Acharya Pawan Tripathi on India’s growth story and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047

The Seva Sankalp Abhiyan a monthlong campaign running from September 17 to October 17 aims to highlight Indiarsquos development journey and encourage public participation in the vision of a developed India by 2047The campaign marks Prime Minister Narendra Modirsquos 25 years in public service beginning with his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 and continuing through his years as Prime Minister It seeks to highlight welfare initiatives public service and development programmes through outreach activities and accounts of beneficiariesAcharya Pawan Tripathi treasurer of Shree Siddhivinayak Temple and general secretary of the Mumbai BJP reflects on the importance of public participation in the countryrsquos development journey and the role citizens can play in realising the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047The campaign seeks to take the development narrative beyond government policies and announcements by highlighting experiences from villages cities and communities including those of women young people middleclass households and economically disadvantaged sectionsInitiatives such as Jan Dhan Yojana the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana the Swachh Bharat Mission and Har Ghar Jal have sought to improve access to banking clean cooking fuel sanitation and drinking water These programmes have brought developmentrelated interventions into the everyday lives of familiesWhile speaking about the campaign Tripathi said ldquoDevelopment is not merely about skyscrapers rising in big cities It is visible when electricity reaches a poor household when a woman is freed from the smoke of a traditional cooking stove when a farmer gains access to banking and digital payments or when a family receives financial protection for healthcarerdquoldquoSchemes such as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana PMKISAN and various social security programmes have worked towards this broader objectiverdquo he addedTripathi said ldquoAt the same time Indiarsquos digital journey has moved rapidly forward There was a time when reaching a bank branch itself was a challenge for many people Today making payments through a mobile phone has become part of everyday life UPI has taken digital payments to millions of citizens while the combination of Aadhaar Jan Dhan accounts and mobile connectivity has helped expand the direct benefit transfer systemrdquoDigital public infrastructure has become an important part of Indiarsquos development story However its reach and impact must be assessed alongside questions of accessibility implementation and the benefits experienced by different sections of societyRural development remains another important aspect of the countryrsquos progress Roads housing electricity internet connectivity drinking water and financial inclusion affect rural livelihoods while irrigation agricultural infrastructure and market access remain important to farmersIndiarsquos young population is also central to its development ambitions Programmes such as Startup India and Digital India alongside the National Education Policy have brought innovation technology and skills into the development discourse Indiarsquos startup ecosystem and ambitions in areas such as space semiconductors electronics defence manufacturing and artificial intelligence are also part of this wider transformationSpeaking about womenrsquos participation in the economy Tripathi said ldquoWomenrsquos participation is equally important in measuring Indiarsquos development Selfhelp groups MUDRA loans womenled entrepreneurship maternity support nutrition and healthcare initiatives have sought to strengthen the economic and social position of womenrdquoThe campaignrsquos official programme list includes Aangan Milan Seva which provides a platform for community engagement around anganwadi centres Issues such as nutrition immunisation maternal health and child development remain important to improving health outcomes for familiesTripathi said ldquoI believe the true value of any government initiative should be assessed beyond figures and documents This is why the focus on real beneficiary stories under the lsquoSeva Sankalp Abhiyanrsquo is importantrdquoThe campaign includes Seva Ki Kahani and Namo SevandashAnkahi Kahaniyan among other programmes Such initiatives seek to bring accounts of public service and welfare closer to citizens The specific scale and format of beneficiarystory collection should be confirmed with the campaign organisers before publicationAnother programme Seva Mera Yogdan focuses on citizensrsquo participation in community service Activities such as blood donation tree plantation cleanliness drives health checkups water conservation digital literacy cyber safety and support for children in need can encourage collective responsibilityThe spirit of service Tripathi said should extend beyond political parties and governments It is also a responsibility of citizenship with individuals and communities contributing to social welfareThe campaign also includes Mere Sapnon Ka BharatndashChitra Seva which provides a platform for people to express their vision of Indiarsquos future through creative participation Engaging children and young people in conversations about the countryrsquos development can help bring their aspirations into the wider public discourseOther campaign programmes include Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra Seva Setu Abhiyan Seva Ke RangndashRashtra Ke Sang Seva First Innovation Challenge and Sushasan Seva Samvad Together these initiatives are intended to encourage participation in public service and discussions around developmentTripathi said ldquoI do not see Indiarsquos development journey merely as a relationship between the government and its citizens It is also the journey of a society in which citizens understand their responsibilities and contribute to nationbuildingrdquoSeveral initiatives launched or expanded during Modirsquos tenure have contributed to this development narrative At the same time challenges such as unemployment inequality agricultural incomes the quality of education access to healthcare and regional disparities remain A balanced understanding of development requires continued discussion of these challenges alongside the achievementsThe vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 envisages India becoming a developed nation by the centenary of its Independence Achieving this goal will require sustained efforts to improve living standards expand opportunities and ensure that the benefits of development reach different sections of society ldquoThe goal of a developed India is not the responsibility of one individual institution or government It is a longterm journey that can be achieved only through the participation of millions of Indiansrdquo Tripathi saidService Leadership and Shared ResponsibilityDevelopment becomes meaningful when it improves everyday lives through better healthcare housing clean water education and employment opportunities While government initiatives play an important role citizens can contribute through volunteering cleanliness drives blood donation water conservation and supporting those in needAs India looks towards 2047 inclusive growth responsible citizenship and community participation will remain essential to its development journey Sustained collective efforts by individuals communities and institutions can help make development more equitable and ensure that its benefits reach those who need them most