Alleges “Hype over Reality” in PM Modi’s Development Narrative; Flags Crisis in Nutrition, Agriculture, Health and Economy
By TRH News Desk
NEW DELHI, June 9, 2025 — In a sharp political counter-offensive, the Congress party released a comprehensive booklet challenging the Narendra Modi-led NDA government’s claims of transformative governance over the past 11 years. The document presents a detailed critique across key sectors, accusing the government of painting a picture of progress while ignoring harsh ground realities.
Titled “11 Years of Modi Rule: Reality Behind the Hype”, the booklet argues that India is facing persistent crises in malnutrition, farmers’ distress, healthcare accessibility, economic inequality, and internal security, contrary to the ruling BJP’s narrative of a rising, resilient India.
Hunger, Malnutrition and Wasting: A ‘National Shame’
The Congress spotlighted India’s poor Global Hunger Index rank of 105 out of 127, with child stunting at 35.5%, wasting at 19.3%, and underweight rates at 32.1%. “Despite tall claims of development, malnutrition continues to be a national crisis under the Modi government,” the party alleged.
MUDRA and Stand-Up India: ‘Too Little, Unequally Distributed’
The booklet criticizes the MUDRA loan scheme, stating that over 78% of the loans fall under the Shishu category, offering up to ₹50,000 — “insufficient to support serious entrepreneurship.” Moreover, a disproportionate 65% of total loan amounts went to the general category, raising questions on social equity.
Under Stand-Up India, only ₹35,000 crore of the ₹61,000 crore sanctioned was disbursed, reflecting a massive implementation gap, according to Congress.
Farmers’ Crisis and Failing Schemes
In one of its most damning sections, the Congress points to mounting rural distress:
- Over 55% of agricultural households are indebted, with outstanding loans totalling over ₹33 lakh crore.
- The Agriculture Ministry reportedly surrendered ₹85,000 crore in unspent funds between 2018–19 and 2022–23.
- 2.38 crore beneficiaries were removed from the PM-KISAN scheme, and 14.43 crore tenant farmers (Census 2011) remain excluded.
- The PM Fasal Bima Yojana has also come under fire, with claim payouts dropping to 56% of premiums collected, and a 95% fall in Rabi claims since 2022.
Failing Infrastructure and Welfare: Toilets, Schools, Anganwadis
Citing a World Bank study, the Congress claimed that toilet usage has dropped significantly among Scheduled Castes and Tribes due to poor maintenance and lack of water. Nearly 300 out of 700 sanctioned schools remain non-functional, while PVTG student enrolment stands at just 3.4% despite a 5% reservation quota.
Maternal and child health schemes also faced criticism:
- ICDS funding dropped from 1.08% to 0.43% of the Union Budget since 2014.
- 60% of Indian women reportedly lack access to affordable health services, per NFHS-5 data.
Economy: ‘Slowest Growth, Deepening Inequality’
The booklet warns that real GDP growth for FY25 was the slowest since the COVID pandemic, while private sector capital formation hit an 11-year low at 32.4%. Other highlights include:
- India’s government debt has ballooned to 83% of GDP.
- Top 1% of Indians control over 40% of national wealth, while the bottom 50% own just 3%.
Women Empowerment and Ujjwala Yojana: Questionable Impact
Congress questioned the PM Ujjwala Yojana, revealing that from 2017–22, 2.32 crore beneficiaries per year either didn’t take a single LPG refill or took only one, raising doubts over sustained usage. On MUDRA loans for women entrepreneurs, it said 41% fell under the smallest loan category, and 80% of the accounts were pre-existing, not newly created.
Defence and Security: ‘Rhetoric vs Results’
Despite government rhetoric, the booklet states that India remains the world’s second-largest arms importer and failed to enter the top 25 arms exporters, per SIPRI 2024. Defence export growth slowed to 12.04% in 2024–25, down from 32.4% the previous year.
On Kashmir, the party flagged 579 terror attacks and the deaths of 247 security personnel since 2019. It blamed the Pahalgam attack, internet shutdowns, and delayed assembly elections as signs of failure in the Union government’s handling of the region post-Article 370 abrogation.
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