Modi govt marks 12 years in office, points to welfare gains and poverty reduction

Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science and Technology, on Friday said welfare benefits under the Narendra Modi-led government have been delivered to eligible citizens without discrimination and that a “saturation-based” approach has helped extend government schemes to the last mile.

Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh to mark 12 years of the Modi government, Singh said welfare initiatives related to housing, sanitation, healthcare, financial inclusion, food security, clean cooking fuel and social security had improved the lives of millions of families.

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He attributed the reach of these programmes to what he described as greater transparency, accountability and technology-driven governance, which, he said, enabled benefits to be transferred directly to intended beneficiaries.

The minister cited India’s socio-economic progress over the past decade, claiming that nearly 25 crore people had moved out of multidimensional poverty as a result of welfare interventions and economic growth policies. He said the gains of development had reached sections of society that had previously remained underserved.

Singh also said access to financial services, digital platforms and public welfare schemes had expanded significantly during the period, allowing more citizens to participate in economic and social development.

According to the minister, improvements in access to basic amenities and economic opportunities have contributed to higher living standards and greater confidence among economically weaker sections.

He said the government’s approach had focused on empowering citizens through welfare delivery mechanisms rather than creating dependency, with an emphasis on transparency and efficiency.