‘Success of Covid vaccination drive shows India’s capability’

New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the success of India’s Covid vaccination drive shows its capability and noted that the country is moving ahead with new energy after crossing the 100 crore vaccine doses milestone.
In the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Modi said the Culture Ministry is geared up to conduct a competition on patriotic songs to mark ‘Amrit Mahotsav’, a celebration of 75 years of India’s Independence, and urged the youth to pen creations that reflect the thought of new India, are inspired by the current success of the country, and fuel the country’s resolve for the future.
Noting that lullabies also have their own diversity, Modi called on reviving this art and said the ministry has also decided to organise a competition related to it after receiving suggestions from the listeners. He urged the people to write lullabies pertaining to patriotism, write poems, songs, something or the other which can be easily recited by mothers in every home to their little children.
“In these lullabies there should be reference to modern India, the vision of 21st century India and its dreams,” Modi said.
Modi said the Culture Ministry is also set to conduct a Rangoli contest to mark Amrit Mahotsav that would see people draw Rangolis related to the freedom movement. In his radio programme, Modi also talked about the country’s new drone policy, saying it has been formulated according to the present and future prospects related to drones. “With this, you will neither have to be entangled in the web of multiple forms anymore, nor will you have to pay as much fees as before. I am happy to inform you that after the introduction of the new drone policy, foreign and domestic investors have invested in many drone start-ups,” he said.
Noting that many companies are also setting up manufacturing units, Modi said the Army, Navy and Air Force have also placed orders worth more than Rs 500 crore with the Indian drone companies.
“And this is just the beginning. We must not stop here. We have to become a leading country in drone technology. For this, the government is taking all possible steps,” he asserted.
Hailing the crossing of 100-crore vaccine doses milestone, Modi said the country is surging ahead with a new zeal and new energy.
“The success of our vaccine programme displays India’s capability and the strength of the ‘sabka prayas’ (collective effort) mantra,” he said.
Modi hailed healthcare workers for the vaccine milestone and said he knew that they would leave no stone unturned to vaccinate the people of the country.
He said had developed the belief that this campaign would achieve such a “huge success”.
“I had this firm faith, since I am well acquainted with the capabilities of my country and her people. … Our health workers, through their tireless efforts and resolve, set a new example. They established a new benchmark in service to humanity through innovation and sheer determination,” the prime minister said.
There are innumerable instances about them that convey how they crossed all hurdles and provided the security shield to the maximum number of people, he said.
Modi also interacted with a healthcare worker, Poonam Nautiyal, from Bageshwar in Uttarakhand and talked about the problems she faced at the start of the vaccine programme and how she overcame them.
He lauded both Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for achieving cent per cent vaccination of the first dose despite the difficult terrain there.