NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently serving his second term as the Prime Minister, has completed two decades in public office Thursday.

In the last 20 years, PM Modi has gone from being the Chief Minister of Gujarat to one of the most popular leaders in the world. He was first sworn in as Gujarat CM on October 7, 2001, and served as the chief minister of the state from 2001 to 2014. He served as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat.

He was elected as the 14th Prime Minister of India in 2014 and was sworn in for his second term on May 2019. He is into the third year of his second consecutive term as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasized the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ in governance.

The BJP-led government under PM Modi has taken several welfare initiatives. Ayushman Bharat is the world’s largest healthcare program which covers over 50 crore Indians. There are over 35 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened as part of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana that aims bank accounts for every Indian. Apart from insurance and pension cover to the most vulnerable sections of society, the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan- Aadhaar- Mobile) has brought transparency and speed and cut out delays and corruption. The Modi government has brought pension schemes for various sections.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has provided smoke-free kitchens to over 7 crore beneficiaries, most of whom are women. Nearly 18,000 villages that were without electricity even after 70 long years of Independence have been electrified. The government has a target of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022 and has sought to give focus to agriculture through schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Soil Health Cards, E-NAM. PM Modi launched ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ in 2014 and the sanitation coverage has risen from 38 per cent in 2014 to 99 per cent.

The Modi government has sought to create next-generation infrastructure in terms of more highways, railways, i-ways and waterways. The UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) Scheme has sought to boost connectivity. The ‘Make in India’ initiative launched by the Prime Minister seeks to give a rapid boost to manufacturing. He also initiated many other programs for development of the people and India.

PM Modi has been honored with the United Nations ‘Champions of the Earth Award.’ PM Modi has been conferred various honors, including the highest civilian honor of Saudi Arabia Sash of King Abdulaziz. He has been also been conferred the top awards of Russia (The Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First), Palestine (Grand Collar of the State of Palestine), Afghanistan (Amir Amanullah Khan Award), UAE (Zayed Medal) and Maldives (Rule of Nishan Izzuddeen). In 2018, PM received the prestigious Seoul Peace Prize for his contribution to peace and development.

PM Modi’s call for marking a day as ‘International Day of Yoga’ received an overwhelming response at the UN.

PM Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in a small town in Gujarat. He grew up in a poor family and the initial hardships of life seem to have taught him the value of hard work. In his initial years, he worked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later joined politics working with the Bharatiya Janata Party organization at the national and state level. PM Modi completed his MA in political science from Gujarat University. Known as one of the most techno-savvy leaders, he has sought to use technology to bring change in the lives of people. He is very active on social media platforms. He has authored several books, including poetry. He begins his day with Yoga. (ANI)