As Prime Minister Narendra Modi nears completion of his first year in office, Cabinet ministers evaluate his performance and insist that transparency and reform are the hallmarks of the Modi government
Ahead of the first anniversary of the NDA government this month, Sudhir Chaudhary, Channel Head - Zee News conducted ‘Modi Sarkar Ka DNA Test’ with 10 ministers on the dais on May 8, 2015 at Hotel Ashoka, New Delhi.
The underlying aim of the Modi government ministers speaking at the Zee Media conclave was to highlight the work of the government over the past year, especially with regard to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, doing away with policy paralysis, ensuring ease of business, large scale digitization and reforms in the education system.
In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s all-out push for the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister, said, “For the defence sector, the ‘Make in India’ programme is an important step.” He also stated that in matters of ensuring security of its citizens and its territory, India will move ahead of its neighbours, including China. Parrikar, a late entrant in the Modi government, also said that the NDA government had inherited less assets and more liability from the incumbent government, resulting in more difficulties to be dealt with.
Smriti Irani, Minister for Human Resources Development, claimed that game-changing decisions had been taken in the last one year. “In one year, the HRD ministry has taken at least 60 big steps to improve the education system of the country. Many of these are related to establishing a connect between primary and higher education,” she said.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications and Information Technology, on his part, reassured that the government is earning money through honest means. “Earlier, the ministry was known for scams and scandals. Recently, we conducted the spectrum auction worth Rs 11,00,00 crore without any dishonest deals,” he stated.
Talking about ‘Digital India’ started by the NDA government, Prasad said, “I want even a cobbler and a blacksmith to use their smartphones and with the help of our portals, seek better employment opportunities.”
Lauding the performance of the Modi government, Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said, “In the last one year, we have taken decisions that have resulted in protecting the environment and ensuring growth at the same time.” He added that compared to the UPA, this government has ensured transparency in the system.
Stressing that the Coal Ministry had been under the scanner for a long time, Piyush Goyal, Minister of State with independent charge for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy said, “We had done an honest and systematic coal auction. We have made the system transparent.”
The event was also addressed by Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Railways, Chaudhary Birender Singh, Minister for Rural Development, Mahesh Sharma, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (Independent Charge) and Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs.
