Prime Minister Modi addresses the nation
15 08 2014
“An occasion to build national character”
Series of initiatives announced
- Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan Yojana to provide for a bank account, a debit card and an insurance amount of Rs. one lakh, for the poor
- Digital Infrastructure a priority to empower Indians
- Swachh Bharat initiative to be launched on October 2nd
- Toilets in all schools within a year
- Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana to be launched
- New institution to replace Planning Commission
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today called upon all citizens to contribute to the cause of building national character. Addressing the nation for the first time from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 68th Independence Day, he said, it is an occasion for introspection for all, as to how his or her acts would weigh on the scale of National Interest. Let all actions be in the National Interest, and be seen as a contribution towards nation building, the Prime Minister said.
Greeting the people of India on Independence Day, Shri Narendra Modi stated that he was addressing them not as “Pradhan Mantri” but as “Pradhan Sewak” – the first servant.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a series of initiatives aimed at empowering the common man, and unleashing the potential of India’s youth.
In a major new scheme to universalize banking access and financial inclusion, the Prime Minister announced the Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan Yojana which will provide for a bank account, a debit card and an insurance amount of Rs. one lakh, to poor families.
A nationwide “Skill India” movement will be initiated to provide skills which ensure employability.
The Prime Minister also announced a vision of “Come and Make in India” inviting manufacturers from across the world to invest in India, and help boost India’s industrial growth. He called upon the youth of India to unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and work towards manufacturing in India, the various items that add to our import bill. Let “Made in India” become a synonym of excellence, he added.
Emphasizing that digital infrastructure is a priority to empower the citizens, Shri Narendra Modi announced his Government’s resolve to work towards Digital India, which would provide information and services to the people in a timely and effective manner.
Stressing on the need for cleanliness, the Prime Minister announced his Government’s resolve for “Swachh Bharat” – a vision which will be launched on October 2nd this year, to be accomplished by 2019, on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In a related initiative, the Prime Minister said the first step towards “Swachh Bharat” begins with immediate effect, through a commitment to build toilets in all schools, including separate toilets for girls, within one year.
The Prime Minister announced the launch of the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, under which each Member of Parliament would be invited to make one model village in his constituency, by 2016. He said a complete blueprint for this scheme would be announced on October 11th, the birth anniversary of Shri Jayaprakash Narayan.
Shri Narendra Modi announced that a new institution would be created to replace the Planning Commission. This new institution would respect the federal structure of the country, he asserted.
Thanking all Members of Parliament, including the Opposition Parties for a productive session of Parliament, the Prime Minister said his Government wished to move forward by consensus.
Referring to reports of the positive change in work culture of the Union Government since he took over as Prime Minister, the Prime Minister said he was taken aback by such news reports – since it should be the norm for Government Servants to work with due diligence. The Prime Minister said the fact that this should make news, shows how low our collective standards of duty and responsibility have fallen. The Prime Minister called upon society to give up the selfish attitude of “Mera Kya, Mujhe Kya.”
The Prime Minister also said he was appalled by the discord and disunity among various Government departments that he saw after assuming office. He assured the people that he would resolve this issue, so that the Government of India worked not as an assembled entity, but as an organic entity. The Prime Minister said development and good governance were the only two tracks which could take the nation forward.
The Prime Minister expressed dismay at the rising number of rape incidents in the country. Pointing out that daughters are asked a lot of questions in a family, he called upon parents to question their sons also, and keep a tab on their activities. Every rapist is someone’s son, the Prime Minister said. In a similar vein, he called upon misguided youth who had taken to terrorism or Maoism, to give up violence and return to the national mainstream.
The Prime Minister quoted Shri Aurobindo and Swami Vivekananda, reflecting on their vision to see India as a “Jagatguru” once again, and called upon all Indians to help convert this vision into reality.
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Modi’s Outreach Without Borders
15 08 2014
Modi’s Outreach Without Borders
Dr. Rajiv Kumar
To Me
Aug 14 at 6:19 PM
Dear Mr. Sagar
I am forwarding the article carried in Hindustan Times on 13th August with the title “Modi’s Outreach Without Borders’ . I review the outcomes of Modi’s visit to Nepal and the promise it holds out for further improvement in bilateral relations and regional cooperation in South Asia.
