Following is the English rendering of the Prime Minister’s address on
the occasion:
My dear countrymen,
Today, all Indians in the country and also abroad are celebrating the festival
of independence. On this day of sacred festival of independence, the prime
servant of India
extends greetings to all dear countrymen.
I am
present amidst you not as the Prime Minister, but as the Prime Servant. The
freedom struggle was fought for so many years, so many generations laid down
their lives, innumerable people sacrificed their lives and youth, spent their
entire lives behind bars. Today, I pay my respect, greetings and homage to all
those who laid their lives for the country`s independence.
I
also pay my respects to the crores of citizens of this country on the pious
occasion of India`s independence, and recall all those martyrs who had laid
down their lives in India`s struggle for freedom. The day of independence is a
festival when we take a solemn pledge of working for the welfare of mother India , and also
for the welfare of the poor, oppressed, dalits, the exploited & the
backward people of our country.
My
dear countrymen, a national festival is an occasion to refine and rebuild the
national character. This National festival inspires us to resolve ourselves to
lead a life where our character gets refined further, to dedicate ourselves to
the nation and our every activity is linked to the interest of the nation and
only then this festival of freedom can be a festival of inspiration to take India to newer
heights.
My dear countrymen, this nation has neither been built by political
leaders nor by rulers nor by governments. This nation has been built by our
farmers, our workers, our mothers and sisters, our youth. The country has
reached here today because of generation to generation rigours undertaken by
our sages, our saints, our maestros, our teachers, our scientists and social
workers. These great people and these great generations, who had worked for the
country throughout their lives, deserve our deepest respect. This is the beauty
of India`s Constitution, this is its capability which has made it possible that
today a boy from small town, a poor family has got the opportunity to pay
homage to the tri-colour of India at the ramparts of Lal Quila (Red
Fort). This is the strength of India`s democracy. This is an invaluable legacy
which we have inherited from our architects of the constitution. I pay my
respects to those architects of the constitution of India today.
Brothers and sisters, today if we have reached here after independence,
it is because of the contribution of all the Prime Ministers, all the
governments and even the governments of all the States. I want to express my
feelings of respect and gratitude to all those previous governments and
ex-Prime Ministers who have endeavoured to take our present day India to such
heights and who have added to the country`s glory.
This
country has been built on such foundation of ancient cultural heritage, where
we were told of only one mantra during Vedic period, which is
indicative of our work culture, which we have learnt, we have memorized – “Sangachchhdhvam
Samvadadhvam sam wo manansi jaanataam.” We walk together, we move together,
we think together, we resolve together and together we take this country
forward. Having imbibed this basic mantra, 125 crores of countrymen have taken
the nation forward. Yesterday only the first Parliamentary Session of the new
Government had concluded. Today, I can proudly say that the Session of
Parliament reflects our thinking and it is a reflection of our intentions. We
are not for moving forward on the basis of majority, we are not interested to
move forward by virtue of majority. We want to move ahead on the basis of
strong consensus. "Sangachhadhwam" and, therefore, the nation
has witnessed the entire Session of Parliament. Having taken all the Parties
and Opposition along while working shoulder to shoulder, we achieved an
unprecedented success and the credit for this does not go to the Prime Minister
alone, the credit does not go to the people sitting in the Government, the
credit for this goes to the Opposition also, the credit goes to all the leaders
of Opposition too and also all the Members from Opposition. From the ramparts
of Red Fort, quite proudly I salute all the Members of Parliament, I also
salute all the Political Parties and by virtue of their strong support, we
could take some important decisions intended to take the nation forward and
yesterday the Session of Parliament had concluded.
Brothers and sisters, I am an outsider for Delhi ,
I am not a native of Delhi .
