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.
T.