With Best Regards,
Rajiv Kumar
Modi’s Outreach Without Borders
From all accounts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Nepal has been a success. It was a great idea to combine his personal pilgrimage with a State visit. It encouraged the common people to connect with him as another Shiva worshipper, as Nepalese themselves are, and at the same time be exposed to his thoughts. He enthralled the common people of Nepal as well as their leaders. The success of Modi’s visit highlights the mistake of our previous leaders who neglected Nepal for the last two decades. IK Gujral, the last Indian PM to make a bilateral visit to Nepal, was known for his liberal attitude towards the country. Modi seems to have taken a leaf out of Gujral’s book by being big-hearted and forthcoming during his visit. He not only announced a $1-billion special assistance package for Nepal’s development but a raft of other measures for re-building trust.
More importantly, Modi won over his hosts by recognising Nepal’s sovereignty, its importance to India and demonstrating due respect to its people. He did this by visiting Nepal within the first 100 days of taking office, starting his speech in Nepali at the Constituent Assembly and declaring that Nepal has shown the way to the world by moving from “Yuddh se Buddh ki ore”. He changed the image of Nepalis when he observed: “I salute the Nepali braves who have laid down their lives for India.” His actions and words will hopefully heal the deep hurt caused by some of our arrogant diplomats and high-handed agency personnel who have behaved in the most boorish fashion over the years. The case of one of our high commissioners landing up in the PM’s office in slippers to read out the riot act rankles in every Nepali heart. Such incidents represent the worst example of India’s big brother attitude towards its South Asian neighbours. Hopefully, that era is now behind us with the lead given by both the prime minister and foreign minister.
In Parliament, emphasising the need for follow-up action, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said: “The prime minister’s visit has given a whole new impetus, new direction and new dynamism to our vital relationship with Nepal, which we are determined to further intensify and build upon.” Focused and sustained follow-up will be the key to take this relationship to a higher level. The most important thing is to ensure that the power trade agreement (PTA) is finalised and signed by the two countries within the next 45 days as agreed during Modi’s visit. This will unlock the long and vexed issue of hydropower development and power export from Nepal to India.
India should be prepared to go the extra mile to clinch the agreement in keeping with the spirit of Modi’s visit. It is worth noting that Modi has given a virtual carte blanche for the revision of the 1950 treaty by inviting his Nepali counterpart to suggest the revisions. These two steps will transform the nature of Indo-Nepal relations and will have positive ramifications for India’s relations with its other neighbours and regional cooperation in South Asia.
Apart from these two major issues, there are some smaller irritants that need to be removed. The lack of testing facilities at the border for agro-products coming in from Nepal results in uncertainty, higher costs and rent payments for Nepali exporters. This can be rectified in two ways. The preferable solution is for India helping to establish these testing facilities with necessary technical capability in Nepal and accepting their certification. The alternative would be to establish these facilities for specified Nepali products at border crossings.
Secondly, the border infrastructure leaves much to be desired. For example, traffic is held up usually for long hours at the Raxaul-Birganj border for the lack of a flyover above the railway tracks. The condition of roads, customs posts and the behaviour of petty officials or border security guards must be improved because such minor irritants spread negativism, especially among the Nepali youth. The finalisation of the mutual extradition agreement will help to remove the public perception in Nepal, perhaps unjustified, of Indian security agencies conducting operations in Nepal. This will further help eliminate India’s big brother image.
The visits to Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal by Modi and Swaraj have set the right tone for this government’s foreign policy agenda as it reflects the highest priority for South Asia. A major breakthrough in relations with Nepal and Bangladesh and the mutual benefits that will accrue to all concerned is bound to be noticed in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and will encourage them to follow suit. Sustained and focused follow-up action and active political oversight will be the key. To ensure this, the leadership could effectively use inputs from Track II engagements that will allow them to identify bottlenecks and ensure real progress on the ground.
Author is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. He is also the former Director of ICRIER and former Secretary General of FICCI.
Dr. Rajiv Kumar
To Me
Aug 14 at 6:19 PM
Dear Mr. Sagar
I am forwarding the article carried in Hindustan Times on 13th August with the title “Modi’s Outreach Without Borders’ . I review the outcomes of Modi’s visit to Nepal and the promise it holds out for further improvement in bilateral relations and regional cooperation in South Asia.
