Modi's new road-map

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 90-minute speech delivered from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the country's 74th Independence Day can be considered a clear outline of the road-map the BJP government at the Centre will follow in order to take India out of the pandemic-induced crisis. Even if one tries to take five or six important points or areas out of his speech, one would find that unveiling of the ambitious National Digital Health Mission which envisages providing a digital health ID to every citizen in itself is the biggest announcement. While the Mission is expected to bring efficiency and transparency in healthcare services in the country, the health ID promises to ease access to medical services. Next is the announcement that over six lakh villages will be connected with optical fibre networks in the next 1,000 days. Prime Minister Modi, who has been rather religiously following the Atal Bihari Vajpayee mantra of infrastructure development, has also said that a plan has been prepared to connect the whole country with Multi-model Connectivity Infrastructure. He said that while the country is moving towards spending more than Rs 100 lakh crore in this direction, nearly 7,000 projects in different sectors have been already identified, which in a way, will be like a new revolution in infrastructure development. On the other hand, unveiling a new cyber-security policy, the Prime Minister said that India is alert, cautious and is taking decisions to counter cyber threats and is constantly developing new systems. According to him, the draft of National Cyber Security Strategy 2020, that envisages creating a secure cyberspace in India is ready and is likely to be finalized this year. The new strategy comes close on the heels of India banning a number of popular Chinese apps in order to protect the personal data of several million Indian users. The Prime Minister's optimism that a Covid-19 vaccine would reach everyone in the shortest possible time meanwhile has raised new hopes in the country's war against the virus that China had spread to the whole world. While he said that three vaccine candidates are in different stages of trials in the country, the Prime Minister also showered praise on the talent of India's scientists by comparing their dedication to that of 'rishi-munis' who are working very hard in laboratories. Another announcement that stands out in his entire speech and is going to touch millions of families pertains to girls and women. The PM has said that his government will soon launch a scheme to provide sanitary napkins at one rupee each. Menstrual hygiene is one area which has for the first time found place in a Prime Minister's Independence Day speech. Additionally, he has also indicated that the government is going to be very tough against marriage of girls below the stipulated age of 18 years and men below 21. Assam is one state where hundreds of girls belonging to a particular community are deliberately married off much before they are 18 years old. Equally significant is Modi's announcement relating to expansion of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). According to him, development of youth in border and coastal areas of the country is a top priority of his government, and it is for this reason that a plan is in the pipeline to expand the NCC. The government is going to train around one lakh new cadets, of which one-third will be girls. While the Army will train the cadets in the border areas, the Navy will be entrusted the task of imparting training in the coastal areas. This way, while the border and coastal areas will get trained manpower to combat disasters and other emergency situations, a large number of youths belonging to areas neglected for decades will also acquire necessary skills for careers in armed forces. Last but not the least, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech has laid stress on strengthening and expanding relations with the neighbouring countries. According to him, his government is laying renewed emphasis on linking India's relations with the partnership of security, development and trust.