Correspondent
KOHIMA, JUN 12 (NPN): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nagaland, Friday held a press conference at its state headquarters in Kohima to commemorate “12 Years of Trust, Development and Public Welfare” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Addressing the media, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP Legislature Party leader Yanthungo Patton said the occasion marked a historic milestone as Narendra Modi had become the longest-serving elected Prime Minister of India with an uninterrupted tenure of 4,399 days in office, surpassing the record of the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Highlighting the government’s achievements, Patton said nearly 250 million people had been lifted out of multidimensional poverty during the period, while India had developed an expansive digital public infrastructure. He stated that under Modi’s leadership India had emerged as the fastest-growing major economy in the world and strengthened its geopolitical influence as the voice of the Global South.
Patton said the Prime Minister had worked with the spirit of “Nation First” while focusing on empowering youth, women and farmers. Enumerating key welfare initiatives, Patton said more than 81 crore people were receiving free food grains every month, over four crore houses had been constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and more than 10.5 crore rural households had received tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
He further stated that more than 32 crore women had opened Jan Dhan bank accounts, around three crore women had become “Lakhpati Didis”, nearly 10 crore toilets had been built and over 91 lakh self-help groups had been strengthened. He added that around two crore youth were expected to receive skill training, while over Rs. 40 lakh crore had been disbursed through the Mudra Loan Scheme and more than 10,000 startups had been recognised and supported through government initiatives.
In the healthcare sector, Patton said more than 70 crore people were covered under health insurance schemes and over 60 crore people were receiving free treatment benefits. He also highlighted farmer-centric measures, including direct income support exceeding Rs. 4.3 lakh crore under the PM-KISAN scheme, distribution of 44 crore soil health cards and crop procurement worth Rs. 26 lakh crore at minimum support prices.
On infrastructure development, Patton said the government had implemented 26 greenfield expressway projects, expanded metro rail networks to over 1,100 kilometres, strengthened railway infrastructure and increased the number of operational airports from 74 to 164.
Congratulating the Prime Minister on behalf of BJP karyakartas in Nagaland, Patton expressed confidence that Modi would continue to lead the country with the same energy and commitment towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Also speaking at the event, Higher Education and Tourism minister Temjen Imna Along reviewed the Prime Minister’s 12 years in office, describing the period as a transformative era that had brought a resurgence in national consciousness and provided a new direction and identity to India’s social, economic, cultural, spiritual and global character.
Along said Modi’s governance philosophy had evolved from the slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” to include “Sabka Vishwas” and “Sabka Prayas”, which together had become the foundation of the vision for a developed India.
He said initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana had brought crores of poor families into the banking system, while the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism had enhanced transparency and reduced corruption. He also highlighted unprecedented expansion of infrastructure, including modern highways, expressways, railway modernisation, Vande Bharat trains, airports, ports and digital networks.
Describing the past 12 years as a period that had written a new chapter in India’s capabilities, resolve and achievements, Along said the country had become more confident, self-reliant, culturally rooted and prepared for global leadership. He expressed confidence that under Modi’s leadership India would achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and emerge as a global example of progress, peace, democracy and human welfare.