Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reflected on the NDA government's 12 years in office, highlighting poverty reduction, political stability and the vision of a developed India, while stressing the need to ensure that the country's emerging 'neo middle class' does not slip back into poverty. In a post on X, PM Modi drew attention to key accomplishments under initiatives such as the Antyodaya Yojana, Swachh Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Ayushman Bharat, stating that all these schemes were launched with the core aim of ensuring dignity and opportunity for people. "I believe that we must not let those who were poor yesterday, and have now become the 'neo middle class'', slip back. Therefore, as a government and as public representatives, we must work day and night," Modi said. The Prime Minister also highlighted that from Jan Dhan accounts and Direct Benefit Transfer to Swachh Bharat, PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat and more, every initiative has been driven by a simple objective of ensuring people have dignity and opportunity.
The Prime Minister highlighted the vital role of technology in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of governmental schemes towards the poor section of society. PM Modi noted that technology has reduced leakages, improved efficiency and strengthened trust in governance. He emphasized that through Direct Benefit Transfer and digital platforms, support is reaching people directly and transparently, making the journey of furthering Garib Kalyan a collective movement towards human empowerment and realizing the dream of a Viksit Bharat. "It is also gladdening that technology has played a vital role in ensuring a better quality of life for the poor. This has reduced leakages, improved efficiency and strengthened trust in governance," the Prime Minister posted on X. The remarks come as the government marks twelve years in office, highlighting achievements across social welfare, financial inclusion, healthcare, housing, sanitation and digital governance as key pillars of its development agenda.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), rural poverty in India has shown significant improvement over the past decade. As reported by Business Standard, rural poverty has fallen from 26% in 2012 to less than 5% in 2024. In just over a decade, millions of rural households have moved out of poverty, marking one of the most significant social transformations in recent years. PM Modi highlighted that this development has reduced leakages, increased efficiency, and strengthened trust in governance. The Prime Minister reiterated the government's claim that more than 25 crore people have been lifted out of poverty during the past decade, describing it as one of the major achievements of the NDA administration.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) was started on January 1, 2013, to reform the government delivery system in welfare schemes for simpler and faster flow of information/funds and reduction of fraud. According to Business Standard, DBT is a major government reform initiative that reengineers existing delivery processes, ensuring better and timely delivery of benefits using Information & Communication Technology (ICT) by transferring benefits into the bank/postal accounts, preferably Aadhaar seeded, of accurately targeted beneficiaries. The system transfers benefits into bank or postal accounts of accurately targeted beneficiaries, preferably Aadhaar-seeded, including in-kind transfers from the government to individuals.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will launch a month-long campaign on Tuesday to showcase 12 achievements of the government across sectors, including promoting self-reliance, or Atmanirbhar Bharat, across sectors such as renewable energy, fertilisers, and defence. The campaign will cover decisions that strengthened the country's internal and external security, such as the success in countering the influence of Naxalism. PM Modi and other NDA leaders, including its chief ministers, deputy chief ministers and Union ministers, will meet in the national capital on Wednesday to mark the alliance's 12 years in the government at the Centre. Modi-led NDA will complete two years of its current term on Tuesday, and also mark 12 years since forming the government on May 26, 2014.
