INDIA. Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the nation on 75 th Independence Day from Red fort in New Delhi on Sunday, said that now the country should move towards saturation and should become the hub of the global market.
“100% of villages have roads, 100% of households have bank accounts, 100% of beneficiaries have Ayushman Bharat cards, 100% eligible persons have Ujjwala gas connections. Now, we have to make India a hub for production and export of Green Hydrogen”, Modi said.
During his 1.5 hour-long address, Modi touched on a wide range of subjects including the economy, infrastructure, Atma Nirbhar Bharat, and social welfare schemes launched in the past few years. He also laid out his vision for the next 25 years and what his government is going to do shortly.
Six major announcements
‘Gati Shakti’ – National Master Plan: Modi said “We are going to launch National Master Plan of Prime Minister ‘Gati Shakti’ which will fulfill the dreams of crores of countrymen. This scheme with over Rs.100 lakh crore, would result in new employment opportunities for lakhs of youth. The Gati Shakti will lay the foundation of holistic Infrastructure and will lead to an integrated and holistic pathway to our economy.
75 Vande Bharat Trains: The country has resolved to celebrate the Amrit Mahotsav of independence and has decided to celebrate this Amrit Mahotsav of independence for 75 weeks. It started on March 12 and will continue till August 15, 2023. During these 75 weeks, 75 Vande Bharat trains will connect every corner of the country.
Fortified Rice: PM Modi said that his government’s priority was to provide nutrition to every poor person in the country. Given this, the government will fortify the rice given to the poor under its various schemes. Be it the rice available at the ration shop, the rice provided to the children in the mid-day meal, or the rice available through every scheme, it shall be fortified by the year 2024,” he added.
Sainik Schools for Girls: Prime Minister Modi also announced Sainik Schools for girls. He said he used to get lakhs of messages from girls that they wanted to study in the Sainik Schools. The doors of the schools should be opened to them. As such the Government has decided that all the Sainik Schools will be open for the girls.
National Hydrogen Mission: He announced the setting up of the National Hydrogen Mission. He said Green Hydrogen is the future of the world and “We have to make India a Global Hub for Green Hydrogen Production and Export. This will not only help India to make new progress in the field of energy self-reliance but will also become a new inspiration for Clean Energy Transition all over the world”.
E-commerce platform for Self-Help Groups: The Prime Minister announced an e-commerce platform. He said more than eight crore women in the villages are associated with Self-Help Groups and they design top-end products. “Now the government will create an e-commerce platform to ensure a huge market in the country and abroad for their products,” he said.
“Be it Nehru-Ji, the first Prime Minister of India, Sardar Patel, who turned the country into a united nation or Babasaheb Ambedkar, who showed India the way to the future, the country is indebted to all of them”, Modi said. He also greeted the Olympians present on the occasion, saying “I urge the nation to applaud their achievement today. They have not only won our hearts but also inspired future generations”, Modi said.
Celebration by Indian Navy
Rear Admiral Atul Anand, FOC, Maharashtra Naval Area, signing a visitors’ book after laying a wreath in remembrance of martyrs.(Photo credit: Indian Navy).
In the meanwhile, the Independence Day celebration by the units of Maharashtra Naval Area in Mumbai, began on a solemn note by laying of a wreath at the ‘Gaurav Stambh’ by Rear Admiral Atul Anand, Flag Officer Commanding, Maharashtra Naval Area in remembrance of those who have made the supreme sacrifice to defend the nation’s freedom.
The festivities were marked by the ships in harbour dressing overall with flags to mark the occasion. A 21 gun salute was also fired by the battery at Middle Ground to commemorate the occasion. The officers and men of the Command shared a meal over bara khana at lunch as per the tradition and pledged to rededicate themselves in defence of the country at any cost.
