A Decade Of Dedication: PM Modi's Journey As Pradhan Sevak Aiming For Development
As we mark 11 years of Seva, Sushasan, and Garib Kalyan under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, I am reminded of a timeless teaching from the Bhagavad Gita, where Lord Krishna imparts to Arjuna the essence of true leadership: ' न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् " (Chapter 3, Verse 5)—no one can remain inactive even for a moment, for action is inevitable. Yet, the Gita also teaches us that the highest form of action is selfless service, where a leader becomes a servant to the greater good, placing the welfare of others above personal gain. This resonates deeply with the profound truth that 'service is the true responsibility" echoed by our Prime Minister.
I see this ideal of a servant leader – 'A Karma Yogi" in our Prime Minister, who has dedicated every moment to the service of the nation, embodying Seva (service), Sushasan (good governance), and Garib Kalyan (welfare of the poor). As the Member of Parliament from Vadodara, a city that has witnessed your vision firsthand, I am honored to reflect on the PM's unparalleled contributions and their impact on our constituency, state and the nation at large.
LEADERSHIP AS THE CHIEF MINISTER OF GUJARAT
The journey of our Prime Minister is deeply inspiring because he has not merely seen garibi (poverty) through someone else's eyes, but he has felt it first hand. Born into a humble family in Vadnagar, Gujarat, he experienced the struggles of the poor. This intimate connection with poverty has shaped his vision, ensuring that every policy crafted by him addresses the lived realities of the marginalised.
The utmost respect for the Constitution of India has been a guiding light throughout his leadership. When Narendra Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2010, he organised the Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra in Surendranagar to mark 60 years of the Constitution. A replica of the Constitution was placed on an elephant, and the procession covered parts of the city. I recall how our Prime Minister walked in that procession, which was a unique tribute to the document that unites our nation. After becoming the Prime Minister, he further honoured this legacy by declaring November 26 as Constitution Day. This initiative has fostered a deeper understanding of constitutional values among citizens, ensuring that Sushasan remains rooted in justice and equality.
Modi positioned Gujarat as an investor-friendly state. The Vibrant Gujarat Summit became a platform to attract global investments. The summit had garnered billions in commitments, transforming the state into an industrial powerhouse.
The PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) portal is a testament to the vision for transparent and efficient governance, a concept rooted in the PM's Gujarat tenure. As the CM, he introduced digital monitoring systems like the SWAGAT program to address grievances, a precursor to PRAGATI. Nationally, PRAGATI has tracked projects worth over Rs 20.64 lakh crore, a true embodiment of Sushasan that I have witnessed transforming Gujarat and India.
Since taking responsibility in 2014, Narendra Modi has brought governance to every doorstep. He has not only tackled convenient targets but also embraced challenging ones, leading as an inclusive leader rather than a boss. For instance, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan marked a historic step toward a clean future, making 95% of villages in India open-defecation-free by 2024, with over 12 crore toilets built by 2025, where Gujarat achieved 100% coverage in all districts. These efforts have transformed lives at the grassroots level, ensuring better sanitation, reducing waterborne diseases, and empowering rural communities, particularly women, with dignity and safety.
Ensuring the poor are part of the economic mainstream, the Jan Dhan Yojana paired with the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, Mobile), revolutionised financial inclusion by opening 53 crore accounts by 2025, with 55% held by women and 67% in rural/semi-urban areas in Gujarat, empowering every Indian with banking access; total deposits have crossed Rs 2.3 lakh crore, and over 37 crore RuPay cards have been issued. Before JAM, middlemen siphoned off subsidies; now, your vision has ensured transparency. For instance, schemes like PAHAL have saved thousands of crores by eliminating 3.34 crore duplicate LPG accounts, ensuring benefits reach the deserving, a true hallmark of Sushasan.
The Prime Minister has ensured that every project under his leadership follows an end-to-end approach, from foundation to feedback. This includes robust implementation and corruption-free processes, which have significantly enhanced the credibility of governance. Over 4 crore pucca houses have been built under the PM Awas Yojana, giving every family a home of dignity, thereby enhancing their stability and access to better opportunities. The government has ensured food security for 81 crore people through the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the world's largest food security scheme.
