Titles of Modi's schemes like Greek and Latin to people in non-Hindi regions

By NS Venkataraman*
During the last six years, after assuming the position as Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has been striving hard to improve the conditions in India in several spheres. He has launched a number of schemes that can have potentially far-reaching impact on the country. Some of the schemes that have been initiated are the first time efforts in India.
Modi’s schemes like housing for the poor, construction of toilets for poor households, electrification of rural areas, zero bank account for the poor people are steps to ensure that the benefits of the welfare measures directly reach people.
Other schemes include health insurance schemes for the poor, crop insurance schemes for the farmers etc., the Clean India Campaign, promotion of yoga culture and skill development programme for youth.
Realising that without modifying and changing the systems, corruption cannot be wiped out, several measures such as digitalization, anti-benami law, insolvency and bankruptcy regulations etc. have been initiated. Disciplinary actions against corrupt and inefficient bureaucrats at top level in Central government has been taken.
As part of the carrot and stick policy, several raids on corrupt institutions and individuals have been launched to unearth tax evaded black money and corrupt dealings. Some “big names” involved in banking operations, media and business houses have been caught and jailed or actions initiated.
But corruption is so deeply rooted in the country that it cannot be wiped out in one stroke. There have been some hurdles and bottlenecks, with progress not matching the needs and expectations of the people. Lack of sufficient success in corrective steps has been there due to the huge challengers involved.
Abolition of triple talaq practice has liberated Muslim women. Steps taken for the abolition of Article 370 and integrating Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh with rest of India have had far-reaching impact. The Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) explain the logic of the policy to provide Indian citizenship to the harassed people belonging to the minority communities in three neighbouring countries.

Success of Modi in facing onslaught of critics depends on how he deploys credible spokespersons to explain issues

Almost all these measures have been criticized by certain opposition parties, sections of media, intellectuals and activists. They are getting scared of the popular image of Modi. Though Modi’s party has lost a few state assembly elections, the share of its votes has not gone down. Political alignments between opposition parties have caused the setback.
While students in a very few universities have protested, there are large number of universities and students in the country who are not protesting. Modi’s progressive policies and schemes are not being adequately publicized and communicated to the people in a way that common man can understand.

There is a lot of propaganda in the media that the Indian economy has slowed down and is in the verge of collapse. It is said that unemployment level in the country has reached an unmanageable level. It is also said that recession has set in India.
Unfortunately, knowledgeable discussions with facts and figures are not being publicized in the media, and most of the editors publish only articles and conduct discussions by those who agree with their views.
Modi speaks in Parliament and in all meetings only in Hindi, which large section of the countrymen in non-Hindi speaking regions do not understand. Several Central government schemes are given title in Hindi language such as Ayushman Bharat, Ujwala Yojana, Swachch Bharat, Sabka Viswas, Atal Bhujal Yojana.
These title are like Greek and Latin for people in the non-Hindi regions. Most of them do not understand these titles and think that they are really some matter not connected to them.
Today, major problem faced by Modi is due to the fact that his plans and schemes are not being explained to the people with facts and figures by credible spokespersons at different levels in various languages. It remains to be seen as to how Modi will tackle this issue.
The success of Modi in facing the onslaught of opposition parties, critics, sections of media and campaigners against him depend upon how he would deploy credible spokespersons all over the country to explain the issues in proper perspective. It would be tragic if his moves remain unexplained to large sections of countrymen, who may not have the acumen to readily understand the implications and significance of his policy measures.
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*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai