Gandhinagar: October 7, 2001, was significant for Indian politics. Shri Narendra Modi, who had previously been involved with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) without direct engagement in electoral politics, became the 14th Chief Minister of Gujarat at the age of 51. This marked his transition from a background role in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to taking on a leadership position in Gujarat.

Usually, when people become Chief Ministers, they enjoy a luxurious and grand lifestyle. However, Shri Narendra Modi’s journey took a different path. He faced challenges head-on after becoming Chief Minister. He had a reputation for tackling difficulties with courage. Despite various oppositions, he remained steadfast in his journey.

Gujarat was facing significant challenges when Shri Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister. People were angry because the government’s response to the devastating earthquake, which had claimed thousands of lives, was perceived as inefficient. This made his role as the Chief Minister a little more challenging.

The BJP’s top leadership chose Narendra Modi to become the Chief Minister of Gujarat which was often referred to as a stronghold of Hindutva ideology. They made this decision because of his strong organizational skills and diligent work ethic.

Surprisingly, upon assuming office, Shri Narendra Modi wasted no time in putting his plans into action to create a more efficient, responsive, and citizen-focused administration. He stressed the importance of adopting technology in governance, a departure from the traditional paper-based systems prevalent in the country at that time. It’s said that on his very first day as Chief Minister, Shri Modi conducted a video conference meeting with at least 10 district collectors, showcasing his commitment to modernizing governance.

Facing significant challenges like the reconstruction of Kutch and the declining state of education, health, and agriculture, along with tough competition in industry and capital investment, Shri Narendra Modi developed a fresh strategy. He delegated the responsibility of executing his vision for modern Gujarat to administrative officers.

Shri Modi had a distinctive approach to governance. It’s said that in his first meeting with administrative officials as Chief Minister, he quietly listened to their opinions and encouraged them to share their views. His method of recognizing people’s potential was quite surprising.

October 7th, 2001: On this historic day 22 years ago, @narendramodi took the oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

At just 51 years old, he had never held public office before. pic.twitter.com/AaHpv2kuIx

— Modi Archive (@modiarchive) October 7, 2023

When Shri Modi began his tenure in Gujarat, he put a strong focus on achieving good governance. He worked tirelessly to improve Gujarat’s reputation as an industrial state both nationally and internationally. His efforts included streamlining bureaucratic processes, making them more transparent, and reducing red tape.

Shri Narendra Modi initiated an innovative online platform called ‘SWAGAT’ to address public grievances through technology. This program was the first of its kind in the country at that time.

Shri Narendra Modi encouraged administrative officers to step out of their air-conditioned offices and engage with the public directly. He introduced a fresh development model for Gujarat through initiatives like Shala Praveshotsav, Kanya Kelavani Rath Yatra, Gunotsav, Krishi Mahotsav, Garib Kalyan Mela, Pashu Swasthya Mela, Khel Mahakumbh, and Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Shri Narendra Modi saw the great tourism potential in Gujarat and took various steps to boost it. He focused on developing tourist spots in Kutch, which had suffered from an earthquake. He did this by promoting industries and organizing events like the ‘Kutch Rannotsav.’ Gujarat’s tourism also flourished with festivals like Vibrant Navratri, the International Kite Festival, the Kankaria Carnival, the Tarnetar Fair, Saputara Monsoon and Winter Festivals, and the Matru Vandana Festival in Siddhpur. The ‘Khushboo Gujarat Ki’ campaign showcased Gujarat’s tourism gems to the nation and the world, making the state a popular global tourist destination.

Gujarat had been struggling with an acute water crisis. The shortage of water for drinking and irrigation was hindering the state’s development. Surprisingly, despite having a big river like Narmada, Gujarat wasn’t able to fully utilize its resources. The construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam faced numerous obstacles, including opposition from the central government and various NGOs. However, his unwavering determination and passion played a crucial role in turning the Narmada Project into a reality for the Gujarat Government. Today, Narmada Water provides drinking water and irrigation to Saurashtra-Kutch and North Gujarat.

Shri Narendra Modi became the Chief Minister on October 7, 2001. It’s been 22 years since. He’s now the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India. During his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, he launched various schemes and programs in different areas which are as under:

 Agriculture

 Shri Narendra Modi’s notable work can be described as taking Gujarat’s agriculture sector to new heights in what was once a drought-prone state. Understanding the issues of agriculture and farmers, various programs and policies were formulated in that direction.

He launched the ‘I-Khedut’ portal. Through this, modern agricultural practices, information on various welfare schemes, as well as weather and market updates were made directly available to the farmers at their fingertips.

He initiated the Krishi Mahotsav program, where he interacted with farmers in the scorching heat, visiting villages across Gujarat. Within this program, agricultural scientists also visited villages, providing valuable guidance related to farming. Additionally, he facilitated agricultural loans at zero percent interest rates, supported the purchase of agricultural products at fair prices, and provided irrigation through the Narmada Canal and Sujalam Sufalam scheme, among other significant efforts.

