President Ram Nath Kovind has said that the government is moving fast on
building a strong foundation for the next 25 years following the mantra
of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Aur Sabka Prayas'. He
said, the most important resolution related to this foundation is the
creation of inclusive and self-reliant India.
Addressing the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament today, the
President lauded the various schemes and initiatives of the Government
for the welfare of people. He said, India has once again become one of
the fastest growing economies of the world due to relentless efforts of
the Government. He said, India has attracted 48 billion dollar worth of
investment in the first seven months of the current financial year and
the global investors are assured of India’s development. He said, Goods
and Service Tax collection has consistently remained above one lakh
crore rupees during the last several months.
He said, India’s foreign exchange reserves exceeded 630 billion dollars
and the country’s exports are also growing rapidly, breaking several
past records. He said, the government has launched 14 key Production
Linked Incentive schemes with an outlay of more than one lakh 97
thousand crore rupees to fully realize the potential of the
manufacturing sector and to create new opportunities for the youth. He
also said, these PLI schemes will not only help transform India as a
global manufacturing hub but also create over 60 lakh jobs. Stressing on
the role of MSMEs in India’s prosperity, he said, they have been the
backbone of the country’s economy and a driver of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
The President pointed out that infrastructure is the foundation for
development in any country. He said, investment in infrastructure not
only generates lakhs of new jobs, but also facilitates ease of doing
business and promotes economic activities. He said the government has
integrated different Ministries to work in a synergised manner under the
Pradhan Mantri Gatishakti National Master Plan to accelerate
infrastructure development.
Talking about India’s efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, the
President said, the vaccination programme has proved India’s
capabilities in the fight against it. He said, the country has crossed
the milestone of administering more than 150 crore vaccine doses in less
than a year. More than 90 percent of adult citizens in the country have
received the first dose of the vaccine, while more than 70 percent have
received both the doses. He said, indigenous vaccines are playing a
vital role in making the whole world free from the pandemic and saving
the lives of crores of people. He lauded the contributions of health and
frontline workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the various initiatives of the Government, the President
said, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will
not only help in meeting the present health needs, but also prepare the
country for any crises situation in future. He said, due to the
sensitive policies of the government, now health services are easily
accessible to the common man in the country. More than 80 thousand
health and wellness centers are functional and crores of Ayushman Bharat
cards have helped the poor. He added that the government has reduced
the cost of treatment by making medicines available at affordable prices
through more than eight thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
Reiterating the Government’s mantra of Antyodaya, he said, the
government is giving free ration every month to all the poor under the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. He said, Jan
Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity has empowered citizens. He said,
crores of beneficiaries have got the benefit of direct cash transfer
during the pandemic due to the connectivity of more than 44 crore poor
countrymen with the banking system.
Talking about the success of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the President
said, more than two crore pucca houses have been provided to the poor
under the scheme. He said, Jal Jeevan Mission has started making a big
difference in the lives of the people. Mr. Kovind said, the government
is working relentlessly to empower the rural economy and the farmers of
the country and the government has made a record government procurement
of food grains. He said, the country's agricultural exports have also
increased at a record level due to the efforts of the government. He
said, agriculture exports have registered a growth of more than 25
percent in the year 2020-21.
He highlighted that more than 11 crore farmer families received one lakh
80 thousand crore rupees under the PM-KISAN scheme. He said, in order
to ensure remunerative prices to farmers for their crops, it is
necessary that their products reach the right market. In this direction,
the government has endeavoured to open new avenues of prosperity for
the farmers by launching Kisan Rail Seva. He said, the government is
also making investments for developing infrastructure near farmlands. He
added, thousands of projects have been approved under the Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund with the corpus of one lakh crore rupees. He said,
the government has also taken forward the plans for interlinking of
rivers. The Ken-Betwa link project is to be completed at a cost of 45
thousand crore rupees which will help in ending the water crisis in
Bundelkhand region.
Stressing on the need to empower women, the President said, the
Government has taken several steps for their welfare. He said, it has
raised the age of marriage for women to 21 years to bring gender
equality.
He said, the government has made a beginning to liberate the society
from the manifestly arbitrary practice of Triple Talaq by making it a
criminal offence. A provision has also been made for the Gender
Inclusion Fund in the National Education Policy to promote learning
capability among girls. He said, the government has also approved the
admission of women cadets in the National Defence Academy and the first
batch of women cadets will enter the NDA in June this year.
Mr. Kovind said, the Centre is implementing a new National Education
Policy to give shape to the resolve and potential of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
He said, local languages are also being promoted through the policy.
The President asserted that the government is working with utmost
determination to ensure a safe and secure India and the country is
becoming self-reliant in the defence sector. He said, the country is
making special efforts for the development of neglected states and
regions. He said, the government has started a new central sector scheme
for the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir. He said, many
important steps have also been taken to provide better opportunities for
education, health and employment to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
At present, works are in progress on seven medical colleges and two
AIIMS, one in Jammu and another in Kashmir. Construction of an IIT and
an IIM in Jammu is also going on in full swing. He said, Border Roads
Organization has constructed a transport-worthy road at 19 thousand
feet, the highest altitude for such a road, at Umling La Pass in Ladakh.
Even the most remote villages like Demchok in Ladakh, Joling Kong in
Uttarakhand and Huri in Arunachal Pradesh have been connected by modern
roads.
He said, the government is committed to the sustainable development of
all the states of the North East. He said, in these states, basic
amenities and economic opportunities are being developed at every
level.
He said, Rail and air connectivity are no longer a dream for the people of the North East.
On Afghanistan, the President said, in spite of the prevailing
situation, India launched Operation Devi Shakti. He said, despite the
challenging conditions, India successfully airlifted a number of Indian
citizens and many Afghan Hindu and Sikh minorities from Kabul. He said,
India is helping Afghanistan by delivering medical supplies and
food-grains.
On India’s achievement in the Tokyo Olympics, the President said, the
world has witnessed the country’s youth potential during the games. He
said, India won seven medals in its best performance ever in the
international competition. He said, in the Tokyo Paralympics too, Indian
para-athletes set a record by winning 19 medals.
On the celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on the occasion of the
75th year of the country's Independence, the President said, special
events related to great personalities of the country are inspiring
people. He said, the government is celebrating the sacred occasions of
the 400th Prakash Parv of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the 150th birth
anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, the 150th birth anniversary of V.O.
Chidambaram Pillai and the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose with grandeur. He saluted freedom fighters who gave highest
priority to their duties and secured the rights of India.
He said, the government believes that remembering the past and learning
from it are equally important for a secure future of the country.
Observance of 'Veer Bal Diwas' on 26th December in the memory of
sacrifice of Sahibzadas and 'Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas' on 14th
August is a reflection of this thinking.
The government also decided to celebrate the birth anniversary of
Bhagwan Birsa Munda on 15th November as ‘Jan-jatiya Gaurav Diwas’ as a
tribute to him.
Social media is bold.
Social media is young.
Social media raises questions.
Social media is not satisfied with an answer.
Social media looks at the big picture.
Social media is interested in every detail.
social media is curious.
Social media is free.
Social media is irreplaceable.
But never irrelevant.
Social media is you.
(With input from news agency language)
If you like this story, share it with a friend!
We are a non-profit organization. Help us financially to keep our journalism free from government and corporate pressure
0 Comments