New Delhi, 30 May My dear countrymen,
Namaskar. We are seeing how the country is fighting against Covid-19 with all
her might. This has been the biggest pandemic in the last hundred years and
during this very pandemic, India has confronted many a natural disaster with
fortitude. Meanwhile, there were cyclone Amphan and cyclone Nisarg…many states
had floods…there were many minor and major earthquakes; there were landslides.
Just recently, in the past ten days, the country faced two major cyclones –
cyclone Taukte on the west coast and cyclone Yaas on the east coast. Both these
cyclones affected a number of States. The country and her people fought them
with all their strength, ensuring minimum loss of life. We experience now that
compared to earlier times, we are being able to save the lives of maximum people.
Under these trying and extraordinary calamitous circumstances, people of all
these cyclone affected States have displayed courage…they’ve faced this moment
of crisis with immense patience and discipline. I wish to commend all citizens
respectfully, wholeheartedly. People who led rescue and relief work deserve
more appreciation than can be expressed. I salute all of them. The Centre,
State governments and local administration have come together to face this
calamity. My heart goes out to all the people who’ve lost their near and dear
ones. Let us all firmly stand by those who have borne the brunt of this
disaster.
My dear countrymen,
however big the challenge be, India’s victory-resolve, her Vijay-Sankalp has
always been equal in magnitude. Her collective strength and our spirit of
service has always rescued the country from the midst of every storm. We’ve
seen in the days gone by how our doctors, nurses and frontline warriors have
toiled day and night without bothering about themselves, and continue to do so.
Amidst all this, there indeed are people who’ve played a major role in the
fight against the second wave of Corona. Many listeners of Mann Ki Baat, on
NamoApp and through letters, have urged me to touch upon these warriors.
Friends, when the
second wave came, the demand for oxygen surged all of a sudden…this was a very
big challenge…delivering medical oxygen to remote parts of the country was
indeed a huge task. If an oxygen tanker moves fast, the slightest error can
lead to the risk of a big explosion. Many plants manufacturing industrial
oxygen are located in the eastern parts of the country…transporting oxygen from
there to other states of the country requires many days. In confronting this
challenge, the country was helped by cryogenic tanker drivers, the Oxygen
Express and Air Force pilots…many such people worked on a war footing, saving
the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Joining us in Mann Ki Baat today
is one such friend – Shriman Dinesh Upadhyay ji, resident of Jaunpur, U.P.
Modi ji – Dinesh ji,
Namaskar
Dinesh Upadhyay ji –
Sir ji Pranaam.
Modi ji – First of
all, I’d want you to definitely tell us something about yourself.
Dinesh ji – Sir, my
name is Dinesh Babulnath Upadhyay. I am a resident of village Hasanpur, Post
Jamua, District Jaunpur.
Modi ji – You are from
U.P.!
Dinesh ji – Yes…Yes
Sir
Modi ji – Ji
Dinesh ji – And Sir, I
have a son, two daughters…also my wife and parents.
Modi ji – And what do
you do?
Dinesh ji – Sir, I
drive an oxygen tanker…for liquid oxygen.
Modi ji – Are the
children carrying on well with their studies?
Dinesh ji – Yes Sir.
They are studying. Both daughters as well as the son are studying Sir.
Modi ji – Are their
online studies going on well?
Dinesh ji – Yes Sir,
they are doing it well. Right now, my daughters are studying, that too online
Sir. I’ve been driving an oxygen tanker for 15 – 17 years Sir.
Modi ji – Okay, you’ve
been transporting oxygen for 15 – 17 years! Then you are not just a truck
driver! In a way, you are engaged in saving the lives of lakhs of people.
Dinesh ji – Sir, our
line of work is like that! Sir, our Company of oxygen tankers, Inox Company
also takes good care of us. And wherever we deliver oxygen, it gives us a lot
of happiness.
Modi ji – But during
these Corona times, your responsibilities have increased a lot!
Dinesh ji – Yes Sir,
it has increased a lot.
Modi ji – When you are
on the driving seat of your truck, what thoughts cross your mind? Any new
experience compared to earlier times? There must be a lot of pressure…a lot of
stress! Concerns regarding the family, the Corona atmosphere, pressures from
people, demands! What all must be happening!
Dinesh ji – Sir, that
doesn’t bother us. For us, it’s just that we are fulfilling our duty…if
delivering oxygen on time gives life to someone, it is a matter of great honour
for us.