With Best Regards,
Rajiv Kumar
Modi’s Outreach Without Borders
From all accounts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Nepal has been a success. It was a great idea to combine his personal pilgrimage with a State visit. It encouraged the common people to connect with him as another Shiva worshipper, as Nepalese themselves are, and at the same time be exposed to his thoughts. He enthralled the common people of Nepal as well as their leaders. The success of Modi’s visit highlights the mistake of our previous leaders who neglected Nepal for the last two decades. IK Gujral, the last Indian PM to make a bilateral visit to Nepal, was known for his liberal attitude towards the country. Modi seems to have taken a leaf out of Gujral’s book by being big-hearted and forthcoming during his visit. He not only announced a $1-billion special assistance package for Nepal’s development but a raft of other measures for re-building trust.
More importantly, Modi won over his hosts by recognising Nepal’s sovereignty, its importance to India and demonstrating due respect to its people. He did this by visiting Nepal within the first 100 days of taking office, starting his speech in Nepali at the Constituent Assembly and declaring that Nepal has shown the way to the world by moving from “Yuddh se Buddh ki ore”. He changed the image of Nepalis when he observed: “I salute the Nepali braves who have laid down their lives for India.” His actions and words will hopefully heal the deep hurt caused by some of our arrogant diplomats and high-handed agency personnel who have behaved in the most boorish fashion over the years. The case of one of our high commissioners landing up in the PM’s office in slippers to read out the riot act rankles in every Nepali heart. Such incidents represent the worst example of India’s big brother attitude towards its South Asian neighbours. Hopefully, that era is now behind us with the lead given by both the prime minister and foreign minister.
In Parliament, emphasising the need for follow-up action, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said: “The prime minister’s visit has given a whole new impetus, new direction and new dynamism to our vital relationship with Nepal, which we are determined to further intensify and build upon.” Focused and sustained follow-up will be the key to take this relationship to a higher level. The most important thing is to ensure that the power trade agreement (PTA) is finalised and signed by the two countries within the next 45 days as agreed during Modi’s visit. This will unlock the long and vexed issue of hydropower development and power export from Nepal to India.
India should be prepared to go the extra mile to clinch the agreement in keeping with the spirit of Modi’s visit. It is worth noting that Modi has given a virtual carte blanche for the revision of the 1950 treaty by inviting his Nepali counterpart to suggest the revisions. These two steps will transform the nature of Indo-Nepal relations and will have positive ramifications for India’s relations with its other neighbours and regional cooperation in South Asia.
Apart from these two major issues, there are some smaller irritants that need to be removed. The lack of testing facilities at the border for agro-products coming in from Nepal results in uncertainty, higher costs and rent payments for Nepali exporters. This can be rectified in two ways. The preferable solution is for India helping to establish these testing facilities with necessary technical capability in Nepal and accepting their certification. The alternative would be to establish these facilities for specified Nepali products at border crossings.
Secondly, the border infrastructure leaves much to be desired. For example, traffic is held up usually for long hours at the Raxaul-Birganj border for the lack of a flyover above the railway tracks. The condition of roads, customs posts and the behaviour of petty officials or border security guards must be improved because such minor irritants spread negativism, especially among the Nepali youth. The finalisation of the mutual extradition agreement will help to remove the public perception in Nepal, perhaps unjustified, of Indian security agencies conducting operations in Nepal. This will further help eliminate India’s big brother image.
The visits to Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal by Modi and Swaraj have set the right tone for this government’s foreign policy agenda as it reflects the highest priority for South Asia. A major breakthrough in relations with Nepal and Bangladesh and the mutual benefits that will accrue to all concerned is bound to be noticed in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and will encourage them to follow suit. Sustained and focused follow-up action and active political oversight will be the key. To ensure this, the leadership could effectively use inputs from Track II engagements that will allow them to identify bottlenecks and ensure real progress on the ground.
Author is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research. He is also the former Director of ICRIER and former Secretary General of FICCI.
