Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday listed his government’s achievements in the past 12 years as India marked its 80th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, noting that the country’s progress was driven by the resolve and capabilities of its 140 crore citizens.
Citing the growth achieved during this period, the prime minister said: “In the last 12 years, defence production has increased by four times; production by Khadi and Gramudyog has increased five times; electronic manufacturing has grown by seven times. Mobile phone production has increased by 33 per cent, and digital transactions have grown by 100 per cent.”
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He added: “A nation becomes great and achieves its goals when it moves forward driven by its dreams, its resolve, and its inherent strength. Small dreams will no longer suffice. We must dream big, for big dreams expand our thinking and broaden the horizons of our vision. Our resolve must be steadfast; when our resolve is firm, the capacity to carve a path forward, even amidst difficulties and disasters, naturally emerges…”
The prime minister, explaining the speed of India’s growth, said: “Before 2014, that is, 12 years ago, only around 70 cities in our country had piped gas distribution. In 12 years, we have increased this number from 70 cities to 700 cities. This is what speed and expansion look like. Before 2014, piped gas reached barely 20–22 lakh households. Today, work is underway to provide piped gas to nearly 1.75 crore households. Twelve years ago, the country’s solar energy capacity was only 2 GW. Just 2 GW. Today, it is 160 GW.”
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He added: “99 per cent of our coastline had been declared a no-go area because of this mindset. We had ourselves decided not to carry out exploration in the sea. This was a poverty of thought. We decided that this could not continue. We have opened up the 99 per cent that was once declared a no-go area as a go-ahead area.”
“We launched the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. And it is a matter of satisfaction that, in such a short time, 50 lakh households are now using solar energy. You will be surprised to know that the electrification of our railway system began in 1925. But in 90 years, from 1925 to 2014, only 30 per cent of the railway network had been electrified. That means just 30 per cent in 90 years. Look at our speed. Look at our determination to achieve our goals. We have completed 100 per cent electrification within this past decade.”
