The
Prime Minster, Shri Narendra Modi today addressed the nation from the ramparts
of the Red Fort on the 72nd Independence Day. Following are the highlights from
his speech:
·
Today, the country is
full of self-confidence. The country is scaling new heights by working
extremely hard with a resolve to scale new heights.
·
We have been
celebrating this festival of independence, at a time when our daughters from
states of Uttarakhand, Himachal, Manipur, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have
come back after circumnavigating the seven seas. They have come back amongst us
by (unfurling tricolour in seven seas) turning the seven seas into the colour
of our Tricolor.
·
Our young tribal
children, those who live in our forests in the far-flung areas, they have
enhanced the glory of the tri-colour by unfurling it on the Mount Everest.
·
Whether it is a Dalit
or be it someone who has been persecuted or exploited or be it a deprived
person or women, our Parliament has made the social justice even morestronger
with all the sensitivity and alertness to protect their interests.
·
The demand to give
constitutional status to the OBC commission had been raised for years. This
time our Parliament has made an effort to protect the interests of backward
classes, interests of the extremely backward classes by according the
constitutional status to the OBC commission.
·
I want to reassure the
people who have lost their loved ones and are facing a lot of distress due to
floods that the country is with them and is making complete efforts for helping
them out. My heartfelt condolences are with those who have lost their loved
ones.
·
The next year will
mark 100 years of the Jalliwanwallahbagh massacre. The masses had sacrificed
their lives for the country's freedom; and the exploitation had crossed all
limits. The Jalliwanwallahbagh incident inspires us of the sacrifices made by
those brave hearts. I salute all those brave hearts from the bottom of my
heart.
·
India has become the
sixth largest economy of the world.
·
Today I salute those
brave freedom fighters from the core of my heart on behalf of my countrymen.
Our soldiers, the para-military forces and the Police are laying down their
lives and are in service of the people of the country day in and day out for
maintaining the splendour and dignity of the National flag, the tricolour.
·
After independence, an
highly inclusive constitution was drafted under the leadership of Baba
SahebAmbedkar. It came with the resolve of making a new India.
·
India
should be self-reliant, strong, always on the path of sustainable development. There should not only
be a credence for India, but we also want that India should be effective in the
world, we make India like that.
·
When
dreams, hard work and aspirations of 125 crores people come together, what
can’t be achieved?
·
125
crores Indian did not just stop at forming the government in 2014, instead,
they continuously strived to make the country better. This is the strength of
India.
·
If you
take into consideration the work that has been done in the last four years, you
will be surprised to see the speed at which the country is moving and the pace
at which the progress is being made.
·
Had we
worked at the speed of 2013 , it would have taken centuries in making India
100% open defecation free or electrifying every part or even providing the LPG
gas connection to every woman in rural and urban areas. Had we worked with the
speed of 2013, an entire generation would have taken to connect the country
with optical fibre. We will go by such speed to achieve all these goals.
·
The
country is experiencing change in the last four years. The country is
progressing with new zeal, enthusiasm and courage. Today the country is
constructing twice the highways and four times more houses in the
villages.
·
The
country is producing record foodgrains and manufacturing record number of
mobile phones. The sale of tractors has reached a new high.
·
After
independence the country is buying largest numbers of airplanes.
·
The new
IIMs, IITs and AIIMS are being established in the country.
·
The
mission of Skill Development is being encouraged by establishing new centres in
small places.
·
Start-up
programmes have mushroomed in Tier II and Tier III cities.
·
Efforts
are in progress to compile a ‘common sign’ dictionary for disable persons.
·
Modernisation
and technology has entered into the field of agriculture. Our farmers are
using micro irrigation, drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation methods.
·
On the
one hand, our soldiers help those who are at the brink of catastrophe with
sympathy and empathy and on the other hand they are capable of attacking the
enemies with surgical strikes.
·
We
should always progress with new objectives. When our goals are not clear,
progress is not possible. We will not be in a position to solve the
various problems for years together.
·
We have
decided with great courage to give attractive prices for the products of
farmers. The minimum support price for many crops has been increased to
more than 1.5 times the input costs.
·
With
the help of small traders, their openness and their aptitude to accept new
things, the country has successfully implemented the GST. It has brought
a new confidence among the traders.
·
Benami
Property Law has been implemented with great courage and intention for the good
of the country.
