Close on the heels of Gujarat celebrating a decade of peace, unity and brotherhood it is appropriate we share one facet of Gujarat’s development journey that is among its best kept secrets. Otherwise known for vibrant cities, the Gujarat government has given tremendous importance to the development of its villages. During a recent visit to Gujarat, I became well acquainted with the government’s philosophy of ‘aatma gaav ki, Suvidha sheher ki’- meaning keeping the rural character of our villages alive while invigorating them with facilities associated with world class cities. Combining innovation with efficient execution, the Gujarat Government is working towards turning this vision into a golden reality.
The Government began from an area that needs maximum attention. Otherwise known for unity and clan solidarity, villages turn into virtual battlefields during times of elections. This is an all-India phenomenon and the situation is worse during Panchayat more than Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections. People who till then walked shoulder to shoulder become sworn enemies as relations often get strained.
The Gujarat government wanted to end this and they introduced the Samras Gram Yojana. The initiative was aimed at strengthening a culture of consensus and collective decision-making. Samras Grams are those villages that select their Panchayats unanimously through consensus. For doing so, the villages are rewarded- a Samras Gram is awarded Rs. 1,50,000 and those Samras Grams with women Panchayats are awarded Rs. 3,00,000. Gujarat has a total of 8044 Samras Grams and 40 of them are women-governed Panchayats. The Samras Gram Yojana has made representatives not only more responsible but also more humble and sensitive towards the grievances of the people. The mandate-oriented approach of the yesteryears has paved way for an approach of consensus and collective decision-making where everybody is an equal stakeholder.
After political consensus the Government tackled the menace of crime and social disturbances in the villages. Through the Paavan Gram and Tirth Gram Yojanas, the Government sought to strengthen the atmosphere of goodwill and social harmony among the villages of Gujarat. A village that is crime free for 5 preceding years classifies as a Tirth Gram while a village that is crime free for 3 years is designated as a Paavan Gram. A Tirth Gram gets an award of Rs. 1,00,000 and a Paavan Gram is awarded Rs. 50,000. Today Gujarat has 867 Tirth Grams and 206 Paavan Grams.
How villages can become centres of development rising above petty politics is something one must learn from Gujarat. There are 11,000 Nirmal Villages in Gujarat due to excellent standards of hygiene and sanitation. Lakhs of women in the state have joined Sakhi Mandals through which they manage financial activities worth more than Rs.1, 000 crore.
During my forays I also had the opportunity to meet various stakeholders who were building these institutions across Gujarat. Their mission was clear- to make villages centres of harmony, consensus, free from any disturbances where every section of society is self-dependent. Realizing that the process would be incomplete without providing facilities associated with the cities, the Government took equal care to ensure the same as well. First and foremost is the providing of adequate supplies of electricity to the villages. The Gujarat Government’s Jyoti Gram Yojana made a path breaking contribution in providing 24 hours, 3-phase power supply to our villages. Electricity in Gujarat is no longer restricted to urban areas only. 18,000 villages of Gujarat hosted the annual Krishi Mahotsavs that have deeply enriched the lives of our farmers. The state Government has also completed the construction of 6.5 lakh check dams, farm ponds and bori-bandhs for water conservation.
A village cannot call itself developed if it lacks access to the latest technology. Though cutting edge technology reached the cities first, the Gujarat Government is making rapid advances in taking technology to the villages. A major role was played by the e-Gram Yojana due to which the villages enjoyed continued broadband connectivity. The advantage of this can be seen in multiple fields. It has made grievance redressal much simpler and has brought the people very close to their Chief Minister, Minsters and other Government functionaries. At the same time, these villages require a balanced environment where work and leisure go side by side. With the Panchvati Yojana, parks and gardens were constructed so that leisure can complement a hard day of work.
The success story of Gujarat prompts another question: what is different about Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the others? As the captain of the ship, how is he able to steer the ship to newer heights however rough the sea may be? What makes him different from the others? These are questions only statistics cannot answer. One needs to take a look at the person Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi is, the way he is able to turn every challenge into an opportunity and every opportunity into reality. Look back at the history of Gujarat and it will be crystal clear why he is simply a cut above the rest. He is both a thinker and a doer. With his feet firmly on the ground, his head is firmly held high!
For Chief Minister Modi, the cardinal rule is- ‘We’ must take precedence over ‘I”. In every sense he remains a true mass leader. His humble beginnings, his work as a Pracharak and later on in the BJP have enabled him to connect with a cross section of people the way only few other leaders can. Be it a routine visit to inspect developmental activities or an election rally, there is always a sea of humanity waiting for a glimpse of their favourite leader. Even a brief handshake or ‘Namaste’ can energize well-wishers like no other. It was seen on many occasions that well-wishers kept a variety of ‘mannats’ (votive) for the success of Shri Modi. For him to return as the Chief Minister, well-wishers undertook pilgrimages hoping their prayers would ensure their favourite leader returns as the Chief Minister of the State.
