Political power for a social renaissance : Auditing Modi Government's first tenure

PM Narendra Modi's first one single majority party in alliance with few others, non-Congress, full dream tenure, will soon come to its completion. Six months away from the next due to peoples' verdict. It's worth examining the performance of the first tenure. Four and a half years is certainly not an optimum period for a fair appraisal, but one can certainly explore the stage in which the progress stands.

Modi regime rolled into power with huge expectations coupled with unbelievable impatience as a result of hopeless preceding years replete with numerous scams and rampant nepotism. Lawlessness seemed to have reached a scenario of ‘free for all'. The polity suffered from a paralysis of initiative, policy-making and its consequent administration. The State appeared hung. The incidence of atrocities against the weaker sections of the society and the women were rising. Of course, it was not because of the UPA regime since such instances do take place everywhere all the times. The difference is adjudged as to what punitive actions are taken, which tell upon the quality of the governance. It was very fortunate for the Indian citizens to adore an academician as their Prime Minister; however, it was most unfortunate on the part of the Indians to see him as a prisoner of a languishing outlived political party. He was not a politician-leader. He appeared to be a docile errand boy at her Majesty's Service. It was this faculty which paid him the highest political prize.

26th May 2014 was the day when a new government under the command of Narendra Modi assumed the reigns of power and authority over the governance of India. He must have felt the pressure of a huge task ahead. Seventy years of independence had made India a terrible irreparable mess. Not that there was no progress, India had made progress, to a great extent it was a natural growth. It will be fair to submit that everything that went wrong need not be ascribed to the Congress government. It is therefore submitted that growth was the result of a natural process of growth and not the earlier government's initiative.

Social content to be the basis of the economic planning: A difficult audit report:

A careful audit of the development projects and plans must explain the causes of the gaps which might appear on the narrative screen as follows.

Several respondents dampening the course of ‘nation building'

There are several factors which seem to be threatening the plans and proposals of the new government particularly since 2014 in Indian public administration. These elements are the real threats to the parliamentary democracy and if these are not reorganised without disturbing the democratic framework, anarchy does not seem to be far away.

The illustrative list is as follows- (a ) hostile bureaucracy ascertaining its preference towards ‘chalta hai', ( b ) dejected and desperate opposition political leaders exposing their their poverty of wisdom , ( c ) domination of individual ambitious leaders without convincing followers, ( d ) PIL making most of the judicial activism, (e ) hostile and biased media relentlessly targeting the Modi factor rather than his governance , (f ) irresponsible petty politically motivated lobbies waging war mongering threatening calls against Modi , (g) petty religious sectorial minority groups instigating communal hatreds, ( h ) violation of the law of the land by all , ( I ) unruly behavior of the ruling party legislators and workers , ( j ) growing cynicism on the part of every one , thereby depriving the voters of the facts and figures.

The myth of ‘liberty’:

There is a school of thought which believes in the limitless scope of the value of ‘liberty'. It is a myth in the sense that the advocates of liberty do not seem to support the idea of ‘nation'. It seems that their definition of liberty ‘as a value' is which crosses the boundary of a nation and treating the whole world citizenry as one unit in which nobody can restrict the individual freedom limiting it to any national boundary. This is certainly something very important per say. This school of thought tends to forget that believing in a nation or focuses on national interest, is not contradictory to the life and property or freedom of thought of an individual. These human rights activists forget that their chances of enjoying liberalism are possible only when the state is secure and it does not fall prey to any authoritarianism creeping in through anarchists' plans and programmes under the garb of ‘liberty' hounds. Anti-national activities do not necessarily mean overthrowing the elected government, it is equally dangerous to witness an atmosphere of lawlessness generated by the so-called ‘leftist' tendencies. The intolerant leftist tendencies carefully prepare designs of anarchist movements and agitations ( like the one organized by these very associations at the beginning of the year in Maharashtra ) culminating in bloody riots claiming the lives of several innocent citizens. Remember Stalin who in the erstwhile USSR was responsible for the massacre of several thousand innocent dissident citizens in USSR? Stories of several thousand assassinations for over three decades in West Bengal in India during the Marxist regime need not be overlooked. It is interesting to find that these advocates of Stalinism are now human rights activists and these are the ones shedding crocodile's tears. In brief, the ‘left' have always considered liberty as their shield to save themselves from their anti-social agitations. ‘Liberty' for them is an excuse to hide their anti-social battles waged against the peaceful decent society. It is a shield to defend themselves from their social sins. Liberty for these pseudo-liberals is a myth.

