7 Major Contributions Of Manmohan Singh To India's Development.

Former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at the age of 92.

He served as the Prime Minister of India for two consecutive terms from 2004 to 2014. He is widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic reforms in 1991 which transformed the country’s economic abode.

Now let’s look at some of his contributions that rescued India from the brink of collapse:

1. Economic Reforms and Liberalization

As Finance Minister in 1991, Manmohan Singh played a crucial role in liberalizing the Indian economy, which was on the brink of collapse.

The country was facing soaring fiscal and balance of payments deficits and foreign exchange reserves were sufficient for just a few weeks of imports.

In a historic move, the government turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance, pledging gold reserves to secure funds.

Singh introduced key reforms, including liberalization, globalization, and privatization to save the economy.

Then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao led a wave of transformative economic reforms, dismantling the license raj, deregulating industries and introducing groundbreaking changes in taxation, foreign direct investment and trade.

Singh’s policies facilitated the privatization of public sector enterprises, liberalized trade, and catalyzed the growth of numerous industries.

They also bolstered the middle class by increasing disposable income which fueled consumerism. By easing export-import regulations and enhancing the ease of doing business, the reforms spurred an entrepreneurial boom and opened India to a global marketplace of goods and services.

During this period, the National Stock Exchange (NSE), now India’s largest stock exchange was established in 1992. Singh’s decisive actions not only averted an economic collapse but also charted a course for monumental growth that further cemented his legacy as a saviour of the Indian economy.

2. Right to Information Act

The Right to Information (RTI) Act is a groundbreaking law passed by the Parliament of India under the leadership of Manmohan Singh and the Delhi Legislative Assembly which empowers citizens to access information from public authorities.

Enacted in 2005, the RTI Act replaced the Freedom of Information Act, of 2000 and has been a vital tool for promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

Under the RTI Act, any Indian citizen can request information from a public authority which is required to respond within 30 days. On average, over 4,800 RTI applications are filed every day with over 17.5 million applications filed in the first ten years since its enactment.

3. Right to Education

Manmohan Singh played a monumental role in promoting education in India, particularly through the Right to Education Act (RTE) launched on 1st April  2010.

Introduced in 2009, the RTE made education a fundamental right for children between the ages of 6 and 14. This landmark legislation ensured that every child in India had access to free and compulsory education.

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During his tenure, Singh’s government also launched the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a program aimed at universalising elementary education.

Additionally, eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) were established in various states to promote higher education.

The RTE Act has had a profound impact on India’s educational arena with significant improvements in enrollment rates, especially among disadvantaged groups.

4. Empowering Rural India through MGNREGA

Manmohan Singh’s government played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005.

This flagship program aimed to provide a legal guarantee of employment to rural labourers, ensuring a minimum of 100 days of wage employment per year.

As Prime Minister, Singh’s government oversaw the rollout of MGNREGAwhich has had a transformative impact on rural India.

The program has provided a safety net for millions of rural households, protecting them from poverty and hunger.

The program’s key features included guaranteed employment, decentralized implementation, transparency and accountability and social inclusion, prioritising the needs of vulnerable groups.

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Under Singh’s leadership, MGNREGA achieved significant milestones, including increased employment opportunities, improved rural infrastructure and enhanced livelihood security, supporting rural households during times of economic distress that further provided a vital safety net for millions of households and contributing to the country’s inclusive growth.

5. Ensuring the Right to Food

Manmohan Singh’s government made huge contributions to the right to food in India. One of the most notable initiatives was the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 which aimed to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s population.

Under Singh’s leadership, the NFSA was designed to ensure that every person in the country had access to adequate and nutritious food. The Act provided for the following:

• Subsidized food grains to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population
• Priority to the most vulnerable sections of society, including the poor, children, and pregnant women
• Entitlement of 5 kg of food grains per person per month at a subsidized price
• Maternity benefits to pregnant women, including a cash transfer of Rs. 1,000 and a nutritional support of Rs. 600

During his tenure, Manmohan Singh’s government also launched other initiatives such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme which aimed to improve the nutritional status of children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

 6. Vision for Rural Healthcare

Manmohan Singh’s government made whopping contributions to the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) which was launched in 2005.

The mission aimed to improve rural healthcare infrastructure and services, focusing on strengthening rural healthcare systems, increasing access to healthcare services and reducing health inequities.

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Key initiatives under NRHM included the establishment of a network of community health workers, including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs).

The government also strengthened rural healthcare infrastructure, including the construction of new hospitals and health centres. Additionally, new healthcare programs were introduced, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and the National Rural Health Insurance Scheme.

7. Aadhaar Initiative

Manmohan Singh’s government also launched the Aadhaar program in 2009, aiming to provide a unique identity number to every Indian citizen.

The program was designed to improve the delivery of public services, including healthcare and to reduce corruption and leakages in government schemes.

The Aadhaar program has had a significant impact on public services in India. Over 90% of the Indian population has been issued Aadhaar numbers which have been linked to various government schemes, including the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).