The making of a 'Modi'fied India

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, transformational changes have taken place across ministries and sectors. Previous governments were content with just managing the affairs and hoped for incremental increase in the outputs. Now, there is a quantum jump. The quality of life of an ordinary Indian has vastly improved. In fact, there has been a definitive change in the way governance is being looked upon by people. People have direct access to benefits. In the past, they were dependant on implementing agencies.

When we were in the opposition, India was starved for recognition. We felt India was always following leaders of other countries. The situation has reversed. I have travelled to many countries and wherever I go, Prime Minister Modi is considered the most popular global leader. Invariably, I have seen people talk about our prime minister as if he is a common leader. Top world leaders are following our prime minister. He is a global phenomenon. From a dependent nation, India has arrived as a global leader in nine years. What sets him apart is his ability to interact with great ease with common citizens, be it farmers, labourers, technicians, doctors and students. On the global stage, he can converse with any global leader on any issue―terrorism, economy, politics and diplomatic matters. Whatever Prime Minister Modi says, it leaves an impact at the international forum. It becomes a leading stand for everyone, and other world leaders start following it. The India growth story is talked about everywhere. Many world leaders I meet ask me about all the success stories in the fields of technology, manufacturing and about the beneficiary schemes for farmers, women and children.

Our National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) programmes are taking judiciary to people’s doorstep. The number of court halls, buildings, residential units and other facilities in lower judiciary has doubled since 2014. The case clearance percentage rose from 82.76 per cent in 2014 to 89.33 in 2022, thanks to technology. The tele-law service has been made free for citizens. NALSA provides services of 700 lawyers in each district exclusively for the tele-law programme. The Lok Adalat has emerged as the most efficacious tool of alternative dispute resolution. With technological advancement like e-lok adalats, more than 1.27 lakh cases were disposed of in 2021. Our key achievement has been the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre (Amendment) Act, 2022, to set up the India International Arbitration Centre for institutionalising arbitration, and bringing India on a global level as that of Singapore, London and Hong Kong. The ministry of law and justice has transformed the litigation process by introducing the Legal Information Management and Briefing System, a web-based application for monitoring cases involving the Union of India in a more effective and transparent manner. Our Nyaya Bandhu (pro bono legal services) programme engaged 69 law schools and enrolled 10,018 advocates from 24 state bar councils.

As part of our citizen-centric facilities, 99.4 per cent of court complexes are connected through wide-area network (WAN), and 18,735 district and subordinate courts have been computerised till date. Using national judicial data grid, 22.09 crore pending/disposed cases along with 20.43 crore orders or judgments have been made available as on February 2. Twenty-one virtual courts have been set up to try traffic challan cases; more than 2.40 crore such cases have been heard. Since Covid lockdown, 2.63 crore virtual hearings have been held by all courts in India. Live streaming of court proceedings has started in six High Courts and the Supreme Court.

The Modi government has always championed the cause of the safety and security of women and girls. The government made provisions for stringent punishment, including death penalty, for perpetrators of rape by passing the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. In 2019, it introduced a scheme to set up 1,023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including 389 exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) courts across the nation for time-bound completion of trials relating to sexual offences. Currently, 773 FTSCs, including 415 exclusive POCSO courts, are functional. Over 94 per cent of the 1.66 lakh cases have been disposed of.

There are many things that make India stand apart. We have gigantic challenges and huge targets, but we cannot be compared with any other country. Despite the unprecedented growth, unfair criticism is hurled by the opposition or critics of the government. It is the beauty of our democracy. Positive criticism is fine and it should be taken in stride. It is a healthy tradition in a democracy. But unfair criticism hits at the image of the country. Some people tell outsiders that Indian democracy has failed, Indian judiciary is failing or the democratic institutions and Constitutional frameworks are being weakened. These are negative and totally false comments. Anyone who tries to hijack the Indian Constitution or judiciary will be rejected by people. Indians will not tolerate it. Just because some political parties have lost the electoral battle, they start targeting the foundation of Indian democracy itself.

I feel proud that I am part of Prime Minister Modi’s council of ministers. I am able to see closely how he manoeuvres himself out of so many challenges, which makes him a true global leader. He has unfathomable energy, and can go into the details of most complex subjects, even scientific and other critical technical issues, with such ease. There is nothing called rest for our prime minister. The only time he rests is when he sleeps. That is why if you see his itineraries, there is no gap at all. The only gap is when he goes from one place to another and even during that time he is working. He has truly transformed the country. The journey he has started will continue strongly in years to come.

As told to Namrata Biji Ahuja