·
There
was a time when the world used to call India’s economy risky. However, today,
the same people and institutions have been saying with a lot of confidence that
our reform momentum has been strengthening our fundamentals.
·
There was a time when
the world used to talk of Red Tape’. However, today the issue of ‘Red
Carpet’ is being discussed. We have reached 100th position in
the ‘ease of doing business’ ranking. Today, the entire world is looking at our
achievement with pride.
·
There was a time when
for the world India meant - ‘policy paralysis’ and ‘delayed reforms’. However,
today India is being discussed for – ‘reform, perform and transform’.
·
There was a time when
the world counted India among the ‘fragile five’. However, today the world has
been saying that India has become the destination for multi-trillion dollar
investment.
·
It is
being said about India’s economy that the ‘sleeping elephant’ has woken up and
has started racing. The world economists and institutions have observed that
for the next three decades India would contribute momentum to the global
economic strength.
·
India’s
stature has increased at the international forums, India has voiced its
opinions strongly on such forums.
·
Earlier
India was awaiting membership of various international organisations. Now
innumerable institutions have come forward to give membership to India.
India has become a hope for all the other countries as far as global warming is
concerned. International solar alliance is being welcomed throughout the
world.
·
Today
we see a magnificent impression of North East in the field of sports.
·
The
last village in the North East has been electrified.
·
We are
getting progressive news about highways, railways, airways, waterways and
information ways (I-ways) from North East.
·
Our
youths from the North East are establishing BPO in their areas.
·
The
North East region has turned to be a hub of organic farming. Sports
university is being set up in North East.
·
There
was a time when North East felt distant from Delhi but within last four years
we have succeeded to get Delhi to the threshold of North East.
·
In
our country 65% of our population consists of 35 year old people. Our
youth has brought a paradigm shift in the nature of job. Whether it is
startup, BPO or e-commerce or the field of mobility, our youth has entered into
new fields. Now a days our youth is committed to take this country to new
heights.
·
13
crore people have availed MUDRA LOAN which is a great achievement. Of
this 4 crore are youth who have availed loan for the very first time and are
self-employed and progressing independently. This in itself is an example of
changing atmosphere.Our youth are managing common service centres in three lakh
villages and they are linking every village and citizen with the world in
seconds by utilizing information technology.
·
With
the spirit of innovation our scientists, we are going to launch ‘NAVIC’ which
will be very useful for the fishermen and others.
·
India
has resolved to send manned spacecraft to the space by 2022. India will
be the fourth country to do this.
·
Now we
are focussed on bringing modernisation and advancement in the field of
agriculture. We have dreamt of doubling farmer’s income by 75th year of
Independence.
·
We want
to expand the horizons of agriculture with the help of modernization. We
want to adopt value addition right from ‘seeds - to –market’. For the
first time we are progressing in the path of Agriculture Export Policy so as to
enable our farmers to emerge powerful in the world market.
·
Now new
avenues of organic farming, blue revolution, sweet revolution, solar farming
have emerged on which we plan to move ahead.
·
In
fisheries, India has emerged second largest country of the world.
·
The
export of honey has doubled.
·
It is a
matter of pleasure for the sugarcane farmers that the production of ethanol has
tripled.
·
In
rural economy, the other sectors are also important. We want to increase
the resources of rural area, with the creation of women self-help groups,
mobilizing billions of rupees. We want to enhance the efficiency of
villages and we are making efforts in this direction.
·
Now
the sale of Khadi has doubled.
·
Our
farmers are now focussing on solar farming. Due to this he can contribute
to agriculture and at the same time earn money by sale of solar energy.
·
Along
with economic progress and development, we also want to focus on dignity of
human life which is supreme. Hence we are also planning to continue with
those schemes which enable a common man to lead his life with pride, respect
and dignity.
·
According
to WHO report 3 lakh children have been saved because of Swachchta
Campaign.
·
Taking
inspiration from Gandhiji who had organized satayagrahis, we have succeed to
mobilize ‘Swatchagrahis’. On the occasion of 150th birth
anniversary crores of “Swatchagrahis’ plan to pay tribute in deed and action to
respected Bapuji in the form of Swatch Bharat.
·
In
order to provide free health services to the poorest people, Government of
India has launched Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojanaAbhiyan. Now under this
scheme any person can get relief from diseases by going to the good hospitals.
