CHANDIGARH: Highlighting the transformative journey of the nation over the past decade, BJP Chandigarh State President Jatinder Pal Malhotra addressed a press conference at the party’s state office, Kamalam, in Sector-33.
Malhotra stated that the 12 years of the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have become a “golden chapter” of service, good governance, welfare of the poor, women’s empowerment, social justice, and unprecedented infrastructure development. The event was attended by key party figures, including State Vice Presidents Indira Singh and Naresh Panchal, State General Secretaries Ramveer Bhatti and Sanjeev Rana, State Media In-charge Ravi Rawat, and State Secretaries Meenakshi Thakur and Manish Sharma.
Guided by the mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas,” Malhotra noted that nearly 25 crore people have been successfully lifted out of poverty in recent years.
Transparency and Financial Inclusion
Malhotra emphasized how the Modi Government brought strict transparency and accountability through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
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Leakage Prevention: Benefits were transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, eliminating lakhs of fake beneficiaries and preventing nearly ₹4.31 lakh crore from falling into the wrong hands.
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Banking for All: More than 58 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened, with over 32 crore accounts belonging specifically to women.
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Food Security: Over 81 crore citizens continue to receive free food grains, a massive welfare initiative sustained since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Healthcare & Insurance: Over 60 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Cards have been issued for free healthcare, while more than 58 crore people received social security coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
Rural Upliftment and Economic Welfare
Detailing the government’s grassroots impact, Malhotra shared key statistics on rural development and financial support for small-scale workers:
| Scheme / Mission | Beneficiaries & Impact |
| Jal Jeevan Mission | Clean tap water provided to more than 16 crore households. |
| Swachh Bharat Mission | Over 12 crore toilets constructed nationwide. |
| PM SVANidhi | Financial support extended to more than 74 lakh street vendors. |
| Mudra Yojana | Over 57 crore collateral-free loans sanctioned to boost entrepreneurship. |
He added that the PM Vishwakarma Yojana has empowered millions of traditional artisans and craftsmen across the country.
Empowering Farmers, Women, and Tribal Communities
The BJP State President highlighted the government’s dedicated focus on marginalized and foundational communities:
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Farmers: More than ₹4.3 lakh crore has been directly transferred to over 11 crore farmers under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, while 7 crore farmers benefited from affordable credit via the Kisan Credit Card Scheme.
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Tribal Welfare: ₹15,000 crore allocated for the welfare of tribal communities, alongside ₹79,000 crore earmarked for the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
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Women’s Empowerment (Nari Shakti): More than 3 crore women have become economically independent under the Lakhpati Didi Scheme. Additionally, over 4.5 crore Sukanya Samriddhi accounts have been opened, and the representation of women officers in the security forces has surged from 3,000 to over 11,000.
A Transformation in Infrastructure and Environment
Malhotra pointed out that the work culture in the country has fundamentally shifted to ensure projects are not just inaugurated but completed on time.
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Green Energy: The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households.
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Roadways: National Highway length has expanded from 91,287 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today, with construction speed accelerating from 11.6 km/day to nearly 34 km/day.
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Railways: 99.6% of the broad-gauge network is now electrified, and over 1,337 stations are being modernized under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
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Urban Transit: The metro network has exploded from just 248 km across 5 cities in 2014 to over 1,095 km across 26 cities.
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Aviation: While only 74 airports existed in the first 67 years of Independence, more than 90 new airports have been built in the last 12 years, propelling India into the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market.
Malhotra concluded by stating that the 12 years of the Modi Government represent a massive success story built on the trust and collective efforts of 140 crore Indians. He expressed confidence that this journey of service and self-reliance will continue to strengthen the foundation of a developed India.
