“Atmanirbhar Bharat”, PM Modi gave this concept on May 12th 2020. “Atmanirbhar”, which means self-reliant, is an alluring term for Indians. The appeal of this term lies in the promise it presents– the promise of being truly independent in every sense.
The concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat was presented as a movement to revive the nation from the COVID-19 pandemic. And it was received enthusiastically by the nation. The initial purpose of this mission was to combat the vaccine crisis by making the nation efficient in the production of its own vaccine. However, over time, this movement has spread to other sectors as well.
What popularised the concept of “Atmanirbhar Bharat”?
This movement was introduced during the peak of the pandemic. As the country was facing a nationwide crisis of medical facilities, repeated lockdowns seemed like a dark tunnel with no end in sight. People were struggling financially as well as mentally and emotionally too. In that scenario, as hope was slowly fading, PM Modi in his fifth address to the nation during COVID-19 announced the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”. His clarion call for this mission was received very enthusiastically by the nation.
This mission gave people hope for the revival of their livelihood in the drowning economy. Being “atmanirbhar” meant that the people would again be able to don their professional hats and work & produce for themselves and the nation. It also meant that the medical systems & infrastructure could be improved & made efficient without waiting long for any external help.
But financial & medical stability was not all that made this concept so appealing. People had been living a nearly monotonous life during the lockdowns, punctured periodically by bad news and despair only. The concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat was something new and full of optimism, which revived their pessimistic state of mind. This scheme presented the pandemic not as a crisis, but as an opportunity for the nation to emerge as a self-reliant power. This idea of transforming something negative to positive appealed to people on an emotional level, and thus, this mission immediately gained popularity.
The 5-Pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat
Along with the vision for an “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, the Prime Minister of India also shared the 5 pillars on which this dream of the nation is to be built. These pillars are basic but revolutionary in their idea and vision for their development. The five pillars of Atmanirbhar Bharat, as elaborated by PM Modi are–
1. Economy
The economy of a nation is the most crucial and impactful tool for its growth and development. A strong & continuously developing economy promises a better future for the country and its people in terms of business, production, jobs, facilities, and overall quality of life. The Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme recognises this facet of development very well and emphasises it as the first pillar of the mission of self-reliance.
The Prime Minister in his address shared his vision of developing & sustaining a strong economy that will be able to make quantum jumps instead of incremental changes. Such an economy will be sufficient to support the revolutionary changes required for a self-reliant nation.
To facilitate the development of such an economy, the government of India aims to promote local businesses and increase the quality and quantity of production in the country. With these measures, the government wishes to reduce imports and increase exports. Such steps intend to make the country self-sufficient and provide it with the ability to help the world as well.
2. Infrastructure
The infrastructure of a nation refers to its physical systems including transportation, manufacturing system, communication systems, roads, buildings, and the physical facilities in business, education & healthcare and much more. Infrastructure is the basic requirement for the development & sustenance of a nation. It directly impacts & influences the economic growth of a nation, and is basic for the day-by-day running of a country and its operations.
However, the COVID crisis exposed many flaws in the country’s infrastructure, especially the inadequacies of the healthcare & educational infrastructure. It drew the government’s attention towards the importance of strong functional infrastructure and the role it plays in the stability & growth of the nation. So, the government identified infrastructure as the second pillar of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Now, the focus is to create such phenomenal & functional modern infrastructures that become the identity of India.
3. System
With all the modern advancements in technology, digitalisation of the operational systems is now a necessity. During the pandemic and lockdowns, technology was almost single-handedly carrying the functioning of every country on its back. During this period, technology emerged as a basic requirement at every level of functioning from personal to organisational. Recognising its importance, the government elaborated on technologically advanced systems as the third pillar for developing an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The government’s focus is on developing systems based on the latest technology that will be able to fulfil all the requirements of the 21st century. This will be achieved by developing new systems as well as upgrading or replacing all the old systems as per the requirements of the new India.
4. Demographic
India’s strength lies in its vibrant demography that transcends various sectors. Multiple geographical regions, diverse beliefs and cultures present the country with a great treasure of ideas, innovation and resources. 65% of the Indian population is of working age. This rich and diverse human resource results in enhanced productivity of India as a country. If utilised well, this demographic feature can make India an economic superpower.
The government has recognised the nation’s unique demography as an important potential tool for making the country self-reliant. The Prime Minister presented it as the fourth pillar of the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme. It is based on the belief that the present youth of the country are bold enough to lead the country to a world level of development. They have the potential to upgrade the nation from a developing to a developed country. And the democratic state of the country will provide them all with the opportunity to contribute to the development of a self-reliant India.
5. Demand
India is a vast and diverse nation with a population of over one billion, which presents a promising market with increasing demand for products. This demand is fulfilled by various indigenous as well as foreign resources. However, this cycle of demand and supply in India is an asset for the country. It can prove to be a useful tool in making India self-reliant. But, it needs to be fully utilised and harnessed by the government for the growth of the economy. By recognising this as the fifth pillar of Atmanirbhar Bharat, the government has opened doors to strengthen the demand and supply chain of India.
The government aims to increase the demand within the nation and increase the production and supply for this demand by empowering every stakeholder in the supply chain. This pillar again focuses on the importance of the production of goods on a local level within the country. Schemes like make in India are also complementary in strengthening this demand-supply cycle. Increased demand along with an empowered production & supply system within the nation itself will contribute to the self-reliance of the nation.
The objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat
The main objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat has been to make the country and its people self-reliant by all means. It aims to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign products or services by improving the quality of production in the country. It focused on not just confronting the pandemic, but on moving ahead while combating the COVID crisis. For this purpose, a full-fledged economic package of 20 lakhs crore, which is 10% of the country’s GDP was announced for this mission. The vision of this mission is not just to make India self-reliant but also to provide a helping hand to the world by empowering its citizens.
The government of India aims to achieve these primary objectives of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan by following several measures, like–
- Promoting local businesses and local production of goods. It emphasises the motto of “Vocal for Local”.
- Improving the quality and quantity of production within the country.
- Reducing imports from other nations by making India self-sufficient in its production.
- The Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme also aims to increase exports.
The “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” is an ambitious vision of the Government of India which is an attempt to make India a self-reliant nation. While the initial focus of this mission was to revive the country from the COVID crisis, it is now dedicated to making India Independent in every sense. The Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme is primarily working towards reducing India’s dependence on other countries for various goods and services. It aims to do so by empowering the local business and production units in India for manufacturing and supplying goods on a mass level. This will enable the country to reduce its imports and eventually increase exports to other countries. This scheme if executed well will strengthen the economy and bring stability and promote multiple facets of growth.
By: Bhumika Katyayan
