India
PM Modi, who is on a three-nation nine-day tour, delivers his first maiden speech in Paris.
Updated : Apr 15, 2015, 12:45 PM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the initiatives taken by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), adding that the programme to educate and support the girl child in India was the one which is closest to his heart.
“I feel specially privileged to visit this great institution in its 70th anniversary year. This organisation has endured and grown. Our collective goal is to seek a prosperous future for our world in which every nation has a voice; every human has a life of dignity. No organisation serves that cause more than this one. The programme to educate and support the girl child in India is one that is closest to my heart,” said Prime Minister Modi, while addressing the august gathering at UNESCO headquarters.
“India values the worth of UNESCO and cherishes our partnership. We are grateful for UNESCO's support in preservation of our cultural heritage. Our world is and will remain a better place because of the United Nations. Through many challenges of our times and the great progress of this era, the organization has endured and grown. I am conscious of the extraordinary legacy of our relationship from the time of UNESCO's birth,” he added.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Modi said that his government has launched an ‘ambitious’ skills development programme.
We have launched the most ambitious programme to provide skills to our youth and education for every child in the remotest villages: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2015
The programme to educate and support the girl child in India is one that is closest to my heart: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2015
“I recall Mahatma Gandhi's message to UNESCO calling for urgent action to address needs of education to secure lasting peace. We launched the most ambitious program for skill development in remotest villages. We shall judge our progress not just by cold statistics of growth, but by the warm glow of belief and hope on human faces,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi further stressed on the importance of digital connectivity and added that a Digital India would enable the government to connect with citizens digitally.
“Digital connectivity is most exciting thing; Digital India will enable government to connect with citizens digitally. For us science is driven by human development and a safe prosperous future for India,” he said.
The PM thanked the United Nations for making the world a better place.
Our world is and will remain a better place because of the United Nations: PM @narendramodi at @UNESCO in Paris @UN
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 10, 2015
Prime Minister Modi, currently on the first leg on his three-nation, nine-day tour, arrived at the UNESCO headquarters at Place de Fontenoy, Paris, earlier in the day. Upon his arrival, he was greeted by UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, with whom he shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.
PM Modi also said, "Our collective goal is to seek a peaceful and prosperous future for our world in which every nation has a voice." The PM also acknowledged and thanked UNESCO's contribution and support to promote education and science in India.