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विहिप ने पाक हिन्दुओं के साथ धूम धाम से मनाया भारतीय स्वतंत्रता दिवस
15 08 2014
ध्वजारोहण कर सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमों में खूब झूमे शरणार्थी, बुजुर्गों का किया सम्मान
नई दिल्ली, अगस्त 15, 2014। विश्व हिंदू परिषद द्वारा आयोजित स्वतंत्रता दिवस समारोह में शामिल सैंकड़ों पाक पीड़ित हिंदुओं ने न सिर्फ़ भारतीय तिरंगे को हर्षोल्लास के साथ फ़हराया बल्कि सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमों में वे खुशी के मारे झूम उठे। विहिप के अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संयुक्त महामंत्री स्वामी विज्ञानानंद ने इस अवसर पर कहा कि पाकिस्तान से आये हुए ये सभी बंधु-भगिनी चाहे आज शरणार्थी की तरह हैं किंतु भारत इनकी मातृभूमि है और उन्हें यहाँ पूरे सम्मान के साथ जीने का अधिकार है। पाक पीड़ित अल्पसंख्यकों की सुरक्षा व विकास में न सिर्फ़ सरकार बल्कि समाज का प्रत्येक वर्ग सहभागी बने। पाकिस्तान से आयीं 105 वर्षीया श्रीमती रुकमा देवी व 90 वर्षीय श्री सोला लाल के साथ विभिन्न कैंपों के मुखियाओं का सम्मान करते हुए विहिप के केंद्रीय मंत्री व मुख्य प्रवक्ता डा सुरेंद्र जैन ने कहा कि विश्व भर के हिंदुओं का भारत पर स्वाभाविक अधिकार है। इन्हें जब तक पूर्ण नागरिक अधिकार नहीं मिलते, विश्व हिंदू परिषद समाज के सहयोग से भारत में इन्हें सम्मान पूर्वक रहने की व्यवस्था करायेगा। विहिप के केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री प्रशांत हरतालकर भी कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित थे।
विस्तृत जानकारी देते हुए विहिप दिल्ली के मीडिया प्रमुख श्री विनोद बंसल ने बताया कि पश्चिमी दिल्ली के रोहिणी सेक्टर-11 में विहिप के विश्व समन्वय विभाग द्वारा आयोजित किये गये इस भव्य कार्यक्रम में अनेक सामाजिक, धार्मिक व सांस्कृतिक संस्थाओं ने भागीदारी कर इन शरणार्थियों के चहु मुखी विकास हेतु संकल्प लिया। स्थानीय सामाजिक संस्था करुणा फ़ाउंडेशन के 100 से अधिक बच्चों ने जब देशभक्ति गीत, नाटक व रंग-मंचीय कार्यक्रमों की प्रस्तुति की तो सभी खुशी के मारे झूम उठे। पाक शरणार्थी बच्चों ने सामूहिक गायत्री मंत्र व हनुमान चालीसा का सस्वर पाठ कर सभी को मंत्र मुग्ध कर दिया। स्थानीय विधायक श्री कुलवंत राणा व निगम पार्षद तथा दिल्ली नगर निगम निर्माण समिति के अध्यक्ष श्री प्रवेश वाही ने पाक बच्चों को विद्यालयों में दाखिले व अन्य सुविधाओं का भरोसा दिलाया तो वहीं सुश्री सीमा, ज्योति व रश्मि गिरि नामक समाज सेविकाओं ने बच्चों को सभी प्रकार की पाठ्य सामग्री तथा कंप्यूटर इत्यादि की व्यवस्था की बात की।
आज प्रातः 11:30 बजे आयोजित इस कार्यक्रम के संयोजक विहिप के विश्व विभाग के दिल्ली समन्वयक श्री संजीव साहनी थे तथा श्री अशोक सोलंकी, श्री रामेश्वर आर्य व श्रीमती शकुंतला देवी सहित लॉयंस क्लब, गौशाला ट्रस्ट, जाट महासभा, सद्भावना मंदिर सहित अनेक आर डब्लू ए के पदाधिकारी भी कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित थे। वंदे मातरम् व भारत माता की जय की गगन चुंबी गर्जना से पूरा क्षेत्र गुंजायमान था। पूरे एनसीआर में रहने वाले लगभग 800 पाक हिंदुओं ने कार्यक्रम में पूरे मनोयोग से भाग लिया।