Our Annadatas are the backbone of Bharat. The Centre resolved to empower them from Beej Se Bazaar Tak by ensuring their prosperity and protecting farmers from every risk. The 2025-26 agriculture budget, increased five-fold to Rs 1 lakh crore, which significantly uplifted farmers. Under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 3.7 lakh crore has been disbursed to 11 crore farmers, enabling investment in better inputs and reducing debt dependency. The PM Fasal Bima Yojana settled Rs 1.75 lakh crore in claims, offering a safety net against crop losses and encouraging modern farming practices.
The Poshan Abhiyaan addresses malnutrition in children and mothers, a key issue linked to poverty. In Gujarat, the Poshan Tracker has facilitated monitoring of nutritional programmes, reaching over 1.21 crore beneficiaries till 2024. At the grassroots level, this has ensured that children and mothers in rural and tribal areas receive timely nutritional support, reducing malnutrition rates, improving health outcomes, and breaking the cycle of poverty by enabling healthier, more productive lives.
Under the PM's leadership, the NDA has broadened its team, adding more voices rather than diminishing them, reflecting Modi's inclusive vision. He introduced the term 'Divyangjan" for the differently-abled, replacing 'Viklang" to honor their unique abilities. Nationally, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, increased reservation in government jobs from 3% to 4%, benefiting over 1 lakh Divyangjan annually and showcasing his commitment to their inclusion in Viksit Bharat.
EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT
The Prime Minister's focus on education has been transformative, starting from his days as the Gujarat CM. He launched Shala Praveshotsav – celebrating a child's first day at school with festivities, and Gunotsav – an educational quality assessment programme. These initiatives increased retention rates, reduced dropout rates to single digits, boosted enrollment, and improved female literacy in Gujarat. The Kanya Kelavani campaign turned a depressing environment into a festival by involving top state officers to seek people's participation for the cause of education. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a landmark reform, has revolutionised education by emphasising skill development, mother-tongue learning, and holistic growth. AIIMS tripled to 23; 8 new IIMs, 7 new IITs, and 490 new universities were established.
The development of Bharat is incomplete without the development of its Nari Shakti. The government believed in women-led development, ensuring dignity, safety, and empowerment at every stage of a woman's life. Sex ratio at birth has risen to 1,020 women per 1,000 men. The Maternal Mortality Rate declined to 80. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam guarantees 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. This has led to increased representation of women's issues and encouraged more women to contest elections.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND POLITICAL INCLUSION
The Prime Minister's approach toward the Yuva Shakti is inspiring. He believed in their 'Can Do' spirit, transforming them from job seekers into job creators, and has expressed, 'Don't do something just to gain status, do it to drive change and advance society." At the Red Fort, the PM expressed his vision to bring 1 lakh youth without political lineage into politics, a promise he truly fulfilled. As one of the youngest MPs from the BJP, I feel immense pride in being part of this vision. I come from a non-political background, and my journey to becoming Vadodara's MP is a testament to the PM's commitment to nurturing new leaders. He doesn't just talk—he acts, ensuring that common people like me can serve the nation, embodying Seva through political inclusion.
Modi has aligned his governance with the times, understanding that today's youth are passionate about technology, gaming, and coding. Initiatives like Hackathons, Pariksha Pe Charcha, where he interacts directly with students and makes examinations a festival rather than a burden, with 2 crore students participating in 2025.
BHARAT'S TECHADE
Digital India connected every corner through digital payments, with UPI transactions hitting Rs 24 lakh crore, enabling even the most remote vendors and small businesses to thrive in a cashless economy, fostering financial empowerment at the grassroots. Moreover, 5G rolled out in 99.6% of districts in just 22 months and Rs 44 lakh crore transferred via the Direct Benefit Transfer system, finally cutting the middlemen and reducing corruption.
The Prime Minister's vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives have not only reduced import dependency but also positioned India as a manufacturing powerhouse, aligning with the Amrit Kaal goal of Viksit Bharat.
