Bhopal, June 13: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday described the trust reposed by citizens in the Narendra Modi-led government as its most significant achievement, asserting that India has the potential to emerge as a global superpower within the next two decades through active public participation.
Speaking at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan held at the Kushabhau Thakre Convention Centre in Bhopal, Pradhan said that earning the people's confidence in a democratic system is comparable to receiving a divine blessing. He remarked that the past 12 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership have been marked by stability, self-confidence and rapid development.
Earlier in the day, the Union Minister interacted with women entrepreneurs, members of self-help groups and municipal representatives during the Atmanirbhar Mahila Samman programme at the newly built Atal Bhavan. Emphasising the growing contribution of women to nation-building, he said their participation is crucial to achieving the vision of a developed India.
After reviewing products created by women-led groups, Pradhan praised the achievements of “Lakhpati Didis,” noting that they are setting new standards not only in self-employment but also in education, skill development and innovation. He said women are driving economic growth through entrepreneurship, higher education and skill-based initiatives.
The minister also highlighted innovative projects focused on the reuse of temple waste and the implementation of schemes such as GOBARdhan, saying these efforts are simultaneously promoting environmental conservation, cleanliness and economic self-reliance.
Pradhan announced plans to collaborate with IGNOU to expand educational and skill-development opportunities for women. He added that premier institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), would be engaged to strengthen entrepreneurship and capacity-building programmes for women’s self-help groups.
Referring to the country’s expanding education and innovation ecosystem, Pradhan said India had witnessed substantial growth since 2014. According to him, the number of universities has increased from 723 to 1,338, while colleges have risen from 36,634 to 52,081. He also pointed out that India’s startup ecosystem has grown dramatically, with the number of startups increasing from around 350 in 2014 to nearly 2.5 lakh today.
Drawing a comparison with previous administrations, Pradhan recalled former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s observation that only a small portion of government funds reached beneficiaries at the grassroots level. In contrast, he said, the Modi government has directly transferred more than Rs 51 lakh crore into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through transparent delivery mechanisms.
He stressed that India’s aspirations for rapid development can only be fulfilled through collective effort and citizen participation, expressing confidence that the country is on course to achieve global leadership in the coming decades.
