I have been travelling in the North East for the past three days. Perhaps no other Prime Minister had the privilege of spending so much time with the people of North East, but I have been fortunate enough to get this opportunity. This is my last programme here. The love, welcome and respect that has been accorded to me by the residents of North East has overwhelmed me and I express my heartfelt gratitude and I am thankful to you all from the core of my heart.
My first programme in the North East was concerned with speed and this last one is concerned with energy. For progress energy is required and so is speed, but most importantly direction is needed. And for the Nation’s development we have chosen the North East Direction. There have been talks of Look East policy. Now is the time to move from Look East to Act East policy. And within the ambit of this Act East policy we want to move forward at great speed for the development of this region.
Today in Tripura the Central government in collaboration with the State government is launching the biggest project in terms of Capital investment worth Rs 10,000 crore for a 726 mega watt power project. Such a small state but such a huge investment for such a large project! This is an opportunity for Tripura to make a mark on the world map. The entire world is working in the direction of Climate change; talks are on to implement Kyoto Protocol. This project in Tripura will follow all the norms of Kyoto protocol thereby lending Tripura a chance to make a mark in the Green Energy movement.
Recently the SAARC Summit took place. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Hasina ji was also present. An important decision was taken in the SAARC summit. It was decided that the nations will strive together for energy production and use energy for mutual benefit as a common commodity.
Now that the SAARC Nations have agreed, I will request Bangladesh and I offer to provide electricity to Bangladesh if it intends to purchase it. We are in that position. And I am making this declaration from a place which has shared Bangladesh’s joys and grief during the period of its freedom movement and creation. The Minister of Bangladesh was telling me “I am visiting after 41 years and in 1971 when freedom movement was being fought I came here to seek refuge and today I have come again” and he was feeling very satisfied.
Some time back the Chief Minister was discussing new schemes regarding petroleum sector and fertilizers plant. We also want to develop the economy using gas based energy resources. The ONGC has doubled its budget related to gas production. They will be able to utilize this expanded budget in regions like Tripura which have abundant supply of gas and in turn rev up the nation’s economy. These energy projects will enhance the job possibilities for the youth of North East and that is what our major focus is.
A few days back I had been to Japan. We have signed an agreement with the government of Japan. The North East is also going to be benefitted by this agreement. The youth of North East is going to be benefitted by this agreement. India and Japan have taken a joint decision to try and create an economical corridor from North East to Myanmar. For this to happen so that the region grows fast we are emphasizing on this aspect so that Japan also lend its support to us. In my opinion the North East will no longer remain a neglected and secluded corner of India. The future of North East is bright. 21st century is called the Century of Asia. If this is so, that it is the century of Asia then North East is the door to all Asia and in a way it is a door to prosperity and I am seeing these possibilities. A comprehensive plan to strengthen the infrastructure with rail connectivity, road connectivity, removal of digital divide, benefit of marine routes needs to be put in place. As the Chief Minister was mentioning just now that all these facets should be incorporated in a one point programme. This one point programme is to bring in the newest infrastructure in the North East and open its horizons for progress and development.
Today I also wish to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Hasina ji for her support. They have helped us considerably in bringing machinery and equipment to this place which otherwise would have been very difficult. Bangladesh has set an example of how two nations can come together for a project. This will also set a precedent for SAARC nations to see that how two neighbouring countries can come together for common welfare and produce such vital commodities like Power from even a small place like Tripura. This event sends out this positive message to the SAARC nations.
Not only this, if there is coordination among states, there is cooperation among states then such a major benefit can be achieved. In this project all the states of North East have taken collective responsibility for transmission. That the states take up collective responsibility itself lends a new hope for future development. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Chief Ministers of all the states for coming up and creating such an environment of cooperation. This is our Mantra too; Cooperation from all and Development for all. If we move ahead with this motto then we can scale many new heights.
In the entire North East there are a few sectors that I feel needs to be especially emphasized upon. In our country we respect our Tricolor. We all honour and respect our Tricolour. But I take inspiration from the tricolor for a four pronged revolution. I am talking of a multifaceted revolution.
One is Green Revolution. One of the colours of the tricolor is Green. Green gives us a message for green revolution. But in this second green revolution the people of the North East can make a difference by focusing on Organic Farming and the agricultural product which has a worldwide market to capture. A huge potential exists here for the same and we want to strengthen that.