I have no idea about the administration and working of this place. I have been
quite isolated from the elite class of this place but during the last two
months while being an outsider, I had an insider view and I was astonished. It
is not a political platform, rather it is a platform of a national policy and,
therefore, my views should not be evaluated from a political perspective. I
have already said, I salute all the ex-Prime Ministers and earlier governments
who have brought the country thus far. But I am going to say something else and
it may not be seen from political point of view. When I came to Delhi and noticed an
insider view, I felt what it was and I was surprised to see it. It seemed as if
dozens of separate governments are running at the same time in one main
government. It appeared that everyone has its own fiefdom. I could observe
disunity and conflict among them. One department is taking on the other
department and taking on to the extent that two departments of the same
government are fighting against each other by approaching Supreme Court.This disunity, this conflict among people of the same
country! How come we can take the country forward? And that is why I have
started making efforts for razing those walls; I have started making efforts at
making the Government, not an assembled entity, but an organic unity, an
organic entity, a harmonious whole- with one aim, one mind, one direction, one
energy. Let`s resolve to steer the country to one destination. We have it in us
to move in that direction. A few days back...Nowadays newspapers are full of
news that Modiji`s Government has come, officers are reaching office on time,
offices open in time, and people get there in time. I observed that India`s
National newspapers, TV media were carrying these news items prominently. As
the Head of the Government I could have derived pleasure in the fact that
everything started going on time, cleanliness got the attention, but I was not
taking pleasure, I was feeling pained. That thing, I want to tell today in
public. And why, because if government officers arrive office in time, does
that make a news? And if that makes news, it shows how low we have fallen. It
becomes a proof of that, and that`s how, brothers and sisters, the governments
have run? Today in the face of global competition, when we have to
realize the dreams of millions of Indians, the country cannot run on the
lines of " it happens", " it goes". In order to fulfil the
aspirations of masses, we have to sharpen the tool called the Government
machinery, we have to make it keen, more dynamic, and it is in this direction
that we are
working. My countrymen, it`s not long since I have come from outside Delhi, but I give you an assurance that the people in the Government are very capable - from the peon to the Cabinet Secretary, everybody is capable, everybody has a power, they have experience. I want to awaken that power, I want to unite that power and want to accelerate the pace of the welfare of nation through that power and I shall definitely do it. I want to assure the countrymen that we will achieve that, we will definitely do that. I could not say this on 16th May, but today after my experience of two-two and half months, keeping the tricolor as witness, I am saying on 15th of August that it is possible, it will be achieved.
working. My countrymen, it`s not long since I have come from outside Delhi, but I give you an assurance that the people in the Government are very capable - from the peon to the Cabinet Secretary, everybody is capable, everybody has a power, they have experience. I want to awaken that power, I want to unite that power and want to accelerate the pace of the welfare of nation through that power and I shall definitely do it. I want to assure the countrymen that we will achieve that, we will definitely do that. I could not say this on 16th May, but today after my experience of two-two and half months, keeping the tricolor as witness, I am saying on 15th of August that it is possible, it will be achieved.
Brothers and sisters, time has come to give a serious thought to the fact that
whether we have a duty to create India of the dreams of those great people who
gave us freedom, whether we have a national character?
Brothers and sisters, can someone please tell me as to whether he or she
has ever introspected in the evening after a full day`s work as to whether his
or her acts have helped the poor of the country or not, whether his or her
actions have resulted in safeguarding the interest of the country or not,
whether the actions have been directed in country`s welfare or not? Whether it
should not be the motto of one and a quarter billion countrymen that every step
in life should be in the country`s interests? Unfortunately, we have an
environment today wherein if you approach anyone with some work, he begins by
saying "what does it mean for me?" He begins by saying "what
does it involve for me?" and when he come to know that it does not entail
any benefit for him, immediately he says "why should I bother?" we
have to rise above the feelings of "what does it mean for me" and
"why should I bother". Everything is not for self interest only.
There are certain things which are meant for the country and we have to refine
this national character. We have to rise above the feelings of "why should
I bother" and "what does it mean for me" and instead we have to
think that "I am for nation`s interest and in this field, I am going to
lead". We have to inculcate this sentiment.
Brothers and sisters, when we hear about the incidents of rape, we hang our
heads in shame. People come out with different arguments, someone indulges in
psycho analysis, but brothers and sisters, today from this platform, I want to
ask those parents, I want to ask every parent that you have a daughter of 10 or
12 years age, you are always on the alert, every now and then you keep on
asking where are you going, when would you come back, inform immediately after
you reach. Parents ask their daughters hundreds of questions, but have any
parents ever dared to ask their son as to where he is going, why he is going
out, who his friends are. After all, a rapist is also somebody`s son. He also
has parents. As parents, have we ever asked our son as to what he is doing and
where he is going. If every parent decides to impose as many restrictions on
the sons as have been imposed on our daughters, try to do this with your sons,
try to ask such questions of them.