Modern railways powered by Vande Bharat trains have redefined travel, with Vadodara benefiting from faster connectivity. Chandrayaan-3 made India the first to land on the Moon's south pole in 2023, fuelling our space ambitions.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
Amid global challenges like the post-pandemic recovery, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, economic slowdown, and geopolitical tensions, India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023. The theme of India's G20 presidency is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्), meaning 'World is One Family'—One Earth, One Family, One Future — promoted an inclusive vision for global unity. This landmark event elevated India's global stature, showcasing its ability to lead and foster unity during a time of widespread polarisation and crises, while addressing the struggles of vulnerable sections still recovering from the pandemic.
The Prime Minister's vision brought global recognition to yoga, with the United Nations declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day in 2014. As part of the delegation for Operation Sindoor, I witnessed the Indian diaspora in Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia and Malaysia preparing enthusiastically for Yoga Day 2025.
VIKAS BHI, VIRASAT BHI
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has embarked on a remarkable journey to preserve its glorious heritage while fostering a modern, prosperous Bharat. World-class Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, Mahakaal project, and Ram Mandir, 12+ km long Hemkund Sahib Ropeway project in Uttarakhand, are a reality now. He has paid profound tribute to India's heroes by spearheading the creation of iconic landmarks that celebrate their legacy. Honouring our heroes through the Statue of Unity, Panchteerth, National War Memorial, and the Statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose unveiled at India Gate.
NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
Modi's zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism has been a cornerstone of his national security strategy, ensuring India's sovereignty and safety. This commitment was demonstrated through decisive actions such as the surgical strikes in 2016, the Balakot air strike in 2019, and Operation Sindoor 2025. Our defence exports reached Rs 23,622 crore (34-fold rise). 75% of the capital acquisition budget is earmarked for domestic production. India's indigenously developed Helicopters 'Prachanda', missile systems Akash, and BrahMos are used by the Armed Forces to crush enemies.
As a Member of Parliament, I had the privilege of witnessing this commitment firsthand during my delegation visit, where I saw the determination of our armed forces and the strategic clarity of our leadership in action. These operations not only dismantled terror networks but also boosted the morale of our security forces, demonstrating India's capability to respond swiftly and effectively to threats.
The Revocation of Article 370 brought peace and progress to Jammu and Kashmir, integrating it fully into India's growth story. In his era, one remarkable aspect we have noticed is how India has leveraged its geographical location in Asia to emerge as a Vishwa Guru. During the challenging times of COVID-19, while global economies faltered, India's vaccination drive administered over 220 crore doses and aided the world via Vaccine Maitri, which supplied 30 crore+ vaccines to 100+ countries.
Our economy is not just growing; it's reaching for Space. Bharat is proudly emerging as the world's fourth-largest economy. This is a testament to the focus on inclusive growth and strategic positioning in Asia.
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The Garib, Yuva, Annadata, and Nari Shakti—every Indian stands as both a contributor and a beneficiary in the inspiring journey of Viksit Bharat. Like a masterful weaver crafting a luminous tapestry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has united the dreams of 140 crore Indians into a nation that radiates hope and progress. As we progress toward Viksit Bharat, his legacy shines brightly, guiding us to a future where every heart swells with pride for Bharat Mata.
Hemang Joshi is a BJP MP from Vadodara. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views.
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June 23, 2025, 19:44 IST
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There are no unwitting leaks, and even now, after he has been in office for over a decade, nor does any political commentator have enough insight into how the Prime Minister's mind works. Predictions about cabinet reshuffles are always wrong. Every nominee to a constitutional post is always a surprise. And everyone struggles to find explanations after events have passed us by. Perhaps one day we will find out what Dhankhar did wrong and why he was forced out. Till then, I will feel a little sorry for him. He tried so hard to please his political masters by throwing all conventions to the wind. But somehow, even that was not enough for the powers that be. Vir Sanghvi is a print and television journalist, and talk show host. He tweets @virsanghvi. Views are personal. (Edited by Ratan Priya)