Period of ideological war:

The cunningness of these human rights activists is that these leaders shout at the Executive and demand justice for them if their plans of creating unrest and commotion are in jeopardy. A few activists minority in number enjoy holding the rest of the majority at ransom. These accuse the Executive of being irrational and anti-human. Accusing someone of being anti-human is the easiest way of belittling the Executive. It is the cheapest battleground to fight on. Accusing Narendra Modi of anti-human or anything else has become a popular fashion and quickly responsive. Modi must have swallowed several hitherto unknown allegations and accusations. The left veered ideologues keep on levelling several charges against Modi in the name of bourgeoisie ideology and Indian primitive ancient history. The fact of the matter is that the Left ideology is smashed and thrown to dust everywhere in all parts of the world. The citadels of the Left ideology –the USSR, a few South American countries and of late – China too are seen jettisoning their burden.The Indian citizens in West Bengal have realized their democratic folly and since corrected it.

Of course, the Left ideologues have always shown a sort of arrogance and were never prepared to relent. These have always declared themselves to be the sole saviours of freedom of every sort. These have always pronounced themselves to be the guardians of human rights. These conveniently forget the lambasting massacres of the innocents in several communist countries in the world. The case of the horrifying period of the lawlessness during the Left-rule in West Bengal in the Indian federation, cannot be overlooked by the students of ‘peace'. The regime even went to the extent of passing several controversial legislative resolutions ‘flouting the spirit of the Indian federal structure' and denouncing the constitution of India. Many thinkers tend to believe that the Marxians are essentially anarchists. Communists in their earlier history were not prepared to believe in national boundaries ( …remember their slogan—workers of the world unite,.).Many of the Communist ideologues did not subscribe to the theory of ‘India as a nation', these considered that India was a cluster of ‘nationalities', India was never a nation.

Indian National Congress developed the theory of ‘composite culture'. The party believed that India was a nation but her constituents were several religious groups including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and other smaller sects. The Party caused the 42nd Amendment during the ‘emergency era', a period during which the selective implementation of the Constitutional provisions, enabled its passage without any public reference and debate, vide Article 51A,(f), which necessitated its abidance , that maintained, ( it was the duty of the citizen ) "to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture," this happened in 1977. The usage of the term ‘composite culture' paved the way for a gradual strength-gaining program of the politically conscious religious minority groups. The Left and the INC did not lose the opportunity to sow the seeds of the social cleavages in the otherwise peaceful Indian society while destroying the sanctity of the nation. Vivekanand is quoted by a well-known Russologist and the National Professor Dr.Ashok Modak in one of his ( unpublished ) research paper ( quote) " every nation is a cultural entity, which emerges on its own, which is born and not created or manufactured artificially. Every nation has its own past, peculiarity and individuality with which it is born. Each represents, as it were one peculiar note in the harmony of nations, and this is its life, its vitality." In the face of this statement made on nationalism by a great philosopher like Swami Vivekanand, the very mention of an absurd concept like ‘composite culture' that too in a mandatory legal document like the Constitution of India ( as prepared by Mrs.Indira Gandhi ), deserves to be dismissed forthwith.

Modi's induction in the Indian scenario is a harbinger of a new era of "nation first" idea. Narendra Modi like Vivekanand has a typical affection for the masses suffering from social isolation and utter neglect. Like Vivekanand, Modi too has expressed time and again his concern over the progress of the working people. Modi is characterized by his ‘progressive features' of socio-political views.