My dear brothers and sisters, the law will take its own course, strict
action will be taken, but as a member of the society, as parents, we also have
some responsibilities. If somebody tells me that those who have taken guns on
their shoulders and kill innocent people are maoists, are terrorists, but they
are also somebody`s children. I would like to ask of such parents if they had
ever asked their children as to why they were taking a wrong path. Every parent
must take this responsibility, he must know that his misguided son is bent on
killing innocent people. He is not able to serve himself nor his family nor the
country. I want to say to those youngsters who have chosen the path of violence
that whatever they are and wherever they are, it is all because of mother India only that
they have got it. Whoever you are it is all because of your parents. I want to
ask you to think how green, how beautiful and how beneficial this earth can
become if you shoulder the plough instead of the gun which spills blood on this
land. How long shall we have bloodshed on this land, how long shall we take the
lives of the innocent people and what have we got after all this? The path of
violence has not yielded anything to us.
Brothers and sisters, I had gone to Nepal recently. There I said
something publicly to draw the attention of the whole world. There was a time
when the Emperor Ashoka who had chosen the path of wars, got converted to the
path of Buddha at the sight of violence. There was a time in Nepal when
their youngsters had opted for the path of violence but today I witness that
the same youngsters are waiting for their constitution. The same people
associated with them are framing the constitution. And I further said that if Nepal could
present the best example of moving from the weapons to the books then it could
provide inspiration to the youngsters in the world to abandon the path of
violence.
Brothers and sisters, If Nepal ,
land of Budha ,
can give message to the world then why can`t India too do the same? So it`s the
call of the hour that we renounce the path of violence and take the path of
brotherhood.
Brothers and sisters, for one reason or the other, we have had
communal tensions for ages. This led to the division of the country. Even after
Independence ,
we have had to face the poison of casteism and communalism. How long these
evils will continue? Whom does it benefit? We have had enough of fights, many
have been killed. Friends, look behind and you will find that nobody has
benefited from it. Except casting a slur on Mother India, we have done nothing.
Therefore, I appeal to all those people that whether it is the poison of
casteism, communalism, regionalism, discrimination on social and economic
basis, all these are obstacles in our way forward. Let`s resolve for once in
our hearts, let`s put a moratorium on all such activities for ten years, we
shall march ahead to a society which will be free from all such tensions. And
you will see that how much strength we get from peace, unity, goodwill and
brotherhood. Let`s experiment it for once.
My dear countrymen, believe
in my words, I do assure you. Shun all the sins committed so far, give up that
way, follow the way of goodwill and brotherhood, and let`s resolve to take the
country forward. I believe we can do that.
With advancement of science,
brothers and sisters, we have a rising feeling of modernity in our mind,
but what do we do? Have we ever thought what the sex ratio in the country is
like? 940 girls are born against per thousand boys. Who is causing this
imbalance in the society? Certainly not God. I request the doctors not to kill
the girl growing in the womb of a mother just to line their own pockets.
I advise mothers and sisters not to sacrifice daughters in the hope of son.
Sometimes mother-father feel tempted to have son in the hope of supporting them
in old age. I am a person who has worked in public life. I have come across
families with five sons, each having bungalows, access to fleet of cars, but
parents are forced to live in old-age homes, Vriddhashrams. I have seen
such families. I have also seen families with only daughter as progeny, that
daughter sacrifices her dreams, doesn`t get married, and spends entire life in
taking care of old parents. This disparity points to female foeticide and
the polluted and tainted mind the 21st century has. We will have to
liberate from it, and that is message to us of this Freedom festival.
