Ekta Nagar, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday criticised previous Congress governments over their handling of poverty, saying elections had been fought for decades on the promise of eradicating poverty, but the condition of poor people had remained largely unchanged.
Addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas gathering at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat, Modi said significant progress in tackling poverty had begun only in recent years and cited a World Bank report to support his claim.
“Since Independence, there has been talk of removing poverty in India. Votes were sought in the name of removing poverty, but we all know the condition of poverty in the country. Those who raised the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ themselves kept becoming richer,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the situation had started changing over the past few years. Referring to a recently published World Bank report, he said 500 million Indians had moved out of extreme poverty in the 10-12 years before 2024.
He also said the share of people living in extreme poverty had declined from 27 per 100 to fewer than three per 100.
Modi described the change as a major achievement recognised internationally and attributed it to the government’s focus on welfare and the empowerment of poor households over the past 12 years.
He said the delivery system had been made more transparent and less vulnerable to leakages, enabling funds released by the Centre to reach beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
The Prime Minister also cited free foodgrain distribution and healthcare, construction of permanent houses and toilets, access to clean cooking fuel and insurance coverage as measures that had helped reduce the financial burden on poor families.
“These initiatives had helped households save money and provided support during difficult circumstances,” he said.
Modi said the government’s approach had shifted from making promises about poverty eradication to implementing welfare measures aimed at improving beneficiaries’ living conditions.
The address was delivered during National Unity Day celebrations marking the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The Prime Minister said India’s progress in reducing poverty, alongside efforts to strengthen national unity and security, would help the country move towards the goal of becoming a developed nation.
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