The first tenure of the BJP government has this undercurrent ‘concern for poverty and the poor. The findings in regard to the economic growth of the commoners in India during the first tenure of the Modi Government is certainly an important measure in the process of the economic development, but it needs to be analyzed and studied in the light of the social considerations which was the very purpose of Modi administration's planning. I for one firmly believe that merely quoting economic indicators to measure the economic growth will certainly not depict a factual and real picture of the economic status of a nation. It is equally important to take a note that the analysis of the society too in the nation is required to be analysed meticulously. The society in the ‘Middle East' is an example in this regard where you have a cluster of countries which, of late have acquired higher economic standard, the question, however, emerges as to its social conditions. What is the answer?

A competent CEO of the Nation: A prudent, socialized and a versatile pracharak -Narendra Modi :

Narendra Modi after assuming political power and authority over the Indian national scenario had perhaps a different agenda of development on hand in his mind. He, however, had not forgotten the promises he had made during the election campaign. He did start taking firm and confident steps towards attaining the said goals. He was not in a hurry. He knew that the plans and programmes of every economic development require sufficient amount of gestation period. There is no short-cut. The sense-less opposition political leaders made senseless attacks over these plans and programmes, the purpose being to demoralize and to dishearten his urge. However, Narendra Modi was accustomed to such senseless criticism in the early period of his life when he worked in RSS and later, the BJP.

He has completely ignored the attacks and kept his cool- a unique quality he had acquired from his long standing Sangh association as a ‘PRACHARAK'.( let us not forget that Narendra Modi earlier was a ‘pracharak' in RSS for 18 years between 1970 and 1988 ). The eternal courageous will, the confidence , the fearlessness , faculty of planning and its execution , visualization of objectives and goals, the earnestness towards the commoners around without any sort of discrimination, love and sincere affection towards the poor and the neglected lot, loyal to the cause and the organization, respect for the seniors , the selfless service to all those around, fair and judicious approach towards the followers and above all the attitude of ‘nation first' ‘mantra' in the service of the nation are all the qualities replete in the life of a ‘pracharak'. Narendra Modi vouches for all these distinctive features.

Auditing the Modi measures:

(a) Prime Ministerial rendezvous with everyone: ‘Manki Baat' :

The Prime Minister right at the outset after assuming the power of the Government thought of employing a powerful yesteryear device viz., the radio communication system which could reach the remotest places in the country and the ears of the poorest of the poor citizen. Strictly disciplinarian in his personal life, he chose every Sunday round the year to establish a direct link with the citizenry of India and to share his thoughts and ideas with them his plans of the future of the country and his expectations from them. He had appealed to all, to write to him their suggestions and their ideas of India's future; he would then pick up one of the suggestions and share it with the country. The program received a huge response which ultimately made Modi very close to the people.

The programme was not merely a communication episode; the Prime Minister used it as a powerful technic of bringing about a revolutionary change-over in the psyche of the individual, his attitude, his behavioural pattern and refreshes his mind-set. Modi tried to push the individual a little away from his dogmatic beliefs and do some introspection. This was a unique experiment in the process of social reforms.

The Prime Minister established a direct link with the citizens on important social, cultural and economic programmes in the country and opened a new channel of mutual communication. This instilled self-confidence in the mind of the individual for whom the Prime Minister was directly linked.The citizen felt elated and a sense of brotherhood aroused.

