Union minister says sustained reforms will propel India to top economic position.
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale (Image: File)
New Delhi: Speaking at India News Manch 2025, organised by the ITV Network, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said opposition parties often question India’s economic performance, particularly the perceived gap between market growth and financial stress. While acknowledging that criticism is a democratic right, he stressed that positive government initiatives must also be recognised in the national interest.
Athawale highlighted measures such as the Women’s Welfare Bill as constructive steps that deserve documentation, support and bipartisan consensus. Reflecting on India’s economic trajectory, he noted that the country ranked tenth globally during the UPA era but has risen to fourth place after a decade of sustained reforms. He said the government’s long-term vision is to make India the world’s largest economy by 2047, marking the centenary of Independence.
On social justice, Athawale said discussions on introducing reservation in the private sector are ongoing, though no final decision has been taken. He pointed out that a 20 per cent economic reservation has already been implemented, while emphasising the need to ensure that backward and tribal communities receive fair access to opportunities. He observed that while some families have benefited from reservation policies over generations, many genuinely disadvantaged sections continue to struggle. Drawing from his rural background, Athawale said he has seen people from villages rise to become ministers, officers and professionals. Policies, he said, must be designed to reach those who remain excluded. He also described inter-caste marriages as an important tool to reduce social inequality.
Athawale added that both the Centre and state governments offer financial incentives to promote inter-caste marriages, noting that he has personally supported and participated in such unions. “Ending casteism requires practical and social interventions,” he said. On Maharashtra politics, Athawale said elections to the BMC and Mumbai Municipal Corporation are approaching and that his party has entered strategic alliances led by Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde and Aditya Pawar. Emphasising inclusive leadership, he said Mumbai, as India’s economic capital, must represent both Marathi and non-Marathi communities while ensuring harmony and equal opportunity.