This sort of affection for a leader is much more than politics. It is an emotional chord that has come with years of service and dedication towards the people of our nation. His fan following is extremely diverse; from the concrete jungles of urban India to the farmlands of the villages, he is equally respected. Men, women, old, young, boys, and girls no one has remained untouched by the ‘Modi mania’. His popularity has transcended the borders of India too. At the recent Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he won the hearts of the diaspora and was accorded a standing ovation for his speech there.
“Our goal is Gujarat’s growth for India’s growth”- Shri Narendra Modi
For Shri Narendra Modi, it is Gujarat first! He single-handedly reversed the trend of election driven decision-making. Gone are the days when policy was influenced by every other factor apart from development, when votes determined what would happen to the State. Infact, by putting development above politics Chief Minister Modi did the unthinkable. Just before the last Assembly Elections in Gujarat he went overseas in connection with investments for Gujarat. For a normal politician, securing re-election becomes the priority as early a year before the election but for Shri Narendra Modi even months before elections he was securing investments for Gujarat not bothering about getting re-elected.
The results of this selfless dedication are for all to see. There is no sector in Gujarat that has not developed over the last decade. In fact, in a radius of 25 kilometers in any part of Gujarat there will be some or the other development work happening. It is this hard work of Shri Modi that has ensured Gujarat witnesses double digit growth for the first time since its birth in 1960. Gujarat was never at first place in industrial investment in the past but now things are different. In fact in a time when the overall investment climate in the country is going through a rough phase, Gujarat bucked the trend and secured large investments. A state never known for agriculture witnessed 11% agriculture growth that was higher than the national average!
The Government began from an area that needs maximum attention. Otherwise known for unity and clan solidarity, villages turn into virtual battlefields during times of elections. This is an all-India phenomenon and the situation is worse during Panchayat more than Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha elections. People who till then walked shoulder to shoulder become sworn enemies as relations often get strained.
The Gujarat government wanted to end this and they introduced the Samras Gram Yojana. The initiative was aimed at strengthening a culture of consensus and collective decision-making. Samras Grams are those villages that select their Panchayats unanimously through consensus. For doing so, the villages are rewarded- a Samras Gram is awarded Rs. 1,50,000 and those Samras Grams with women Panchayats are awarded Rs. 3,00,000. Gujarat has a total of 8044 Samras Grams and 40 of them are women-governed Panchayats. The Samras Gram Yojana has made representatives not only more responsible but also more humble and sensitive towards the grievances of the people. The mandate-oriented approach of the yesteryears has paved way for an approach of consensus and collective decision-making where everybody is an equal stakeholder.
After political consensus the Government tackled the menace of crime and social disturbances in the villages. Through the Paavan Gram and Tirth Gram Yojanas, the Government sought to strengthen the atmosphere of goodwill and social harmony among the villages of Gujarat. A village that is crime free for 5 preceding years classifies as a Tirth Gram while a village that is crime free for 3 years is designated as a Paavan Gram. A Tirth Gram gets an award of Rs. 1,00,000 and a Paavan Gram is awarded Rs. 50,000. Today Gujarat has 867 Tirth Grams and 206 Paavan Grams.
How villages can become centres of development rising above petty politics is something one must learn from Gujarat. There are 11,000 Nirmal Villages in Gujarat due to excellent standards of hygiene and sanitation. Lakhs of women in the state have joined Sakhi Mandals through which they manage financial activities worth more than Rs.1, 000 crore.
During my forays I also had the opportunity to meet various stakeholders who were building these institutions across Gujarat. Their mission was clear- to make villages centres of harmony, consensus, free from any disturbances where every section of society is self-dependent. Realizing that the process would be incomplete without providing facilities associated with the cities, the Government took equal care to ensure the same as well. First and foremost is the providing of adequate supplies of electricity to the villages. The Gujarat Government’s Jyoti Gram Yojana made a path breaking contribution in providing 24 hours, 3-phase power supply to our villages. Electricity in Gujarat is no longer restricted to urban areas only. 18,000 villages of Gujarat hosted the annual Krishi Mahotsavs that have deeply enriched the lives of our farmers. The state Government has also completed the construction of 6.5 lakh check dams, farm ponds and bori-bandhs for water conservation.
A village cannot call itself developed if it lacks access to the latest technology. Though cutting edge technology reached the cities first, the Gujarat Government is making rapid advances in taking technology to the villages. A major role was played by the e-Gram Yojana due to which the villages enjoyed continued broadband connectivity. The advantage of this can be seen in multiple fields. It has made grievance redressal much simpler and has brought the people very close to their Chief Minister, Minsters and other Government functionaries. At the same time, these villages require a balanced environment where work and leisure go side by side. With the Panchvati Yojana, parks and gardens were constructed so that leisure can complement a hard day of work.