(b) : Digitalization movement: The Prime Minister has always believed in the power of technology and its routine application in the administration to better the conditions of life with ease. Modi considered the application of digitalization as a clandestine instrument to eliminate corruption and underhand dealings in the administration. The movement helped to widen the tax net, curbed the delay tactics on the part of the lower bureaucracy, avoid moments of making monetary demands, creating records of the movement of the filing stages and ending to-and-from trips to the office. The movement also facilitated the quick results of the applications for administrative services quickly. Accuracy in maintaining records and its filing systems increased. The systems saved cumbersome paperwork and wastage of time. Most important of all has been the possibilities of bribery or unaccounted transactions as a fulfilment of illegal and unofficial promises were reduced to a great extent. The helpless needy applicant-citizen found himself in a freer atmosphere to approach the authorities for his needs. The helplessness of the poor farmer or the artisan in the remote villages whose entire livelihood depended on the lower echelons of the bureaucracy was freed from the exploitation at the hands of these corrupt elements in the administration. Digitalization was a great solace to the poor helpless farmer or the artisan in the villages.

(c) : National Addresses :

As head of the Government and a political planner, he brilliantly used every 15th August Independence Day address to the nation as a powerful device to goad the citizens to swear quite a few social programmes which he felt as the preceding factors of building foundation of a strong political society conducive and attuned to the firm path of economic development. Modi made it a point to highlight several of his social programmes and commitments through his ceremonial announcements to be translated into action.

Prime Minister Modi took to the Red Fort 15th August Independence Day addresses to make announcements for five times during his first tenure ( between2014 and 2019 ). He carefully used the occasion to initiate the social programmes in the entire society, which he found it necessary for development. It was his masterstroke in a sort of ushering in a ‘renaissance' aiming at building a new India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in all the five ‘I.D.addresses' dealt with four development-oriented areas viz., socio-cultural agenda, economic agenda, political agenda and administration-oriented agenda expecting the citizenry to take all these programs to their heart. Such appeals were made elsewhere from other platforms and on different occasions, yet Modi's appeals were quite different. The difference was that the appeals made by Modi were accompanied by Prime Minister's personal involvement and initiative. He took the personal initiative and became the first to act. In the international arena too he broke several customs and political etiquettes and created a new line of initiatives by crossing the established practices.

We have made a careful classification of the five I.D.Addresses, which indicate that almost 90 references were made in the field of ‘social' development and these were later ordained in the tenure period across the state. The other references made were as follows: 52 references were in the field of economic development, 31 references were made in the field of ‘administrative innovations' and 17 references were made involving political dimensions. It meant that the Prime Minister did not discuss politics while addressing the nation. The Prime Minister emphasized the social development dimension as the beginning of his new regime.

(d) The preponderance of social content in the economic planning: Mandatory waiting period--

The observers must understand that the economic development in a parliamentary democracy takes its own course irrespective of the party in power. In electoral battles, some party wins, the other loses, but the administrative system continues without interruption. There are some schemes whose benefits are immediately delivered while in others, the benefits to the individual beneficiary reach these slower and its timetable is governed by its own mechanism. Therefore, it is ridiculous to hold some party responsible for non-performance. The onus of implementation of the schemes is that of the bureaucracy and the parties are not responsible for that. Policies are important and relevant if the execution of these policies go astray, the translation of such policies loses its path and the whole exercise is misfired. The beneficiaries are deprived of their dues as promised by the parties. Modi is concerned for these deprived ones. All his I.D. addresses are aimed at comforting these deprived ones.

Social development oriented schemes announced in the Independence Day Addresses:

The Prime Minister made announcements and references to the following schemes and social thoughts in the consecutive five Independence Day Address to the nation from the Red Fort in New Delhi on every 15th August between 2014 and 2018.

Swachh Bharat from the year 2014, October the 2nd. The importance and its relevance to the economic development need to be highlighted since the foreign investors always pay more attention to the conditions around their investment sites. It is important to take note that the programme commenced with the Prime Minister himself coming forward in the street and started sweeping himself with a broom in his hand. This was a sincere task and not a ‘photo session'. This scenario has a lasting impact on the psyche of the masses sending a message that every work is important and respectful.

Toilets in all schools, separate toilets for girls and boys all over the country. This is a message of learning to treat the boys and girls on par paving the way for gender justice.