In his role as the Prime Minister, he introduced the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, providing direct financial assistance of ₹6,000 annually to farmers, directly into their bank accounts. The Sardar Sarovar Dam reached its full capacity. Over the past 22 years, a 69,000 km long canal network was constructed, ensuring Narmada water reaches every field. With the improvement in irrigation facilities in tribal areas, there has been an increase in both the agricultural production and income of tribal farmers. Shri Modi expanded the scope of micro-irrigation and introduced the Soil Health Card scheme, enabling farmers to determine which crop is best suited for their land. The result of all these efforts was that Gujarat achieved a double-digit growth rate in the agriculture sector.

Today, Gujarat stands first in the country in the production of groundnuts and castor, and second in cotton production. Farmers in the state, which used to grow one seasonal crop, are now cultivating three crops a year. Electricity for farming is being supplied during the day. In 2002, the production of rice was 23.48 lakh metric tons, which increased to 87.21 lakh metric tons in 2023. Similarly, horticultural crop production increased from 62.01 lakh metric tons in 2002 to 264.44 lakh metric tons in 2023. The number of check dams in Gujarat increased from 3500 in 2002 to 1,65,000 in 2023.

Animal Husbandry

Shri Narendra Modi initiated the Pashu Swasthya Mela campaign in the state. Under this, in the last 22 years from 2002-03 to 2022-23, 76,600 animal health fairs were organized. During these 22 years, free treatment was provided to more than 3.19 crore animals, and vaccinations were administered to more than 3.74 crore animals.

In dairy production, in 2002, Gujarat’s milk production was 60.89 lakh metric tons, which increased to 167.22 lakh metric tons in 2023.

Energy

There was a time when Gujarat was struggling with a shortage of electricity. The power cuts were causing distress to both the common citizens and farmers. In villages, people had to have their dinner with light from candles. In such a situation, Shri Narendra Modi introduced the ‘Jyotigram Yojana’.

Through the Jyotigram Yojana, electricity was provided to all 18,000 villages in the state. Not only this, but the villages started receiving 24-hour three-phase electricity supply. This elevated the standard of rural life. The use of computers increased in schools, and there was a growth in local industries along with improvements in health and basic infrastructure facilities. The availability of local-level dairy and milk testing facilities also increased.

Gujarat leads the nation in the implementation of the Solar Rooftop Scheme. As of July 31, 2023, Gujarat has operational solar rooftops with a capacity of 2842 megawatts. Charanka boasts the country’s first solar park, while Kutch is witnessing the construction of the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park. In 2002, the production of renewable energy was only 99 megawatts, while in 2023, it has surged to 21,504 megawatts. Similarly, the production of conventional electricity increased from 8,750 megawatts in 2002 to 45,026 megawatts in 2023.

Gujarat has a network of gas pipelines spanning over 40,000 kilometers, ensuring every household receives cooking gas.

Water Management

 Drought, once a recurring issue for Gujarat, is now a thing of the past. A 69,000-kilometer-long canal network was built, ensuring Narmada water reaches every home and field. Access to clean drinking water has led to the elimination of diseases caused by contaminated water. ‘Tanker Raj’ grappled Gujarat but due to Shri Modi’s efforts, it is history.

Just 17 days after assuming office as the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s government granted approval to raise the Sardar Sarovar Dam to its full height and install gates on it. For the first time after independence, the lifeline of Gujarat – Sardar Sarovar Dam, reached its full height. 115 dams in Saurashtra were filled with water from the Narmada. A toll-free number 1916 and a 24-hour control room were set up for the swift resolution of water-related issues at the rural level.

Prime Minister Modi launched the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme. Public participation was initiated in water management. Women’s water committees were formed, and the management of water sources in their villages was entrusted to them.

In 2002, only 26 percent of homes in Gujarat had access to water through taps. Today, in 2023, 100 percent of homes receive water through taps. The quantity of water distribution through water purification plants was 810 MLD in 2002, which has now increased to 3,200 MLD in 2023. In 2002, there were only 6 districts with water testing labs, whereas in 2023, all 33 districts in the state had 80 functional labs.

Education

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat, known for its business expertise, has also made significant strides in education. This transformational journey began during Shri Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of the state.

Over the years, initiatives such as Shala Praveshotsav and Gunotsav have led to an unprecedented enrolment of children in schools while significantly improving the quality of education.

For the first time in history, all government officials, including Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, reached out to every single village and motivated children to enroll in the schools during Shala Praveshotsav. PM Shri Modi also created a dedicated Girl Education Fund by auctioning his personal gifts. Also, 100% electrification has been completed in all government schools.