·
Under
the scheme Ayushman Bharat 10 crore families are able to get health insurance
benefits, it means nearly 50 crore citizens will be covered. Each family will
get 5 lakh rupees health coverage annually.
·
We give
utmost importance to technology and transparency. Technology intervention
will remove the hurdles for the common man in accessing various facilities.
With this objective technology tools have been developed.
·
Pradhan
Mantri Jan ArogyaAbhiyan will be launched on 25th September,
2018 as a result from now on, common man need not suffer from problems of
dreaded diseases.
·
New
avenues are emerging for middle class families and youth in the field of
health. New hospitals will be constructed in 2 tier and 3 tier
cities. Medical staff will be established in huge numbers.
Employment opportunities will be more in the years to come.
·
During
the period of four years we tried to empower the poor. One international
organisation has reported that during the last two years, 5 crore poor people
have crossed the poverty line. There are several schemes for empowerment
of poor. But the middlemen are taking away the benefits and poorer people
are unable to get the benefits.
·
Government
is making efforts to close all the leakages. We are on the path of
removal of corruption and black-money. Due to all these efforts we were
able to mobilize 90000 crore money to the Government Exchequer.
·
The
honest pay taxes. With their contribution schemes are implemented.
The credit goes to taxpayer and not to the Government.
·
Upto
2013, for the past 70 years the direct tax payers were only 4 crore people.
Now the numbers has doubled and grown to 7.25 crores.
·
For the
period of 70 years, indirect tax officials were able to mobilize 70 lakhs of
revenue. Whereas by implementation of GST, within a year we were able to
mobilize 16 lakhs of revenue.
·
We can
not tolerate black money and corruption. Let there be many
obstacles. But I can’t leave them. Now power brokers are not
visible in the streets of Delhi.
·
In
order to maintain transparency we have launched online process. We have
utilized Information Technology to the maximum level.
·
Through
Short Service Commission, we will appoint women officers in the Armed Forces of
India. Transparency will be maintained in this process. Women
officials will be treated at par with male counterparts.
·
Rape is
painful. But the agony experienced by the victim is more painful.
This should be realized by the people of this country. Everybody should feel
the trauma.
·
We have
to liberate this country, and society from the clutches of this demonic
attitude. Law is doing it’s own business. We have to make efforts
to attack this attitude. We have to attack this type of thinking.
We should remove these types of perversion.
·
Triple
Talak has endangered the lives of Muslim women. Those who did not get
Talak (divorce) are also sailing in the same boat. We made an
effort to alleviate the grief of Muslim women by bringing an act in the Monsoon
Session of Parliament. But even today there are some people who do not
want to pass the Bill.
·
Due to
the efforts of security forces and endeavours made by State Governments, and
also due to the implementation of Central and State Government developmental
schemes and the people’s participation, Tripura and Meghalaya have been
liberated from the Armed Forces Special Power Act.
·
The way
shown to us by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the matters of Jammu and Kashmir is the
best way. We would like to go in the same path. We do not want the
path of bullets and abuses. We have to embrace the patriotic people of
Kashmir, and proceed further.
·
In the
months to come, rural people of Jammu and Kashmir will be able to enjoy their
rights. They will be able to take care of themselves. Government of
India gives enough money to Gram Panchayaths which will be useful for
development. We have to arrange for the elections to panchayats and local
institutions. We are progressing in this direction.
·
Every Indian dreams to
have his own house, therefore we bring in "Housing for All.". He
wants to get his house electrified, therefore there is Electrification for all
Villages. Every Indian wants to get rid of smoke in the kitchen. To achieve
this there is cooking gas for all. Every Indian requires safe drinking water.
Therefore our aim is to get water for all. Every Indian requires a toilet,
hence our objective is to ensure sanitation for all. Every Indian requires
skill development. Hence we have brought in skill development for all. Every
Indian needs quality health service. So, our endeavour is health for all. Every
Indian requires security for which he needs a health insurance coverage. To
meet this need, we bring insurance for all. Every Indian requires internet
facility. Therefore we are making efforts to get connectivity for all. We want
to lead our country towards the path of development by following the mantra of connectivity.
·
We don’t want the path
of confrontation. We do not want roadblocks. We don’t want to bow our head
before anybody. The nation will never stop, never bow before anything,never get
tired. We have to scale new heights. It is our aim to achieve enormous progress
in the years to come.
*****
- PIB
- PIB
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