PM: ‘Every Person is Important’ should be priority rather than ''VIP''

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 30

Prime Minister Narendra   Modi on Sunday yet again hit-out at the ‘VIP-culture’ saying removal of red beacons atop government vehicles was a symbolic step and the time is now to remove the ‘VIP-culture’ from the minds.

Addressing the nation through radio talk programme ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast by the All India Radio, Modi said the average citizen hates the VIP-culture.  “Removal of red beacons was just a symbol. We have to remove this VIP culture from the minds,” he said adding that under the ‘New India’ concept the acronym ‘EPI’ (Every person is important) is more suited rather than the ‘VIP’.

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On red beacons from atop vehicles — the government had last week ordered the removal of these beacons last week — Modi said: “The red beacon was just on vehicle and this slowly was entered the mind-space and behavior".

Modi asked young people who have just finished examination and are now planning for vacations in the summers to come out of their ‘comfort zone’.

He said he feared that children, while struggling to have best marks, have become like robots and are going about with life as a machine. “It’s good to have aspirations but make sure the human element is not being lost," he said.

He asked the youth to learn singing, learn swimming, or learn drawing to ease out their minds from studies.

New things will make you think out of the box. “Do something out of box now, when you are at the stage of career then you will not have time,” Modi suggested.

For the vacations he suggested three things — Go to a new place; try out new schemes and have new experiences. Do things during vacations that you have not done before. He said the youth could learn more by seeing more places, new villages or towns.

The Prime Minister asked vacationers to share their pictures on with #incredibleIndia

Addressing the middle class and ‘well off’ youth he asked: “ Have you tried to travel in an unreserved train compartment?  Try it for 24 hours.  What do those passengers talk about? You will possibly learn more things in 48 hours than you would in one year”.

He suggested, go try and play football or volleyball with poor children in slums, learn from them. When these children play with you (middle class) they will also learn.

He asked the youth from educated families teach poor children various skills.

The Prime Minister also addressed the issue of climate change saying the heat wave being experienced in the country during March-April was akin to the summer normally in May–June.

He said the country would observe the 1000th birth anniversary the Sant Ramanujacharya, who had fought against caste system and launched a movement to allow lower castes to enter temples, on Monday.

The country will launch the South Asia satellite on May 5, which will be used for mapping of natural resources, education, IT connectivity and more.