भवदीय
विनोद बंसल
(मीडिया प्रमुख)
इंद्रप्रस्थ विश्व हिंदू परिषद, दिल्ली
मो : 9810949109
नई दिल्ली, अगस्त 15, 2014। विश्व हिंदू परिषद द्वारा आयोजित स्वतंत्रता दिवस समारोह में शामिल सैंकड़ों पाक पीड़ित हिंदुओं ने न सिर्फ़ भारतीय तिरंगे को हर्षोल्लास के साथ फ़हराया बल्कि सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमों में वे खुशी के मारे झूम उठे। विहिप के अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संयुक्त महामंत्री स्वामी विज्ञानानंद ने इस अवसर पर कहा कि पाकिस्तान से आये हुए ये सभी बंधु-भगिनी चाहे आज शरणार्थी की तरह हैं किंतु भारत इनकी मातृभूमि है और उन्हें यहाँ पूरे सम्मान के साथ जीने का अधिकार है। पाक पीड़ित अल्पसंख्यकों की सुरक्षा व विकास में न सिर्फ़ सरकार बल्कि समाज का प्रत्येक वर्ग सहभागी बने। पाकिस्तान से आयीं 105 वर्षीया श्रीमती रुकमा देवी व 90 वर्षीय श्री सोला लाल के साथ विभिन्न कैंपों के मुखियाओं का सम्मान करते हुए विहिप के केंद्रीय मंत्री व मुख्य प्रवक्ता डा सुरेंद्र जैन ने कहा कि विश्व भर के हिंदुओं का भारत पर स्वाभाविक अधिकार है। इन्हें जब तक पूर्ण नागरिक अधिकार नहीं मिलते, विश्व हिंदू परिषद समाज के सहयोग से भारत में इन्हें सम्मान पूर्वक रहने की व्यवस्था करायेगा। विहिप के केंद्रीय मंत्री श्री प्रशांत हरतालकर भी कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित थे।
विस्तृत जानकारी देते हुए विहिप दिल्ली के मीडिया प्रमुख श्री विनोद बंसल ने बताया कि पश्चिमी दिल्ली के रोहिणी सेक्टर-11 में विहिप के विश्व समन्वय विभाग द्वारा आयोजित किये गये इस भव्य कार्यक्रम में अनेक सामाजिक, धार्मिक व सांस्कृतिक संस्थाओं ने भागीदारी कर इन शरणार्थियों के चहु मुखी विकास हेतु संकल्प लिया। स्थानीय सामाजिक संस्था करुणा फ़ाउंडेशन के 100 से अधिक बच्चों ने जब देशभक्ति गीत, नाटक व रंग-मंचीय कार्यक्रमों की प्रस्तुति की तो सभी खुशी के मारे झूम उठे। पाक शरणार्थी बच्चों ने सामूहिक गायत्री मंत्र व हनुमान चालीसा का सस्वर पाठ कर सभी को मंत्र मुग्ध कर दिया। स्थानीय विधायक श्री कुलवंत राणा व निगम पार्षद तथा दिल्ली नगर निगम निर्माण समिति के अध्यक्ष श्री प्रवेश वाही ने पाक बच्चों को विद्यालयों में दाखिले व अन्य सुविधाओं का भरोसा दिलाया तो वहीं सुश्री सीमा, ज्योति व रश्मि गिरि नामक समाज सेविकाओं ने बच्चों को सभी प्रकार की पाठ्य सामग्री तथा कंप्यूटर इत्यादि की व्यवस्था की बात की।
आज प्रातः 11:30 बजे आयोजित इस कार्यक्रम के संयोजक विहिप के विश्व विभाग के दिल्ली समन्वयक श्री संजीव साहनी थे तथा श्री अशोक सोलंकी, श्री रामेश्वर आर्य व श्रीमती शकुंतला देवी सहित लॉयंस क्लब, गौशाला ट्रस्ट, जाट महासभा, सद्भावना मंदिर सहित अनेक आर डब्लू ए के पदाधिकारी भी कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित थे। वंदे मातरम् व भारत माता की जय की गगन चुंबी गर्जना से पूरा क्षेत्र गुंजायमान था। पूरे एनसीआर में रहने वाले लगभग 800 पाक हिंदुओं ने कार्यक्रम में पूरे मनोयोग से भाग लिया।
भवदीय
विनोद बंसल
(मीडिया प्रमुख)
इंद्रप्रस्थ विश्व हिंदू परिषद, दिल्ली
मो : 9810949109
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