I-Day: PM sets goals for centenary of India’s Independence; calls for ‘sabka prayas’ to realise them

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 15

Leading the nation into the 75th year of Independence from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the time had come to redefine India and called for “sabka prayas” to take the country to greater heights.

Setting national goals for the centenary of Independence in 2047, a 25 year period he called “amrit kaal”, the Prime Minister in a 90-minute address said, “This is the time, the right time, precious time for India. Let’s seize it.”

Noting that he was no fortune teller but a firm believer in the fruits of labour, the Prime Minister hailed the current generation as a “Can do generation”, saying, “This generation can do anything, achieve anything. I have full faith in the potential of our youth, our daughters, our farmers, our professionals...For the next 25 years we have to make pledges and touch the pinnacle of diligence and persistence to realise them. This is the time to dream new dreams and I can state with confidence that whoever unfurls the Tricolour in 2047 will announce the realisation of the promises we make today,” said the Prime Minister, in the presence of the Indian Olympic contingent, invited to I-Day celebrations as special guests.

Adding the phrase “sabka prayas” to the government’s “sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas” pledge, the Prime Minister said, “Now we have to move towards the saturation of all welfare goals -- 100 pc villages must have roads, 100 pc households must have bank accounts, 100 pc women must have Ujjawla benefits.”

Calling for next generation infrastructure, world-class manufacturing and new age technology as the pillars for India’s future, the PM announced two major initiatives that are in the works—PM Master Plan and National Hydrogen Mission.

“In the near future, India will launch the Rs 100 lakh-crore PM Gatishakti Master Plan. We have to enhance our manufacturing and exports. Few days ago, the first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was launched for sea trials,” said the Prime Minister, emphasising green energy, for which, he said plans were afoot for a National Hydrogen Mission to ensure India’s energy independence by 2047.

Delineating his vision for India@2047, the Prime Minister urged manufacturers to pay attention to the quality of their products saying every item they export is India’s brand ambassador.

“’Brand India hinges on the quality of your exports,” he reminded industry.

To the farmers, the Prime Minister assured that reforms were for their benefits. He spoke of 80 per cent farmers with less than 2 hectare land and said, “The decisions are now being taken keeping small farmers in mind. They were ignored in the past. Our dream is—chhota kisan, desh ki shaan”

In another major announcement, the Prime Minister promised to open Sainik schools to girls soon.

He described as historic several recent decisions such as the “abrogation of Article 370 in J&K, peaceful settlement of the Ram Janmabhoomi issue; implementation of GST” to say that 21st century India had the capacity to achieve anything.

The Prime Minister also said the delimitation commission was working in J&K and elections would be held thereafter.

“Today India is solving problems that have been pending for decades. Be it the constitutional status to the OBC Commission or block and district council elections in J&K for the first time since Independence, India is consistently displaying its will to realise its pledges,” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir, hill states and northeast will become the bedrocks for India’s future growth.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of citizen duties saying every Indian must own the national pledges to take the country forward and added that there was no time to lose.

He earlier spoke of the declaration of August 14 as the Partition Horrors Remembrance Day as a “very emotional national decision.”

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