Modi ji – You are
expressing your sentiment very well. Okay, tell us…today, during these pandemic
times when people are noticing the importance of your work, which perhaps they
didn’t realise earlier…has it led to a change in the way they view you and your
work?
Dinesh ji – Yes Sir.
Earlier, oxygen drivers like us used to be caught up in jams, somewhere or the
other. But in present times, the administration has helped us a lot. And
wherever we go, we feel an inner eagerness within…how soon can we reach and
save people’s lives! Whether one gets to eat or not…or facing any other problem…when
we reach hospital with the tanker, we see people at the hospital there
gesturing at us with a V sign…people whose family members are admitted.
Modi ji – Okay, they
indicate the V for victory!
Dinesh ji – Yes Sir.
Some show a V, others raise a thumbs up. It gives us a lot of satisfaction…we
must have done a good deed in life to get an opportunity to offer such service.
Modi ji – All your
fatigue must be vanishing!
Dinesh ji – Yes…Yes
Sir.
Modi ji – So, do you
come home and tell your children about that?
Dinesh ji – No sir. My
children stay in the village. I am here at Inox Air Products as a driver.I go
home after 8-9 months.
Modi ji – So, at
times, you must be talking to the children on the phone!
Dinesh ji – Yes
Sir.Regularly.
Modi ji – Then they must
be feeling that their father should take care of himself amidst all this!
Dinesh ji – Sir, they
say, “Papa, work…but do it with along with your own safety.” And we work with
safety. We have a plant in Maangaon too. Inox helps us a lot.
Modi ji – Fine. Dinesh
ji, I felt really nice listening to you. And even the country will get to know
how people are working in this fight against Corona. For nine odd months, you
are not meeting your children and family, just to ensure that people’s lives
are saved. When the country listens to this, she will feel proud that we shall
win the battle, since lakhs of people like Dinesh Upadhyaya ji are persevering,
leaving no stone unturned!
Dinesh ji – Sir, one
day or the other, we shall certainly defeat Corona!
Modi ji – Fine Dinesh
ji…your sentiment is the strength of the country. Many thanks Dinesh ji. And
please convey my blessings to your children.
Dinesh ji – Shall do
it Sir. Pranaam.
Modi ji – Thank you.
Dinesh ji – Pranaam,
pranaam.
Modi ji – Thank you.
Friends, truly, as
Dinesh ji was mentioning, when a tanker driver reaches a hospital with oxygen,
he comes across as a godsent messenger. We can understand the magnitude of
responsibility involved in such work…and the resultant mental pressure one
undergoes.
Friends, at this very
moment of challenge, to facilitate transportation of oxygen, Indian Railway too
has stepped forward. Oxygen Express, oxygen rail has transported larger
quantities of oxygen to all corners of the country, faster than oxygen tankers
travelling by road. Mothers and sisters would be proud to hear that one oxygen
express is being run fully by women. Every woman of the country will feel proud
at that. Not just that, every Indian will feel proud. I have invited Shirisha
Gajni, a loco pilot of Oxygen Express, to Mann Ki Baat.
Modi ji- Shirisha ji
namastey!
Shirisha- Namastey
sir! How are you?
Modi ji- I am very
fine. Shirisha ji, I have heard that you are working as a railway pilot and I
was told that your entire team of women is running this oxygen express.
Shirisha ji you are doing a wonderful work. During corona times many women like
you have come forward to give strength to the country to fight corona. You too
are a very big example of woman power. But the country would like to know, I
want to know where do you get this motivation from?
Shirisha- Sir, for me
my motivation are my father – mother, sir. My father is a government employee,
sir. Actually I have two elder sisters, sir. We are three members, ladies
only but my father encourages us to work. My first sister is doing a government
job in bank and I am settled in railways. My parents are very encouraging.
Modi ji- Ok Shirisha
ji, you have served railways during normal days too. You have driven trains
routinely but on the one hand there was so much demand for oxygen….you were
ferrying oxygen… then it must have been a task with much responsibility; being
a bit more responsible. Ferrying normal goods is a different matter, Oxygen is
a very delicate thing too, what experience did you undergo?
Shirisha- I felt happy
in doing this work. During oxygen special time I observed all – safety wise,
formation wise and for any leakage. Next, Indian Railway too is supportive,
sir. I was given green path to drive this oxygen, I reached 125 kilometres in
one and a half hour with this train. Railway took this much responsibility, I
also took responsibility, sir.