Give up the attitude of "Mera kya, Mujhe kya", in other words imbibing the attitude of positive and constructive thinking and behavioural pattern of every individual. You need to be socially conscious about your neighbourhood and surroundings. One has to be a responsible citizen. One has to be alert and aware of everything around you. This is an important social message for all the citizens.

Ask your sons too if he came late at home in the evening as to why did he come late at home? The advice was to bring about a change in the social conditions and family considerations of treating the status of a son a little higher than the daughter. It is essentially about the status of family composition.

· Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana – scheme of financial inclusion expecting all poorest of the poor into the banking system in India whereby all the benefits which he is entitled to would be directly credited into his bank account whereby the middlemen would be eliminated.

· Welfare schemes for the poor such as Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, esp. for labour welfare,

· Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which aimed at the children, ‘Saubhagya Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, too had poor children and women in view.

· ‘Startup India' initiative for the Dalit, Adivasi Youth or the women to be undertaken by the Bank branches, the initiative to be followed by the ‘Stand-up India' initiative.

· Promoting the ‘cleanliness drive' to encourage better life in better social conditions.

· ‘Shrameva Jayate' welfare schemes for the labouring masses.

Special identity card drive for the unorganized labour to be used to avail benefits of the welfare schemes.

He made appeals to the fellow countrymen to voluntarily give up LPG gas connections who could afford gas cylinders at a little higher cost without subsidy. There was a huge response to this appeal. Several crores of citizens responded positively and surrendered their gas connections (thereby making these available to the neediest ones).

A similar appeal was made to the citizens that it was necessary to save water, energy and save fertilizers keeping the grim future in view since the global stock of these properties is gradually on the wane. There was a huge positive response.

He made an appeal to the millions of farmers not to use urea without "Neem-Coating". The appeal had a positive response.

Scheme of electrification of the 18000 villages where power could not reach in the last seventy years after independence to light their fortunes was announced. The promise was kept.

Small and cottage industries programs for the youth were announced. Several lakhs self-employed artisans stood up and secured an opportunity to build their own life. These are all self-employed youth.

Raising slogans in the name of ‘Bharat-Mata' ( motherland ), ‘Vandemataram' was an appeal to the fellow-countrymen to always keep the highest respect for the motherland in their hearts and in their daily routine.

· ‘Fasal Bima Yojana' for the small and marginal farmers was announced which too received a huge response.

He explained to the citizens that concern for the nation must always take precedence over the government.

· The introduction of ‘Aadhar' forced the middlemen out and every system was cleansed

· ‘Beti Bachao—Beti padhao' became the most successful scheme and left a deep impact on the psyche of the superstitious masses. The masses are gradually learning and there is an increasing awareness about the gender justice.

· Several crores of people, first-time bank customers mostly women and SC, STs , were benefitted under the ‘Mudra Yojana', which brought about a drastic change in their psyche with self-confidence.

· In order to take care of the newborn babies and their mothers, the new Government took an important social security step and accordingly maternity leave for pregnant women was increased to 26 weeks. This was a great step towards social assurance.

· In a bold historical step, the new Government declassified several relevant confidential files in the Government administration letting several secrets unfold in the public domain.

· Keeping the poor and the middle-class sections of the society and their ambitions of ‘own houses' in view, the new Government passed effective legislation to curb malpractices in the field of building and construction protecting the interests of the home buyers. It was the Real Estate Bill. ( R E R A ) which regulated the real estate sector curbing the malpractices of the builders as well as restricted the sources of unaccounted and ‘black' money.

Modi sent down the message that the strength of the society lay in its unity which is deep-rooted in our society.

Modi took care of those freedom fighters who took part in the freedom struggle, lost the valuable period of their early life and at times were thrown in the streets. This was a lesson for the people to remember and respect those who fought for the freedom of the country.

He reminded the people of the importance of the role of the tribal brethren who too had fought in the freedom struggle. He announced the construction of a museum in the memory of these tribal patriots.