Recently Commonwealth Games
were organized. Indian sportspersons brought glory to the country. Nearly 64 of
our sportspersons won. Our sportspersons brought 64 medals. But of them 29 are
girls. Let`s feel proud and clap for them. Girls also contribute to India`s
fame and glory. Let`s recognise it. Let`s take them along, shoulder to
shoulder. This way we can get over the evils that have crept in social life.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have to proceed in that direction as a
social and national character. Brothers and Sisters, Development is the only
way forward for the country. Good governance is the only way. There are only
these two tracks to take the country forward - good governance and development,
we can move forward only by taking them with us. We wish to move forward with
the intent
of taking them with us. When I talk of good governance, you tell me, when I ask
a person in private job, he tells that he does the job; when you ask the same
from a person in government job, he says that I do the service. Both earn, but
for one it is job while for the other it is service. I ask a question from all
brothers and sisters in government service, whether the word “Service” has not
lost its strength, its identity? Persons in government service are not doing
“job”, they are doing “service”. We have to revive this feeling, we have to
take this feeling forward as a national character, we have to move forward in
this direction.
Brothers and Sisters, whether the citizens of the country should take steps for
the welfare of the nation or not? You imagine, if this 125 crores of countrymen
move one step forward, then the country moves 125 crore steps forward. The
meaning of democracy is not just limited to electing a government, but its
meaning is that 125 crore of citizens work together joining shoulder with the
government to fulfill hopes and aspirations of the country, this is the meaning
of democracy. We have to create partnership with the people. We have to proceed
under Public-Private Partnership. We have to proceed along with the
participation of the people. But, please tell me why our farmers commit suicide?
A farmer takes loan from the moneylender, but fails to repay his loans. He
takes loan for the wedding of his daughter, but fails to repay. He will have to
suffer hardships during his whole life. He chooses to commit suicide. Who will
save the poor families of such farmers?
Brothers and sisters, I have come here with a pledge to launch a scheme
on this festival of Freedom. It will be called `Pradhanmantri Jan-Dhan
Yojana`. I wish to connect the poorest citizens of the country with the
facility of bank accounts through this yojana. There are millions of
families who have mobile phones but no bank accounts. We have to change this
scenario. Economic resources of the country should be utilized for the
well-being of the poor. The change will commence from this point. This yojana
will open the window. Therefore, an account holder under `Pradhanmantri
Jan-Dhan Yojana` will be given a debit card. An insurance of One Lakh
Rupees will be guaranteed with that debit card for each poor family, so that
such families are covered with the insurance of One Lakh Rupees in case of any
crisis in their lives.
My brothers and sisters, it is a country of young people. The 65
percent population of the country happens to be under the age of 35 years. Our
country has the largest number of youths in the world. Have we ever thought of
deriving an advantage out of it? Today, the world needs a skilled workforce.
Today, India
also needs a skilled workforce. At times, we look for a good driver but he is
not available, we look for a plumber, but he is not available. If we need a
good cook, he is not available. We have young people, they are unemployed but
the kind of young people we seek for are not available. If we have to promote
the development of our country then our mission has to be `skill development`
and `skilled India `.
Millions and Millions of Indian youth should go for acquisition of skills and
there should be a network across the country for this and not the archaic
systems. They should acquire the skills which could contribute towards making India a modern
country. Whenever they go to any country in the world, their skills must be
appreciated and we want to go for a two pronged development. I also want to
create a pool of young people who are able to create jobs and the ones who are
not capable of creating jobs and do not have the opportunities, they must be in
a position to face their counterparts in any corner of the world while keeping
their heads high by virtue of their hard work and their dexterity of hands and
win the hearts of people around the world through their skills. We want to go
for the capacity building of such young people. My brothers and sisters, having
taken a resolve to enhance the skill development at a highly rapid pace, I want
to accomplish this.
Brothers
and sisters, the world has undergone a change. My dear countrymen, the world
has changed. Now India
can not decide its future by remaining isolated and sitting alone in a corner.
The economics of the world have changed and, therefore, we will have to act
accordingly. Government have taken many decisions recently, made some
announcements in the budget and I call upon the world and call upon the Indians
spread world over that if we have to provide more and more employment to the
youth, we will have to promote manufacturing sector. If we have to develop a
balance between imports and exports, we will have to strengthen manufacturing
sector. If we have to put in use the education, the capability of the youth, we
will have to go for manufacturing sector and for this Hindustan
also will have to lend its full strength, but we also invite world powers.