Modi ji- Great…
Shirisha ji I congratulate you a lot and convey my special pranam to your
father- mother who motivated their three daughters so much and promoted them
greatly and thus encouraged them. And I feel… pranam to such parents too and to
you all sisters as well who served the country like this and displayed such a
spirit also. Many many thanks Shirisha ji.
Shirish- Thanks sir.
Thank you, sir. I need your blessings.
Modi ji- May the
blessings of All Mighty remain with you, blessings of mother-father be with
you. Thanks ji.
Shirisha- Thanks sir.
Friends, just now we
heard Shirisha ji. Her experiences inspire us, make us emotional too. In fact,
this battle is so big… that in this like the railways our country is working
through all the three ways- water, land, sky. On the one hand empty tankers are
being flown to oxygen plants by Air Force planes, on the other, work on
construction of new oxygen plants too is being completed. Along with that,
oxygen, oxygen concentrators and cryogenic tankers from abroad also are being
brought into the country. That is why, in this task Navy , Air Force, Army and
our institutions like DRDO are also involved. So many of our scientists,
industry experts and technicians too are working on a war footing. The
countrymen are keen to know and to understand the work of all of them. That is
why Group Captain Patnaik ji from the Air Force is joining us.
Modi ji- Patnaik ji,
Jai Hind.
Grp. Cpt.- Sir Jai
Hind. Sir I am Group Captain A.K. Patanik. Speaking from Air Force station
Hindon.
Modi ji- Patnaik ji,
during the war against corona you are handling a big responsibility. Going
around the world to bring tankers, delivering tankers here. I would like to
know as a soldier you have done a different kind of work. One has to run in
warfare; today you are running to save lives. How are you feeling?
Group Captain- Sir we
are fortunate to be able to help our countrymen at this moment of crisis. And
these missions that have been assigned to us we are fulfilling them very well.
Our training and support services that we have are assisting us fully and the
best thing, Sir, is that the job satisfaction derived is of a very high level.
And this is why we are able to do continuous operations.
Modi ji- Captain the
efforts that you made these days… that too you had to do in very short time…How
have you been placed these days?.
Group Captain- Sir,
from the last one month we have been continuously lifting oxygen tankers and
liquid oxygen containers from both domestic and international destinations,
Sir. Sir, the Air force has completed more than about 1600 sorties and we have
flown more than 3000 hours. We have completed nearly 160 international missions;
due to which, from all places, oxygen tankers from domestic destinations which
earlier took two to three days, now we can deliver from one place to another in
two to three hours; in international missions too within 24 hours by
doing continuous round the clock operations… Entire Air Force is engaged in
this so that we can help the country by bringing in as many tankers as soon as
possible.
Modi ji- Captain,
internationally what all places did you have to run around?
Grp Cpt.- Sir, for us
on short notice to Singapore, Dubai, Belgium, Germany and UK. To all
these places different fleets of the Indian Air Force sir, IL-76 , C-17 and
other planes had gone… C-130 which had gone by planning at very short notice.
Because of our training and zeal, we were able to complete these missions
timely sir.
Modi ji- See this time
the country feels proud that whether it is water, land, sky our soldiers are
engaged in fighting the battle against corona and captain you have fulfilled a
big responsibility…many congratulations to you.
Group Captain- Sir
thank you so much sir. We are trying our best. My daughter Aditi too is with me
Sir.
Modi ji- That is nice!
Aditi- Namastey Modi
ji
Modi ji- Namastey
beti,namastey. Aditi how old are you?
Aditi- I am 12 years
old and I study in class 8th.
Modi ji- So your
father goes out, is in uniform!
Aditi-Yes! I feel very
proud of him. Feel very proud that he is doing all this important work, helping
so many people suffering from corona and bringing oxygen tankers and containers
from so many countries.
Modi ji- But the
daughter does miss her father so much, doesn’t she?
Aditi- Yes, I miss him
a lot. Now a days he is not able to stay home much as he is going on so many
international flights and delivering containers and tankers to production
plants so that the people suffering from corona can get oxygen timely and their
lives can be saved.
Modi ji- So beti, this
work of saving lives through oxygen is now known to people in every house hold.
Aditi- Yes.
Modi ji - When your
friend circle, your fellow students learn that your father is engaged in oxygen
service, they must be looking at you with great respect?
