2015 was a great year for Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Through a series of pragmatic policy pronouncements, far-reaching reform agendas, Raje has started to energize the economy and instill hope in the people of Rajasthan. Here are some of the best-said quotes of Rajasthan CM.
“If Bangalore is where it all began in startups, I can assure you Rajasthan is where it will be. Rajasthan is a world-beater and will remain so in the times to come.”
Vasundhara Raje Government has launched the Rajasthan Startup Policy, first time ever in the State, which is designed to galvanize the startup ecosystem and give the required sustenance to the entrepreneurial talent native to the people of the state.
“The Government alone cannot do what we dream for Rajasthan. Our partners need to be on our side at every small step, at very large strides. The response and excitement during Resurgent Rajasthan Summit was palpable and it is indeed a beacon of hope. The easy part is over now. The next steps shall involve us burning the midnight oil in implementing these investments and creating jobs for our people.”
The Resurgent Rajasthan Summit organized by GOR has been one of the most successful investment summits in the country. With the who’s who of the industry present, RR 2015 received commitments for investment in the state of about Rs 3,30,000 crore, with the potential to generate 2.5 lakh jobs. Raje’s idea behind the Summit was to project Rajasthan as an investment destination, and she surely seems to have done the job well.
“Land in Barmer is ours, money and natural resources are ours, but not the ownership of the project as Rajasthan is given only 26 per cent of share under the MoU singed between previous Congress government and HPCL. Efforts are being made to establish a refinery very soon so that the State can get full benefit of its resources and conclusion would be drawn soon”.
The Barmer refinery was a big issue in the 2013 elections. Experts say that the then Gehlot Government made a deal with HPCL, which, if implemented, would have been a big loss for the State in the longer run. Raje held her ground and has stated that the establishment of refinery would soon turn into a reality and the stakes of the State government would be increased.
“The traditional 3As of tourism Access, Accommodation and Amenities need a fourth A of Articulation, because tourism decision making by groups and individuals is being revolutionized by online consumer reviews, Google maps, hyper local search and the sharing economy, while global competition means that travellers, traditionally satisfied by hardware, are being wooed with experiences.”
This statement from her recent blog truly reflects Raje’s thorough understanding of the Tourism sector. The Government of Rajasthan is going to launch a full-fledged tourism campaign in January 2016. The Rajasthan Tourism campaign, with design support of Ogilvy & Mather, is said to be the most unique tourism campaign of the Country. Raje’s belief that Tourism is the key to empowerment, growth and job-creation along with sustaining culture of the State seems to reflect in the recently beautified cities of Rajasthan.
“The election campaign reinforced feedback during my time in the opposition that people were seeking holistic development and, consequently, we have conceived of a Rajasthan model of development anchored around three pillars: social justice, effective governance and job creation. I believe we don’t just live in an economy but in a society.”
Vasundhara Raje’s election campaign revolved around the Suraaj Sankalp Yatra, in which she traversed across the State, covering over 13000 kms. The Rajasthan Model of Development is enriched with experiences and encounters of Vasundhara Raje that gave her a true picture of ground realities and problems of the people.
“The wisdom of balance in governance is hardly new; the magnificent ruins at Hampi of the Vijaynagara Empire have a horizontal band of three animal sculptures at the bottom of every building; tigers (for courage), horses (for speed) and elephants (for stability). This grouping has an important message for state governments that often choose the status quo over boldness, innovation and experimentation.”
Raje’s abilities as a statesman are well renowned. This quote highlights her deep understanding of the necessity of balance between the existing state of affairs and the need for bringing fresh ideas to the table. Her ideologies and principles are often connected to ‘Raj Dharma’ that keeps guiding her to incorporate spirituality in her work life and in personal life.
“Gandhiji walked 390 kms from Sabarmati to Dandi. I think he would be upset with the Salt Cess Act of 1953.”
The year 2015 saw Rajasthan, for the first time, undertake a comprehensive review of laws with a view to remove incoherent and redundant laws. Rajasthan’s law review & repeal programme is cradled within the broader central government agenda of minimum government and maximum governance. This decision shall surely give the State huge impetus in attracting investors in the coming times.