Therefore I want to appeal all the people world over, from the ramparts of the
Red Fort, "Come, make in India ",
"Come, manufacture in India ".
Sell in any country of the world but manufacture here. We have got skill,
talent, discipline, and determination to do something. We want to give the world an favourable opportunity
that come here, "Come, Make in India" and we will say to the world,
from electrical to electronics, "Come, Make in India", from
automobiles to agro value addition "Come, Make in India", paper or
plastic, "Come, Make in India", satellite or submarine "Come,
Make in India". Our country is powerful. Come, I am giving you an
invitation.
Brothers and sisters, I want to call upon the youth of the country,
particularly the small people engaged in the industrial sector. I want to call
upon the youth working in the field of technical education in the country. As I
say to the world "Come, Make in India ",
I say to the youth of the country - it should be our dream that this message
reaches every corner of the world, "Made in India ". This should be our
dream. Whether, to serve the country, is it necessary for the youth of the country to be hanged like Bhagat
Singh? Brothers and sisters, Lal Bahadur Shastri had given the slogan "Jai
Jawan, Jai Kisan". A soldier sacrifices himself at the border and
protects Mother India. Similarly, a farmer serves Mother India by filling the
godowns with grains. This is also nation`s service. Filling the granary is the
biggest nation`s service that a farmer provides. That is why Lal Bahadur
Shashtri had given the slogan of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan".
Brothers and Sisters, I would like to pose a question to my youngsters
as to why despite them, we are forced to import even the smallest of things? My
country`s youth can resolve it, they should conduct research, try to find out
as to what type of items are imported by India and then each one should resolve
that, through may be micro or small industries only, he would manufacture
atleast one such item so that we need not import the same in future. We should
even advance to a situation wherein we are able to export such items. If each
one of our millions of youngsters resolves to manufacture atleast one such
item, India
can become a net exporter of goods. I, therefore, urge upon the youth, in
particular our small entrepreneurs that they would never compromise, atleast on
two counts. First, zero defect and, second again zero effect. We should
manufacture goods in such a way that they carry zero defect, that our exported
goods are never returned to us. We should manufacture goods with zero effect
that they should not have a negative impact on the environment. If we march
ahead with the dream of zero defect in the manufacturing sector then, my
brothers and sisters, I am confident that we would be able to achieve our
goals.
Brothers and sisters, the youth of India
has completely transformed the identity of India in the world. Earlier, in
what manner did the world know our country? Till only 25-30 years back,
if not more, there were many people in the world who thought that India was a
country of snake charmers, it was a country which practiced in black magic. The
real identity of India
had not reached the world, but my dear brothers and sisters, our youngsters,
20-22-23 years old youngsters have mesmerized the whole world with their skills
in computers. Our young I.T. professionals have given a new path of making a
new identity of India .
If our country has this strength, can we think something about the country? Our
dream is, therefore, of "Digital India". When I talk of "Digital
India", I don`t speak of the elite, it is for the poor people. You can
imagine what a quality education the children in villages will get, if all the
villages of India
are connected with Broadband Connectivity and if we are able to give long
distance education to the schools in every remote corner of the villages. If we
create a network of telemedicine in the places where there is a shortage of
doctors, we can have a clear guideline of the way in which health facilities
have to be provided to the poor people living in those areas. The citizens of India have
mobile phones in their hands, they have mobile connectivity, but can we walk in
the direction of mobile governance? We have to move in a direction where every
poor person is able to operate his bank account from his mobile, is able to
demand various things from the government, can submit applications, can conduct
all his business, while on the move, through mobile governance and if this has
to be done, we have to move towards `digital India` and if we have to move
towards `digital India` then we have a dream. Today we are importing electronic
goods on a large scale. Friends, you will be surprised that we are bringing in
these televisions, mobile phones, i-pads and all these electronic goods. It is
a necessity to import petroleum products, oil, diesel and petrol. Second to
this is the import of our electronic goods. If we move ahead with the dream of
`digital India `
to manufacture electronic goods and become self reliant at least there, how big
can be the benefit for the treasury! Therefore, e-governance is what we need to
take this idea of `digital India `
forward. E-governance is easy governance, effective governance and also
economic governance. E-governance paves the way for good governance. There was
a time when we used to say that the railways provided connectivity to the
country. That was it. I say that today it is IT that has the potential to
connect each and every citizen of the country and that is why we want to
realise the mantra of unity with the help of `digital India`.
