Confident of return, Council of Ministers readies 100-day action plan after Lok Sabha polls

In these presentations, the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat was outlined, sources said, underlining that these included zero poverty, skill to every youth, and 100 per cent saturation of welfare schemes.

Modi was quoted as having told the officers to continue their work on government projects and schemes and not treat the election period as a vacation when the political leadership will be busy with the electoral process.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the meeting of the Council of Ministers in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI)

“Aap chhutti mat samajhiye, kaam par lag jaaiye (don’t think you are on holiday, get down to work)… When it comes back after the elections, the government will work with new vigour and zeal, “ sources quoted him as having said.

Sources said, “The roadmap for Viksit Bharat is a result of more than two years of intensive preparation. It involved a whole-of-government approach involving all ministries and wide-ranging consultations with state governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, scientific organisations and mobilisation of youth for seeking their ideas, suggestions and inputs. More than 2700 meetings, workshops and seminars were held at various levels. Suggestions of more than 20 lakh youth were received.”

The roadmap, the sources said, has a “comprehensive blueprint with clearly articulated national vision, aspirations, goals and action points”.

The goals include economic growth, sustainable development goals (SDGs), ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure and social welfare.

A 100-day agenda for “immediate steps” was also worked upon for quick implementation after the formation of the new government in May, the sources said.

The Council held its meeting at a time when the Election Commission of India is expected to announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections in the coming days, and parties are working on election manifestos, campaign plans and lists of candidates.

On Saturday, the BJP announced its first list of candidates for 195 seats across states and Union Territories.

Prime Minister Modi, who has already been touring states, is scheduled to visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar on March 4-6.

In Telangana, the Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth over Rs 56,000 crore in Adilabad. He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs 6,800 crore in Sangareddy.

In Hyderabad, Modi will inaugurate the Civil Aviation Research Organization (CARO). In Tamil Nadu, he will witness the initiation of core loading of the indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam.

In Odisha, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 19,600 crore in Chandikhole.

He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple connectivity projects worth Rs 15,400 crore in Kolkata, and infrastructure worth Rs 12,800 crore in Bettiah in Bihar. He will also inaugurate the Muzaffarpur-Motihari LPG pipeline and dedicate to the nation the Indian Oil LPG bottling plant and storage terminal in Motihari.