Swachhata and governance reforms will shape Modi’s legacy: Hardeep Singh Puri

On October 7, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accomplished 20 profitable years in excessive public workplace. First, as chief minister of Gujarat, after which as Prime Minister, his two tenures as chief government have redefined management. Nowhere is that this extra seen than within the historic Swachhata marketing campaign.

The primary accomplishment is the huge rejuvenation of water our bodies in Gujarat. From acute shortage to water adequacy in a mere twenty years, the turnaround for a state that was perennially in need of water is astounding. Not solely did Modi as CM oversee the development of the Narmada canal, he additionally led the augmentation of all canal programs and water sources within the state. It led to the state authorities spending greater than Rs 1 lakh crore within the final twenty years to construct 184,000 test dams and 327,000 farm ponds whereas deepening 31,500 ponds and reviving 1,000 deserted step-wells. These measures have resulted in a 77% improve in irrigable space and 55% improve in floor water recharge as we speak.

As PM, his deal with rejuvenating water systems-especially in our cities-is now bearing fruit. His intention: to make the nation ‘water safe’ by way of the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and City Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) and Jal Jeevan Mission.

The guiding philosophy relies on the Gandhian ideas of Sarvodaya and self-sufficiency. Gandhiji was the primary proponent of Swachhata – he highlighted the significance of cleanliness, saying “sanitation is extra necessary than Independence” on the Banaras Hindu College in 1916.

On October 2, 2005, Modi launched the Gujarat City Growth 12 months-the ‘Nirmal Gujarat’ programme was the thread that linked Gandhiji’s unfulfilled dream to Modi’s perception that common sanitation was the fulcrum on which improvement would stand. The programme launched many modern options reminiscent of group involvement, women-led implementation, and deal with behavioural change, demand-driven strategy, and monetary incentives.

The strides made in Gujarat knowledgeable his concept of the Swachh Bharat Mission to transform Gandhiji’s dream right into a actuality. A number of cynics thought it could be not possible to turn into an Open Defecation Free (ODF) nation. We have now gone from a meagre 38% ODF standing in 2014 to virtually 100% as we speak, the notable exception being the state of West Bengal.

Beneath the Swachh Bharat Mission – City (SBM-U), this authorities has constructed greater than 73 lakh bathrooms and elevated the strong waste administration processing functionality of city areas from 18% in 2014 to greater than 70% as we speak. Taking it to the subsequent stage, the Centre launched the SBM-U 2.0 to capitalise on this momentum, and go from being an ‘ODF India’ to a ‘Rubbish-free India’.

The PM is reimagining cities by enterprise probably the most complete deliberate urbanisation train on this planet. We have now unlocked the trapped potential of our cities by making a quantum leap in city investments. Within the final six years alone, the Modi authorities has spent Rs 11.83 lakh crore-a seven-fold improve over the Rs 1.57 lakh crores that was spent between 2004 and 2014-on upgrading essential city infrastructure whereas mainstreaming local weather change, gender, heritage, and fairness.

Beneath the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – City (PMAY-U) – this authorities has sanctioned virtually 1.14 crore homes, with beneficiaries already shifting into greater than 51 lakh housing items. The AMRUT Mission has addressed the wants of primary civic infrastructure in 500 cities with populations of greater than 1 lakh. This has now been adopted by AMRUT 2.0 which envisages common water provide with faucet connection in all statutory cities within the nation. The Good Cities Mission has embedded a tradition of innovation in city improvement that every one the 4,378 city centres can replicate.

These initiatives mirror PM’s coherent imaginative and prescient for the pyramid of city improvement in India – proper from the essential wants of sanitation and housing to superior digital options and mobility.

I firmly imagine that he has carried out extra to reform governance than any previous administration. One solely wants to have a look at the sheer scope of reforms that he has effected: be it bathrooms, financial institution accounts, digital providers, consuming water, electrical energy, defence, or cities, he has stamped his imaginative and prescient on the nation.

(Author is Union Minister of Housing and City Affairs and Petroleum and Pure Gasoline.)