One India, many dreams: 12 years of good governance and development

A few days ago, at an event in Delhi, I met an elderly woman. During our conversation, she said, "Daughter, earlier the government existed for us in the news; now it reaches our homes".

Her words have continued to resonate in my mind.

In a democracy, a government's greatest success is not measured by statistics. Its true identity is built on the trust felt by ordinary citizens. When a poor family holds the keys to a permanent house for the first time, when a mother finds relief from worries about her child's medical treatment, when a sister receives a gas cylinder instead of having to cook on a smoke-filled stove, development ceases to be merely a government scheme and becomes a part of life.

Today, as 12 years of service, good governance, and welfare of the poor under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are being completed, this is not merely a political milestone. It is a journey of social transformation in India, one through which millions of people have experienced change in their lives.

The India of 2014 and the India of today differ not only in terms of time, but also in terms of thinking.

There was a time when schemes were formulated, announcements were made, and budgets were allocated, yet it took years for benefits to reach the last person in line. Today, technology, transparency, and political will have transformed that system. The trinity of Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar, and mobile connectivity has linked governance directly with citizens. Government assistance now reaches beneficiaries' accounts directly rather than through intermediaries.

Over these 12 years, the country has not confined development to cities alone. Villages, the poor, women, youth, and disadvantaged sections have been brought into the mainstream of development. Millions of families have received permanent homes. Millions of people have gained health security. Basic facilities such as toilets, electricity, water, and cooking gas have reached millions of households. The most significant aspect of these achievements is that they place human dignity at the centre.

Poverty is not merely a lack of income. Poverty is a lack of opportunities. Poverty is the constant anxiety that surrounds a family every day. Over the past 12 years, the government has sought to reduce that anxiety. That is why millions of people today see themselves not as beneficiaries but as participants in the journey of development.

Prime Minister Modi has accomplished another important task: He has instilled self-confidence among the people of the country. Today, India stands tall before the world. India's voice is heard on global platforms. Along with being the world's most populous nation, India has emerged as a country of immense possibilities. Whether it is the digital revolution, the expansion of startups, unprecedented infrastructure development, or new achievements in space science, India has established a new identity in every field.

I am particularly pleased to see that women's participation in this transformation has continued to grow. Today, women are not merely beneficiaries of schemes; they are leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. Our country has moved from women's development to women-led development. This change is making India's social structure even stronger.

For young people as well, this decade has proved to be a decade of opportunities. Startup India, Skill India, Digital India, and numerous initiatives promoting innovation have given young people the courage to dream and the confidence to fulfil those dreams. Today's youth are not only job seekers but also job creators.

As the Chief Minister of Delhi, I also experience that Prime Minister Modi's slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas" is a way of governance. When the Centre and the states work together for the people, the pace of development multiplies.

The vision of a Developed India by 2047 that Prime Minister Modi has placed before the nation is not merely a government objective. It is the collective dream of 1.4 billion Indians. An India that is prosperous, self-reliant, and modern, while remaining connected to its culture and values.

Today, when we look back on these 12 years, we do not see only schemes and projects. We see millions of smiling faces. We see the confidence that the country can change and is changing.

I am reminded once again of that elderly woman's words: "Now the government reaches our homes."

Perhaps that is the greatest achievement of these 12 years. The distance between the government and the people has narrowed. Trust has grown. Hope has become stronger. And it is this hope that will become the greatest strength of a Developed India.