In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme, the last one for this
year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about initiatives being taken
by the government for the disabled people in terms of accessibility. He
coined a new
term for them - 'Divyang' (people with extraordinary capabilities)
instead of 'viklang' (handicapped) - saying most of the times it has
been seen that such people have capabilities which even normal people do
not have.
Talking about efforts to boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, PM Modi on Sunday said the Action Plan of the 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' will be unveiled on 16 January and urged the states to help spread this campaign across the country's
nook and corner.
Modi, who had made the announcement about the campaign in his last
Independence Day address, said the programme will be designed to suit
Indian conditions and focus would be on ensuring benefits for the youth
from the lowest strata of the society.
"My dear young friends, in my August 15
address from the Red Fort, I had made preliminary mention about
'Start-up India, Stand-up India'. After that, this spread to all the
departments of the government.
"Can India be a 'Start-up Capital'? Can the youth in the states have
the opportunities in the form of start-ups, with innovations, whether it
be manufacturing, service sector or agriculture? In everything, there
should be freshness, new ways, new thinking.
The world cannot move ahead without innovation," he said.
He said the 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' campaign has brought new opportunities for the youth.
"On January 16,
the government of India will unveil the full Action Plan of Start-up
India, Stand-up India... A structure will be presented before you. This
programme will be connected to the country's IITs, IIMs, central
universities and NITs. Wherever
there are youth, they will be linked through 'live connectivity," the
Prime Minister said.
The programme is aimed at promoting bank financing for start-up
ventures and offer incentives to boost entrepreneurship and job
creation.
Modi, in his 20-minute address, said the government will design the programme according to the needs of the country.
Giving an idea, he said if some youth develops something through
innovation to make a poor labourer's life comfortable, he would ask
banks to help such people.
The Prime Minister said it was wrong to assume that the assets of
knowledge are confined to some cities only and added that youth with
capabilities are spread all over the country.
"They want opportunities. This 'Start-up India, Stand-up India'
should not be limited to only some cities but spread to every nook and
corner of the country. In this context, I urge the states also to push
this campaign. On January 16, I will be with you
to give a detailed overview of the campaign," he said while welcoming suggestions from people, if any.
He mentioned that the 'National Youth Festival' with the theme
'Indian youth on development skill and harmony' will be held in Raipur
from January 12 to 16, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
The Prime Minister, whose radio address came two days after
Christmas, greeted the countrymen on the festival as he hailed the
country's diversity, saying because of this the nation gets to celebrate
festivals one after another.
"India is full of diversity. There are hosts of festivals. Even
before one festival ends, another comes... Sometimes, it looks like that
India is a 'festival-driven economy'. They become the reason for
economic activity for the poor people," he said.
He also greeted the country on the upcoming new year, wishing that it
brings to the countrymen happiness, new hope, new enthusiasm and new
resolve to touch greater heights.
He noted that festivals and New Year celebrations are the occasions
for tourism and appealed to the people to keep the tourist destinations
clean so that a good image is presented to the world.
Referring to the direct benefit scheme for LPG subsidy, Modi said 15
crore people are benefitting from it and that the scheme 'Pehal' has
made it to the Guiness Book of World Records.
The Prime Minister also noted that Parliament recently had a good
debate on the Constitution to mark the birth anniversary of its
architect B R Ambedkar.
During this, the rights of the citizens were elaborately highlighted,
he said, adding the duties of the citizens also need to be talked
about. In this connection, he suggested that there should be debates and
exhibitions to highlight duties of the countrymen.
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