Vadodara: For the second time in as many days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to his fellow-Indians to adopt fuel-saving measures and reduce non-essential spending until the West Asia crisis, which has impacted the entire world, stabilises.
Modi, addressing the audience while inaugurating the Sardardham Hostel complex in Vadodara, urged Indians to take “small but meaningful resolutions” in national interest to help conserve foreign exchange reserves and reduce the impact of global disruptions.
“Until the situation becomes normal, we will have to take small resolutions,” the Prime Minister said.
Repeating his call for reducing fuel consumption, Modi said the use of petrol and diesel should be minimised wherever possible. He suggested greater use of Metro services, electric buses and other modes of p
ublic transport, as well as resort to car-pooling.
“I appeal to every citizen of my country to reduce the use of petrol-diesel as much as possible. Use the metro, make greater use of electric buses and public transport, and promote carpooling. Those who have a car should take more people along in one vehicle. Digital technology has now made so many things easy that technology’s assistance will also be very beneficial for us. It is essential that priority be given to virtual meetings and work from home in both government and private offices,” the PM said.
Modi advised government, private and aided schools to shift to online classes, wherever feasible, similar to the module adopted by educational institutions across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modi encouraged citizens to opt for Indian-made products over foreign goods, and asked people to support farmers in reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers.
“I urge all of you to guide farmers in your villages towards freedom from fertilisers and promote natural farming,” he said.
Modi also urged people to choose India over foreign destinations for weddings and celebrations.
“People often go abroad for destination weddings. My request is to hold destination weddings in India itself. In my opinion, there is no place better than India,” Modi said.