RBI's New Tech Hub: PM Modi Hails Shift to Pro-People Governance
PM Narendra Modi launches RBI's Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Odisha, highlighting a shift toward pro-people governance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Invoking the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, the Prime Minister described the new facilities as a vital gift to "New India," emphasizing that these institutions will bring significant benefits to both the people of Odisha and the nation at large.
A Fundamental Shift in Governance
During the event, PM Modi highlighted a transformative change in how India is being governed. He asserted that the current administrative approach has shifted toward a "Pro-People, Pro-Active Good Governance" model. According to the Prime Minister, the core of modern governance is now rooted in prioritizing development, scaling its reach, and ensuring that benefits reach the very last mile of the population.
To illustrate this shift, the Prime Minister pointed to several key infrastructure and social developments across the country:
- The construction of expressways connecting small towns.
- The expansion of AIIMS and the opening of medical colleges in smaller urban centers.
- The establishment of nearly 1.75 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in rural villages.
- The rapid expansion of digital connectivity into the most remote areas.
"Making the life of the citizen easier and giving new opportunities to their dreams is now the real purpose of Governance," asserted Shri Modi.
Revolutionizing Financial Inclusion
The Prime Minister took the opportunity to contrast the current financial landscape with the past. He noted that while banks were nationalized in the 1960s and 70s to help the poor, more than half of the population remained excluded from the banking system until 2014. During that time, bank loans were often a distant dream for the middle class and virtually unthinkable for women, the landless, and small farmers.
He credited the modern era of financial inclusion for dismantling these barriers, noting that digital banking now provides 24-hour services to every family in India. A cornerstone of this revolution, he explained, was the opening of nearly 60 crore Jan Dhan accounts, which has effectively eliminated leakages in government disbursements, ensuring every rupee reaches the intended beneficiary's account intact.
Empowering the Grassroots Entrepreneur
PM Modi emphasized that formal credit is no longer reserved for those with collateral. He detailed how various government interventions have empowered the unorganized sector:
- Mudra Yojana: Enabled 13 crore people to become first-time entrepreneurs.
- PM SVANidhi and PM Vishwakarma: Provided formal credit to lakhs of skilled artisans and street vendors.
- Self-Help Groups: Over 10 crore rural women have received thousands of crores in bank assistance.
He further remarked that RuPay cards have transformed debit and credit facilities from a luxury for the wealthy into a symbol of self-respect and self-reliance for the common citizen. He lauded the collective efforts of the RBI, commercial banks, and banking employees across the country for driving this transformation.
Expanding the Social Security Net
Guided by the mantra of Nagrik Devo Bhava, the Prime Minister detailed the expansion of social security measures. He highlighted the Atal Pension Yojana, which now covers 9 crore citizens, including 38 lakh residents in Odisha. He also mentioned the PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, which provides a 2-lakh-rupee accident cover for a nominal annual premium of just 20 rupees.