Mann Ki Baat: PM Says India’s Fight Against Corona People Driven

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Sunday in his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, saying India’s fight against coronavirus is people driven. “Be it in cities or a village, everywhere we can see people getting involved in this fight against the pandemic,” the PM said in the 64^th edition of the programme.

Here are the highlights from the PM’s address:

– India’s fight against coronavirus is people driven. This fight is being fought by the people and the administration together. Every citizen as a soldier is fighting this war.

– Be it in cities or a village, everywhere we can see people getting involved in this fight against the pandemic. While some are feeding the poor, some are making masks, others are selling their lands to raise money for this fight. Some are even contributing their pensions. Our hardworking farmers are also ensuring no one is hungry.

– We have created a digital platform — covidwarriors.gov.in — which has been joined by around 1.15 crore people, including doctors and nurses. I urge you to join the portal and become a COVID warrior.

– Be it our businesses, office culture, education, medical sector… everyone is adapting to new changes in a post-Coronavirus world.

– Today, we are realising every person’s value — people working in our houses, working in shops, drivers… We are now realising the importance of people during this coronavirus lockdown.

– This is a time, when India does not need to share medicines with other countries… and no one will even object. But still, India acted beyond its own self-interests and considered the humanitarian needs of the world. We took the responsibility to provide medicines to different countries to help everyone.

– When I speak to the leaders of other countries, they thank India and people of India. India’s Ayurveda and Yoga is also being talked about and is appreciated across the world.

– COVID-19 has led to many changes around us, the most prominent among them is wearing a mask. Masks have become a part of life due to coronavirus. It doesn’t mean if someone wears a mask, they are sick. Masks will become a symbol of a civilised society.

– Another awareness that has been created due to coronavirus is that spitting is a bad habit and poses grave dangers for the health. It is “better late than never”, so people should give up the habit of spitting. This will increase basic hygiene and strengthen the fight against COVID-19.