Second is the White colour. There is ample scope for Milk revolution in the North East. There is unlimited potential for Animal Husbandry. We should focus on the second colour and think how to bring about this second Milk Revolution.
Third is the saffron colour. I am talking about a saffron revolution. We need a Green Revolution, a White revolution and a Saffron Revolution. When I talk of a Saffron Revolution some people may get alarmed. They will start thinking what is it that Modi is planning? Saffron is the colour of energy so when I talk of Saffron Revolution I am taking about an Energy Revolution. We should be benefitted by Solar Radiation. How do we strengthen solar energy potential? How do we incorporate energy into Gas based economy and provide an overall solution? We need to move forward bearing these factors in mind.
And fourth is the Blue colour of our Ashok Chakra. This blue colour symbolizes the strength of water, it represents the marine force. How do we strengthen our Marine force? The entire North East has immense water sources. It is the basin of Brahmputra. There are numerous waterfalls. So how do we channelize this blue revolution so that it changes our economy? How do we develop it to its fullest potential taking it to be a vital source of energy? This should be our focus.
With this four pronged revolution we intend to change the destiny of not only Tripura but the entire North East. We have to strengthen our efforts so that the youth here gets employment.
In India, the place with the largest wealth of natural resources and the greatest potential for tourism is the North East. No other State in India can match it. This region abounds in biodiversity. We have to attract the entire India here. And for this, connectivity needs to be emphasized. We have to enhance the connectivity by strengthening the rail connectivity, the road and the water connectivity. And so we have to move in a new direction where Tripura and the entire North East are able to scale new heights of development.
Today this 726 MW power project comes to completion. When the first stage got completed Honorable President came here. Today on final completion I have been given the privilege of coming here. I salute Tripura’s contribution in increasing the energy production. My heart is filled with pride and satisfaction as I dedicate this project to the Nation. I once again thank Bangladesh for its contribution. We offer to sell power to Bangladesh to meet its power requirements. India can work towards bringing light to Bangladesh also.
Thank You.
(The original speech was in Hindi, this is the English rendering. Original speech remains the authoritative version)
Published By : Admin | December 1, 2014 | 12:57 IST
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Greetings to you and to all citizens on Constitution Day. The 75th year of Bharat’s Constitution is a matter of immense pride for the entire nation. Today, I humbly pay tribute to the Constitution of Bharat and all the members of the Constituent Assembly.
Friends,
As we commemorate this significant democratic festival, we must not forget that today also marks the anniversary of the Mumbai terrorist attacks. I pay homage to those who lost their lives in this attack and reiterate the nation’s resolve to respond decisively to any terrorist organisation that challenges Bharat’s security.
Friends,
Serious discussions took place regarding the democratic future of Bharat during the extensive debates in the Constituent Assembly. You are all well-versed with those debates. At the time, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar said, “The Constitution is not a mere lawyers' document... its spirit is always the spirit of the Age.” The spirit mentioned by Babasaheb is of paramount importance. The provisions of our Constitution allow us to interpret it in line with changing times and circumstances. The framers of our Constitution recognised that Bharat’s aspirations and dreams would reach new heights over time and that the needs and challenges of independent Bharat and the citizens of Bharat would evolve. Thus, they did not leave our Constitution as just a legal document but made it a dynamic, continuously flowing stream.
Friends,
Our Constitution serves as a guide for our present and our future. Over the past 75 years, whatever challenges the country faced, our Constitution provided suitable solutions. Even during the Emergency, a period of significant challenge to democracy, our Constitution emerged strong. Our Constitution has lived up to every need and every expectation of the country. This strength of the Constitution has ensured that today Babasaheb’s Constitution is fully implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as well. For the first time, Constitution Day is being celebrated there.
Friends,
Bharat is undergoing a period of tremendous transformation, and during such critical times, our Constitution is showing us the way and remains a guiding light for us.
Friends,
The path forward for Bharat is one of fulfilling great dreams and resolutions. Today, every citizen is united by a single aim—the creation of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). ‘Viksit Bharat’ means a nation where every citizen enjoys a quality of life and dignity of life. This is a major vehicle for social justice, which is also a core spirit of the Constitution. Hence, several steps have been taken to promote economic and social equality in recent years. Over the past decade, more than 53 crore Indians who previously lacked access to banks have opened accounts. In the last ten years, four crore homeless citizens have been provided permanent housing who did not have their homes for generations. Over the last 10 years, more than 10 crore women received free gas connections, who were waiting for gas connections at their homes for several years. In today's life, it seems very simple that we turn on a tap at home, and water flows. However, even 75 years after the country's independence, only 3 crore households had access to tap water. Millions of people were still waiting for tap water in their homes. I am satisfied that our government has provided tap water to more than 12 crore households in the span of 5-6 years making the lives of citizens, especially women, easier and strengthening the spirit of the Constitution.
