2019 in sight, PM Narendra Modi wants to know India's 'mann ki baat'

In a clear signal that the NDA government has switched to election mode, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited people across the country to give him feedback on the work done by the Centre over the past four years. 

In a detailed online survey through the PM’s app, Modi has not only asked about the signature schemes launched by his government but has also sought suggestions for himself. Still months to go for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the PM is checking out people’s pulse, as the name of the survey suggests.

Affordable health care to employment opportunity, rural electrification to fight against corruption, Swachh Bharat to road construction, farmers welfare to airway connectivity, uplift of the poor to national security, and internal security to economy,  the survey takes off with a rating of key 12 sectors. The lowest ranking is “very poor’’ and the highest “excellent’’. Incidentally, health care and jobs top the list while the economy is at the end, perhaps in an indication of the NDA government’s priority in the run-up to the 2019 election.

On a macro level, the survey has some pointed questions. Do you think the speed and scale of the government work have improved? And, are you feeling more optimistic than before about the future of India? Here, one has to answer only in yes or no. When it comes to rating the performance of the central government and state governments, an emoticon is at work and the best rating converts itself into a smiley.

Stepping up the poll momentum, the survey poses a direct query. Which is the prime consideration when you are voting, it asks. You could tick on one or more. The choices are price rise, law and order, education, employment, cleanliness, corruption and farmer welfare. It also wants to know elaborately about the popular BJP leaders across constituencies. These leaders have to be rated for their honesty, integrity, accessibility, humility as well as popularity among the masses. 

There’s more. Anybody participating in the survey must assess their MLAs and MPs according to their initiatives and problem-solving skills. Leaving nothing to chance, other constituency-related questions too have been asked. For instance, how happy are you with the condition of the following amenities and infrastructure in your constituency? The amenities include roads, power, drinking water, health care, education, law and order, and cleanliness.

To check the success of the signature programmes under the NDA government, the survey asks about the three most popular schemes. Towards the end, it pops the question—do you have any suggestion for PM Modi? One is free to fill up a large box while giving suggestions to the PM. In what shows the significance of Mann Ki Baat, the PM’s monthly radio talk show, the survey wants to know if a would-be voter is listening to Modi or not.

Then comes the final question, which goes straight to 2019. Would you be interested in voluntary work for the BJP in 2019 elections? And if you are a social media creature, you have the option of sharing the survey on Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus.