Government schemes propelled 13.5 crore people into new middle class: PM Narendra Modi

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Narendra Modi lauded the transformative power of government initiatives that have uplifted 13.5 crore individuals from poverty into the new middle class. The Prime Minister's address highlighted a range of achievements over the past years, reflecting India's progress in multiple sectors. «PM Modi underscored the journey India has embarked upon, ascending from the 10th largest global economy in 2014 to the 5th largest in 2023», read the Prime Minister's office press release.

The ascent, he emphasized, was fuelled by the relentless fight against corruption, plugging leakages in government benefit transfers and fostering a robust economy that channels public funds towards the betterment of the marginalized. «Today, I want to tell the countrymen that when the country is economically prosperous, it does not just fill the coffers; it builds the capability of the citizens and the nation. If there is a government that takes a pledge to spend this honestly for the welfare of its citizens, only then one achieves such rare progressive outcomes», PM Modi said.

He stressed that economic prosperity becomes meaningful when governments are devoted to utilizing public funds transparently for the welfare of citizens. Such dedication, he affirmed, is instrumental in achieving exceptional progress. Highlighting the exponential growth in financial allocations to states, PM Modi highlighted the quantum leap from Rs.

30 lakh crore to Rs. 100 lakh crore being transferred from the Centre to states over the past decade. He emphasized the substantial increase in allocations to local bodies, which escalated from Rs 70,000 crore to over Rs 3 lakh crore, underscoring the commitment to grassroots development.