The Modi government has ushered in several transformational changes over the past twelve years from the perspective of ordinary citizens.
The first major change
is that young men and women from modest backgrounds no longer have to run from
pillar to post to get their documents attested by gazetted officers. Earlier,
they often had to visit government offices or even the homes of officials, and
many were compelled to pay small bribes to peons or staff members merely to
have their documents signed and verified. This not only wasted the time of the
youth but also that of the officers and their staff. Prime Minister Narendra
Modi ended this cumbersome practice through an announcement made from the
ramparts of the Red Fort (Lal Quila).
The second significant
step was the opening of zero-balance bank accounts for the poorest sections of
society without burdensome paperwork. Instead of forcing poor citizens to
repeatedly visit bank branches, bank officials themselves reached out to them.
At the time, the initiative was ridiculed by critics and political opponents,
but it ultimately brought millions of underprivileged people into the formal
banking system.
The third major reform
is the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, under which lakhs of beneficiaries
now receive government assistance directly into their bank accounts. In the
past, a substantial portion of welfare funds meant for the poor was siphoned
off by middlemen and corrupt officials. Today, however, the money reaches the
intended beneficiaries directly, ensuring transparency and minimising leakages.
Long queues of
pensioners outside bank counters during the first week of every month were once
a distressing ordeal for elderly citizens. For many senior citizens, standing
for hours to collect their pensions was nothing short of traumatic. However,
thanks to the DBT system, much of this hardship has disappeared, as pension
amounts are now credited directly into their bank accounts. One only needs to
speak to pensioners to understand the immense relief and convenience this
reform has brought to their lives.
Another landmark
initiative has been the construction of household toilets, popularly referred
to as “Izzatghars,” which has brought about a social revolution, especially in
rural India. Chaudhary Charan Singh, when he was the Chief Minister of Uttar
Pradesh, once remarked at a public gathering that he avoided travelling by road
in the evenings because roadsides were lined with people defecating in the
open. One could imagine the hardship faced by newly married women in villages,
particularly if they suffered from illness during the daytime. The construction
of toilets has therefore provided dignity, safety, and immense relief to rural
women, many of whom remain deeply grateful for this change.
Digital payments, too,
have emerged as a technological revolution, and much of the credit for their
widespread adoption goes to Modi. When digital payment apps were first
introduced, several self-styled economists and opposition leaders mocked the
initiative. Today, however, even small shopkeepers, artisans, and daily-wage
workers use digital transactions with ease. Their countless small payments
collectively amount to thousands of crores of rupees every day, serving as a
fitting response to those who once dismissed the idea.