He announced the scheme to solace the poor people that the Government would bear up to Rs.one lakh expenditure on their treatment.

He shared a grand dream of a united India covering dreams like "one dream, one resolution, one direction and one destination" with the fellow citizens.

Modi's most significant and bold initiative was in delivering social justice and social assurance to the minority sections viz., the Muslim women who were subjected to subjugation for centuries ever. The risk was beyond imagination, communal peace was at stake in the country. Modi took the risk and initiated reform measures and consequently the stubborn decision on "triple talaq" was announced in the face of a strong resistance from a few Muslim fundamentalist associations. Modi did not care as he had been assured support from the progressive Muslim groups. This was a lion's march towards a social revolution meeting out justice to lakhs of Muslim women in India.

Modi described the youth as ‘Bhagya vidhata' and appealed that these throw their gauntlet in the service of the motherland.

Demonetisation was another masterstroke of Modi in organizing social education. He maintained that black money was a heinous tendency of the human beings and required to be curbed to facilitate the progressive economy of the state. The increase in the number of tax-payers is evidence in that regard. He was proud of his fellow countrymen who suffered and endured a difficult period in their life for some time. He expressed gratitude towards all these fellow countrymen as these did for the nation.

Modi declared that the stringent administrative measures against the economic offenders and social culprits have created a sense of confidence among the people and these were celebrating the "festival of honesty".

Modi had declared a war on casteism and communalism and warned the violators of it esp. the ‘cow-vigilantes' who should take care not to indulge in such anti-national activities lest these be prepared for legal consequences. Modi is hereby warning the citizens not to indulge in the anti-social measures.

Modi did not forget the army people when he fulfilled a long-standing demand of the retired troops about their rates of pension and service conditions. The OROP was implemented.

The GST-- a unique taxation structure also has a social dimension in the sense that it has united the Indian psyche on a national scale esp. the trading and business community in the country had a social assurance of a common acceptable treatment in the business world.

Modi brought the people of the North East Indians closer to the rest of Indians. He announced several long-pending developmental schemes and projects in the North East which won the hearts of these people and felt about the unity of minds with the rest of India. The new Modi Government took special care to build widely spread out infrastructure in the North East region on a massive scale. The people in the region were assured a confident promise of a real development for a better life. He made a specific reference to the youth in the region in the field of sports who won several medals for India in different international sports meets.

The Prime Minister expressed his confidence in his Government's resolve of making available to all – housing for all, power for all, clean cooking for all, water for all, Sani trance for all, and connectivity for all.

Modi glorified the growing self-confidence of the people and congratulated these for the same.

He congratulated the tribal people and their nationalist culture for unfurling the Tri-colour on the Mount Everest. His appreciation is an indication of social unity.

Prime Minister showed his serious concern over the compliance of the promised justice to the ‘other backward communities' who were deprived of their legitimate claims to more judicious treatment. After Herculean efforts and lobbying, Modi Government succeeded in garnering required support in the passage of the Constitutional Status (Amendment) Bill on OBC Commission. .He appreciated the support of the opposition parties too.

Modi proudly shared his joy while informing the citizenry that India was soon going to be the sixth largest economy in the world.

Modi credited the people for their hard work and untiring efforts to achieve the dreams of the nation.

Modi, with great delight and satisfaction, cheerfully announced that India was changing on her international front as well as from within where vast infrastructure was being built for economic development.

Modi was very much aware of the necessity of high quality higher technical education made available to all. The new IIMs, IITs, and AIIMS in several parts of the country would prove his point.

Modi explained the efforts being made by his Government for agricultural and farmers' development. He reiterated his promise he had made during the election campaign to the farming community in the country that ‘the income of the farmers would be doubled'. He assured that he would keep up his word.

Modi expressed complete faith and confidence in the competence of the youth who, the Prime Minister confided that these would take India to newer heights.

The ‘Chandrayan' project which projected advanced research in the field of space research.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that in near future India would emerge as the fourth nation in the world to send manned spacecraft to space by 2022.