Brothers and
sisters, if we move ahead with all this then I believe that a `digital India`
will have the potential to stand with the world on equal footing. Our youth
have that capability, it is an opportunity for them.
Brothers and sisters, we want to promote tourism. Tourism provides
employment to the poorest of the poor. Gram seller earns something,
auto-rickshaw driver earns something, pakoda seller earns something and tea
seller also earns something. When there is talk of tea seller, I feel a sense
of belongingness. Tourism provide employment to the poorest of the poor. But
there is a big obstacle in promoting tourism and in our national character and
that is - the filthiness all around us. Whether after independence, after so
many years of independence, when we stand at the threshold of one and half
decade of 21st century, we still want to live in filthiness? The
first work I started here after formation of Government is of cleanliness.
People wondered whether it is a work of a Prime Minister? People may feel that
it is a trivial work for a Prime Minister but for me this a big work.
Cleanliness is very big work. Whether our country can not be clean? If one
hundred and twenty five crore countrymen decide that they will never spread
filthiness, which power in the world has ability to spread filthiness in our
cities and villages? Can`t we resolve this much?
Brothers and sisters it will be 150th birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi in 2019. How do we celebrate 150th birth anniversary
of Mahatma Gandhi? Mahatma Gandhi, who gave us freedom, who brought so much
honour to such a big country in the world, what do we give to Mahatma Gandhi? Brothers and Sisters, Mahatma Gandhi had cleanliness
and sanitation closest to his heart. Whether we resolve not to leave a speck of
dirt in our village, city, street, area, school, temple, hospital, and what
have you, by 2019 when we celebrate 150th anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi? This happens not just with the Government, but with public
participation. That`s why we have to do it together.
Brother and Sisters, we are living in 21st century. Has it ever
pained us that our mothers and sisters have to defecate in open? Whether
dignity of women is not our collective responsibility? The poor womenfolk of
the village wait for the night; until darkness descends, they can`t go out to
defecate. What bodily torture they must be feeling, how many diseases that act
might engender. Can`t we just make arrangements for toilets for the dignity of
our mothers and sisters? Brothers and Sisters, somebody might feel that a big
festival like 15th August is an occasion to talk big. Brothers and
Sisters, talking big has its importance, making announcements too has
importance, but sometimes announcements raise hopes and when the hopes are not
fulfilled, the society sinks into a state of despondency. That`s why are in
favour of telling those things, which we can fulfil just within our sight. Brothers and
sisters, you must be getting shocked to hear the Prime Minister speaking of
cleanliness and the need to build toilets from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Brothers and sisters, I do not know how my speech is going to be criticised and
how will people take it. But this is my heartfelt conviction. I come from a
poor family, I have seen poverty. The poor need respect and it begins with
cleanliness. I, therefore, have to launch a `clean India ` campaign from 2nd October
this year and carry it forward in 4 years. I want to make a beginning today
itself and that is - all schools in the country should have toilets with
separate toilets for girls. Only then our daughters will not be compelled to
leave schools midway. Our parliamentarians utilizing MPLAD fund are there. I
appeal to them to spend it for constructing toilets in schools for a year. The
government should utilise its budget on providing toilets. I call upon the
corporate sector also to give priority to the provision of toilets in schools
with your expenditure under Corporate Social Responsibility. This target should
be finished within one year with the help of state governments and on the next
15th August, we should be in a firm position to announce that there
is no school in India
without separate toilets for boys and girls.
