New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday affirmed that the Central government is actively working towards achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, while acknowledging that 'a lot more needs to be done' to reach developed-nation standards.

In an exclusive conversation with ANI, the Union Minister said that the BJP-led Central government's growth strategy is built on four key pillars: investment in physical, digital and social infrastructure, inclusive growth, focus on manufacturing and innovation and simplification in various sectors.

He affirmed that the government has been consistently working across these areas to accelerate India's development journey and strengthen its economic foundations.

'Our Prime Minister has given us the target of 2047 Viksit Bharat, which means a lot more has to be done to reach that level where the basic needs and the basic human needs and the basic infrastructure which we have been able to achieve till today need to be taken to the level of a developed country. A lot more needs to be done on that, and we are relentlessly working in that direction,' he said.

The Union Minister further reflected on the handling of India's economic trajectory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stating that the growth strategy has helped the country navigate major global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing tensions in West Asia.

'The entire growth strategy is very clearly thought through. It's basically that there are four pillars on which this entire growth strategy rests. Pillar one is focused on investment. Investment in physical, digital and social infrastructure. Pillar two is a huge amount of inclusive growth. The examples I gave you about toilet construction, house construction, opening Jan Dhan accounts, and having 80 crore people get the basic ration every month. This is probably the biggest inclusive growth program that we have seen anywhere in the world,' he said.

'Third is the big focus on manufacturing and innovation. Fourth is a lot of simplification. More than 1,600 laws have been removed from the statute book. Lots and lots of simplification examples are there, whether it is the telecom sector, the railway sector, or I can speak of. In every sector, a lot of simplification has happened. So, this very well thought-through strategy is holding us well despite the shocks,' he added.

The Union Minister further said India has demonstrated resilience in dealing with recent economic challenges and has managed external shocks more effectively than in previous crises.

'And we have seen the contrast with 2008, the global financial crisis. Compared to that, the way the high economy has been handled under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji's leadership, the economy has handled the two shocks reasonably well,' the Union Minister added. (ANI)