By Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has voiced serious concern over India’s growing economic disparity, calling for urgent attention to rising inequality and advocating for decentralised, inclusive development models that ensure equitable wealth distribution. Speaking at a public gathering in Nagpur on Saturday, the senior BJP leader delivered a candid assessment of India’s socio-economic challenges, even as he celebrated the country’s infrastructure progress and self-reliant financing models.
Gadkari’s remarks come at a time when growing income inequality in India is drawing national attention. Several recent reports have shown that the richest Indians now control a disproportionately large share of national wealth, while poverty continues to grip millions, particularly in rural areas.
Wealth Centralisation and Rural Neglect
“Slowly, the number of poor people is increasing and wealth is getting centralised in the hands of some wealthy people. It should not happen,” Gadkari stated, warning that the current trajectory threatens to fracture India’s social and economic foundation.
The Minister stressed that true development cannot be defined by GDP figures alone, especially when vast segments of the population remain excluded from growth. He argued that policies must be geared toward rural empowerment and job creation outside urban industrial hubs. “Inclusive development should be the cornerstone of our progress,” he added.
Commending Liberalisation, Cautioning Against Over-Centralisation
While Gadkari acknowledged the significant reforms introduced during the tenures of former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao and Dr. Manmohan Singh — particularly the economic liberalisation of the early 1990s — he cautioned that liberalisation should not translate into an imbalanced concentration of wealth.
“We have to be worried about it,” he said, urging a policy shift toward empowering rural economies and reducing the wealth gap. Gadkari’s stance resonates with increasing calls for a bottom-up growth model, where employment and resources are distributed more evenly across the country.
“Philosophy Cannot Feed the Hungry”
Quoting Swami Vivekananda, Gadkari said, “Philosophy cannot be taught to someone whose stomach is empty,” a powerful reminder that basic human needs must be met before pursuing lofty ideological or policy goals. He stressed the need for job-oriented education, livelihood programs, and robust welfare mechanisms to ensure that every Indian has access to food, shelter, and dignity.
Empowering Financial Professionals for Nation Building
In a forward-looking comment, Gadkari also acknowledged the evolving role of chartered accountants, describing them as key drivers of economic growth. He encouraged the accounting fraternity to move beyond compliance roles and assume leadership in financial strategy and investment planning. “You are the financial engineers of the country,” he said, urging them to take an active role in nation-building.
Infrastructure Without Foreign Aid
Highlighting India’s success in infrastructure financing, Gadkari said that the country no longer needs to depend on foreign loans to build roads, bridges, and highways. He cited the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model — which he helped pioneer — as a testament to India’s self-sufficiency in the sector.
“Sometimes I say I don’t have a fund crunch, I have a shortage of work,” he joked. The Minister revealed that current annual toll revenues stand at ₹55,000 crore and are expected to rise to ₹1.40 lakh crore in the next two years.
“If we monetise toll earnings for the next 15 years, we will have ₹12 lakh crore at our disposal,” Gadkari claimed, adding that his ministry has already demonstrated investor confidence by delivering 18–20% returns on domestic infrastructure bonds. “I will build roads from the money raised from poor Indians. I am not accepting money from Canada or the US,” he said firmly, reinforcing the theme of financial sovereignty.
Driving Growth Through Connectivity and Jobs
Gadkari outlined his vision for India’s economic transformation through better logistics and infrastructure. He spoke of new projects designed to improve connectivity between ports, industrial corridors, and rural regions. These initiatives, he said, are expected to attract investment, reduce transportation costs, and generate large-scale employment.
“These roads are not just concrete and tar — they are the pathways to economic equality, rural upliftment, and national unity,” Gadkari declared.
A Wake-Up Call for Policymakers
As India works toward its ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy, Gadkari’s remarks act as both a celebration of progress and a cautionary note. While infrastructure is booming, the Minister’s focus on decentralised growth and equitable wealth distribution underscores a critical reality: Economic prosperity must reach every village, district, and citizen.
His statements have drawn support from economists and social commentators who agree that India’s development model must shift to accommodate both speed and fairness.
In a rapidly changing global economic landscape, Gadkari’s call for inclusive, decentralised growth serves as a timely reminder that a nation’s strength lies not only in its highways and skyscrapers — but in the well-being of its people.