Brothers and sisters, if we proceed with the dreams, we are in a
position to realise them. Today, I wish to tell one more specific thing. It has
its own importance to discuss the matters and express the views of nation`s
interest. However, our Members of Parliament do not get opportunity though they
are willing to do something. They can express themselves, write to the
government, agitate, give memoranda. Still they do not get opportunity to do
something on their own. Today I have come to you with a new idea. We are
running so many schemes in the name of the Prime Minister in our country, there
are numerous schemes in the name of various leaders. However, today I am going
to announce a scheme on behalf of the Member of Parliament- `Sansad Aadarsh
Gram Yojana`. We shall fix some parameters. I urge upon the Members of
Parliament to select any one of the villages having population of three to five
thousand in your constituency. The parameters will be according to the time,
space and situation of that locality. It will include the conditions of health,
cleanliness, atmosphere, greenery, cordiality etc. On the basis of those
parameters, each of our MPs should make one village of his or her constituency
a Model Village by 2016. Can`t we do at least
this? Shouldn`t we do this? If we have to build a nation, we should start from
the village. Make a Model
Village . The reason of
fixing this target for 2016 is that it is a new scheme. It takes time to
formulate a scheme and then to implement it. After 2016, select two more
villages for this purpose, before we go for the General Elections in 2019. And
after 2019, each Member of Parliament, during his/her tenure of 5 years must
establish at-least five model villages in his/her area. I also call upon the
Members of Parliament from urban areas to adopt one village of their choice. I
also urge upon the Members of Parliament from Rajya Sabha to adopt one of the
villages. If we provide one model village in each district of India then the
surrounding villages shall be automatically inspired to follow that model. Let
us establish a model village, let us establish a village well equipped with all
systems and facilities. The birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan Ji happens
to be on 11th October. On 11th October, the occasion of
birth anniversary of Jai Prakash Narayan Ji, I will present a complete
blueprint of "Sānsad Adharsh Grām Yojana" (Members of
Parliament Model Village Scheme) before all Members of Parliament and State
Governments, and I urge upon State Governments also that as per the feasibility
in their respective states, all the Members of Legislative Assembly resolve to
establish a model village. You can imagine all the Members of Legislative
Assembly and all the Members of Parliament in the country establishing a model
village. All of a sudden, there would be a model village in each block of India which
could inspire us to transform the amenities in rural areas and could give us a
new direction and, therefore, we want to move ahead under this "Sānsad
Adarsh Grām Yojana".
My
dear brothers and sisters, ever since our government has taken charge, there
has been a discussion in the newspapers, on T.V. channels as to what would
happen to Planning Commission. I believe that when Planning Commission was
constituted, it was done on the basis of the circumstances and the needs of
those times. In recent years, Planning Commission has contributed to the growth
of the country in its own way. I respect that, I am proud of that, but the
prevalent situation in the country is different, global scenario has also
changed, governments are no longer the centre of economic activities, the scope
of such activities has broadened. State governments
have been at the
center of development and I consider this a good
indication. If we have to take India
forward, it can happen only by taking the states forward. India`s federal
structure is more important today than in the last 60 years. To strengthen our
federal structure, to make our federal structure vibrant, to take our federal
structure as a heritage of development, a team of Chief Minister and Prime
Minister should be there, a joint team of the Centre and the states should move
forward, then to do this job, we will have to think about giving the Planning
Commission a look. So, I am saying from the rampart of the Red Fort that it is
a very old system and it will have to be rejuvenated, it will have to be
changed a lot. Sometimes it costs more to repair the old house, but, it gives
us no satisfaction. Thereafter, we have a feeling that it would be better to
construct a new house altogether and therefore within a short period, we will
replace the planning commission with a new institution having a new design and
structure, a new body, a new soul, a new thinking, a new direction, a new faith
towards forging a new direction to lead the country based on creative thinking,
public-private partnership, optimum utilization of resources, utilization of
youth power of the nation, to promote the aspirations of state governments
seeking development, to empower the state governments and to empower the
federal structure. Very shortly, we are about to move in a direction when this
institute would be functioning in place of Planning Commission.
