It was believed that good governance and development is bad politics. Elections cannot be won on that. But the voters of Gujarat did something different. They showed good governance and development is good politics. It is not easy to fight elections on issue of development and I am glad people of Gujarat placed development over everything else.
If we have to move ahead in the 21st century development is the only way ahead. It is not about how much money you have but to do something better than before.” He affirmed that when people give their acceptance to development the responsibility and commitment of the Government increases even more.
We want to scale new heights of development. India is the world’s most youthful nation. A nation with such youth power cannot dream small. We cannot commit this crime. We should dream big, we should enable the youth to dream big and we should give them an opportunity to realize their dreams. For that, if rules need to be altered, if priorities need to be changed then so is it.
Earlier Gujarat was known as a trader state but now it is also known as a manufacturing state and added that the state is now on the path to being an auto hub. The Government is giving impetus to infrastructure, which does not only mean roads but goes beyond to include ports, gas grid and lot more.
I am proud that 18,000 villages have broadband. Schools in the villages have Internet and due to that long distance education is possible. The Government’s New Textile Policy and stated that Gujarat is a state where there is 0 man days loss. And the Government is working on skill development initiatives in a very big way.
In various sectors the contribution of women is immense. In the exhibition at 2013 Vibrant Gujarat Summit there is an entire pavilion dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship among women.
Growth in agriculture through better technology, ‘per drop more crop’. He spoke how Gujarat ’s transformation in agriculture and stated that the state’s agriculture is growing a 11% when the national growth rate is not going beyond 3%. Gujarat ’s farmers have added new strength to the development journey of the state.Likewise, the strides made by Gujarat in tourism.
Earlier Gujaratis were known as best tourists but now the state has become a tourist destination in its own right. I hearty invited the diaspora to visit the Gir forests and the ongoing Rann Utsav. I strongly expressed my confidence that Gujarat will do well in the services sector.
I have already requested to prime minister of India that the 2015 Pravasi Bharatiya meet be held in Gujarat . This is because the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is linked to Gandhi ji’s arrival from South Africa and 2015 marks the centenary of Gandhi ji’s arrival to India from South Africa .
-- Excerpts from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's Speech at the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Kochi.
