Govt highlights significant all-round achievements; its inability to deliver on infrastructure promises questioned
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — The Narendra Modi government this week completed its first 100 days of its third term, claiming significant achievements across various sectors. However, the main opposition, the Congress party, has found loopholes in the claim and paints a different picture: The government’s initial 100 days are filled with failures and U-turns, it said.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate accused the government of lacking vision and direction. She highlighted that the past 100 days have been marked by issues in the economy, agriculture, youth unemployment, and infrastructure.
At a press conference, the Congress spokesperson’s strongest point of criticism was the government’s handling of infrastructure projects, particularly in the railway sector. Shrinate pointed to the collapse of major bridges, water leaks in the Parliament, and cracks in structures like the Atal and Sudarshan bridges. Additionally, she cited the breaking of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and water seepage in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple as examples of the government’s inability to deliver on infrastructure promises.
Another major area of concern raised by the Congress is the increasing number of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. According to Shrinate, there have been 26 terrorist attacks in the region in the past 100 days, leading to the deaths of 21 soldiers and 15 civilians. She accused Prime Minister Modi of remaining silent on these incidents, adding that Jammu has seen more attacks than Kashmir in recent times.
Situation in Manipur
Shrinate also called attention to the ongoing violence in Manipur, which has been burning for 16 months. She criticised the prime minister for his refusal to visit the state, accusing the government of turning a blind eye to the situation.
The Congress spokesperson also pointed out the economic challenges the country faces, including the devaluation of the rupee and incidents of paper leaks. She emphasised that the Modi government has taken multiple U-turns on various policies, such as the Waqf Board Bill, Broadcast Bill, and the New Pension Scheme (NPS).
According to government sources, a key highlight of the first 100 days is the approval and execution of projects worth ₹3 lakh crore, encompassing infrastructure developments in roads, railways, ports, and airways. The capital expenditure has been increased to ₹11.11 lakh crore, which is expected to create numerous employment opportunities.
One of the key sectors receiving attention has been agriculture. The government has released the 17th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, distributing ₹20,000 crore to 9.3 crore farmers. Since the scheme’s inception, ₹3 lakh crore has been distributed to 12.33 lakh farmers. Additionally, an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Kharif crops for 2024-25 is expected to benefit 12 crore farmers. Major projects like the Polavaram Irrigation Project in Andhra Pradesh have also been greenlit, with a combined approval of schemes worth ₹14,200 crore.
The government also claims that it has offered relief to the middle class by raising the income tax exemption threshold to ₹7 lakh. It further said a unified pension scheme for government employees has been launched, and the third edition of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme has been implemented. Furthermore, the government has approved the construction of one crore new houses under urban housing schemes and two crore new houses under rural housing schemes.
The government’s agenda also focused on the development of weaker and eastern states. The Purvade scheme was launched for the comprehensive development of Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, five new districts were created in Ladakh, and projects worth ₹6,350 crore were approved to tackle urban flooding and ice water management issues.
Women’s welfare has been a key area of focus, with the government forming over 90 lakh self-help groups and awarding certificates to 11 lakh new “Lakhpati Didis.”
On the employment front, the government announced a ₹2 lakh crore package aimed at providing employment and self-employment opportunities for youth. Alongside this, the government plans to create internships for one crore youths in leading companies and has announced 15,000 new appointments.
