Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 15, 2023, launched the ambitious ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra’ from Khunti, Jharkhand, aiming to connect with every corner of rural India ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The yatra is designed to raise awareness about government schemes and ensure last-mile delivery of welfare benefits to underprivileged citizens.
The campaign will be carried out in a mission mode across all 2.6 lakh gram panchayats in the country. Special vans equipped with digital tools and displays will travel through villages, showcasing the impact of government programs like PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat, and more. Over 2,500 such vans are being deployed, with volunteers and officials engaging with villagers through street plays, testimonials, and on-the-spot enrollments.
Speaking at the launch event, PM Modi emphasized that development must touch every citizen and no one should be left behind. “This is not just a government program, it is a people’s movement for a developed India by 2047,” he said. The initiative also includes health camps, grievance redressal booths, and distribution of welfare scheme benefits during the visits.
Analysts view this as a strategic political outreach to strengthen the BJP’s rural presence and showcase the Centre’s developmental credentials. Opposition parties, however, have criticized the move as election propaganda disguised as governance.