Sharing his vision of ‘New India’, he described it as neither a government programme nor the manifesto of a political party, nor a project but the “clarion call of 125 crore countrymen.”
After coining numerous buzzwords – Standup India, Startup India and Make in India – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday explained yet another slogan ‘New India’ that he mentioned in several of his recent speeches and also about the digital movement in the country.
Sharing his vision of ‘New India’, he described it as neither a government programme nor the manifesto of a political party, nor a project but the “clarion call of 125 crore countrymen.”
He said that the people have extended support towards the movement of digital transactions, and, in the process, have discarded corruption. “India has supported the movement towards digital transactions,” the Prime Minister said in his 30th monthly edition of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday.
He said that the nation is rejecting corruption and black money after the demonetization drive.
“In the last few months, there is a movement towards increased digital payments,” he added. Modi said that the BHIM app, a digital payment application launched by the Centre, is a success. “Over 1.5 crore people have downloaded BHIM since its launch,” he said.
Launched in December last year for fast and secure cashless transactions, the digital payments app enables payments through mobile wallets, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) and RuPay that witnessed massive uptake and rise in transactions after demonetization.
Modi has been stressing upon the importance of technology and digital transaction to curb corruption and black money.
In his Sunday address, he made numerous references to ‘New India’, making it apparent that he was looking beyond the earlier slogans and want to popularise it as an idealist slogan that has got something to do with all kinds of duties that Indians need to perform to achieve a “magnificent India”.
Critics have interpreted it as Modi’s grandiose plan to look beyond the general elections of 2019 by injecting a kind of ‘self-esteem’ among Indians.
“In essence, every citizen must discharge his civic duties and responsibilities. This, in itself, would be a good beginning to New India…. If we look at it in its collectiveness, in an organised manner, it comes across as a major force. …It is the essence of the emotions of the 125 crore Indians wanting to come together and create a magnificent India. The 125 crore Indians nurture a hope, a zeal, a resolve, a desire,” Modi said. (With inputs from agencies)
Explaining what he means, PM Modi said, “Use digital money to serve India” defending his demonetisation move and claimed it has already led to a huge reduction in corruption and black money which, of course, is a big step towards the idea of a ‘New India’.
“We must take our fight against black money and corruption to the next level. Can 125 crore countrymen resolve to undertake 2500 crores digital transactions during this year? We have made an announcement in the Budget. Our 125 crore countrymen, if they wish to do so, they need not wait for a year; they can do it in six months. 2500 crore digital transactions….You can’t imagine how you can serve the country in this way and become a brave soldier in the fight against black money and corruption,” Modi said.
The PM also announced government’s decision to give 26 weeks of maternity leave to government women employees instead of the existing 12 weeks.
“Working women will now be given maternity leave of 26 weeks, instead of the earlier 12 weeks, for their pregnancy and delivery. The basic aim is to ensure proper care of the newborn, the future citizen of India, from the time of birth,” he said.
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 "Narendra Modi")
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