"Aspiration to achievement": PM Modi highlights country's transformation in last decade

New Delhi [India], March 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday underlined India's transformation from dependence to self-reliance over the last decade, asserting that the dream of a developed India by 2047 can only be achieved through collective effort.
Speaking at TV9 summit, PM Modi said that India is no longer just a nation of dreams but one that delivers on them.
"We must reflect on the past to understand how India has progressed -- from dependence to self-reliance, from aspiration to achievement. A decade ago, mothers and sisters were forced to limit themselves between sunset and sunrise for basic sanitation needs, but the Swachh Bharat Mission has resolved that," the Prime Minister said.
Highlighting welfare initiatives under his government, PM Modi cited Ayushman Bharat as a solution to expensive medical care that plagued the poor in 2013. "In 2013, expensive medical care was a challenge, but Ayushman Bharat has provided a solution. Today, they have access to water from every household through 'Har Ghar Se Nal Jal.'"
He also noted reforms in the taxation system, saying, "Our government uses every penny of taxpayers' money with honesty and also respects the taxpayers. The government has made the tax system more taxpayer-friendly."
"In the last 10-11 years, India has transformed across every sector and progressed in every field -- and this significant change has come from a shift in mindset. For several decades after Independence, a narrative was promoted in India that considered only foreign things to be superior," he added.
Citing the evolution of India's banking landscape, he said, "Sixty years ago, bank nationalisation was implemented to ease access to services, but the reality was that many villages still lacked basic banking facilities. Today, we have transformed the banking landscape with online banking accessible from home and a banking touchpoint within 5 km of every area."
PM Modi added that the country has not just improved infrastructure but also strengthened the banking system nationwide.
Prasing Enforcement Directorate (ED), he said that agency has recovered over Rs 22,000 crore, which has been legally transferred to those who were looted in the past.
"Moreover, those who looted the country are now being forced to return the money. Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered over Rs 22,000 crore, which has been legally transferred to those who were looted."
He also highlighted the shift in India's image on the global stage. "Earlier, India was seen merely as a market; today, the world views it as a major manufacturing hub," he said. "We must achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047, and as I said from the Red Fort, this will require everyone's effort."
Highlighting India's leadership on global platforms, PM Modi spoke about championing the cause of the Global South and addressing climate and energy concerns. "The world must unite to face global challenges, especially energy. That's why we launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA), so even smaller nations can access sustainable energy," he said, noting that over 100 countries have already joined the initiative. (ANI)