Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Tuesday, 26 May lauded India's transformation over the past decade, citing sweeping gains in poverty reduction, infrastructure expansion, and social welfare, as the Narendra Modi-led government marked 12 years in power at the Centre. In a detailed blog post on the official portal, Radhakrishnan described the period as a defining chapter in independent India's journey.

Key Achievements Highlighted

Radhakrishnan pointed to a cluster of headline figures to underscore the government's inclusive growth record. He noted that 25 crore Indians have been lifted out of extreme poverty, 12 crore households have received piped water connections, and more than 60 crore people have benefited from improved sanitation under the Swachh Bharat initiative.

He also praised the PM Garib Kalyan Scheme, under which 80 crore people receive 5 kg of foodgrains every month free of cost, and called the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme a 'gamechanger' — one that has extended medical cover to more than 40 crore people.

Women Empowerment and Agricultural Progress

'More than 3 crore women have become Lakhpati Didis and Namo Drone Didis. While traveling across the country, when I meet the Lakhpati Didis and Namo Drone Didis, I see the light of hope shining on the faces of our sisters,' Radhakrishnan wrote.

He credited India's farming community for elevating the country to the position of the world's second-largest food producer and the second-largest rice-producing nation, expressing confidence that women's growing participation would further accelerate this progress.

Infrastructure and Security Milestones

The Vice President singled out the Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir as an engineering marvel, and highlighted large-scale road and highway construction in border and remote areas. He attributed these achievements to close monitoring by the Prime Minister under the PRAGATI platform.

Radhakrishnan also commended the government's zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and anti-insurgency operations, stating that bold policy decisions had, for the first time, opened pathways to connect formerly Naxal-affected regions with mainstream economic growth.

Vision for Viksit Bharat 2047

Invoking Swami Vivekananda's words, Radhakrishnan urged citizens to work toward the Viksit Bharat mission. 'We have set a goal that by 2047, that is, within a century of independence, Bharat should become a leading global power and reach a position of guiding the world. This era of hard work is the Amrit Kaal,' he stated.

He also expressed confidence that India could assume the role of 'vishwaguru' — or guiding light — for the world once it fully unleashes its potential, noting that the country's progress over the past decade had already drawn global attention. As the Modi government enters its thirteenth year, the Vice President's assessment frames the next phase as one of consolidation and ambition.