In villages, too, we are bringing a new concept called Rurban — where the soul would be that of villages, but facilities of a city. This will change the whole of rural life. For example, Jyotigram provides 24 hours power supply, broadband connectivity, long-distance education. This means one teacher can impart quality education to all villages of state.
On the criticism that Gujarat’s prosperity preceded him.
This whole talk about Gujarat already being a prosperous state was started by those who cannot admit (some of my) achievements. Gujarat never had a double-digit growth rate. The growth rate is not a one-year phenomenon; it has to be seen over five years. Gujarat has never been at first position in industrial investment since its birth in 1960 — but it’s No 1 now. Agricultural production was never so high.
These lies are spread by people who don’t like Gujarat and they are trying to cover their lies.
Between 1960 and 2002, there were only 11 universities. Since then the number has risen to 35. What will you call this?
On Gujarat’s low score on the human development index (HDI).
Globally, our country is 127th in the list. It’s an issue the entire country should be concerned about. When I took the oath as chief minister for the third time, I announced that I will put all my efforts and energies on improving HDI. When I say HDI, I mean air, water, food, education, health. I want to take care of these five aspects. After this comes accommodation and multi-mode mass transportation for the common man’s convenience. You need to take care of these issues.
We launched a drive for education which focused on 100% enrolment, reducing school dropouts, increasing classrooms, sanitation for schools. We appointed one lakh teachers. We set up the system for it. Gujarat is the first state to insure every student from KG to PG (post-graduation).
We also installed a 1,400km-long Narmada pipeline to provide drinking water to over 8,000 villages. We also launched the first initiative in India on the food front to fight malnutrition by introducing fortified foodstuff like flour, oil, salt, milk, and bread. HDI improvement is not something which can be achieved in just 2-5 years. It’s a process that has to be on constantly.
On his development approach.
My philosophy is that in a country like India, development should be a mass movement. This is my basic thrust. It should be irrespective of the governments that come to power.
On Swarnim Gujarat, Gujarat’s golden jubilee in 2011.
Swarnim Jayanti is an opportunity, not a function or event. To reach this message to every household, I am asking people in every village to take one pledge — like, I will not breach traffic rules; or kids can take a pledge not to waste food; or housewives can say they will not throw garbage in the streets. This will do good for everyone personally and for society. We have started the work since May 2008 and the Sankalpjyot Yatra is moving across the entire state. It has visited 161 places.
I started the yatra from Amreli, which is the native place of Gujarat’s first chief minister, Dr Jivraj Mehta. I bowed in front of his statue and took his blessings. Swarnim Jayanti is not a party programme or government programme. It’s not about Modi. This is an effort to include the whole society and go further.
So your leadership philosophy is about mass movement?
I believe that development must be a mass movement.
On his green agenda.
We made a rule that all government buildings will have rainwater harvesting, will strive to be energy-efficient and have recycling systems. For society, too, we made a rule that all new buildings should have a rainwater-harvesting system.
We have made check dams. Recently, we made India’s longest irrigation tunnel on Panam dam. This will earn us carbon credits. There is a hill and the water was to be carried to the other side, consuming electricity. I created a tunnel and changed the decision. We saved money and it became a green project.
Gujarat earned 30% of the total carbon credits that the entire nation earned last year. In Surat, we made India’s largest solid-waste processing plant generate power. I want to make Gandhinagar a solar city. I don’t know how long it will take, but a concept has been made clear.
On the criticism he faces.
In a democratic system, if there is no criticism, it amounts to a failure of the system. Criticism is always welcome, but allegations are not. I am against allegations. To criticise, you have to do research. But most people don’t take this trouble, they level allegations, which is not done. This is the biggest enemy of democracy. If there is valid criticism, I immediately change my thinking. If I had preferred a ‘chamcha mandal’, I would have never been this successful.
On caste and communal politics.
First of all, I don’t have any caste of my own; this is my biggest advantage. I don’t have any caste. In the real sense, I belong to the most backward community, but I never use that for my identification. No one knows (what my caste is) and I don’t want it to be known either. Vote-bank politics is a problem for the country. It is done for getting immediate benefits, which damages us in the long run.
We started a bal sakha yojana for children. These people will take 18 years to become voters. Politics teaches me that when there is a Lok Sabha election, I should not be doing all these things [long-term development plans]. But I don’t do that [vote-bank politics], it is not my cup of tea.
On whether he will admit mistakes, like US president Barack Obama did recently.
If I have intentionally made a mistake, I should not be spared and must be punished. My statement is one step ahead. There should be no forgiveness if something has been done intentionally. But if it is unintentional, then, as I have said so many times, I am also human and I can also make mistakes. But I will never do anything with mala fide intent. I have been saying this since 2002, but since I am not Obama, you don’t publish it!
On how he will stitch the state’s social fabric together.
I got Narmada water into the Sabarmati. Who is the beneficiary? I started the girl child education campaign. Who is the beneficiary? I got a medical check-up done for every school-going child. Who is the beneficiary? I got CNG [compressed natural gas] for Ahmedabad. Who is the beneficiary? 5.5 crore Gujaratis. The answer is very clear.
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