New Delhi, Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, India has to move even further. 100 per cent villages should have roads, 100 per cent households should have a bank account, 100 per cent beneficiaries should have Ayushman Bharat card and 100 per cent eligible persons should have gas connection under Ujjwala scheme. He said, to take India to newer heights, Government has passed the OBC bill. Modi said, it will provide reservation to the backward classes of the country.
He said, be it rice available at ration shop, rice available in mid-day meal, rice available through every scheme will be fortified by the year 2024. The Prime Minister said, whether it is eastern India, North East, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh including the entire Himalayan region, coastal belt or tribal region, these areas will become a big base for India’s development in future.
He said, we have to bring out the potential of the North East and give them equal opportunities in this developmental journey of the nation. He said, the work of connecting all the state capitals of North-East with rail service is going to be completed very soon. Modi said, today, a new history of connectivity is being written in the North East. He said, this connectivity is of the hearts as well as of the infrastructure.
The Prime Minister said, Ladakh is witnessing a new transformative phase where the government is focusing on building world-class infrastructure. Mr Modi said, on one hand, Ladakh is witnessing the creation of modern infrastructure, while on the other, Sindhu Central University is going to make Ladakh a center of higher education.
He said, to give fair opportunity to the potential of all is the real spirit of democracy. The Prime Minister said, be it Jammu or Kashmir, the balance of development is now visible on the ground. He said, De-limitation commission has been constituted in Jammu and Kashmir and preparations are on for assembly elections in future.
Modi said, priority is being given to schemes related to education, health, nutrition, roads, employment in over 110 aspirational districts of the country. He said, many of these districts are in tribal areas.
The Prime Minister said, the country is witnessing a new phase in the developmental journey of the villages. He said, it not only haslectricity and water but also nurturing Digital Entrepreneurs.
Modi said, we have to deal with the fact that our farmers now have less land to cultivate on and more than 80 per cent of our farmers have less than 2 hectors of land. He said, we have to focus on helping our small farmers and have to give maximum benefits of the government\’s schemes to them, be it through DBT or Krishi Rail. The Prime Minister said, the government is now focusing on welfare of small farmers and ten Crore farmer families have directly received over 1.5 lakh crore rupees in their bank accounts.
He said, SVAMITVA Yojna is transforming the lives in rural India and drone is helping the rural citizens map their land and apply for various schemes or loans online. Mr Modi said, in the coming years, we will have to increase the collective power of the small farmers of the country and they have to be given new facilities. He said, Government is trying to empower these farmers through SVAMITVA Yojana. The Prime Minister said, it is the dream of Government that small farmers become the pride of the country.
The Prime Minister said, we have pledged to celebrate 75 weeks of Amrit Mahotsav, starting 12 March 2021 till 15 August 2023. He said, Indian Railways is also being transformed rapidly as the Nation progresses towards Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Mr Modi said, 75 Vande Bharat trains will connect every corner of India in 75 weeks of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence.
He said, we will have to work together for manufacturing world class products, using cutting-edge innovation and new age technology. Mr Modi said, India is going to launch Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan. He said, 100 lakh crore rupees Gatishakti initiative will bring employment opportunities for youth and help in holistic infrastructure growth.
The Prime Minister said, to further increase the developmental progress, we have to focus on our manufacturing and export. He said, to give impetus to Make In India, we have introduced PLI scheme that will help us in increasing the exports. Mr Modi said, moving forward on the path of Development, we have to increase the manufacturing and export. He said, the nation has witnessed India’s first Made in India Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant completing its first trial.
The Prime Minister said, the startups of yesterday are becoming unicorns of today. He said, these wealth creators now have the market value of over thousands of crores. Modi told manufacturers that every product they make is a brand ambassador for India. As long as that product is in use, the buyer will say, yes this is Made in India. He said, we have to stop the over involvement of government in the form of complex policies.
He added that today, Government has done away with over 15 thousand unnecessary compliances. The Prime Minister said, Government has introduced tax reforms that will give impetus to Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business. He said, good and smart governance is required to implement the reforms. Modi said, today, the world is also witnessing how India is writing a new chapter of governance. He said, to introduce people centric approach in Bureaucracy, Government has started Mission Karmayogi and Capacity Building programme.
The Prime Minister called upon Central and State Government departments to launch a campaign to review the rules and procedures which create hurdles and need to be removed. He said, under the Jan Ausadhi Yojana, the poor and needy are now getting affordable medicines. Over 75 thousand Health and Wellness Centres have been built and we are working on a network of hospitals at the block level.
The Prime Minister said, National Education Policy will also focus on encouraging teaching in regional languages. He said, when students will learn their lessons in a language that is close to their hearts, it will surely give them new founded confidence.
Modi said, when the poor’s daughter and son will become professionals after studying in mother tongue, then justice will be done to their ability. PM Modi said, he considers the new National Education Policy as a tool to fight against poverty.
He said, today, be it education or Olympics the daughters of the country are performing tremendously. The Prime Minister said, we have to ensure that they get equal opportunities and they feel safe and respected. He said, in a move towards strengthening Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, the daughters of our country will now be able to study in Sainik schools too.
Mr Modi said, India is not Energy independent and it spends over 12 lakh crore rupees on importing energy. He said, as the nation celebrate 75 years of Independence, we have to ensure that India becomes aatma nirbhar in energy production too.
