The Centre on Tuesday, 9 June released a series of booklets marking 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led government, with one publication titled 'From Empowerment to Prosperity' laying out the administration's record on women, youth, farmers and marginalised communities. The booklet frames these four groups as the foundational pillars of a developed India under what it calls the GYAN framework.

The GYAN Framework Explained

According to the publication, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a developed India rests on four pillars collectively termed GYAN — Garib (Poor), Yuva Shakti (Youth), Annadata (Farmers), and Nari Shakti (Women). The government argues that empowering these groups has been central to inclusive development and broader participation in India's growth story.

Women's Empowerment: Key Initiatives

Women's empowerment occupies a major portion of the booklet. The government cites the abolition of Triple Talaq, greater participation of women in the armed forces, sports, entrepreneurship and research, and its commitment to implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies as headline achievements.

On the welfare front, the PM Ujjwala Yojana has provided LPG connections to nearly 11 crore households, the booklet states, with the scheme credited for improving health outcomes and reducing respiratory illness in rural homes. Financial inclusion has been advanced through the PM Jan Dhan Yojana, which has brought crores of women into the formal banking system via the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile framework.

More than 91 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are highlighted as engines of rural livelihoods and entrepreneurship, with programmes such as Krishi Sakhi and Bima Sakhi cited as examples. Over 10 crore rural women have reportedly been empowered through SHG networks, and women entrepreneurs have accessed loans under the PM Mudra Yojana. The booklet also notes that over 17 crore women workers are registered on the e-Shram portal, connecting them with welfare schemes and social security benefits.

On maternal health, the publication states that more than 7.3 crore pregnant women have received health check-ups under the PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, aiding early detection of high-risk pregnancies. Financial assistance of over ₹20,000 crore has been disbursed to pregnant women under the PM Matru Vandana Yojana, according to the booklet.

Youth and Farmers: Growth Drivers

The booklet identifies India's youth as a critical force behind the country's development aspirations, crediting the National Education Policy and skill development initiatives for creating new opportunities. From startups and unicorns to space exploration, the publication presents young Indians as central to the vision of a Viksit Bharat, quoting Prime Minister Modi's phrase: 'Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai, Bharat Ka Anmol Samay Hai.'

For farmers, the government highlights ensuring a Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 1.5 times production costs, strengthening agricultural infrastructure through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, and expanding market access via the e-NAM digital platform. Direct financial assistance under PM-KISAN — including support for women farmers — and India's growing agricultural exports and global recognition of millets (Shri Anna) are also cited as significant milestones.

Welfare for Marginalised Communities

A dedicated section addresses welfare for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, noting increased budgetary allocations and greater participation of these communities in education, employment and entrepreneurship. The government states its approach has been guided by the principle of 'Priority to the Underprivileged', with access to basic amenities, financial inclusion and targeted interventions credited for improving living standards.

The booklet concludes by describing India's development journey over the past 12 years as a people-centric movement guided by 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' — a formulation in which every citizen is framed as a stakeholder. Whether the metrics cited translate into verifiable ground-level outcomes will remain a subject of independent scrutiny in the months ahead.