Chief Minister Narendra Modi gave the con concept of ‘Rurban’- the rural spirit with world-class ‘urban’ facilities. Its gladdening to see the state work overtime to achieve this. The trends so far have been very encouraging. Just recently, the Gujarat Government awarded the Best Panchayat Prize to Punsri village in Talod Taluka. I was very impressed to see the advances it has made in all spheres. Among the many things, the village developed its own bus transport service!
Today the ‘Gujarat Model of Development’ is among the most discussed success stories in any forum discussing the growth of India. Gujarat and development have become two sides of the same coin as it shows the way in every aspect of development and administration. The development in Gujarat is truly all round and all-inclusive. The success story of Gujarat prompts another question: what is different about Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the others? As the captain of the ship, how is he able to steer the ship to newer heights however rough the sea may be? What makes him different from the others? These are questions only statistics cannot answer. One needs to take a look at the person Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi is, the way he is able to turn every challenge into an opportunity and every opportunity into reality. Look back at the history of Gujarat and it will be crystal clear why he is simply a cut above the rest. He is both a thinker and a doer. With his feet firmly on the ground, his head is firmly held high!
Here we try to look at some of his qualities that make Narendra Modi a novelty in every sense of the word!
“Individual efforts can bring excellence but only collective efforts can deliver effectively” – Shri Narendra ModiFor Chief Minister Modi, the cardinal rule is- ‘We’ must take precedence over ‘I”. In every sense he remains a true mass leader. His humble beginnings, his work as a Pracharak and later on in the BJP have enabled him to connect with a cross section of people the way only few other leaders can. Be it a routine visit to inspect developmental activities or an election rally, there is always a sea of humanity waiting for a glimpse of their favourite leader. Even a brief handshake or ‘Namaste’ can energize well-wishers like no other. It was seen on many occasions that well-wishers kept a variety of ‘mannats’ (votive) for the success of Shri Modi. For him to return as the Chief Minister, well-wishers undertook pilgrimages hoping their prayers would ensure their favourite leader returns as the Chief Minister of the State.
This sort of affection for a leader is much more than politics. It is an emotional chord that has come with years of service and dedication towards the people of our nation. His fan following is extremely diverse; from the concrete jungles of urban India to the farmlands of the villages, he is equally respected. Men, women, old, young, boys, and girls no one has remained untouched by the ‘Modi mania’. His popularity has transcended the borders of India too. At the recent Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, he won the hearts of the diaspora and was accorded a standing ovation for his speech there.
In the midst of files and policy decisions that consume a lot of time, Shri Modi remains one of the most accessible leaders today. Those who have met him recall with great zeal how he simply won over their hearts in a span of a few minutes! When Shri Modi meets somebody, he does so with his heart and mind and all attention is focused on the person he meets. There are no flies, no aides around him- it’s just him and the person he is meeting! It is simple to meet Shri Modi. There is an instance of a well wisher who sought time with Shri Modi on Twitter. Little did the person know that those 140 characters would pave way for an opportunity of a lifetime when a meeting with Shri Modi became a reality. This is Narendra Modi for you!
Obsessed with Development of Gujarat:“Our goal is Gujarat’s growth for India’s growth”- Shri Narendra Modi
For Shri Narendra Modi, it is Gujarat first! He single-handedly reversed the trend of election driven decision-making. Gone are the days when policy was influenced by every other factor apart from development, when votes determined what would happen to the State. Infact, by putting development above politics Chief Minister Modi did the unthinkable. Just before the last Assembly Elections in Gujarat he went overseas in connection with investments for Gujarat. For a normal politician, securing re-election becomes the priority as early a year before the election but for Shri Narendra Modi even months before elections he was securing investments for Gujarat not bothering about getting re-elected.
The results of this selfless dedication are for all to see. There is no sector in Gujarat that has not developed over the last decade. In fact, in a radius of 25 kilometers in any part of Gujarat there will be some or the other development work happening. It is this hard work of Shri Modi that has ensured Gujarat witnesses double digit growth for the first time since its birth in 1960. Gujarat was never at first place in industrial investment in the past but now things are different. In fact in a time when the overall investment climate in the country is going through a rough phase, Gujarat bucked the trend and secured large investments. A state never known for agriculture witnessed 11% agriculture growth that was higher than the national average!
These are the results when a visionary rises above petty politics and places development of 6 crore Gujaratis as his sole mission.
Gujarat is now considered as a roll-model for development and even the other states and central government has accepted it.The Gujarat opposition parties pullout (advertisement) also accepted the developmental work carried out in the state.It has been established by now that Gujarat has developed as a state and it has become a role-model for development in the country.It has been established by now that Gujarat has developed as a state and it has become a role-model for development in the country.development of Gujarat has now become an issue of hot discussion in the country. Gujarat and development have become synonymous with each other.development of Gujarat has now become an issue of hot discussion in the country. Gujarat and development have become synonymous with each other. Gujarat has emerged as a power surplus state, though it does not have any coalfield
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