New Delhi, Aug 14: India has helped the world discover the true potential of democracy and the keyword for the country today is compassion for the downtrodden, needy and those on the margins, President Droupadi Murmu said on Sunday.
In her maiden address to the nation on the eve of the 76th Independence Day, Murmu said major economic reforms are being accompanied by innovative welfare initiatives and the world has seen “a new India rising in recent years, more so after the outbreak of COVID-19’’.
The President said when India won independence, there were many international leaders and experts who were sceptical about the success of the democratic form of government in India due to poverty and illiteracy at that time.
“But we Indians proved the sceptics wrong. Democracy not only grew roots in this soil, it was enriched too,” she said as she asked citizens to pledge to give everything for the sake of the safety, security, progress and prosperity of the country.
The President , in her 17-minute address, also complimented the policymakers for ensuring the growth of the country that has become more inclusive with reduced regional disparities.
“Our response to the pandemic has been appreciated everywhere. We launched the biggest vaccination drive in human history with vaccines manufactured in the country itself. Last month we crossed the 200-crore mark in cumulative vaccine coverage,” said Murmu who took over the presidency last month, She said in combating the pandemic, India’s achievements have been better than those of many developed countries. “For this feat, we are grateful to our scientists, doctors, nurses, paramedics and the staff associated with vaccination,” she said.
The President said that the pandemic uprooted lives and also economies in the entire world. “When the world has been battling the economic consequences of the great crisis, India got its act together and is now moving forward. India is among the fastest growing major economies in the world” whose start-up ecosystem ranks high in the world.
The President said “our existence will become meaningful only in building a glorious India” and quoted a poem of poet Kuvempu ‘I will pass, So will you, But on our bones will arise the great tale of a new India’.
She said this is a clarion call of the nationalist poet for making a complete sacrifice for the motherland and the uplift of fellow citizens.
“To follow these ideals is my special appeal to the youth of the country who are going to build the India of 2047,” she said.
In most other well-established democracies, women had to wage long-drawn struggles to get the right to vote. But India adopted universal adult franchise rights since the beginning of the Republic, she said.
Thus, the makers of modern India enabled each and every adult citizen to participate in the collective process of nation-building, she said adding India can be credited for helping the world discover the true potential of democracy.
She said the success of start-ups, especially the growing number of unicorns is a shining example of industrial progress and credited the Narendra Modi government and its policy-makers for beating the global trend and helping the economy flourish.
“During the last few years, unprecedented progress has been made in the development of physical and digital infrastructure….For the vibrancy of growth visible in our country, credit must also be given to workers and farmers whose hard work has made it possible and entrepreneurs whose business acumen has created wealth. What is all the more heartening is that the growth is becoming more inclusive and regional disparities too are reducing. But this is only the beginning. A series of economic reforms and policy initiatives have been preparing the ground for a long term…the ‘National Education Policy’ is aimed at preparing the future generation for the next stage of industrial revolution while also reconnecting it with our heritage,” the President said.
She said the economic success is leading to an ease in living too as the reforms are rightly accompanied by innovative welfare initiatives.
“A home of one’s own is no longer a dream for the poor, but a reality for more and more people, thanks to the ‘Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana’. Similarly, under the ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, tap water connection has been provided to every household since the launch of the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme,” she said.
She said the aim of these as well as other similar efforts is to provide basic amenities to all, particularly the poor.
“The keyword for India today is compassion; for the downtrodden, for the needy and for those on the margins. Some of our national values have been incorporated in our Constitution as the Fundamental Duties of the citizens.
“I appeal to every citizen to know about their Fundamental Duties and follow them in letter and spirit so that our nation reaches new heights,” she said. (PTI)
