AA Edit | Prez speech signals govt's focus on agri, rural reform

In her first address to the newly-elected 18th Lok Sabha, President Droupadi Murmu appears to have given a sneak peek into the policy focus of the third term of the Narendra Modi government. The government’s focus will be on four “castes” that Mr Modi had enunciated in one of his election speeches in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections — the poor, youth, women and farmers. The President reiterated that India could be a developed nation only when the poor, youth, women and farmers of this country are empowered. 

With Opposition parties having pivoted the Lok Sabha elections on public welfare, pushing the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) dangerously close to being a minority in the Lok Sabha, the President said that the new Lok Sabha will script a new chapter on decisions for public welfare. Referring to the upcoming Budget in the next one month, the President hinted at major economic and social decisions. 

Going by the President's emphasis on agriculture, the Narendra Modi government appears to be determined to focus on agriculture and rural economy. Agro-based industries, dairy and fishery-based industries could get a new push from the government. Plans are also afoot on formulating new strategies for agriculture keeping in mind the kind of food products that are in high demand in the global market such as organic products.

The government’s next focus will be on women, who according to some surveys have been one of the biggest vote banks for the BJP. The President said the government will approve the construction of three crore new houses for women beneficiaries. The government will also increase the number of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to fulfil Mr Modi’s promise to make three crore women Lakhpati Didis.

The President’s speech hints at the continued economic reforms with a special focus on the green economy, which will reduce India’s dependency on imported fuel and also create employment opportunities for youth. The government is working towards establishing a digital university to improve skills of the Indian youth staying even in remote locations. She said the government is also working on major reforms in examinations, in an oblique reference to the recent NEET paper leak incident.

Though the Agniveer scheme attracted a lot of criticism during the Lok Sabha elections, the government does not appear keen on phasing it on as the President said that reforms in our armed forces should be a continuous process so that our forces maintain their supremacy during wars. 

Hitting out at the Opposition, the President said that adversarial mindset and narrow selfishness are undermining the spirit of democracy. Even when key reforms were undertaken, the President said they were being opposed and attempts were being made to spread negativity. Stressing on Parliament conducting its business smoothly, she observed that opposition to policies and obstruction of parliamentary functioning are two different things.

Talking about the Constitution, which became one of the key election issues, the President said, as India will complete 75 years as a Republic in January 2025, the Constitution has stood up to every challenge and every test in the past decades, including the Emergency in 1975, which she referred to as the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution. 

While everyone expected the Narendra Modi government to acquire the colours of the Atal Behari Vajpayee government because of its diminished numbers, the tone and tenor of the President’s speech shows that the government has remained unchanged in its approach towards political opposition.