Dr. K Laxman

Our Government is committed to the nation. For the first time, in the history of India after seventy-five years, a woman, from a tribal community, has addressed Parliamentarians from both the Houses. Addressing the House, the President said that this 25 years period of Amrit Kaal is the golden century of independence and the period for building a developed India. This is an opportunity to create an era and we have to work for this opportunity with efficency. She thanked the people for electing a stable Government.

India will be a poverty-free country in the year 2047, with a prosperous middle class guided by its youth and women. We have to make such an India, which is self- reliant, which does not have poverty, whose middle class is full of prosperity, such an India, in which the country’s youth power and women power stand at the forefront to give direction to the society and the nation. Today the world is looking towards India for solutions to every problem – be it Covid-19, terrorism or even world peace talks. Our country has emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world. In her speech, the President has kept this matter that keeping in mind the basic mantra of Modi ji’s Government “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas”, how the various basic facilities will be provided by the government to the villages, poor, farmers and the labourer.

Our Government has revived the history during this Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations of the past glory and sacrifices made by our freedom fighters, our leaders and unsung heroes. The 400th Prakash Purab of Guru Teg Bahadur, the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, the 150th Birth Anniversary of Chidambaram Pillai, the 125th Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose will not only inspire our younger generations but also make them committed to our nation.

As far as the New Education Policy is concerned, the regional languages have been promoted almost in all the states. I thank the Government for teaching in six Indian languages in 19 engineering colleges and in ten States.

Under ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyan’ nearly 1,34,396 villages have been declared 100 per cent ODF by December 2022.

‘Pradhan Mantri Swanidhi Yojana’ was started during the Corona period. Poor street vendors, who had lost their employment, were provided assistance without any collateral security. A financial assistance of Rs 4,606 crore was given for the employment of about 45.32 lakh poor people, the street vendors of the entire country.

‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’ was brought for the health of the poor. It is supposed to be the world’s largest health security progamme. Today, after spending Rs. 80 thousand crores, about 50 crore population is being treated free of cost. The Government has also established 9,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country where people can buy generic medicines at normal price. As a result, Rs. 20,000 crores belonging to poor people has been saved in the last few years. The people have saved Rs. 80,000 crores under Ayushman Bharat and Rs. 20,000 crores with 9,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras. It means, people have saved almost Rs. 1 lakh crores.

The women empowerment is at the core of all schemes being implemented by this Government. Our sister from Nagaland is supposed to be the first woman to become a Member of the Rajya Sabha. Not only a lady from Nagaland, even one hon. lady-Member from a very backward area and backward community has been nominated to Rajya Sabha by this Government.

When it comes to ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, the female population has increased more than male population. The health of women has also been improved by this programme.

In terms of physical infrastructure, the network of rural roads has increased to more than seven lakh kilometers in the country. The number of airports have now increased to 147 under UDAN Yojana. A modern semi-high speed train has become a part of Indian Railways in the form of ‘Vande Bharat’.

During the UPA Government, for the undivided Andhra Pradesh State, for the Railways, Rs.886 crores was given, but the Central Government have given Rs. 4,418 crores exclusively for Telangana. The total cost of projects sanctioned for Telangana is Rs.29,581 crores. It may be further increased if the State supports. Unfortunately, there is little support from the State Government of Telangana inspite of regular reminders from our Railway Minister and also the Railway Ministry.

As far as agriculture is concerned, to make agriculture profitable and lessen the burden of farmers, the Government has introduced the ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samaan Nidhi Yojana’. Almost 11 crore farmers of this country, and, particularly three lakh women farmers got benefitted from this scheme. Rs.50,000 crores have been given to women farmers. And, overall Rs.2.25 lakh crores through DBT has been given to farmers. Today even a single rupee is sent, it directly reaches the account of the poor. This is the transparency of the Government.

Coming to Millets ‘Sri Anna’, the Government has convinced the U.N. to declare the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. ‘Sri Anna’ grains are highly nutritious and available in the market. About 90 per cent of farmers in our country are small and marginal farmers. Significant consumption of ‘Sri Anna’ will financially help these small farmers. Under the current Budget an IIMR Research Centre in Hyderabad has been sanctioned for marketing, training and helping the farmers.

The country is now seeing the benefits of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ with an increase in manufacturing capacity. Today, we are making things which are as varied as hair pin to aeroplane indigenously under ‘Make in India’. The import of mobile phones has decreased as India has become a major exporter of mobile phones. The defence exports have also increased by six times with the successful introduction of the first indigenously developed aircraft carrier ‘INS Vikrant’. The sale of khadi has also increased four times as a result of Modi Government’s efforts.The Modi Government has been decisive in matters of national security. India is now showing the world the solutions to the problems, especially through its Presidency of G-20 and the role it played in the Ukraine war and being the pharmacy hub of the world.

As part of social justice, more than 36,000 tribal-dominated villages are being developed under Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana and more than 400 Eklavya model schools have been opened in the tribal areas in the country. That is why we say with conviction that we have a leader, a vision and right intent. We care for every section of society.

On the one hand the Government is developing religious and historical places such as Ayodhya Dham, Kashi-Vishwanath Dham, Shri Mahakal and so on and on the other hand, it is constructing the new Parliament Building and medical colleges in every district and is also working towards making India the biggest space power in the world. Modi ji has generated a mass movement for national unity and integrity. I thank the Government on behalf of 74,000 students of Telangana for extending free education up to 12th class.

As far as the G-20 is concerned, it is a unique platform of world’s 20 major economies, representing around 85 per cent of the global GDP, 75 per cent of global trade and 60 per cent of the global population. Being the president of G-20 Summit, Modi ji has invited even major international organisations like the UN, IMF and WHO. India has a vital role to play in sustaining this programme and in facing the global challenges like economic growth, sustainable development, climate change, terrorism and pandemics which can be effectively addressed only through co- operation.

(The above are excerpts of the speech delivered by Dr. Laxaman in Rajya Sabha who initiated the discussion on the motion of the thanks on Presidet’s address.)

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