Digitally driven change is bringing about ‘silent democratic revolution, democratising of technology in India’: EAM S. Jaishankar

Mr. Jaishankar said that the socio-economic developments, progress or failure in the domestic front mattered while dealing with international relations

: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on March 19, Sunday, that digitally driven change is “bringing about a silent democratic revolution and democratising of technology” in India.

He was delivering the 29th leadership lecture of Tonse Anant Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal on the topic ‘India in the Amritkaal’ in Udupi.

“We have created a digital platform which has transformed governance and which has dramatically cut down leakages,” the Minister said.

Outlining the progress and the Union Government’s initiatives in the country in the past decade, he said that poverty came down at an unprecedented rate during this period. “It is not an anecdotal. This is validated by research and studies,” the Minister said.

Mr. Jaishankar said that 800 million people in the country have been getting food support for the past two-and-half years after the pandemic broke out. “And this has been a key factor in dealing with the social consequences of the pandemic.” He said that 415 million people get money in their bank accounts. About one-third of the population in the country are now getting pensions from the government in one or the other form and 30 million houses have been built for the poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

“The national campaigns such as Digital India, Jaljeevan Mission, Swacch Bharat, Start up India, Beti Bachao Beti Padao etc. each of these are actually the national effort today to achieve what is the global goal by the end of this decade,” the Minister said.

“We are at a per capita income of $2,000 actually creating a social welfare society,” he said.