Modi’s moves the dial with a staggering national plan

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Modi’s announcement of an ambitious national infrastructure plan would provide local manufacturers with a platform to compete globally and create new avenues of future economic growth.
Modi’s announcement of an ambitious national infrastructure plan would provide local manufacturers with a platform to compete globally and create new avenues of future economic growth.Courtesy: ANI

Gati Shakti to provide the muscle behind an ambitious blueprint aimed at generating employment and boosting use of cleaner fuels to achieve stated climate goals.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi gave the country’s 75th Independence Day celebration more meaning by announcing a staggering 100 trillion rupee ($1.35 trillion) national infrastructure plan to help generate jobs and expand the use of cleaner fuels to achieve the country's climate goals.

The infrastructure programme, called "Gati Shakti", will help boost productivity of industries and boost the economy, said Modi during his speech at the Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi.

"We will launch a masterplan for Gati Shakti, a big programme ... (it) will create job opportunities for hundreds of thousands.”

While specific details are yet to be made public the aim would be to provide local manufacturers with a platform to compete globally and create new avenues of future economic growth.

Freedom from needless compliances is important for Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. Our industry and trade are feeling these changes. Dozens of labour laws have been brought together in four codes. Our tax system has also been made easy and faceless.
- Narendra Modi, Indian PM

Infrastructure lies at the core of India’s economic progress and will help the country achieve the prime minister vision of turning the country into a $5trln economy. It is also yet another piece of strategic thinking by the government to ensure that the nation can be pulled back to recovery mode following the destruction wrought by two successive waves of the Covid-19 pandemic which threatened to cripple the economy.

Aligned to economic bounce back is the target that the government has set to ensure that India becomes energy independent by 2047. Sunday’s announcement of the ‘Gati Shakti’ scheme is aimed at giving a foundation for holistic infrastructure and an integrated pathway to the economy. A 'National Master Plan' of the scheme will be presented in near future.

Adopting a holistic approach

"While concentrating on modern infrastructure, India needs to work on developing new infrastructure with a holistic and integrated approach. We are set to present to you PM Gati Shakti's National Master Plan in the near future. This new initiative worth Rs 100 lakh crore will bring employment opportunities to the youth," announced the prime minister.

"Gati Shakti will help our local manufacturers turn globally competitive. This will also develop possibilities for new future economic zones. Walking the road of development, India needs to increase both manufacturing and export," he added.

INS Vikrant sails for its maiden sea trials marking the 50th year of its illustrious predecessor’s key role in the victory in the 1971 war, in Kochi earlier this month. Every product of India is its brand ambassador, with the government standing with the people's dream to take over the global market.
INS Vikrant sails for its maiden sea trials marking the 50th year of its illustrious predecessor’s key role in the victory in the 1971 war, in Kochi earlier this month. Every product of India is its brand ambassador, with the government standing with the people's dream to take over the global market.Courtesy: ANI

The road to development

Dwelling on India’s manufacturing journey Modi said, "Recently, India put on trail its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, into the seas.

Today, India is building its own fighter planes and submarines. Gaganyaan, too, is set to take India to new heights in space.
"Seven years ago, we were importing mobile phones worth $8 billion! With the PLI schemes running effectively, the imports have significantly reduced, and we are exporting mobile phones worth $3 billion.”

Employees work at a diamond jewellery manufacturing factory in Mumbai. The ‘Gati Shakti’ initiative is expected to provide employment opportunities to the country’s youth.
Employees work at a diamond jewellery manufacturing factory in Mumbai. The ‘Gati Shakti’ initiative is expected to provide employment opportunities to the country’s youth.Courtesy: Reuters

The government’s 'Make in India' initiative was an example of the government’s efforts to bring about self-reliance. According to Modi, every product of India is its brand ambassador, with the government standing with the people's dream to take over the global market.

"Freedom from needless compliances is important for Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. Our industry and trade are feeling these changes. Dozens of labour laws have been brought together in four codes. Our tax system has also been made easy and faceless," he further said.

"No hurdle can stop us from realising India's aspirations in the 21st century. Our lively nature is our strength. Our unity is our strength. It is time to watch dreams in unison. It is time to work collectively. It is time to walk towards victory," he added.

- Inputs from Reuters & ANI

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