Governance, Governance, Governance
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In the six months he has ruled India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated a new style of governance, of a "taskmaster" in his own words, peppered with some out-of-the-box thinking that has won him admirers and raised hopes among the people at a level unseen in recent years.
This is the overall assessment of the 64-year-old master communicator, who is seen heading the most powerful Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after the Indira Gandhi era deftly merging the needs of modern India with subtle touches of Hindutva politics.
Having decimated the Congress, he has promised to improve governance, create new jobs, boost infrastructure and clean up India, among a host of other initiatives, while charting a fresh path to improve the country's ties with a host of nations from West to the East.
After taking office May 26, he has sought to remove sloth from officialdom and to make the government target-driven and decisive. The former Gujarat chief minister, now the Bharatiya Janata Party's tallest leader, also favours rules and processes that are people friendly.
Former cabinet secretary Prabhat Kumar calls Modi a decisive leader who has taken some major initiatives but said it was too early to judge his government's performance."In the last 25 years, I have not seen a prime minister as decisive as him. The way he looks at the India of future, he has a dream," Kumar said. "He appears very authentic."
Kumar thinks that the next annual budget, expected in February 2015, would be a major policy document. "Thereafter, the results will have to be shown (on the ground)."
For now, what has generated nationwide interest is the Clean India campaign Modi announced from the Red Fort in his first Independence Day address.
The other major initiatives of the BJP-led government include Jan Dhan Yojana, Sharamev Jayate, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Sardar Patel Awas Yojana and Jeevan Praman.
Modi's critics, however, accuse him of centralising all authority in his hands - a la Indira Gandhi.
Chennai-based political analyst M.R. Venkatesh said that there was almost no corruption now at the top level in the government. "Modi should now start fixing targets for the bureaucracy. Modi is the single point in the central government, and that is also the weakness."
Politically, Modi has kept up the BJP's winning momentum in Haryana where the party has taken power on its own for the first time and, more important, in Maharashtra, albeit by running foul of the Shiv Sena.
Unlike any other prime minister, Modi addressed the nation on the radio regularly. Modi also makes extensive use of the social media and at the same time welcomes feedback and suggestions.
Modi has been personally involved with the initiatives of the government, setting targets and pushing officials to squeeze timelines.
The prime minister is also determined to clean up the polluted Ganga, the holiest of rivers for millions of Hindus.
But there are enormous challenges. The millions who voted for the BJP after Modi's election promise of providing "achche din" (good days) want quick answers to the many problems that confront India.
The most important however is the upward path that Modi has paved for the Indian Diaspora all over the world. He is being heralded as the “Roackstar” Prime Minister who has ruled the media in all countries he has visited. He has most number of fans following him on Facebook and Twitter. While he remains the top contender for the Times Magazine – Person of the year, for us he is already the Man of the Decade!
(See picture gallery along! Just cick next tab: Photo Gallery)
(See picture gallery along! Just cick next tab: Photo Gallery)
In the six months he has ruled India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated a new style of governance, of a "taskmaster" in his own words, peppered with some out-of-the-box thinking that has won him admirers and raised hopes...
(See picture gallery along! Just cick next tab: Photo Gallery)
In the six months he has ruled India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated a new style of governance, of a "taskmaster" in his own words, peppered with some out-of-the-box thinking that has won him admirers and raised hopes among the people at a level unseen in recent years.
This is the overall assessment of the 64-year-old master communicator, who is seen heading the most powerful Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after the Indira Gandhi era deftly merging the needs of modern India with subtle touches of Hindutva politics.
Having decimated the Congress, he has promised to improve governance, create new jobs, boost infrastructure and clean up India, among a host of other initiatives, while charting a fresh path to improve the country's ties with a host of nations from West to the East.
After taking office May 26, he has sought to remove sloth from officialdom and to make the government target-driven and decisive. The former Gujarat chief minister, now the Bharatiya Janata Party's tallest leader, also favours rules and processes that are people friendly.
Former cabinet secretary Prabhat Kumar calls Modi a decisive leader who has taken some major initiatives but said it was too early to judge his government's performance."In the last 25 years, I have not seen a prime minister as decisive as him. The way he looks at the India of future, he has a dream," Kumar said. "He appears very authentic."
Kumar thinks that the next annual budget, expected in February 2015, would be a major policy document. "Thereafter, the results will have to be shown (on the ground)."
For now, what has generated nationwide interest is the Clean India campaign Modi announced from the Red Fort in his first Independence Day address.
The other major initiatives of the BJP-led government include Jan Dhan Yojana, Sharamev Jayate, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Sardar Patel Awas Yojana and Jeevan Praman.
Modi's critics, however, accuse him of centralising all authority in his hands - a la Indira Gandhi.
Chennai-based political analyst M.R. Venkatesh said that there was almost no corruption now at the top level in the government. "Modi should now start fixing targets for the bureaucracy. Modi is the single point in the central government, and that is also the weakness."
Politically, Modi has kept up the BJP's winning momentum in Haryana where the party has taken power on its own for the first time and, more important, in Maharashtra, albeit by running foul of the Shiv Sena.
Unlike any other prime minister, Modi addressed the nation on the radio regularly. Modi also makes extensive use of the social media and at the same time welcomes feedback and suggestions.
Modi has been personally involved with the initiatives of the government, setting targets and pushing officials to squeeze timelines.
The prime minister is also determined to clean up the polluted Ganga, the holiest of rivers for millions of Hindus.
But there are enormous challenges. The millions who voted for the BJP after Modi's election promise of providing "achche din" (good days) want quick answers to the many problems that confront India.
The most important however is the upward path that Modi has paved for the Indian Diaspora all over the world. He is being heralded as the “Roackstar” Prime Minister who has ruled the media in all countries he has visited. He has most number of fans following him on Facebook and Twitter. While he remains the top contender for the Times Magazine – Person of the year, for us he is already the Man of the Decade!
(See picture gallery along! Just cick next tab: Photo Gallery)
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