New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasized India’s remarkable transformation from dependency to self-reliance over the past decade, stressing that the vision of a developed India by 2047 could only be realized through collective effort.
Speaking at the TV9 Summit, PM Modi remarked that India is no longer just a country of dreams but one that is turning those dreams into reality. “We must reflect on the past to understand how India has progressed — from dependence to self-reliance, from aspiration to achievement. A decade ago, mothers and sisters were forced to limit themselves between sunset and sunrise for basic sanitation needs, but the Swachh Bharat Mission has resolved that,” the Prime Minister stated.
Highlighting various welfare schemes implemented under his government, PM Modi pointed to Ayushman Bharat as a solution to the high cost of healthcare that burdened the poor in 2013. “In 2013, expensive medical care was a challenge, but Ayushman Bharat has provided a solution. Today, they have access to water from every household through ‘Har Ghar Se Nal Jal,’” he added.
He also emphasized reforms in the taxation system, stating, “Our government uses every penny of taxpayers’ money with honesty and also respects the taxpayers. The government has made the tax system more taxpayer-friendly.”
“In the last 10-11 years, India has transformed across every sector and progressed in every field — and this significant change has come from a shift in mindset. For several decades after Independence, a narrative was promoted in India that considered only foreign things to be superior,” he said.
PM Modi cited India’s evolving banking landscape as an example of this transformation. “Sixty years ago, bank nationalisation was implemented to ease access to services, but the reality was that many villages still lacked basic banking facilities. Today, we have transformed the banking landscape with online banking accessible from home and a banking touchpoint within 5 km of every area.”
He also stressed that the country’s infrastructure improvements are matched by a strengthened banking system nationwide.
In his address, PM Modi praised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its efforts, stating that the agency has recovered over Rs 22,000 crore, which has been legally transferred to those who were previously looted. “Moreover, those who looted the country are now being forced to return the money. Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered over Rs 22,000 crore, which has been legally transferred to those who were looted,” he said.
PM Modi also highlighted the change in India’s global image. “Earlier, India was seen merely as a market; today, the world views it as a major manufacturing hub,” he noted. “We must achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047, and as I said from the Red Fort, this will require everyone’s effort.”
On India’s leadership in global affairs, PM Modi spoke about the country’s efforts in championing the cause of the Global South and tackling climate and energy challenges. “The world must unite to face global challenges, especially energy. That’s why we launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA), so even smaller nations can access sustainable energy,” he said, adding that over 100 countries have already joined the initiative.