Only two decades left to achieve 'Viksit Bharat' goal, says Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi; calls for planning

Vadodara: Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday called for planning to achieve the ambitious goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, saying only two decades were left to meet the target.

He was addressing a gathering after hoisting the national flag at the Manjalpur Sports Complex in Vadodara as part of the district-level Independence Day celebration.

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"Only 20 years remain until India completes 100 years of independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the goal of Viksit Bharat at 2047 five years ago. There are now only two decades to achieve this ambitious goal. Therefore, the 80th Independence Day is not merely a celebration; it is a great source of inspiration for planning the next 20 years," he said.

Sanghavi recalled India's freedom struggle, remembering the contribution made by Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

He also recalled the contributions of the Gaekwad administration and the city of Vadodara to the freedom movement.

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The state government is working for a prosperous and developed Gujarat and is committed to the welfare of everyone -- from tribal communities to urban residents and from children to senior citizens, he was quoted as saying in an official release.

Under the Tribal Development initiative, three new government hostels will be constructed for students from Vadodara and surrounding districts, while the capacity of existing facilities has also been increased, he said.

The government has also taken measures to ensure people's safety during natural disasters, he said.

"Five shelter homes have been sanctioned for residents of vulnerable areas. The government has given special attention to farmers during natural calamities. Over the last 10 years, relief assistance has been provided to 1.36 crore farmers," Sanghavi said.

Gujarat is a role model for the country in industry, investment and employment and the government is working to provide employment to young people in both the government and private sectors, he said.

"During 2025-26, 1,333 employment fairs were organised and appointment letters were given to 1,15,774 young people. Over the past five years, 7,403 mega employment fairs have been organised, providing jobs to more than 6.54 lakh young people," he said.

Appealing to the youth to stay away from all kinds of harmful habits and addictions that are sometimes portrayed as 'fashionable', he also praised young people for promoting social harmony and using social media to spread awareness about social evils.