Prime Minister Narendra Modi may announce big reforms in Independence Day speech

 

There are indications that the PM may announce bold changes and “big bang reforms”. As his speech is going to be extempore in Hindi, elaborate arrangements are being made to get it translated in English in real time, and this will be heard on microphones for the benefit of foreign dignitaries at the ceremony.

 

The information and broadcasting ministry has made arrangements for a live webcast on YouTube. The ministry has also issued an advisory to all TV news channels to telecast live the flag-hoisting ceremony on Friday.

 

There is speculation that besides focusing on certain “deliverables”, the PM will ensure that Veer Savarkar’s name finds a prominent place among top freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh.

 

Besides highlighting “50 new schemes” initiated by his government since it came to power, Mr Modi is expected to announce the setting up of a new department for skill development under HRD minister Smriti Irani, and one for the Clean Ganga project.

 

The Prime Minister is expected to unveil an ambitious financial inclusion scheme to provide bank accounts to 15 crore poor persons with an overdraft facility of Rs 5,000 and accident insurance of Rs 1 lakh.

 

The scheme, to be pushed by the government in a mission mode, seeks to provide two accounts to 7.5 crore identified households by August 2018.