Deepak Dwivedi
HAVING already made its intent clear to take fast and decisive action during its third term in power, the Modi Government hit the ground running soon after taking the oath of office on June 9.
The first 100 days of the Government underline the priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a prosperous, strong and developed India with his four-step mantra of scope, scale, speed and skill.
Within the first few weeks of his third term, PM Modi emerged as a global peacemaker in the raging RussiaUkraine war after visiting Moscow and Kyiv to lay foundations for a breakthrough – the only world leader acceptable to both the warring nations.
At home, his Government decided to build three crore houses under the PM Awas Yojana at its very first Cabinet meeting. This was followed by a number of historic decisions, the most notable, and the recent, being free healthcare insurance to all Indians above 70 years of age.
Economic measures
The expanded Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), already the world’s largest health insurance scheme, will now benefit an estimated six crore senior citizens across the country, irrespective of their income. On the economic front, the Government has cleared infrastructure projects valued around Rs 3 lakh crore, focussing on enhancing roads, railways, ports, and air travel. A national cooperative policy is nearing completion and is expected to be launched soon.
In the agricultural sector, the Government has released Rs.20,000 crore to 9.3 crore farmers through the 17th instalment of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi, bringing the total disbursed to over Rs 3 lakh crore for more than 12 crore farmers.
Additionally, the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops for the 2024-25 season has been increased, potentially benefiting farmers by approximately Rs 2 lakh crore. Efforts to push investment, innovation and opportunities for youth include the elimination of the angel tax, a reduction in corporate tax rates, and the creation of a Rs 1,000-crore venture capital fund aimed at supporting startups in the space sector.
The Government has also made major strides in women’s empowerment. Recently, PM Modi honoured 11 lakh new Lakhpati Didis, which has led to over 1 crore women earning more than Rs.1 lakh annually.
Additionally, the MUDRA loan limit has been doubled from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, increasing financial access for women entrepreneurs. In healthcare, an increase of 75,000 medical seats is anticipated to bolster the healthcare system and lessen dependence on foreign medical education. As the Modi 3.0 embarks on the next phase of its term, the achievements of the first 100 days set a promising foundation for the future.
