‘12 Years of Saksham Middle Class’: PM Modi showcases NDA’s achievements

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the NDA government has consistently focused on improving the quality of life of Indias middle class highlighting a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure connectivity public services and financial wellbeing over the past decadeSharing a series of posts on social media under the hashtag 12YearsOfSakshamMiddleClass the Prime Minister said the government remains committed to addressing the aspirations of middleclass families whom he described as key contributors to Indias developmentIt is the NDA Governments privilege to be working towards fulfilling the aspirations of our middle class They have contributed to nationbuilding in countless ways PM Modi said in a post on XGovernment focuses on lsquoease of livingrsquo initiativesThe Prime Minister said governance during the past decade has increasingly centred on improving everyday life for citizens through better infrastructure expanded opportunities and easier access to public servicesAccording to Modi the governments efforts have focused on areas such as affordable healthcare quality education cleaner cities improved transport systems and reduced burdens in daily lifeThe remarks came as the Centre highlighted various initiatives it says have contributed to enhancing the ease of living for middleclass households across the countryDigital connectivity expands across urban and rural IndiaA post shared by MyGovIndia and reposted by the Prime Minister pointed to the rapid expansion of internet connectivity over the last decadeAccording to the government platform internet access has grown significantly across both rural and urban regions supported by a sharp increase in digital infrastructure and declining data costsThe post stated that India now has more than 103 crore internet connections enabling wider access to online education digital payments government services and entertainmentThe growth of digital connectivity has also supported the expansion of egovernance initiatives and digital public infrastructure in various sectorsRailways metros and highways receive major infrastructure pushThe government also highlighted improvements in transportation infrastructure particularly in the railway sectorAccording to MyGovIndia the expansion of Vande Bharat train services has improved travel speed and passenger comfort on several routes The government stated that 164 Vande Bharat trains are currently operational and have served more than nine crore passengersThe post further noted that the introduction of sleeper versions of Vande Bharat trains is expected to improve longdistance travel optionsUrban mobility has also received a boost through the expansion of metro rail networks in major cities Officials said growing metro connectivity has helped reduce traffic congestion and improve commuting efficiency for millions of daily passengersOn road infrastructure the government pointed to the expansion of national highways and the modernisation of toll collection systems which it said have improved logistics efficiency and reduced travel delaysRegional air connectivity expandsThe government also cited the expansion of regional air connectivity as a key achievementAccording to MyGovIndia a growing network of airports and air routes has improved connectivity between smaller cities and major urban centres facilitating easier movement of passengers and goodsOfficials said enhanced regional connectivity has helped integrate more regions into the national transportation network while creating new economic opportunitiesTax reforms and digital services highlightedAmong the measures highlighted for middleclass taxpayers were changes in income tax provisions over the yearsThe government said the taxfree income threshold has increased significantly since 2014 while a higher standard deduction has provided additional relief to salaried individualsMyGovIndia also highlighted the digitisation of public service delivery through platforms such as Common Service Centres CSCs and UMANGAccording to the government citizens can now access more than 800 services online reducing paperwork and improving transparency and convenience in accessing government schemes and servicesFocus on mobility and public service deliveryThe post further highlighted newer mobility initiatives including Bharat Taxi and womenfocused transportation programmes aimed at improving safety and accessibilityAccording to the government such initiatives are designed to create more reliable and inclusive transportation systems while generating livelihood opportunities for drivers and service providersThe Prime Ministers remarks come as the NDA government continues to showcase its policy initiatives and infrastructure projects completed over the past 12 years with a particular focus on measures aimed at improving living standards and public service delivery for Indias growing middle class