Monday, 16 August 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Outlines blueprint for a century
As India celebrated its 75th Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday expressed the hope of building “a country where there is minimum Government interference” and affirmed that India has the willpower to bring big reforms and currently it is writing a “new chapter of governance.”
The Prime Minister presented the blueprint for 100 years of Independence saying, “Our aim is to build India where there is minimum government interference.”
Delivering his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister not just applauded the country’s achievement at the Tokyo Olympics, but was also effusive in his praise for the efforts and courage shown by doctors, nurses and citizens in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lauding the Indian Olympians who won medals at the Tokyo Olympics, Modi said.
“Let’s applaud our Olympic champions. Not only did they make the country proud but they also inspired future generations…..Our Olympic medalists have brought glory to the nation. I want to tell the citizens and sportsperson that we must honour our sportspersons.”
Modi added that he had “faith in our youth, farmers and the next generation for our sankalp today to siddhi in the year 2047. So, this is the right time to dream together, work together, do hard work together for a glorious future.”
In his speech, the Prime Minister made an addition of “Sabka Prayas” to his famous tagline of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vika, Sabka Vishwas.” This, he said, was “very important for the achievement of all our goals.”
Presenting the next 100 years’ blueprint for development he said, “Political will is required to bring in big changes and big reforms. Today, the world can see that there is no dearth of political will in India. Good and smart governance is needed to bring reforms.
The world is a witness to how India is writing a new chapter of governance.”
Modi announced the launch of the National Hydrogen Mission that will make India the global production hub for clean hydrogen fuel production and export. The mission aims to make India self-reliant in clean energy and create new jobs.
He also announced that to fight malnutrition all rice distributed through Government schemes would be fortified with nutrients.
Appreciating doctors, nurses, scientists and all the citizens of the country, Modi said, “Indians have fought the Covid battle with a lot of patience. We had many challenges but we worked with extraordinary pace in every area. It’s a result of the strength of our industrialists and scientists, that today India doesn’t need to depend on any other nation for vaccines.”
Speaking about the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Modi said the development of the Union Territory was visible on the ground. “A Delimitation Commission has been constituted in Jammu and Kashmir and preparations are on for Assembly elections in the future,” he said.
In the backdrop of the ongoing farmers’ agitation, Modi said, “In the coming years, we will have to increase the collective power of the small farmers of the country. We have to give them new facilities. They must become the country’s pride.”
Modi also announced that the Government will launch the Pradhan Mantra Hari Shakti master plan to give the country ‘s infrastructure and transport a holistic development path.
“The Rs 100 crore project will create jobs and new opportunities. The Gati Shakti project will break down silos, roadblocks in India’s development path,” he said
The Prime Minister, who a day before declared that August 14 would be observed as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’, mention the tragedy of participation in his address to the nation.
“While we celebrate our freedom today, we cannot forget the pain of the Partition that still pierces through the heart of all Indians. This has been one of the biggest tragedies of the last century. After attaining freedom, these people were forgotten too soon. Now, India has taken an emotional decision in their memory. We will henceforth commemorate August 14 as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” in the memory of all the victims of the Partition. Those who were subjected to inhuman circumstances, suffered torturous treatment, they could not even receive a dignified cremation.
Speaking about the country’s march to the future, Modi said there comes a time in the development journey of every nation when the country redefines itself afresh and pushes forward with new resolutions.
“Today that time has arrived in the development journey of India. We should not limit the occasion of 75 years of the Indian independence to just one ceremony. We must lay the groundwork for new resolutions and move forward with new resolutions.
“Starting from here, the entire journey of the next 25 years, when we celebrate the centenary of Indian Independence, marks the Amrit period of creation of a new India. The fulfillment of our resolutions in this Amrit period will take us to the hundredth anniversary of Indian Independence with pride”, he said.
