Nine years have changed India's mindset: FM

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Narendra Modi-led NDA government had with social and infrastructure transformation ushered in a change in mindset of policymakers and citizens and the way the world perceived India in the last nine years .

"Mindset has changed. Those (who are) governing have changed their mindset. People who voted for such a government see the change," Sitharaman said.

She was speaking at a conclave on nine years of 'Seva, Sushasan, Garib Kalyan' here.

She said the government has also changed the image of the country, which was tarnished by corruption during the UPA government.

"So 10 years ago we were all struggling, saying how we are going to live with a government which is giving us news of corruption every morning... Almost every Indian thought there was no redemption for India... Now, contrast that picture with what we have in the last nine years," Sitharaman said, taking a jibe at the opposition.

Citing some examples of the change in mindset, she said it is evident from the Padma awards selection, which have truly become people's awards, which recognise unknown individuals for their selfless work.

Earlier, people who had some connection with people in power managed to get Padma awards while under PM Modi, there is a committee that identifies people doing brilliant, selfless work and only such people have received the Padma awards in the last 8-9 years, she said.

Going forward, the country needs good institutions and transparent processes for governance, she said.

She added that now people think that it is possible to have a government which will be responsive and which will do things for people.

Recalling the pandemic period, she said amid all uncertainty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised against raising taxes.

"Even then that one advice which I was given in absolutely firm words. You will not raise money to fund this. You will not bring new tax in the name of Covid... that was the instruction I had from the PM," Sitharaman said, adding that the government refrained from imposing any new tax despite uncertainty over funding for vaccines.