VAISHNAW

India's governance model witnessed its point of inflection in 2014 when people I gave their clear mandate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The people's mandate in 2014 was for 'change, and in 2019 came a stronger mandate for 'continuity. The journey of India's aspirations from change to continuity is now accelerating on the path of development and empowerment. Prime Minister Modi's promise of "Gareeb Kalyan" transformed people's lives on the ground. In the last nine years, he stood by the poor at times when they most needed him. His welfare model, "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas", is being implemented to ensure 100 percent saturation of government schemes. Programmes like broadband for all, tap water for all, housing for all, electricity for all, LPG for all, toilets for all, direct benefit transfers, crop insurance, increased minimum support price and Kisan Samman Nidhi for farmers, pension schemes for small entrepreneurs and the working class, all epitomise this approach centred around empowerment.

For decades, politicians in India used the poor as a tool to come to power. Prime Minister Modi used his power to empower the poor. The safety nets of financial inclusion, security, and empowerment fundamentally changed people's lives. India today has completely new stories to share.