Page 29 - 30NOV2019EA

ECONOMY

ernment took over in 2014, India’s GDP was about $2 trillion. In which did not really reach the poor. Our Government ended
65 years, $2 trillion. But in just 5 years, we increased it to nearly this culture thanks to DBT”. DBT stands for direct benefit trans-
$3 trillion. The PM said, “This convinces me that the dream of a fer. DBT has ended the culture of middlemen and inefficiency.
$5 trillion economy will soon become a reality. We are going to It has left little scope for error.
invest One Point $5 trillion for next generation infrastructure.” The Prime Minister has figured out that the DBT has saved
Modi added that India has seen many success stories in over $20 billion so far. You would have seen LED lights in
the last five years in various sectors. The reason for this is not homes. You know that they are more efficient and energy con-
only the Governments. India has stopped working in a routine, serving. But do you know its impact in India? We have distrib-
bureaucratic manner. Transformative changes are arising due uted more than 360 million LED bulbs in last few years. We
to ambitious missions undertaken. When these ambitious mis- have changed 10 million streetlights to LED lights. Through
sions are energised by the partnership of people, they become this, we have saved about three point five billion dollars. Car-
vibrant mass movements. And, these mass movements achieve bon emissions have reduced as well. I firmly believe- money
miracles. Things that were supposed to be previously impossi- saved is money earned. Energy saved is energy generated. This

Modi says India has
ble have now become possible. Coverage money is now being used to empower
for basic necessities of life have reached seen many success millions through other equally effective
almost 100 per cent. Good examples stories in last 5 years programmes.
for this are — Jan Dhan Yojana that has Indeed there is a paradox in what the
ensured near total financial inclusion. in various sectors. The hard facts indicate and what the govern-
And, Swachh Bharat Mission, where ment claims. The only immediate solution
sanitation coverage has reached nearly reason for this is not for India seems to be to boost consumption
all households. only the Governments. through a stimulus given directly to peo-
He said, “In India we faced a big prob- ple. Policy intervention is needed immedi-
lem when it came to service delivery- India has stopped ately in affected sectors to boost economy
leakage. The poor suffered most due to working in a routine, before it is too late.
this. You would be shocked to know that
for years, money was spent on the poor bureaucratic manner LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

29