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The Centre is working closely with states to help the flood-hit people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday as he pitched for technological solutions to the daily life problems and informed about the government plans to earmark Rs 10 crore for innovation.
In his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, he also talked about a number of other subjects, including the Indian participation in the Rio Olympics, upcoming Independence Day celebrations, his recent visit to South Africa and passage of a bill by Parliament that will unlock over Rs 40,000 crore to states for afforestation.
During the 35-minute broadcast, he spoke about the need to curb deaths during child delivery and said government hospitals will offer free check-up on 9th of every month which poor pregnant women should avail of. He urged gynaecologists, who do not work in government hospitals, to devote one day for this purpose, saying lakhs of such doctors are required.
Talking about the floods that have hit some parts of the country, Modi said, “Sometime back, we were concerned about drought but now we are enjoying the rains and there are reports about floods. The state governments and the Centre are working closely, making all efforts to help the flood-affected people.”
A number of states, including Assam and Bihar, are reeling under floods, which have killed over scores of people and caused widespread damage to property.
“India is going through many problems. We encounter problems in daily life. Now, we will have to look for technological solutions,” Modi said.
Exhorting youth to go for research to find technological solutions to such problems, Modi referred to the ‘Atal Innovation Mission’ through which the government intends to create an ecosystem of innovation, experiment and entrepreneurship and generate jobs.
“If we have to prepare next generation innovators, we will have to connect our children with the AIM. That is why, the central government has taken the initiative of Atal Tinkering Labs,” he said.
Whichever school establishes these labs, it will get Rs 10 lakh and an equal amount for maintenance of these labs for five years, the prime minister said.
Noting that innovation is directly linked to ‘Incubation Centre’, he said under the Atal Incubation Centre programme, the government plans to earmark a ‘big amount’ of Rs 10 crore.
Inviting youth to do research and invent solutions through technology to the problems they see, the prime minister referred to the ‘Atal Grand Challenges’ and said, “The government of India wants to reward technology that is developed to address our problems.”
He said this will be the real tribute to former President A P J Abdul Kalam, whose first death anniversary was observed four days ago.
“The more our young generation works for research, innovation, inventing technology for solutions to our daily life problems and provide an easy relief from our problems, it will contribute immensely to making of the modern India of 21st century and that will be the real tribute to Abdul Kalam,” Modi said.
He began his programme with reference to the Rio Olympics and asked people to create a campaign to encourage India’s participants in this mega sporting event.
Underlining that participation in the games is more important than winning of losing, he asked the countrymen to extend their wishes to the Indian participants. “For transmitting your messages of good wishes, the prime minster of the country is ready to become a postman,” he said.
Turning to the upcoming 70th Independence Day celebrations, Modi said the country should also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement on August 8.
He asked the countrymen to celebrate these events like a festival by creating an atmosphere of nationalism. “This should not remain a government function but a celebration of the countrymen. Like a Diwali, it should be our own festival,” he said hoping that people will send pictures filled with nationalism to his app.
Modi, who will be addressing the nation from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort for the third time this Independence Day, also invited suggestions from the people for inclusion in his speech.
“You may be having something which you would want to be told to the nation from the Red Fort. I invite you to write to me whatever feelings you have, what you feel that as your representative, as your pradhan sevak (prime servant), I should say from the Red Fort... Give suggestions, give advice, give new ideas. I will try to convey those to all the countrymen...,” the prime minister said.
“I don’t want that whatever is spoken from the ramparts of the Red Fort is only what the prime minister wants to say. Whatever is spoken from the ramparts of the Red Fort should be what 125 crore countrymen want to say,” he added.
Talking about climate change, Modi referred to the passage of the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority bill by Parliament which will unlock over Rs 40,000 crore that will be distributed among states as compensation for damage caused to forestation due to development.
In this context, he exhorted people to undertake afforestation in the form of a public movement, which he said had been done in some states.
Noting that during the rainy season, diseases like dengue occur, he asked people to take care, particularly since it attacks the well-off people.
He also advised people not to take antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.
Referring to this South Africa trip, he said it was a like a ‘pilgrimage’ for him as he had visited the places and travelled by a train associated with Mahatma Gandhi in the land of Nelson Mandela.