Brothers and sisters, today, on 15th August, we also have the
birth anniversary of Maharishi Aurobindo. Maharishi Aurobindo, being a rebel,
moved on to achieve the status of a Yoga Guru. With regard to the destiny of India , he remarked, "I have a faith that
the divine power and spiritual heritage of India will play an important role
towards the welfare of the world." Such sentiments were echoed by
Maharishi Arvind. I strongly believe in the words of legends. I have great
faith in the statements made by ascetics, sages & saints and that’s why
today at the ramparts of Lal Quila I am reminded of the words of Swami
Viveknanda. He had said - "I can see before my eyes Mother India awakening
once again. My Mother India would be seated as the World Guru. Every Indian
would render service towards welfare of humanity. This legacy of India would be
useful for the welfare of the world". These words were spoken by Swami
Viveknanda ji in his own style. Friends, the words of Viveknanda ji can never
be untrue. The words of Viveknanda ji, his dream of seeing India ensconced
as World Guru, his vision, it is incumbent upon us to realize that dream. This
capable country, blessed with natural bounty, this country of youth can do much
for the world in the coming days.
Brothers and sisters, our foreign policy is a much talked about issue. I
clearly believe that India`s foreign policy can be multi-dimensional. But there
is an important issue to which I want to draw your attention that the way we
fought for freedom, we fought together, we were not separate at that time. We
were together. Which was the government with us? What were the weapons
available to us? There was a Gandhi, a Sardar and lakhs of freedom fighters and
such a huge empire. Didn`t we win in the struggle of freedom against that
empire? Did we not defeat the foreign powers? Did we not force them to leave India ? We were
the ones, they were our ancestors only who showed this might. If the people of India could
remove such a big empire without the power of the government, without weapons
and even without resources, then friends, it is the need of the hour to
eradicate poverty, can we not overcome poverty? Can we not defeat poverty? My
125 crore dear countrymen, let us resolve to eradicate poverty, to win against
it. Let us move with the dream of poverty eradication from India . Our
neighbouring countries are also faced with the same problem. Why not get
together with all the SAARC nations to plan out the fight against poverty?
Let`s fight together and defeat poverty. Let us see at-least for once as to how
wonderful is the feeling of being alive instead of killing and getting killed. This is the land where incidents from Siddharth`s life
happened. One bird was shot with an arrow by one brother and the other took out
that arrow to save it. They went to mother- whose bird, whose swan? Whether
killer`s or saviour`s, they asked of mother. The mother replied, saviour`s. The
saviour has more power than the killer and that makes him Buddha in future. And
that`s why I seek cooperation from neighbouring countries for fighting against
poverty in concert and cooperate with them, so that together with SAARC
countries we can create our importance and emerge as a power in the world. It
is imperative that we work together with a dream to win a fight against
poverty, shoulder to shoulder. I went to Bhutan ,
Nepal ,
all the dignitaries from SAARC countries took part in oath-taking ceremony;
this marked a good beginning. This will definitely yield good results, it is my
belief and this thinking of India ,
in the country and the world, that we want to do well to the countrymen and be
useful for the welfare of the world, India wants such a hand to be
extended. We are trying to move forward with these dreams to achieve them.
Brothers and Sisters, today
on 15th August we will resolve to do something for the country.
Let`s be useful for the country, we will move ahead with a resolve to take the
country forward, and I assure you, Brothers and Sisters, as well as my
colleagues in the Government, that if you work for 12 hours, I will do so for
13 hours. If you work for 14 hours, I will do for 15 hours. Why? Because I`m
amidst you not as a Prime Minister, but as the first servant. I have formed the
Government not as a ruler, but as a servant. Brothers and sisters, I assure
that this
country has a destiny. It is destined to work for the welfare of the world, it
was said by Vivekanand ji. India
is born, this Hindustan is
born in order to achieve this destiny. One hundred and twenty five crore
countrymen have to move forward wholeheartedly for the welfare of the nation.
Once
again I feel proud of the devotion, the sacrifices of the security forces of
the country, para-military forces of the country, all the security forces of
the country to protect Mother India. I say to the countrymen, "राष्ट्रयाम, जाग्रयाम् वयम्", "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty".
The army is vigilant, we should also be vigilant and the country scales new
heights, we have to move forward with this resolution. Speak loudly with me
with full force -
Bharat mata ki jai, bharat mata ki jai, bharat mata ki jai.
Jai Hind, Jai Hind, Jai Hind.
Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram!
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