New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that eight years ago his government started implementing new mantras of good governance in India following the path of minimum government – maximum governance.
Prime Minister Modi was speaking after inaugurating India’s biggest Drone Festival — ‘Bharat Drone Mahotsav 2022’ here. He also interacted with Kisan drone pilots, witnessed open-air drone demonstrations and interacted with startups in the drone exhibition centre.
The Prime Minister talked about his fascination and interest in the drone sector and said that he was deeply impressed by the drone exhibition and the spirit of the entrepreneurs and innovation in the sector. The Prime Minister also talked about his interaction with farmers and young engineers. “The energy and enthusiasm in the drone sector are visible and indicate India’s strength and desire to leapfrog into a leading position. The sector shows great possibilities of a major sector for employment generation,” he said.
The Prime Minister said, “This was the time eight years ago when we started implementing new mantras of good governance in India. Following the path of minimum government, and maximum governance, we have made ease of living, and ease of doing business a priority. We connected every citizen of the country with the facilities and welfare schemes by moving forward on the path of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’.”
The Prime Minister pointed out that during the earlier governments, technology was considered part of the problem and efforts were made to portray it as anti-poor and due to this, there was an atmosphere of indifference regarding the use of technology in governance before 2014.
“Technology could not become part of the mood of governance. The poor, the deprived, and the middle class suffered the most due to this,” he said.
He also mentioned the complicated procedures for availing of basic facilities leading to a sense of deprivation and fear.
“Progress is possible only when we change with time. Technology has helped a lot in furthering the vision of saturation and in ensuring last-mile delivery. And I know that we can achieve the goal of Antyodaya by moving forward at this pace and are able to provide the poor segment with their entitlement by the use of Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile (JAM) trinity. Experience of the last eight years further strengthens my belief,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that his government has made technology a key tool to impart new strength, speed and scale to the country.
The Prime Minister informed the gathering that today with the help of the Robust UPI framework developed by the country, lakhs of crores of rupees are being transferred directly to the bank account of the poor. Women, farmers, and students are now getting help directly from the government.
He cited PM Swamitva Yojana as an example of how drone technology is becoming the basis of a major revolution. Under this scheme, for the first time, every property in the villages of the country is being digitally mapped and digital property cards are being given to the people.
“Promotion of drone technology is another medium of advancing our commitment to good governance and ease of living. In the form of drones, we have got a smart tool that is going to be part and parcel of common people’s lives,” he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of drone technology in the fields of defence, disaster management, agriculture, tourism, film and entertainment.
“Drone technology is going to play a major role in empowering farmers and modernising their lives,” he added.
Modi to address beneficiaries of govt schemes from Shimla
Preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s day-long visit to state capital Shimla on May 31 were reviewed on Friday by the BJP-led Himachal Pradesh government.
Modi will be addressing beneficiaries of the Central government’s schemes for 30 minutes and will also hold a roadshow ahead of the Assembly elections in November 2022.
The BJP is aiming to hold a rally of 50,000 people for the Prime Minister’s visit.
As many as 22 BJP mandals have been given the job to mobilise people for the occasion.
State BJP General Secretary Trilok Jamwal told the media that it is a matter of pride for the state that Modi has chosen Shimla for the rally on the occasion of completion of eight years of the Union government.
“Himachal is the second home of our Prime Minister and he is always excited to visit it. The people of Himachal Pradesh are excited to welcome Modi on his visit,” said Jamwal, who is also political adviser to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
The Prime Minister will hold a virtual interaction with beneficiaries of 17 government schemes from all over the country for 30 minutes.
Jamwal said plans are underway for smooth traffic movement in Shimla during Modi’s visit as there will be three entry points — one for travelling towards upper Shimla, second from Solan to Sirmaur and the third towards Chandigarh.
The Prime Minister will hold a roadshow from the Central Telegraph Office to Ladies’ Park followed by a rally at the historic Ridge.
Meanwhile, the Shimla Nagrik Sabha, a group of locals, has urged the Prime Minister’s Office and the state government to shift the venue for Modi’s rally from the Ridge to the Annadale ground in view of the sinking Ridge that has a British-era water tank beneath it.
“There’s more than a 100-year-old water tank beneath the Ridge that supplies water to 40 per cent area of the city. The tank has started developing cracks since 2017. In 2020, the cracks got wider and had to be repaired. In the light of this incident, it would be dangerous to gather thousands of people at the Ridge,” said Shimla Nagrik Sabha Convener Sanjay Chauhan, also a former Mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation.
