Palamau: Describing the last 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led government as a “golden era” in India’s development journey, Devesh Tiwari, Member of the State-Level District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), Jharkhand, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, on Wednesday highlighted the Centre’s major achievements in governance, infrastructure, welfare and tribal empowerment.
Addressing the media through a press statement issued from here at Palamau, Tiwari said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a stronger, more prosperous, self-reliant and globally respected nation.
“The last 12 years have witnessed transformative changes across sectors, ranging from social welfare and infrastructure to digital empowerment, national security and tribal development,” he said.
Highlighting the Centre’s flagship welfare initiatives, Tiwari said that more than 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened since 2014, bringing millions of poor families into the formal banking system. He added that India’s digital revolution has been unprecedented, with the country today accounting for nearly half of the world’s real-time digital transactions through the UPI platform.
Referring to healthcare reforms, Tiwari stated that the Ayushman Bharat scheme has emerged as the world’s largest government-funded health insurance programme, providing annual health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh to millions of economically weaker families. He further noted that over 4 crore houses have been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, while more than 12 crore toilets have been constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission, significantly improving sanitation and public health.
He said that around 11 crore women have benefited from free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, reducing dependence on traditional cooking fuels. Similarly, over 11 crore farmers are receiving annual financial assistance of Rs 6,000 under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
On infrastructure development, Tiwari said that India’s national highway network has expanded significantly over the last decade, while hundreds of airports, railway stations and metro corridors have either been modernised or newly developed. More than 130 Vande Bharat trains are currently operational across the country, ushering in a new era of modern rail connectivity.
He also highlighted initiatives such as Startup India, Skill India, Make in India and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, stating that India has become the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem with more than 1.5 lakh recognised startups generating employment opportunities for lakhs of youth.
Tiwari said that nearly 80 crore citizens continue to receive free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, ensuring food security for vulnerable sections of society.
Enumerating major policy decisions, he referred to the implementation of the National Education Policy-2020, abolition of Triple Talaq, passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, abrogation of Article 370 and the global recognition of Yoga through International Yoga Day as landmark achievements of the Modi government.
He further stated that the construction and consecration of the grand Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya fulfilled a centuries-old aspiration of millions of devotees. On national security, Tiwari said that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and has responded firmly through surgical strikes and other strategic operations.
Claiming that the government is committed to making India free from Left-Wing Extremism, Tiwari said focused developmental interventions in erstwhile Naxal-affected areas have significantly reduced insurgency and accelerated socio-economic growth.
Focusing on Jharkhand, Tiwari said that the state has witnessed unprecedented development under various Central schemes. He highlighted the establishment of AIIMS Deoghar, operationalisation of Deoghar Airport, expansion of national highways and rural road networks, railway infrastructure development and implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
According to Tiwari, development projects worth over Rs 50,000 crore have either been inaugurated or are under implementation in Jharkhand. He added that lakhs of families in the state have benefited from schemes such as PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana and PM-Kisan.
Special emphasis, he said, has been laid on the welfare of tribal communities. The Prime Minister Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) was launched from Khunti to ensure holistic development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). In addition, the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan has been launched to accelerate comprehensive development in tribal-majority villages.
Tiwari said that the government has expanded Eklavya Model Residential Schools, strengthened scholarship programmes for Scheduled Tribe students, established tribal museums and promoted livelihoods through Van Dhan Vikas Kendras.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has set new benchmarks in development, good governance, social harmony and welfare of the poor. Jharkhand, too, has immensely benefited from the Centre’s ambitious programmes and continues to move forward on the path of rapid development,” he said.