Friends,
As you are aware, the original manuscript of our Constitution features illustrations of Lord Ram, Mother Sita, Hanuman ji, Buddha, Mahavira, and Guru Gobind Singh ji, symbols of Bharat’s culture. These illustrations in the Constitution remind us of the importance of human values. These values form the basis of modern Bharat’s policies and decisions. To ensure that Indians receive swift justice, a new judicial code has been implemented. The punishment-based system has now been transformed into a justice-based system. A historic decision has been made with the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to increase women's political participation. We have also taken steps to ensure recognition and rights for the third gender. Additionally, we have implemented measures to make the lives of differently-abled individuals easier.
Friends,
Today, the nation is heavily focused on improving the Ease of Living for its citizens. There was a time when senior citizens receiving pensions had to visit banks to prove that they were alive. Now, the senior citizens can avail the convenience of submitting digital life certificates from the comfort of their homes. Nearly 1.5 crore senior citizens have benefited from this facility so far. Today, Bharat is a country that provides free treatment up to 5 lakh rupees to every poor family. It is also a country that offers free healthcare to every elderly individual above 70 years of age. Affordable medicines are available at an 80 percent discount at thousands of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country. There was a time when immunization coverage in our country was less than 60 per cent and millions of children missed vaccinations each year. Today, I am satisfied to see that Bharat’s immunization coverage is reaching 100 percent, thanks to Mission Indradhanush. Even in remote villages, children are now being vaccinated on time. These efforts have significantly reduced the worries of the poor and the middle class.
Friends,
An example of how the country is working today is the Aspirational Districts campaign. Over 100 districts that were once considered backward have been redefined as Aspirational Districts, where development across all parameters has been accelerated. Today, many of these aspirational districts are performing much better than other districts. Building on this model, we have now launched the Aspirational Block Program.
Friends,
The country is now placing great emphasis on eliminating the everyday challenges people face. Just a few years ago, there were 2.5 crore households in Bharat that would plunge into darkness every evening because they lacked electricity connections. By providing free electricity connections to all, the nation has illuminated their lives. In recent years, thousands of mobile towers have been installed even in remote areas to ensure people have access to 4G and 5G connectivity. Earlier, if you visited the Andaman or Lakshadweep Islands, broadband connectivity was unavailable. Today, undersea optical fiber cables have brought high-speed internet to these islands. We are also well aware of the numerous disputes that arise over village homes and land in rural areas. Even developed countries worldwide face significant challenges with land records. However, today’s Bharat is taking the lead in addressing this issue. Under the PM Svamitva Yojana, drone mapping of village homes is being conducted, and legal documents are being issued to residents.
Friends,
The rapid development of modern infrastructure is equally essential for the country's progress. Completing infrastructure projects on time not only saves the nation’s resources but also significantly enhances the utility of these projects. With this vision, a platform named PRAGATI has been created, where regular reviews of infrastructure projects are conducted. Some of these projects had been pending for 30-40 years. I personally chair these meetings. You’ll be pleased to know that projects worth 18 lakh crore rupees have been reviewed so far, and obstacles hindering their completion have been resolved. Projects being completed on time are having a profoundly positive impact on people's lives. These efforts are accelerating the nation’s progress and strengthening the core values of the Constitution as well.
Friends,
I would like to conclude my speech with the words of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. On this very day, November 26th, in 1949, Dr. Rajendra Prasad during his concluding speech in the Constituent Assembly said, “Bharat today needs nothing more than a group of honest people who will put the country's interest ahead of their own”. The spirit of ‘Nation First, Nation Above All’ will keep Bharat’s Constitution alive for many centuries to come. The work given to me by the Constitution, I have tried to remain within its boundaries, I have not attempted any encroachment. Since the Constitution has entrusted me with this work, I have presented my thoughts while maintaining my limits. Here, a mere hint is enough, there is no need for much more to be said.
Thank you very much.
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