PM Modi Takes Dig At Congress’ ‘Garibi Hatao’ Slogan, Says World Bank Report Shows India’s Progress

PM Modi cites World Bank data showing nearly 50 crore Indians moved out of extreme poverty, contrasting his government's approach with Congress' decades-old Garibi Hatao slogan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted India’s achievements in poverty reduction (Img: IANS)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted India’s achievements in poverty reduction while addressing journalists at the Diwali Milan gathering. Recalling the earlier political slogan of Congress ‘Garibi Hatao’, he pointed to a recent World Bank report that highlighted the country’s progress in bringing millions of people out of poverty.

World Bank Report Highlights Sharp Decline

PM Modi pointed to the World Bank's findings as evidence of India's changing economic and social landscape. He said the country's progress reflected a shift from political promises towards measurable development outcomes. According to him, the World Bank's October 2026 India Poverty and Equity Brief reported that extreme poverty declined from 27.1% in 2011 to 2.6% in 2023.

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The findings indicate a substantial improvement in living conditions, although the figures are based on the bank's defined poverty threshold and measurement methodology.

Welfare Schemes Credited For Poverty Reduction

Explaining the government's strategy, Modi compared India's welfare initiatives to a Diwali rangoli, where individual elements combine to create a larger picture.

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He highlighted several flagship programmes, including Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Mudra Yojana, PM SVANidhi and Ayushman Bharat. The Prime Minister also mentioned free foodgrain distribution, Swachh Bharat Mission and Har Ghar Jal, saying these initiatives had improved access to housing, healthcare, banking, sanitation and essential services.

Focus On Development In Remote Regions

Modi also connected poverty reduction with efforts to eliminate Naxalism. He said infrastructure development in previously affected areas had created new opportunities through roads, mobile connectivity, educational institutions and skill development centres.

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He maintained that empowering disadvantaged communities remained central to the government's vision of building a developed India by 2047.