by NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said that India is better poised now to meet challenges of the future and hailed the country’s vaccination drive against Covid-19.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day, he said India showed an “unmatched resolve” when faced by the pandemic.
“The pandemic management was bound to be all the more difficult in India. We have a high population density, and as a developing economy, we didn’t have the level of resources needed to battle this enemy. But it is only in such difficult times that the resilience of a nation shines forth. I’m proud to say that we have shown an unmatched resolve against Covid. The vaccination drive is progressing at a quick pace in our country. During the pandemic, we have reached out to several other countries with vaccines and other medical help,” the President said.
Kovind also said with the virus mutating and the pandemic still spreading, people must remain alert and not let their guard, and masks, down. He emphasised that in the fight against Covid, it has now become a sacred national duty of every citizen to follow the precautions suggested by scientists.
Lauding the leadership, policy-makers and administrators at the Centre and in states for making timely interventions to maintain supply chains and utilities, Kovind said it is due to such interventions that the economy is on the move again.
“It is a testimony to India’s spirit in the face of adversity that the economy is projected to grow at an impressive rate in this fiscal, after going through contraction last year. This shows the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan launched in the previous year….The impressive economic performance is made possible due to improvement in agriculture and manufacturing sectors,” he said, congratulating Indians for their spirit of enterprise and for India to have been included among top 50 innovative economies.
He also referred to the National Education Policy and said the policy creates “makes a perfect blend of traditional values and modern skills” and created the right environment to “reap the demographic dividend”.
In his address, the President also paid tributes to General Bipin Rawat, and lauded all soldiers and security personnel who carry on the legacy of national pride. He said this marks a “watershed year for women empowerment in the armed forces”, with women breaking the glass ceiling, and a permanent commission now being allowed for women officers in new areas.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the President said that he would have liked us to celebrate Republic Day by striving to become better human beings and contributing towards the making of a better India and a better world.
Congratulating India on its 75th year of independence, he said the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is a great opportunity not only for the next generation but for everyone to reconnect with the past.
“For us, nation-building is a constant endeavour. When we won independence, the exploitation of colonial rule had left us in poverty, but in 75 years, we’ve made impressive progress. New opportunities await the next generation,” he said.
Addressing the nation on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day, he said India showed an “unmatched resolve” when faced by the pandemic.
“The pandemic management was bound to be all the more difficult in India. We have a high population density, and as a developing economy, we didn’t have the level of resources needed to battle this enemy. But it is only in such difficult times that the resilience of a nation shines forth. I’m proud to say that we have shown an unmatched resolve against Covid. The vaccination drive is progressing at a quick pace in our country. During the pandemic, we have reached out to several other countries with vaccines and other medical help,” the President said.
Kovind also said with the virus mutating and the pandemic still spreading, people must remain alert and not let their guard, and masks, down. He emphasised that in the fight against Covid, it has now become a sacred national duty of every citizen to follow the precautions suggested by scientists.
Lauding the leadership, policy-makers and administrators at the Centre and in states for making timely interventions to maintain supply chains and utilities, Kovind said it is due to such interventions that the economy is on the move again.
“It is a testimony to India’s spirit in the face of adversity that the economy is projected to grow at an impressive rate in this fiscal, after going through contraction last year. This shows the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan launched in the previous year….The impressive economic performance is made possible due to improvement in agriculture and manufacturing sectors,” he said, congratulating Indians for their spirit of enterprise and for India to have been included among top 50 innovative economies.
He also referred to the National Education Policy and said the policy creates “makes a perfect blend of traditional values and modern skills” and created the right environment to “reap the demographic dividend”.
In his address, the President also paid tributes to General Bipin Rawat, and lauded all soldiers and security personnel who carry on the legacy of national pride. He said this marks a “watershed year for women empowerment in the armed forces”, with women breaking the glass ceiling, and a permanent commission now being allowed for women officers in new areas.
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the President said that he would have liked us to celebrate Republic Day by striving to become better human beings and contributing towards the making of a better India and a better world.
Congratulating India on its 75th year of independence, he said the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is a great opportunity not only for the next generation but for everyone to reconnect with the past.
“For us, nation-building is a constant endeavour. When we won independence, the exploitation of colonial rule had left us in poverty, but in 75 years, we’ve made impressive progress. New opportunities await the next generation,” he said.
