MODI'S GUJARAT

MODI’S GUJARAT

Assembly elections in Gujarat were due this December. Chief Minister Narendra Modi faced yet another acid test of his political career. His win will definitely catapult him to the National stage with many people from the BJP clamouring to make him the party’s flag bearer – its PM’s candidate.

I was in Gujarat to do a pre-election coverage on Modi's Gujarat. This was for the first of the many surveys we did before and during these elections.

For the past 3 years, Gujarat is in the news for its all round development.

Nationwide there is a buzz that Narendra Modi’s Gujarat has achieved a lot of progress and has made rapid strides in development and industrial progress largely on account of Modi’s inspiring leadership, unquestioned integrity and good governance.

What was being tom tommed is Tata' Nano, Ambani's interest, Amitabh as brand ambassador - to show case Modi's developmental work. After Tata Motors and Ford, French carmaker Peugeot is building a manufacturing facility at Sanand. Modi appears to turn the region into an auto hub. Top carmaker Maruti Suzuki is about to set up a plant at Becharaji in Mehsana district, while other companies have similar stories to narrate.

Throughout the country, Modi has come to epitomize high quality governance symbolized by unmatched delivery of public services, rapid strides in development, ever-growing public and private investments in the state, clean administration largely free from corruption etc. etc. No wonder, most people across the country would like to have a leader like Modi to lead them.

Modi is known to have cut red tape; he is credited to have almost ended corruption and made it easy to do business.

We decided to interact with the common man as to his perception of Gujarat's Development – and this survey in Surat, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Godhra, Dahod and surroundings so far.

And this is what I have seen :

At a time when the brazenly corrupt Congress led UPA government at the Centre has shocked the nation with its unmatched record in corruption, Modi has zealously protected his image as an incorruptible leader, while also showing zero tolerance for corruption in his governance. While Modi’s personal integrity remains unquestioned, even his worst political rivals and critics concede that he has been able to provide a corruption-free government in Gujarat.

The journey towards development cannot be completed overnight. It comes with values, vision and the ability to deliver whatever the circumstances may be. When Shri Narendra Modi took over as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, the State was going through a terrible earthquake tragedy. Furthermore, there had been a drought & flood. Several sectors required urgent Government attention. But as time progressed ‘Gujarat’ became synonymous with ‘Development’.

At the heart of every success lies a philosophy that drives it. In case of Gujarat it was Shri Narendra Modi’s Panchamrut Philosophy, a vision for the all-round development of Gujarat. Panchamrut is the integration of five different streams – Jal Shakti, Urja Shakti, Jan Shakti, Gyan Shakti and Raksha Shakti - which has driven the growth Gujarat.

Through these Panchamrut, the government has been able to substantially improve the quality of life. Through the mantra of ‘Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas’ (All together, growth for all) and Panchamrut Philosophy, Gujarat witnessed a significant increase in income and employment levels for its citizens. Shri Narendra Modi has shown the world ‘good governance’ is not merely a phrase but a concrete performance.

Under Narendra Modi, Gujarat has made rapid strides in development over the past decade. Go to any part of Gujarat and I bet you will see huge development works underway. Anna Hazare knew full well what is happening in Gujarat when he praised Modi for his leadership. Notwithstanding the unending ranting by pseudo intellectuals of Gujarat, people all across Gujarat say that the state is progressing well. What is important is that the message of development has traveled far and wide defying the designs of opponents to spread calumny about Modi and Gujarat.

Modi's Gujarat:

• Law and Order:

Law and order situation in Gujarat is the best you can obtain anywhere in the country today. In a state that had witnessed periodic communal disturbances under the Congress rule, Gujarat had been remarkably peaceful over the last decade. There has not been a single incident or a day of curfew in Gujarat since 2002. No Congress ruled state can match that record.

Evidently, what goes on in the name of communal tension in Gujarat is propaganda unleashed by vested interests and there is absolutely no basis for such assessment.

The State's progress largely owes to communal harmony and peace. Ten years ago, Gujarat literally lived in darkness. It lived in a world terrorized by violence and deceit, corruption and cunning fundamentalism and atrocity.

Peace and harmony in Gujarat has propelled the Development Growth of Gujarat. Gujarat rose to glory with the support of its six crore people who exuded faith in Shri Narendra Modi and his governance. The business confidence boosted with the success of Vibrant Gujarat Summit, each year plummeting rise in Investments.


