Manmohan Singh – History will be kindest! – Part 2

The country has entered a period of national mourning following the death of iconic figure Dr Manmohan Singh. The second part is about his achievements as one of the country’s finest prime ministers.

Poverty reduction

While Indira Gandhi’s 1971 slogan “Garibi Hatao” gained widespread recognition, it was Manmohan Singh’s government that could legitimately claim to have reduced poverty in an absolute sense. A study presented by Dr. Singh showed that the UPA government significantly reduced the poverty rate in the country during its tenure, from 37.2 per cent in 2004 to 21.9 per cent in 2012. According to the study, the number of poor people decreased to 26.93. It accounted for 21.9% of the total population in 2012, down from Rs 40.71 billion in 2004. In May 2015, Arvind Subramanian, chief economic adviser to the Narendra Modi government, said the pace of poverty reduction from 2005-2006 to 2011-12 was the fastest in the country’s history.

Chandrayan and Mangalyan

From the very beginning of Nehru’s tenure, the Congress Party and its prime ministers have been committed to space science and exploration. The Indian National Council for Space Research (INCOSPAR-1962) and subsequently the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO-1969) have become globally recognized institutions. India was launched on 22nd October 2008 by Dr. Manmohan Singh at the Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh The first lunar exploration mission, Chandrayaan-1, thus advancing the space program. Lunar exploration has given scientists a deep understanding of the moon and its chemical composition. On November 5, 2013, Dr. Singh launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) named “Mangalyaan” to investigate and gain knowledge about Mars.

eradicate polio

Before the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines, immunization against polio and smallpox was an integral part of our childhood experience. After the last polio case was reported on January 13, 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) removed India from the list of “endemic countries with active poliovirus transmission” on February 24, 2012. Since 1988, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Ministry of Health have been working towards polio-free India. 2004.

Rohtang Tunnel

The Rohtang Tunnel, also known as the Atal Tunnel, was conceived by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during an overnight visit to Keylong in 1972. Local residents met her and demanded that a route be developed to maintain connectivity with Manali-Kullu despite snowfall. . Indira Gandhi has directed the Ministry of Defense to look into the feasibility of building roads or tunnels. “On June 28, 2010, then UPA president Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone of this tunnel under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,” he said, pointing out its strategic significance.

Manual Cleanup Act 2013

The Manmohan Singh government enacted the Manual Scavenging Act, 2013 to uphold the right to dignity by banning the work of manual scavengers and promoting rehabilitation of manual scavengers and their families. The legislation provides that the state shall protect marginalized groups, particularly Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, from social injustice and all forms of exploitation. Due to the prevalence of unhygienic toilets and a deeply unequal caste system, the degrading practice of manual scavenging continues in various parts of the country, while existing laws are insufficient to eradicate the twin problems of unhygienic toilets and manual scavenging.

Foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail

In 2012, Singh allowed foreign direct investment (FDI) up to 51% in multi-brand retail and 100% in single-brand retail to promote the growth of contemporary business in India. India’s booming retail sector, which employs millions of Indians and is growing at a sustained compound annual rate, has embraced the government’s plan to allow more foreign direct investment in retail.
Faced with several unsubstantiated corruption allegations over the past decade, Ombudsman Singh’s government introduced the Jan Lokpal Bill and set up an independent Lokpal agency to investigate corruption cases involving senior government officials. This legislation has been in the making since 2010 and was enacted on January 1, 2014 as the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.

GDP and Economic Framework

In addition to the unprecedented reduction in poverty during Manmohan Singh’s tenure as Prime Minister, his government also achieved India’s highest GDP growth since independence, reaching 10.03% in 2010-11 (the figures were compiled by the Narendra Modi government announced but subsequently withdrawn) and continues to maintain India’s highest growth rate since independence. During the ten years under his leadership, GDP growth averaged over 7.5%. Emerging from the financial crisis caused by the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2007-08, the global financial collapse and the ensuing US economic shock, the Manmohan Singh government raised savings rates in April 2011 by 5-5 annual interest rate. Annual fixed deposit rates for all National Savings Schemes, including modest savings rates and public provident fund rates, fell from 7.5% to 8.3%. This monetary policy reflects the resilience of the Indian economy. His government has not raised gasoline prices despite intense pressure on oil prices.

$1 trillion economy

In 2007, Dr Manmohan Singh cautiously celebrated India’s $1 trillion economy. India joined the global group of economies worth $10 trillion, marking the important milestone with low-key celebrations. The achievement of this important milestone has been facilitated by sustained GDP growth of 8%-9%, supported by India’s strong economic fundamentals and the economic prime minister.

National food security legislation

The Manmohan Singh government launched the National Food Security Act on September 12, 2013, with the aim of providing subsidized foodgrains to about two-thirds of the country’s 1.2 billion population. The legislation implemented mid-day meals, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the Public Distribution System (PDS) to provide equal and subsidized food to residents.

UPI payment interface

although UPI (Unified Payments Interface) Officially launched in 2016 under the leadership of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the foundation was laid during his tenure at the National Payments Corporation of India Dr Manmohan Singh Served as Prime Minister (2004-2014). Several key initiatives and policies during his administration laid the foundation for digital payments and financial inclusion in India:

1. NPCI was established (2008):
   • this National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)The company that developed UPI was founded in 2008 as part of efforts to modernize India’s payments infrastructure.
   • NPCI was created to handle retail payments and settlements, laying the foundation for innovations such as UPI.
2. Financial inclusion initiatives:
   • this Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)Scaling up financial inclusion builds on earlier financial inclusion policies initiated during the Manmohan Singh government.
   • Efforts such as promoting simple accounts and expanding banking networks have laid the foundation for integrating digital payments.
3. Introduction to mobile banking:
   • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under Dr. Singh’s government issued guidelines for mobile banking and encouraged the adoption of digital financial services.

Manmohan Singh’s achievements, though undervalued, have not been forgotten throughout history. His only wish at the end of his term was that “history would be kind to me,” and it was. In his farewell speech as Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh summed up his life: “My life and public service have been an open book; I have always strived to serve this great country to the best of my ability.”

In the samadhi and Bharat Ratna of Mahatma Gandhi (Raj Ghat) most deserving of this illustrious icon.

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