Prime Minister’s Independence Day Speech Reflects Vision Of New India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first Independence Day speech in his second term in office was immeasurably powerful in conveying a strong political and social message to the country’s more than 1.3 billion people. In fact, for the first time in India’s political history, a Prime Minister chose the Independence Day to express his concern on population explosion and its negative impact on the country’s developmental path.
According to a United Nations report, India will overtake China in 2027 to become the most populous country in the world. This population explosion, if left unaddressed, could go against efforts to bring millions of people out of poverty and undo the benefits of higher welfare spending for the poor. The government aims to provide every household clean cooking fuel, toilets, electricity, houses, clean drinking water and healthcare. Delivery of such public goods and services to the poor will suffer if the current population trend continues. While controlling rising population is need of hour, what should not be forgotten is that small family is a recipe for happiness, good health and fortune. This is what the Prime Minister stressed in his speech on India’s 73rd Independence Day.
In his more than 100 minute address, the Prime Minister called for the launch of a movement to support the cause of water conservation and rain water harvesting. As per the Composite Water Management Index report released by NITI Aayog in 2018, cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. With the formation ‘Jal Shakti’ Ministry and allocation of Rs 3.35 lakh crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Central government has though shown its commitment to deal with the problem of water scarcity. But it should be remembered that no initiative will be successful without large public participation. In this context, Prime Minister Modi’s call for making water conservation movement a citizen’s campaign assumes significance.
His call for shunning of single-use plastic to prevent environmental degradation has been in the right spirit. Mr. Modi also urged Indian farmers to avoid using chemical and fertilizers to protect soil health. This reveals his concern towards continued degradation of mother earth. Yet what is significant is his reiteration for doubling the farmers’ income. Rs 90,000 crore has been allocated under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to provide direct support to farmers. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 is transferred to 14.5 crore Indian farmers annually directly in their bank accounts.
However, what has significantly marked the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech is his announcement for the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff post, a decision that had been pending for two decades since the Kargil War. To give a boost to the ongoing reforms in defence area and to meet the security challenges of the present times, the Prime Minister’s announcement is seen as crucial, the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff will lead to improving coordination among all three services of the Indian Defence structure. Also, it will have far-reaching ramifications for defence preparedness.
It should be remembered that Prime Minister Modi’s first tenure between 2014 and 2019 focused on the needs of the people, while the second term is expected to focus on meeting aspirations. Prime Minister said his government has achieved in 70 days what previous governments could not in 70 years. Scrapping of special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and framing of a new law on triple talaq to ensure Muslim women live a better life need to be seen in this context. He also pitched high for One Nation, One Election in his Independence Day speech. Overall, the Prime Minister’s speech has reflected his vision and the plans of his government that is aiming for a New India, which would be a five trillion dollar economy.
Script: Shankar Kumar, Senior Journalist
According to a United Nations report, India will overtake China in 2027 to become the most populous country in the world. This population explosion, if left unaddressed, could go against efforts to bring millions of people out of poverty and undo the benefits of higher welfare spending for the poor. The government aims to provide every household clean cooking fuel, toilets, electricity, houses, clean drinking water and healthcare. Delivery of such public goods and services to the poor will suffer if the current population trend continues. While controlling rising population is need of hour, what should not be forgotten is that small family is a recipe for happiness, good health and fortune. This is what the Prime Minister stressed in his speech on India’s 73rd Independence Day.
In his more than 100 minute address, the Prime Minister called for the launch of a movement to support the cause of water conservation and rain water harvesting. As per the Composite Water Management Index report released by NITI Aayog in 2018, cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and others are racing to reach zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting access for 100 million people. With the formation ‘Jal Shakti’ Ministry and allocation of Rs 3.35 lakh crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Central government has though shown its commitment to deal with the problem of water scarcity. But it should be remembered that no initiative will be successful without large public participation. In this context, Prime Minister Modi’s call for making water conservation movement a citizen’s campaign assumes significance.
His call for shunning of single-use plastic to prevent environmental degradation has been in the right spirit. Mr. Modi also urged Indian farmers to avoid using chemical and fertilizers to protect soil health. This reveals his concern towards continued degradation of mother earth. Yet what is significant is his reiteration for doubling the farmers’ income. Rs 90,000 crore has been allocated under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to provide direct support to farmers. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Rs 6,000 is transferred to 14.5 crore Indian farmers annually directly in their bank accounts.
However, what has significantly marked the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech is his announcement for the creation of a Chief of Defence Staff post, a decision that had been pending for two decades since the Kargil War. To give a boost to the ongoing reforms in defence area and to meet the security challenges of the present times, the Prime Minister’s announcement is seen as crucial, the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff will lead to improving coordination among all three services of the Indian Defence structure. Also, it will have far-reaching ramifications for defence preparedness.
It should be remembered that Prime Minister Modi’s first tenure between 2014 and 2019 focused on the needs of the people, while the second term is expected to focus on meeting aspirations. Prime Minister said his government has achieved in 70 days what previous governments could not in 70 years. Scrapping of special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and framing of a new law on triple talaq to ensure Muslim women live a better life need to be seen in this context. He also pitched high for One Nation, One Election in his Independence Day speech. Overall, the Prime Minister’s speech has reflected his vision and the plans of his government that is aiming for a New India, which would be a five trillion dollar economy.
Script: Shankar Kumar, Senior Journalist
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