On Monday 29th April, Vishakhapatnam witnessed a dynamic discourse as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman graced the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Campus Dialogue at GITAM University. The event, divided into two sessions, brought together a diverse audience to engage with the finance minister on India's growth trajectory.
Smt @nsitharaman addresses and interacts with the audience during the 'Viksit Bharat Ambassador - Campus Dialogue' in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.#VBA2024 #ViksitBharatAmbassador pic.twitter.com/SL8HVknYHn
— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) April 29, 2024
In this dialogue, which saw 1,100 students and faculty attendance, Minister Sitharaman emphasised Viksit Bharat's collective achievements and issued a powerful call to action. She urged the youth to stand against cynicism and become ambassadors of growth, inspiring them to shape the nation's future actively.
"I am asking you to talk about the positive narrative of India. We need to discuss the achievements of India to counter naysayers," says Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Programme in Vishakapatnam pic.twitter.com/stfPOggcHE
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2024
Following the dialogue, a gathering of over 50 prominent city figures, including tech entrepreneurs, startup founders, heads of chambers of commerce, and owners of pharma industries, also interacted with Minister Sitharaman. They lauded the Modi government's efforts in transforming the business landscape and expressed pride in India's emergence as a thriving startup ecosystem. Sitharaman's emphasis on the government's focus on ease of doing business and innovation instilled hope in India's future as a global economic powerhouse.
She also highlighted how the widespread adoption of UPI in India resulted in 131 billion transactions during the fiscal year 2023-2024.
Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Viksit Bharat Ambassador Programme says, "The outcome of everyone using UPI in India is one hundred thirty one billion transactions in 2023-2024..." pic.twitter.com/bnuIAZYrZb
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2024
The Union Finance Minister remarked that despite the 1991 reforms, certain anticipated developments materialised slower than expected. She emphasised that the enthusiasm following those reforms did not translate into the desired outcomes until 2014.
#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh | In her address to 'Viksit Bharat Ambassador' at GITAM (deemed to be a university) in Visakhapatnam, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "Despite 1991, many things which could have happened at a great pace, didn't happen. We were very… pic.twitter.com/4asEqkwnVz
— ANI (@ANI) April 29, 2024
Highlighting achievements during PM Modi's tenure, Sitharaman emphasised the transformative shift from economic stagnation to robust growth. She celebrated India's climb up the global economic ladder despite challenges, crediting clean governance and a growth-friendly environment. She also emphasised the establishment of the 'Anusandhan Corpus' in the Interim Budget 2024-25, aimed at fostering innovation and research to position India as a global hub.
The finance minister reflected on the progress made during the Modi 1.0 and Modi 2.0 administrations, contrasting these achievements with the economic challenges encountered during the UPA era.
She mentioned that in 2004, when the UPA came into power, India was ranked 12th globally. Over subsequent years, India's ranking fluctuated, reaching 14th place in 2007, climbing to 9th by 2011, then slipping to 10th in 2012 and 11th in 2013, before returning to 10th by 2014. She highlighted that India is currently positioned as the fifth-largest economy globally and will soon become the third-largest economy.
Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi, India is poised to become the 3rd largest economy globally. From its previous 10th position in 2014, India has risen to 5th, a testament to the government's dedication towards fostering a developed India #VBA2024 #ViksitBharatAmbassador pic.twitter.com/rYvaNZ3Mld
— Viksit Bharat Ambassador (@VBA2024) April 29, 2024
She praised the Modi government's steadfast and forward-thinking leadership, attributing India's impressive growth in recent years to this leadership. Sitharaman expressed confidence in India's ability to achieve significant development and stated, "India can, and India will become a developed nation by 2047."
An attendee highlighted the significant technological advancements in rural areas noting how even individuals living in poverty are now able to access technologies such as UPI and other developments.
"After Viksit Bharat, there have been numerous technological advancements in rural areas. Even people living in poverty are now able to access technologies like UPI and other developments," says an attendee at the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Programme in Vishakapatnam. pic.twitter.com/FMlsQteNHl
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2024
An attendee emphasized that the motto of the Viksit Bharat Ambassador Program is to bring benefits to every individual and the economy. She highlighted how the crucial component of the program was to develop social infrastructure.
The motto of Viksit Bharat Ambassador Program is to benefit every individual and the economy; The crucial component of Program is to develop social infrastructure," says an attendee at Visakhapatnam pic.twitter.com/00xNxWt6OM
— IANS (@ians_india) April 29, 2024
The Vision of Viksit Bharat: 140 crore dreams, 1 purpose
The Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement aims to encourage citizens to take responsibility for contributing to India's development. VBA meet-ups and events are being organized in various parts of the country to achieve this goal. These events provide a platform for participants to engage in constructive discussions, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies for contributing to the movement.
Join the movement on the NaMo App: https://www.narendramodi.in/ViksitBharatAmbassador
The NaMo App: Bridging the Gap
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's app, the NaMo App, is a digital bridge that empowers citizens to participate in the Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement. The NaMo App serves as a one-stop platform for individuals to:
Join the cause: Sign up and become a Viksit Bharat Ambassador and make 10 other people
Amplify Development Stories: Access updates, news, and resources related to the movement.
Create/Join Events: Create and discover local events, meet-ups, and volunteer opportunities.
Connect/Network: Find and interact with like-minded individuals who share the vision of a developed India.
The 'VBA Event' section in the 'Onground Tasks' tab of the 'Volunteer Module' of the NaMo App allows users to stay updated with the ongoing VBA events.