Gujarat ranked third in the world in the use of Microsoft Teams platform. E-learning content for all subjects was made available on the ‘G-Shala’ app. The country’s first educational command and control center – ‘Vidya Samiksha Kendra’  was started for real-time monitoring of the performance of all government schools. Not only this, Gujarat has become the first state in India to make student report cards based on learning outcomes.

Gujarat became the first state in the country to launch a ₹10,000 crore ‘Mission School of Excellence’ project incorporating the transformation of 20,000 schools in the state.

Under the Chief Minister’s Yuva Swavalamban Yojana, assistance of more than ₹1,850 crore has been given to over 3 lakh students so far. Under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Shiksha Nidhi Yojana, more than 15,000 girl students of MBBS courses have been given assistance of more than ₹450 crore.

More than 2,676 PhD students have been given assistance of more than ₹69.90 crore under the SHODH.

Under the Finishing School Project, a total of 80 hours of skill enhancement training in life skills, employability skills and coaching for functional and spoken English is provided to final-year students of government and grant-in-aided colleges that impart technical education.

In furthering the dream of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the government has created a conducive platform to provide financial support to foster innovation by young minds through the Student Startup and Innovation Policy. The state has filed about 1,400 patents and supported 2,300 student startups.

A laudable outcome has been in the plummeting of the dropout rate in classes 1 to 8 which has come down from 37.22 percent in 2002 to 2.8 percent in 2023 (2021-22).

The number of universities and colleges in the state was 14 and 685 respectively in 2002, which has increased to 108 and  2848 in 2023. Similarly, the number of engineering and polytechnic colleges has increased from 26 and 31 in 2002 to 133 and 144 in 2023. At the same time, the number of colleges offering professional courses has increased from 108 in 2002 to 503 in 2023. The number of seats in medical colleges has increased significantly from 1,375 in 2002 to 6,800 in 2023.

Health

Gujarat’s health sector has seen a revolutionary change and the state has emerged as the medical hub for India as well as other countries. The hospitals are now equipped with facilities matching international standards.

It’s a matter of pride that the world’s first ‘Global Centre for Traditional Medicine’ is taking shape in Jamnagar.

Two decades ago, malnutrition among children in Gujarat was a formidable challenge. Thousands of children died before they turned one year old, while mothers succumbed due to a lack of proper nutrition.

Under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat waged a challenging battle against malnutrition. Pregnant women, lactating mothers and children were given provisions of nutritious food right at their doorstep. The institutional delivery rate also reached 99.5 percent and monitoring of the nutrition tracker dashboard was also created. Besides nutritious food, resources for measuring height and weight were provided to Anganwadis. Distribution of milk pouches was started in schools and iron tablets were given to adolescent girls. Gujarat won this battle and the maternal and child mortality rate decreased drastically.

Today, a dedicated campaign is being conducted in Gujarat every week to check and treat non-communicable diseases among people above 30 years of age.

In 2002, patients from economically weak backgrounds couldn’t even think of availing modern treatment and expensive operations. In 2023, they have access to free treatment in private hospitals under various schemes. Earlier, people in big cities were dependent on expensive treatment of serious diseases, while today there is availability of specialist doctors at the local level and facility for ultra-modern healthcare is available.

In 2002, affordable generic medicines were scarce, leaving expensive options as the only choice for the people. However, in 2023, accessible generic medicines have become prevalent. Additionally, previously, certain non-communicable and lifestyle diseases were typically identified in adulthood. Now, there are proactive measures in place, including free health check-ups every week for individuals above 30, aiming to manage conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.

In 2002, ambulances were available in limited numbers in some areas, while in 2023, these life-saving vehicles are able to reach any corner of the state within minutes.

Gujarat has become the first state in the country to launch a mobile food testing van.

In 2002, there was a lack of special initiatives for the nutrition of children and mothers, whereas today the Anganwadis have undergone a radical change through various initiatives like the provision of a nutritious diet, regular check-ups, lunch, and take-home ration.

PM Shri Modi launched the Mukhyamantri Amrutum (MAA) scheme for the poor and middle-class families who can avail of free treatment in the hospitals.

 Industry

Gujarat is making significant strides in global Trade and Commerce. This is possible due to the construction of world-class infrastructure, industry-friendly policies, and a business-friendly environment since 2002. Due to this, industries have achieved significant development milestones at a rapid pace. Also, in the past two decades, several of the world’s largest industries have chosen Gujarat as their home thus attracting major global investments.

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conceptualized the country’s first international level ‘Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.’ Over time, it transformed into a global event, attaining the status of being one of the premier business summits in India. Recently, the Government of Gujarat celebrated 20 years of Vibrant Summit as the ‘Summit of Success’ in the presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Gujarat has some unique initiatives like the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) for women entrepreneurs, the construction of India’s first Diamond Research and Mercantile City (DREAM City), the ‘Surat Diamond Bourse,’ and has become home to major global industries. In terms of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Gujarat has been consistently in the top position for three years. The creation of an industry-friendly environment by increasing security measures has encouraged such industries.