His aim was to enable the poor to take advantage of the aviation sector i.e. a poor person too could fly at a cheaper rate.

Modi was glad to refer to the nation that the country had not forgotten Mahatma Gandhi since the use and sale of ‘Khadi' in the country had doubled.

The Prime Minister was very proud to make a special mention of the world's largest social security scheme "Ayushman Bharat" which would cover over 10 crores of families in India. This would amount to 50 crores people being covered. Under the scheme, each family would get an annual health coverage of Rs.5 lakhs.

The Prime Minister reiterated his emphasis on the use of technology and digitalization for the welfare schemes and its benefits.

The recent ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan' scheme which was launched on Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth anniversary, the 25th September'18 has assured the poor common man all types of medical assistance.

Addressing the Nation on 15th August 2018, the Prime Minister summarised the undercurrent of the governance of his Government during the first tenure, in the following simple words-

" Every Indian dream to have his own house, therefore we bring in "Housing for all". He wants to get his house electrified, therefore there is Electrification for all Villages. Every Indian wants to get rid of smoke in the kitchen. To achieve this there is cooking gas for all. Every Indian requires safe drinking water. Therefore our aim is to get water for all. Every Indian requires toilet, hence our objective is to ensure sanitation for all. Every Indian requires skill development. Hence we have brought skill development for all. Every Indian need quality health service. So, our endeavour is health for all. Every Indian requires security for which he needs health insurance coverage. To meet this need, we bring insurance for all. Every Indian requires internet facility. Therefore we are making efforts to get connectivity for all. We want to lead our country to the path of development by following the mantra of connectivity".

The Prime Minister while explaining the resolve of his government, further submitted, "We don't want the path of confrontation. We do not want roadblocks. We don't want to bow our head before anybody. The nation will never stop, never bow before anything, and never get tired. We have to scale new heights. It is our aim to achieve enormous progress in the years to come." (Source: Press Information Bureau, PMO ).

Auditing the social development themes:

The social renaissance ushered in by Prime Minister Modi contains the following features : (a) Raising the technical standard of the lowest rung of the society-including the poorest, in the banking system of India- Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana. (b) Assuring safety of life of the poorest-‘Ayushman Bharat'- covering over 50 crores people under life insurance cover , (c) Big initiative in ‘women empowerment', (d) Drive for social development of the promising youth, (e) removing regional imbalance by taking special care of the North East India, other tribal belts, socially disadvantaged categories, etc., (f) the social content in his planning aimed at removing poverty , superstitions, and helplessness of the toiling masses.

In spite of a lot of progress experienced in the field, there remains a vast section of the society untouched from the fruits of the economic development. Narendra Modi appears to be more concerned by this harsh reality and therefore he has this vast section of the society in mind while drawing plans for development. Modi thinks about the well-off sections of the society and bats for these elements in the interests of the nation and at the same time cries in his heart for the poorer sections of the society and draws all his power at his command contemplating designs of their development for bettering their lives. It is important to remember that Narendra Modi too had a similar poor livelihood during his childhood as well as when he stayed in the RSS office in his early life around the year 1960 ( late Laxmanrao Inamdar – a senior RSS pracharak in Gujarat had brought Modi to the Ahmedabad RSS Office to stay ). Modi never forgot these days of poverty which seems to have made a sensitive deep impact on the planning objectives when he was at the helm of affairs entrusted with the responsibility of planning for the poor and the deprived ones. The poverty which had haunted his childhood was primarily responsible for his giving emphasis on social development in the planning process. He insisted that the planning for economic development must acknowledge preference to the social content.

The Audit Report of the first tenure of the governance- social planning:

Modi takes care to see that the economic planning contains more social content in its process. Modi's insistence that the planning objectives must aim at incorporating social themes in the process of economic development holds high his humanitarian convictions for welfare economics. This is Modi' contribution to the field of development administration and economics without ignoring his mantra ‘Nation First".