Sukumar Sah
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has succinctly spelt out how his slogan of Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas could become the stepping stone to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. In keeping with the spirit of cooperative federalism, he exhorted chief ministers and L-Gs of states and Union Territories to work together with the Centre to set up investorfriendly charters at the grassroots level to attract foreign investment, abolish poverty and link rivers for shared prosperity.
In his address to the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting on July 27, PM Modi said the dream of a developed India can be achieved through the combined efforts of all states. “We are moving in the right direction. We have defeated a once-in100-year pandemic. Our people are full of enthusiasm and confidence. We can fulfil our dreams of Viksit Bharat 2047 with the combined effort of all states as they are directly connected with the people. Viksit States will make Viksit Bharat,” he emphasised.
VIKSIT BHARAT@2047
The Prime Minister laid great store by India’s youthful population and its potential to attract global interest due to its workforce. He stressed the need to enhance the skills of the youth, focusing on skill development, research, innovation, and practical knowledge. This vision, he said, must be embraced at the grassroots level, involving every district, block, and village, and each state and district should formulate its own vision for 2047.
Bringing states together as ‘Team India’ to work towards the national development agenda, was the thrust of the Prime Minister’s address. “This is the decade of changes, technological and geo-political, and also of opportunities. India should grab these opportunities and make our policies conducive for internationa investments. This is the stepping stone for progress to make India a developed nation,” he declared.
Government think-tank Niti Aayog defines Viksit Bharat as a nation with the attributes of developed countries and a per capita income comparable to highincome nations, which the World Bank estimates to be over $14,005 (in 2023) per capita.
In its vision paper for a developed country status, the Aayog asserts that India must sustain a 7-10 per cent growth rate for 20-30 years to avoid the middle-income trap, targeting a per capita income of $18,000 and a $30 trillion economy by 2047. It would require the GDP to grow ninefold, from its current $3.36 trillion, and per capita income to increase eightfold from $2,392.