The harmony amongst people has strengthened with no difference of caste, creed or religion. Peace prevails as no fear grips in for communal divides as people have realized the path of progress is development and not at all deterred to make conflicts but strive together to seek sustainable happiness. Peace exist in Gujarat because six crore Gujaratis have realized that quality of life depends on how well they understand and manage the economic, social and environmental challenges before them.


Gujarat and Development has become synonymous to each other.This is because of the atmosphere of peace, unity and harmony that prevails in the state, which has become a yardstick of development.

•In Dhanpur, a small village in remote area of Dahod district, you have 24 hour electricity and women run the night shift of our small scale unit, said Mrs Swati Bedekar - whose NGO runs a unit there.

•Roads are in good conditions all over the state.

A top Planning Commission study, supported by World Bank, has said that Gujarat offers an example of international best practice in roads management.

•NRHM - 108 Ambulance service running excellently - call and ambulance available in less than 10 minutes even in Limkheda like small towns of Panchmahal.

•Gujarat is surplus in power- Plants have to shut down due to excess power for Gujarat and adjoining Maharashtra not wanting to buy due to paucity of funds.

Gujarat's power sector was in a shambles in 2001, when Narendra Modi became chief minister. A decade later it is in the forefront of states that have carried out sweeping power reforms, as a result of which it now has surplus power.

•Ample employment- to the extent Gujarat Congress’s yet another poll agenda has been punctured, this time by a department under Union Ministry of Labour and Employment.

In cities like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mehsana etc man power not available for employment. Govt officials do surveys in households as to whether anyone is unemployed ? People joke that 5 years down the line Gujarat will have to import man power from China.

•Responsive Govt Officials, they phone NGO's and communicate with them regarding their proposals - give guidance..

•Grievance Redressal Cell effectively functioning even in remote areas like Chopat Palli, near Limkheda in Dahod. Complaints solved with 24 hours.

•BRTS scheme successfully implemented in Ahmedabad.

The Ahmedabad BRTS is fast on its way to be the best in the country. This is what Dario Hidalgo, a public transport expert from Mexico had to say during his visit to the city.

In his lecture, Dario — senior transport engineer in EMBARQ — made a comparative analysis of the BRTS system in Delhi, Ahmedabad and Guadalajara, Mexico.



“The Ahmedabad Janamarg Limited is already a best practice BRTS. It requires careful completion and continuous monitoring to make it a success,” he said, after taking a ride in an AJL bus.



Happy with the way the project has been executed so far, he said, “After the Delhi BRTS fiasco, the remaining cities in India became hesitant to implement BRTS. But Ahmedabad is likely to show the way regarding public transport system to this part of world.”

•Fantastic implementation of Sabarmati River front project.

Since Shri Modi took over as Chief Minister in 2001, he decided to give immense importance to the re-development of the Sabarmati River front. Apart from serving as an icon for the city of Ahmedabad, the project will bring a marked environmental improvement in the city by allowing retaining of ground water and providing cleaner water to the city. It also provides a green coverage in the heart of Ahmedabad.

•Largest solar power generation in Asia - 6600 MW - Narmada Canal Solar Project

Some of the best ideas, when it comes to the introduction of relatively new technology comes when it solves a couple of problems at the same time. The idea to cover the Narmada branch canal in Gujarat with solar panels is an especially clever one.

Not only will the solar power generated from the panels provide clean energy for the local residents, it will be saving an incredible amount of land. When the canal is covered over there is the additional benefit of saving huge quantities of water that would otherwise be lost from the irrigation canals through evaporation. That’s three benefits gained through the installation of solar panels and a significant saving of some of our most important natural resources.

•General ease in common man's life - people have belief in the system - that it works..

Modi has also reaffirmed his commitment for successful implementation of Total Sanitation project, which aims to achieve the goal of Nirmal Gujarat (filth-free Gujarat). Development projects to the tune of Rs.188.86 crores are being undertaken by the administration.

Under an initiative, the state is attaching top priority to women, while offering benefits under various schemes, being implemented to offer dwelling units to the urban-poor. State has been giving special incentives to women, if property deed is registered on the name of a woman. According to an estimate, the state has borne revenue-loss to the tune of Rs. 150 crores. It reflects state government’s deep commitment for women empowerment.

With Beti-Bachao and several other initiatives taken by Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat has come a long way ahead and has topped among the safest places to work. With a large number of BPOs coming to Gujarat, the tag of women friendly state where the security and safety of women is duly taken care of is attracting one and all.

This is what the Garvi Gujarat I found.

In the next series of articles, we shall look into the various factors of gujarat’s development and how Modi’s model of governance has impacted the people and the state.

- Dayanand Nene