Prime Minister Narendra Modi, close on the heels of making a strong pitch for the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme vis-a-vis his crusade against corruption. Sunjeev Kaur Birdi, an Indian origin Kenya Minister has hailed the government's move.
Ms Birdi said that when she returns to Kenya, her message for Kenyan citizens will be "India has changed and they must visit the country to see a Badla Hua India".
The Environment Minister in Kenya, Ms Birdi, answering questions on Prime Minister Modi's speech on Tuesday, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention.
Ms Birdi, told "I was very impressed when Mr Modi spoke about the issue of corruption because corruption is a world wide phenomenon."
She was also impressed by the Prime Minister Modi's observation that the DBT scheme has helped the government to save a staggeringly high amount of Rs 4.9 lakh crore.
The reference was to Mr Modi's speech that due to pilferage and corruption menace, nearly 85 percent of government money used to go wasted as was stated by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi but the NDA regime's initiatives and use of technology has helped curb the menace. During last four and a half years, Rs 5,78,000 crore had been directly disbursed to bank accounts of beneficiaries for various schemes, said by Mr Modi.
It was mentioned by the Prime Minister that the seven crore fraudulent beneficiaries who existed only on papers but contributed immensely in nation's infamous corruption tale, identified by his government. He also said, though former PM Rajiv Gandhi could identify the malady, even subsequent Congress regimes under PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh had done nothing to fight the graft menace from the Indian system of governance and welfarism.
The Kenyan politician maintained she was impressed with Modi's observation on corruption because the government led by PM Modi has "implemented something that was required" to fight corruption.
She said in the process, a huge amount of public funds, disbursed by government for identified beneficiaries, could be saved and the money went to the genuine beneficiaries.
To get at least five families to visit India, mentioned by the Prime Minister had a positive message and intent said by Ms Birdi. She also said "I brought four individuals on my own. They are from different families and therefore I can say I am on the right track."
Several other participants attending the PBD have said that in the image of 'changing India' during last four and a half years, the Modi government's fight against corruption has been impressive.
Neelanjan Pendherkar, now residing for last two decades in Malaysia said, "I hail from Maharashtra, and overseas, I used to hear stories about corruption in India....even the houses earmarked for war widows were allegedly given to politicians in Mumbai (Adarsh Housing scam). That used to put us on backfoot overseas. But that image has changed today as news stories come about things getting cleaned in India and big shots facing trials."