MODI'S 15th AUGUST ADDRESS TO THE NATION

The nation heard the PM today. The whole world heard him deliver his speech on the occasion of 74th Independence Day of India. We all heard him focused on the challenges posed by COVID-19, the devastating floods, cyclones, border skirmishes due to expansionists ambition of infiltrators and threats from terrorist outfits. He said our soldiers did the proud from LoC to LAC – the forces replied in the language used by the aggressor and the world has seen in Ladakh what our soldiers and the country can do.

In no better way could he inspire the nation the way he did today from the rampart of historic Red Fort to infuse much needed hope and confidence among the people that India is still capable to achieve her developmental goals and objectives through Atmanirbhar or self-reliance model to tide over the odds. 

PM Modi reminded the nation that India produced and made available PPE kits and ventilators to fight COVOD-19. He said that three Corona vaccines are in different stages of testing and are likely to be available soon. All modalities have been streamlined to overpower the deadly virus.

The nation has learnt from Corona threats. So has Modi announced the launch of the National Digital Health Mission saying it would reduce problems in healthcare through technology, by providing every Indian with a ‘health identity’ in which all tests, disease details, reports and visit to doctors will be recorded. 

Stopping imports of 100 types of defence equipments, he stressed the need to become self reliant India - a producer of finished products with value addition than supply raw material to the world and import finished products.

He announced that in the next 1000 days, Lakshadweep will also be connected to submarine optical fibre cable with the creation of a new four-lane coastal road project along the coastline of the country, and the expansion of the optical fibre network to all six lakh villages and also Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

National Cadet Corps to be expanded in border districts. There are 173 districts in border and coastal areas. Nearly 100,000 NCC cadets will be expanded for youth of these areas. Around a third of them will be girls. Training will be imparted by Army, Air Force and Navy depending on the location. This will provide trained manpower to the forces whereas youth will acquire skills to join forces, the PM said.

He also spoke about reforms in the agricultural sector to rid farmers of economic debt. To augment their income, the government is keen to reduce input cost and is working to double their income. The replacement of diesel pumps with solar pumps is a step in the direction. Rs 1 lakh crore has reportedly been allocated for agricultural infrastructure during COVID-19 for promoting rural industry.

Fresh elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir, from where Article 370 was removed last year, after the delimitation exercise is completed. 

Ladakh, Leh and Kargil to become carbon neutral development models. India is now among the top five renewable energy producing countries in the world. A 7500 MW solar park project is going to be set up there.

As regard to the challenge being posed from cyberspace to the social fabric, economy and infrastructure of the country the PM declared that a new cyber security police would be brought in the country soon.

In a very humble mention to Ram Mandir he thanked the nation for the atmosphere of peace prevailed after the foundation stone he laid in Ayodhya a few days back, and hoped for “a better future.”

He also touched upon comprehensive, integrated infrastructure development and hurdles to remove to allow middle-class to prosper. 

So, Prime Minister Modi did what the nation required it most. He inspired the nation with hope and confidence in a most challenging Corona ridden drained economic situation with his future strategies and plans for fruitful turn around for all. 

All the above announcements may require huge funding. It has to be seen as to how the government is going to raise it. Will it again be the tax paying middle class crushed and pressed further?