And for a Friday attending a family wedding in Austin, Texas and closely following the Election results back home….. some thoughts…..
Everything about India is large scale and incredible. Numerators are impressive, the Ratios appalling and the largest democracy conducts such a peaceful election spanning 39 days. 900 million voters, 1.3 mn polling booths and 1.7 mn VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trailing) Machines. An impeccable and well oiled Election Commission announced the Results – NDA wins and PM Modi is all set for his second term. Amidst huge uncertainties in world economy – US, China trade war, UK Brexit, China OBOR (One Business One Road ), FTA with EU, SAFTA (South Asia Free Trade Agreement) without Pakistan?, Middle East crisis, CPTPP etc. etc. – India needs to find and chart its own winning course. There are no easy solutions. Tough negotiations need strong leadership and stable Government. I am confident that with all of us together, India will come on tops.
Whilst travelling abroad, I see lots of people are not aware of the great strides and improvements made in India to pull our citizens out of poverty. Old stories of hunger and helplessness are still being shared. Under the Jandhan bank programme, 385 millions bank accounts have been opened for the poor and marginalised people. The max overdraft in these accounts is Rs 5000, 99% of population covered by Aadhar, PMJJBY an insurance scheme for the poor and unorganised with only an annual premium of Rs. 330. A total of 53.5 mn poor people already covered and 1,02,849 poor families received compensation on the death of the bread earner. The cheapest insurance cover in the world is the PMSBY (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana) The total Premium for a Rs 200,000 life cover is only Re ONE per month – annual cover for Rs 12 only.
Every Indian and every India lover in the World must contribute and participate in the Betterment of our nation. Let us help our fellow citizens out of Poverty. Let us forget all the negatives of the election campaign. Let us build a Modern India with guaranteed equality as enshrined in our constitution. Let’s build a Developed India, the Participative way, the Ethical way, the SEEGOS way.