New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that true national progress is driven by decisions whose impact is felt on the ground and which balance the needs of both the present and the future, rather than short-term announcements aimed at electoral gains.

Speaking at the World Leaders Forum organised by The Economic Times, the Prime Minister noted that in politics, headlines are often dominated by decisions whose effects last only a day or so. Earlier governments, he said, frequently made announcements before the electorate that risked dividing the nation. In contrast, lasting change comes from policies that deliver visible results while securing the country’s long-term interests.

Highlighting two flagship schemes launched by his government as examples, PM Modi pointed to the PM-KUSUM Yojana and the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Under PM-KUSUM, farmers have been relieved of the constant worry of electricity for irrigation, he said. The PM Surya Ghar scheme, he said, has brought significant benefits to the middle class by turning household rooftops into sources of free power.

“We had planned to place a sun on the roof of every house,” the Prime Minister said, adding that more than 50 lakh families are now associated with the scheme.

The government has provided over Rs 22,000 crore to these households for installing solar systems. Beneficiaries are not only generating their own electricity for daily needs such as washing machines and televisions but are also earning by selling surplus power to the grid. As a result, their electricity bills have become zero while additional income has started flowing in.

PM Modi observed that the scheme has fulfilled the dreams of ordinary citizens by ending power cuts that once spoiled milk and disrupted studies of school-going children. Free or affordable appliances have become a reality for many families. He underlined that the benefits of rooftop solar will continue to expand businesses and improve quality of life, irrespective of electoral cycles.

Reaffirming his government’s commitment, the Prime Minister said work would continue with full dedication to take the country forward at a faster pace. With confidence that India would play a major role in shaping the world’s future, he expressed the belief that a stronger, safer and more capable India would emerge to contribute meaningfully on the global stage.

The address concluded with a call for sustained efforts rooted in long-term vision rather than temporary political gains.

--IANS

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