While addressing his monthly radio programme "Mann Ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a major decision was taken in this year's budget to ensure adequate agricultural reforms for farmers. He also pressed for preventive healthcare during his 42nd address.
- The show airs simultaneously on All India Radio, Doordarshan and the Narendra Modi YouTube app and YouTube channel
New India is Ambedkar's India: Modi
Calling it B R Ambedkar's India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the “New India” belonged to the poor and the backward.
The Prime Minister said Ambedkar showed that it was not necessary for a person to be born in a rich family in order to succeed, but even those born in poor families can dare to dream and realise those dreams.
“Many people mocked Baba Saheb Ambedkar, tried to pull him back and made every possible effort to ensure that the son of an impoverished and backward family would not progress in life, be something and succeed in life,” Modi said. “But, the picture of New India is altogether different. It is an India which is Ambedkar's India, of the poor and the backward.”
Modi said Ambedkar was an “inspiration for millions of people like me, who belong to backward classes”. He said to honour the architect of India's constitution, the government would begin the 'Gram-Swaraj Abhiyan' on his birth anniversary on 14 April which will go on till 5 May.
“Under the aegis of this campaign, separate programmes on village development, poverty amelioration and social justice will be held throughout India,” he said.
Modi said in the era of 1940s, when the whole world was focused on the Second World War, the looming Cold War and the partition of the sub-continent, Ambedkar laid the foundation of "Team India's spirit" as he talked about federalism, and on Centre and states working together for the upliftment of the country.
“Today, we have adopted in all aspects of governance the mantra of co-operative federalism and going a step further, we have adopted competitive cooperative federalism,” he added.
PM Modi Hails Hardworking Citizens
Narenda Modi thanked ordinary hard-working Indians for inspiring many through their selfless service and mentioned the names of some of such personalities.
Addressing the nation, the PM praised one doctor, Ajit Mohan Chaudhary, from Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur district, who has been treating patients for free for past one month.
“When I heard the story of Dr Ajit Mohan Choudhary, of how he visits the underprivileged on footpaths and offers free medicines to them, it gives one an opportunity to feel the sense of brotherhood that prevails in the country.”
Prime Minister Modi also lauded Ahmed Ali, a rickshaw-puller from Karimgunj district of Assam, who has established nine schools in his area.
“When I read in letters sent by you that how a rickshaw puller from Assam’s Karimganj, Ahmed Ali built nine schools for poor children, it gives me a glimpse into the nation's willpower,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Modi also hailed a taxi driver, Mohammad Saidul Laskar, who had built an affordable hospital at Punri village nearly 40 kilometres from Kolkata, after Saidul's only sister Marufa Khatoon died a few years ago since they could not afford treatment in a hospital.
“13 years ago, Saidul Laskar lost his sister as she could not get the medical facility in time. He then decided to build a hospital so that no poor ever die due to an absence of medical facility. In this mission, Saidul sold jewellery from his home and collected money through donations. His customers also donated to him generously. After 12 years, Saidul built a 30-bed hospital in Punri village near Kolkata. This is the power of new India,” he said.
Mentioning an example of women power, the Prime Minister said, “In Uttar Pradesh, when a woman builds 125 toilets after overcoming steep challenges, inspiring women to exercise their due rights, it gives us a glimpse of 'Matri-Shakti', the power of maternal love and caring.”
Modi ended this segment by saying that innumerable shining examples like these are the hallmark of our country.
PM Modi Stresses on Preventive Healthcare
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people to be more conscious about preventive healthcare because prevention was not only beneficial for a person but also for their and society.
Preventive healthcare is cheapest and easiest. As much as we are conscious about preventive healthcare, it will be beneficial for the person, their family and society.PM Narendra Modi
To be healthy, the Prime Minister also stressed on the need for sanitisation because "a healthy India is as vital as clean India".
“I believe that a healthy India and a clean India are related to each other. The country has moved ahead in the health sector with an unconventional approach. Earlier, every health-related work was the only responsibility of the Union Health Ministry. But in the current scenario, every department, state governments and other departments are working together for healthy India.”
Modi said yoga was a form of preventive healthcare and urged people to start a movement from right now.
Yoga Day will be celebrated on 21 June. Can we start working from now to encourage people for Yoga?PM Narendra Modi
Modi said the government had opened over 3,000 'Jan Aushadhi Kendra' (people's medicine centres) and was working on it continuously to open more such centres.
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