Today, modern industries like Semiconductors and Defense are thriving in Gujarat. Recently, the ground-breaking ceremony of the Micron Technology facility was laid in Sanand, Gujarat. A semiconductor assembly, test, and packaging plant will be established in Sanand with an investment of ₹22,516 crore. It will be the first such unit in the Indian Semiconductor industry.

Gujarat ranks first in Export Performance among the four main pillars of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022 by the Government of India. New initiatives for business growth and special efforts are underway to increase lab-grown diamond production in the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) located in Gujarat International Financial Tech City (GIFT City),  Gandhinagar.

Similarly, ‘Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR)’ spread over 920 sq km stands as the largest greenfield special investment region in India. 38 percent of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor is set to pass through Gujarat. Meanwhile, Mandal Becharaji SIR has emerged as the hub for global automobile and auto component companies, and Dahej, spread over 453 sq km, is the country’s first investment region in petroleum, chemicals, and petrochemicals.

The number of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) has increased from 2.74 lakh in 2002 to 8.66 lakh in 2022. Not only this, the industrial production of the state was ₹1.27 lakh crores in 2002, which has now increased to ₹16.19 lakh crores in 2022. Similarly, if we talk about cargo handling at ports, in 2002 it was 1202.74 lakh metric tons, which has taken a huge leap to reach 5324.91 lakh metric tons in 2022.

Gujarat’s Gifts

 During his 13-year tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi transformed the state into a benchmark for national development. However, several matters fell outside his jurisdiction as Chief Minister, necessitating collaboration with the Central Government. Upon assuming the office of Prime Minister in 2014, he made it a top priority to address these issues and eliminate the obstacles that had been slowing down Gujarat’s development journey. Over nine years, the Central Government provided several significant contributions to Gujarat for its progress. Here are some of the major gifts:

1. Authorization for Sardar Sarovar Dam Gates: A mere 17 days after assuming office as Prime Minister in 2014, Shri Narendra Modi swiftly approved the installation of gates on the Sardar Sarovar Dam, fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of the people of Gujarat.

2. Crude Royalty for Gujarat: In March 2015, after assuming the role of PM, Shri Narendra Modi addressed a significant concern regarding crude oil royalty. He decided to allocate approximately ₹800 crore to Gujarat as part of the crude oil royalty settlement.

3.High-Speed Rail Project (Bullet Train).

4. Establishment of a Railway University in Vadodara, Gujarat, focusing on sector-specific education.

5. Rajkot Greenfield Airport.

6. Gujarat Forensic Science University and Raksha Shakti University have been granted the status of institutions of national importance.

7. AIIMS, Rajkot (All India Institute of Medical Sciences).

8. Inauguration of the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park in Kutch.

9. Light House Project (LHP) in Rajkot.

10. Rail connectivity to the Statue of Unity.

11. Global Center for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar.

12. Vande Bharat Express Train.

13. The ceremonial foundation stone laying for the headquarters building of India’s inaugural International Financial Services Center Authority (IFSCA) in GIFT City.

14. The establishment of the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) within GIFT City.

15. The official inauguration of the initial phase of the Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project.

16. Approval granted for the Taranga Hill-Ambaji-Abu Road Rail Line Project.

17. Medical colleges to five districts of the state.

18. Laid the foundation stone to initiate the construction of the Electric Locomotive Machine Production Unit in Dahod.

19. A Bulk Drug Park in Bharuch.

20. As part of the Bharatmala Project, Gujarat is actively constructing over 1000 kilometers of roads.

21. Gujarat successfully hosted the National Games.

22. Under India’s G20 Presidency, Gujarat hosted a total of 18 meetings.

23. Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Gandhinagar, and Dahod, have been chosen for the Smart City Mission.

24. The inauguration of PM Mitra Park in Navsari.

25. The Smriti Van Earthquake Memorial in Bhuj.

26. The establishment of the Veer Balak Smarak in Anjar, Kutch.

27. The Sabar Dairy Cheese Plant.

28. The beginning of the construction of the world’s first CNG terminal port in Bhavnagar.

29. The construction of the Atal Foot Overbridge on the Sabarmati Riverfront.

30. The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC).

31. Ongoing tourism development projects in Ambaji-Pavagadh-Somnath.

32. The inauguration of Asia’s largest Girnar Ropeway in Junagadh.

33. The Astol Project.

34. The establishment of the Vidya Samiksha Kendra.

This remarkable journey, initiated when Shri Narendra Modi assumed office as Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, has reached new heights of development. Today, under his leadership,  Gujarat, and India are creating new benchmarks of development. DeshGujarat

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