Aditi - Yes, all my
friends also say that your father is doing such an important job and you must
be feeling very proud and it is then I do feel extremely proud and all of my
family, my maternal grandparents, paternal grandmother, all of them are very
proud of my father… my mother and her doctor colleagues they are also working
day and night… and all the Armed Forces, uncles in my father’s squadron, and
all the forces, all of the people, the army is working quite a lot….and I am
sure that with everyone's efforts, we will definitely win this battle against
Corona.
Modi ji –It is said
here that when a daughter speaks, Goddess Saraswati is very much present in her
words and when Aditi is saying that we will definitely win, then in a way it
becomes the voice of God. Ok Aditi, right now you must be studying online?
Aditi - Yes, right now
all our classes are going on online and right now we are taking full
precautions at home… and if one has to go out, then you must wear a double mask
and everything else…we are maintaining all precautions and personal hygiene. We
are observing safeguards with regards to everything.
Modi ji –Good beta,
what are your hobbies? What do you like?
Aditi - My hobbies are
swimming and basketball but now that has stopped a bit and during this lockdown
and corona virus I have become very fond of baking and cooking and I do all the
baking and cooking for my dad so when he returns after doing so much work then
I make cookies and cakes for him!
Modi ji –Wah! It is
really nice! Alright Beta after a long time you have got a chance to spend some
time with your father, and it feels very good and I congratulate you captain
and when I congratulate the captain I mean not only him but all our
Forces-navy, army and air force, I salute everyone, the way they are operating
cohesively! Thank you brother.
Grp. Cpt. - Thank You
Sir.
PM Modi- Friends,
the nation salutes these soldiers of ours, these warriors of ours for the work
that they have done. Similarly, millions of people are toiling day and night.
The tasks they are performing is not part of their
routine work. This type of disaster has hit the world in a
hundred years. We have met such a big calamity after a century, therefore,
no one had any experience of this kind of work. Behind it lies the spirit
of service for the country, and power of resolve. This is why the country
has been able to do work that has never been done before. You can guess for
yourself, in normal circumstances we used to produce 900 Metric Tonnes of
liquid medical oxygen in a day. Now, it has expanded to generating more than 10
times the normal output and producing around 9500 Metric Tonnes per day. Our
warriors are transporting this oxygen to far-flung corners of the country.
My dear countrymen, so
many efforts were made in the country to distribute and provide oxygen, so many
people came together that as a citizen, all these endeavors inspire you. Everyone
has done their duty as part of a team. I have been told by Urmila ji from
Bengaluru that her husband is a lab technician, and how he has been
continuously performing task of testing in the midst of so many challenges.
Friends, at the
beginning of Corona, there was only one testing lab in the country, but today
more than two and a half thousand labs are in operation. Initially, only a few
hundred tests could be conducted in a day, now more than 20 lakh tests are
being carried out in a single day. So far, more than 33 crore samples have been
tested in the country. This huge task is made possible only because of our
colleagues like those mentioned. There are countless frontline workers engaged
in the work of sample collection, going amidst infected patients, and taking
their sample is an example of yeoman service. To protect themselves, these
friends have to wear PPE Kit continuously even in sweltering heat. After that
the sample reaches the lab. Therefore, when I was reading your suggestions and
queries, I decided that these friends engaged in such services should also be
discussed. We will also get to know a lot from their experiences. So now let's
talk to our friend Prakash Kandpal ji who works as a lab technician in Delhi.
Modi ji - Prakash ji
Namaskar
Prakash Ji - Namaskar
respected Prime Minister ji
Modi ji - Prakash ji,
first of all tell about yourself to all of our listeners of 'Mann Ki Baat'. How
long have you been doing this work and what has been your experience during the
time of Corona, because the people of the country neither get to see you on
television nor appear in newspapers, even then working and living in the lab
like a sage! So I would like that through your account the countrymen will also
get information about how work is going on in the country.
Prakash ji - I have
been working as a lab technician for the last 10 years in the hospital called
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, an autonomus institution, under the
Government of Delhi. My experience in health sector is of 22 years. Even before
ILBS, I have worked in prestigious institutions like Apollo Hospital, Rajiv
Gandhi Cancer Hospital, Rotary Blood Bank, Delhi. Sir, although in all of these
medical institutions I served in the blood bank department, but since 1st
April, 2020 last year, I have been working in the Covid testing lab under the
Virology department of ILBS.
Undoubtedly during the
Covid pandemic, there was a lot of strain on all the means and resources
related to health but I personally consider this phase of cataclysm as an
opportunity during which the nation, humanity, society expects and hopes for
display of all that more responsibility, cooperation, strength and capability
from us. And sir, when according to the expectation and hope of the nation,
humanity and society, we function at our optimum which is equal to a drop of
water, we work according to those standards and measure upto them, then there
is a feeling of pride. Sometimes when our family members are apprehensive or
even a little scared, on such an occasion, I remind them that the soldiers of
our country on the borders who are always away from their families protecting
the country in dire and extraordinary circumstances, compared to them whatever
risk we undertake is less, is very less. So they too understand this thing and
in a way they also cooperate with me and they also contribute in whatever kind
of cooperation there is during the time of this calamity.
Modi ji - Prakash ji,
on one hand the government is advocating everyone to keep a distance –or
maintain distance from each other during the Corona pandemic. And you have to
be in the midst of the corona virus by being at the forefront. You have to
encounter it from the front. So it is a life-threatening affair in itself, and
therefore it is very natural for the family to be worried. But still, this lab
technician's job is one of the common professions. And in such a pandemic,
another dimension gets added to the work that you are doing. Therefore the
working hours must have increased. You must be spending many an overnight
in the lab. And because so many crores of people are being tested, the burden
must have also increased. But for your own safety also, do you take precautions
or not?
Prakash ji –Yes Sir,
we do. Our ILBS lab is accredited by WHO, and thus all the protocols observed
are of international standards. We follow the three-tier safety protocol with
regards to our dress. We go to lab in it, and wearing it we work. And then
there is a complete protocol of discarding the dress, another for labelling and
also for testing! We work under these protocols. So sir, it is God’s grace that
my family and most of my acquaintances are still untouched by this infection.
And there is one thing that, if you are careful and observe caution you can
avoid it to an extent.
Modi ji - Prakash ji,
thousands of people like you have been stationed in the labs for the last one
year and have been doing such arduous work, saving innumerable people, about
which the nation is getting to know today! Prakash ji, through you I, thank
all the members of your fraternity. I thank you wholeheartedly on behalf of the
countrymen. And you stay healthy. May you and your family stay healthy. I wish
you all the best.
Prakash Ji - Thank
you, Prime Minister ji. I am very grateful to you for giving me this
opportunity.
Mr. Modi - Thank you
brother.
PM Modi: Friends, I
may have conversed with Bhai Prakash ji but in way, through his words, the
fragrance of service rendered by thousands of lab technicians is reaching us.
In his words you not only get a glimpse of the sense of service evident in
thousands and lakhs of people but we also come to realize our responsibility.
The kind of hard work and commitment that our friends like Bhai Prakash ji are
putting in their work, that very quantum of cooperation from them will greatly
help in defeating Corona.
My dear countrymen,
while at present we were discussing our
'Corona Warriors’ we have been a witness of their dedication and
hard work in the last one and a half years. But there also has been a very
big role in this fight displayed by many such warriors across the
country. Think for yourself, our country faced such a big crisis that it
affected every system of the country. The agricultural sector protected itself
from this attack to a great extent. Not only did it keep itself safe,
but the sector also progressed, moving forward. Do you know that even
in this pandemic, our farmers have achieved record produce! The
farmers produced record output and this time the country went on to
procure record amount of crops. This time in many places farmers have got
more than the minimum support price (MSP) for mustard. Due to the record food
grain production, our country has been able to provide support to every
countryman. Today, 800 million underprivileged denizens are being provided
free ration in this hour of crisis. So, no such a day ever
occurs in a needy home when the stove is not lit!
Friends, today the
farmers of our country are doing wonders in many areas by taking advantage of
the new arrangements. Take for example, the farmers of Agartala. These farmers
produce very good jackfruit harvest. Anticipating their demand in the country
and abroad, this time the jackfruit of farmers of Agartala was brought to
Guwahati by rail. These jackfruit are now being sent to London from Guwahati.
Similarly, you must have also heard the name of the Shahi Litchi of Bihar. In
2018, the Government also gave GI Tag to Shahi Litchi so that its identity
would be reinforced and the farmers would get more benefits. This time the
Shahi Litchi of Bihar has also been sent to London by air. From East to West,
North to South our country is full of such unique flavors and products. You
must definitely have heard about the mangoes of Vizianagaram in South India.
Now who wouldn't like to eat this mango? Therefore, now the Kisan Rail is
ferrying hundreds of tons of Vizianagaram mangoes to Delhi. The people of Delhi
and North India will get to eat Vizianagaram mangoes, and the farmers of
Vizianagaram will earn well. The Kisan Rail has so far transported nearly 2
lakh tonnes of produce. Now the farmers are able to send fruits, vegetables,
grains to other remote parts of the country at a very low cost.
My dear countrymen, today on 30th May we are having 'Mann Ki Baat' and
incidentally it also marks the completion of 7 years of the government. Over
these years, the country has followed the mantra of 'Sabka-Saath, Sabka-Vikas,
Sabka-Vishwas'. All of us have worked every moment with dedication in the
service of the country. Many friends have sent me letters and said that in
'Mann Ki Baat', I should also discuss our mutual journey of 7 years. Friends,
whatever we have accomplished in these 7 years, it has been of the country, of
the countrymen. Together, we have experienced many moments of national pride in
these years. When we observe that now India moves ahead not with the thought
and pressure of other countries but with her own conviction, then we all feel
proud. When we witness that now India gives a befitting reply to those who
conspire against us, then our confidence soars. When India does not compromise
on the issues of national security, when the strength of our armed forces
increases, we feel that yes, we are on the right path.
Friends, I get messages and letters from countless countrymen spanning every
corner of the country. Many people are thankful to the country that electricity
has reached their village for the first time in 70 years, that their sons and
daughters are studying in the light, under the fan. Many people say that our
village too is now connected to the city by a paved road. I remember some
friends from a tribal area had sent me a message that after the road was built,
for the first time they felt that they too had joined the rest of the world.
Similarly, someone shares the joy of opening a bank account, someone starts a
new employment with the help of different schemes, then they also invite me in
sharing that happiness. I keep receiving many invitations from our countrymen
for the occasion of ‘GrihPravesh’ - the house warming ceremony, after receiving
their home under the 'Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana'. In these 7 years, I have
been associated with a million moments of your happiness. Just a few days ago,
a family from a village sent me a photo of the water tap installed in their house
under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission'. They had captioned the photo ‘मेरेगाँवकीजीवनधारा’ - the lifeline of my village, there are many
such families! In the 7 decades after independence, only three and a half crore
rural homes of our country had water connections. However, just in the last 21
months, four and a half crore houses have been given clean water connections.
Of these, 15 months were of the Corona period! A similar confidence has come to
the country through the 'Ayushman Yojana'. When the poor come home healthy with
free treatment, they feel that they have got a new life. They feel confident
that the country stands by them. With the blessing of such families, the
blessings of crores of mothers, our country is moving towards development with
strength.
Friends, in these 7 years, India has worked to show the world a new direction
in digital transactions. Today, you can make digital payments with absolute
ease at any place; it is proving very useful even in this time of Corona.
Today, the seriousness and awareness of the countrymen towards cleanliness is
increasing. We are also launching record satellites and constructing record
roads too. In these 7 years, many old contestations of the country have also
been resolved with complete peace and harmony. A new confidence of peace and
development has arisen from the northeast to Kashmir. Friends, have you thought
all such work which could not be achieved even in decades, how were they done
in these 7 years? All this was possible because in these 7 years, more than as
the Government or as the people, we worked together as one country. We worked
as a team. We worked as Team India. Every citizen has tried to take a few steps
forward in advancing the country. Yes! Where there are successes, there are
also trials. In these 7 years together, we have overcome many difficult tests
as well, and each time we have all emerged stronger. In the form of the Corona
pandemic, we are being continuously put to test. This is a crisis that has
plagued the whole world, so many people have lost their loved ones. Even big
countries were not spared from its devastation. In the midst of this pandemic,
India is moving forward with the resolve of ‘सेवा और सहयोग’- 'service and cooperation'. In the first wave, we fought
courageously; this time too India will be victorious in the ongoing fight
against the virus. Be it ‘दो गज की दूरी’
social distancing, rules related to masks or vaccines, there should be no letup
in our efforts. This indeed is the path to our victory. Next time when we meet
in Mann Ki Baat, we will talk about many more inspiring examples of countrymen
and discuss new topics. Do continue to keep sending me your suggestions. May
all of you stay healthy, keep the country moving forward in this manner. Many
many thanks!
