Bharat Mata Ki Jai,

Bharat Mata Ki Jai

Governor of Uttarakhand Lt. General (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh ji, young, energetic and enthusiastic Chief Minister and my friend Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ji, my colleagues in the Union Cabinet Shri Mansukh Mandaviya ji and Shri Ajay Bhatt ji, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly Speaker Shri Prem Chand Agrawal ji, Minister in Uttarakhand Government Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat ji and today is also his birthday, many congratulations to him on his birthday, Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, Ministers, MPs and MLAs of many states of the country and my dear brothers and sisters!!

This Devbhoomi has been the land of the penance of the sages. As a yoga city, it has been attracting people from all over the world. We all are getting the blessings of Mother Ganga which is flowing nearby. The holy festival of Navratri is also starting from today. Maa Shailputri is worshiped on the first day today. Maa Shailputri is the daughter of Himalaya. What can be a greater blessing in life than this that I am here on this day, to bow to this soil and salute the land of the Himalayas? Since I have come here today, I want to congratulate Uttarakhand especially. This Devbhoomi has made us proud in the Tokyo Olympics and, therefore, all of you deserve to be congratulated. This divine land of Uttarakhand has played a big role in changing the course of life of many people like me. That's why this land is important to me. My relation with this land is not only of ‘Marma’ (heart), but also of ‘Karma’ (action), not only of ‘Sattva’ (essence) but also of ‘Tattva’ (element).

Friends,

As the Chief Minister just reminded me, I got a new responsibility to serve the people on this day 20 years ago. My journey of serving the people by living among them has been continuing for many decades. But 20 years ago, I got a new responsibility as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Well, it is also a coincidence that Uttarakhand was formed in 2000 and my journey began only a few months later in 2021.

Friends,

I had never imagined to be the head of the government first as the Chief Minister and later as the Prime Minister with the blessings of the people of the country. This uninterrupted journey of 20 years is entering its 21st year today. And in such an important year, I consider it my great privilege to come to the land, which has continuously given me its affection and affinity. By coming to this land of the Himalayas, which shows the path of austerity and renunciation, my resolve to serve the countrymen has become stronger. I get a new energy when I come here.

Brothers and sisters,

Today, oxygen plants are being dedicated from the land which has given a panacea for a healthy life through the power of Yoga and Ayurveda. I congratulate all of you for these oxygen plants in different states of the country.

Friends,

The world is watching very closely the courage with which we Indians are facing this biggest crisis of 100 years. The facilities India prepared in such a short span to fight the Corona pandemic shows the capability of our country. From just one testing lab to a network of about 3,000 testing labs, starting with the import of masks and kits to becoming an exporter reflects India’s rapid transformation. Facilities for new ventilators even in remote areas of the country, rapid and large-scale manufacturing of Made in India corona vaccines, the world's largest and fastest vaccination campaign, demonstrates India’s determination, service and solidarity.

Brothers and sisters,

While fighting against Corona, a big challenge for India was not only our population, but the country’s diverse geography also. The country continued to face the twin challenges of the oxygen supply and vaccines. But it is very important for every countryman to know how the country met with these challenges.

Friends,

In normal days, India used to produce 900 metric tons of liquid medical oxygen a day. As the demand peaked, India increased the production of medical oxygen by more than 10 times. This was an unimaginable target for any country in the world, but India achieved it.

Friends,

Many dignitaries present here are aware that along with the production of oxygen, its transportation is also a big challenge. Oxygen cannot be carried in any tanker. A special tanker is required for this. Oxygen production mostly happens in eastern India, but the challenge was that its need was felt acutely in north and western India.

Brothers and sisters,

The country worked on a war footing while battling so many challenges of logistics. Oxygen plants and oxygen tankers were arranged from wherever possible within the country and abroad. Special oxygen trains were run and Air Force planes were deployed to move empty tankers faster. DRDO used Tejas fighter jet’s technology to increase the production of oxygen. The PM CARES Fund not only accelerated the work on setting up PSA oxygen plants in the country, money was also given for more than one lakh oxygen concentrators.

Friends,

A network of PSA oxygen plants is being set up across the country to strengthen our preparations for the fight against Corona in future. In the last few months, more than 1,150 oxygen plants approved by PM CARES have started functioning. Now every district of the country is covered with oxygen plants built under PM CARES. If we add these oxygen plants made with the help of PM CARES, then the country is going to get about 4,000 new oxygen plants due to the combined efforts of the central and state governments. Now the hospitals of the country are becoming more capable than ever before to meet the challenge of oxygen shortage.

Friends,

It is a matter of pride for every Indian that 93 crore doses of corona vaccines have been administered. Very soon we will be able to cross the 100 crore mark. India has shown the way to the entire world how vaccination is administered on such a large scale by creating the CoWIN platform. Be it mountains or deserts, forests or seas, whether there are 10 or 10 lakh people, today we are providing vaccines to every region with complete safety. More than 1.30 lakh vaccination centers have been set up across the country in this regard. Due to the effective management of the state government here, Uttarakhand is also going to complete the first dose of 100 percent very soon, and for this, I thank the Chief Minister, his entire team and all the government colleagues here.

Brothers and sisters,

In an even land like Terai, it is probably easier to do these things. I have been very attached to this area and we know very well that it is really very difficult to deliver vaccines here by reaching people across the mountains of the Himalayas. You all deserve to be congratulated for achieving such a huge accomplishment despite all the challenges.

Brothers and sisters,

India of the 21st century will move forward only by fully meeting the aspirations and needs of the people. Today the government does not wait for the citizens to come to it with their problems and then take any action. We are removing this misconception from the government mindset and system. Now the government goes to the citizens. It is due to this reason that every such benefit of public interest, whether it is a pucca house for the poor, electricity, water, toilet and gas connection, free ration for more than 80 crore people, transfer of thousands of crores of rupees directly to the bank accounts of farmers, efforts to make pension and insurance facilities to every Indian, has reached the rightful owner.

Friends,

In the field of health also, India is moving ahead with this approach. As a result, there is savings for the poor and middle class and they are also getting facilities. Earlier, when someone had a serious illness, he used to make rounds of politicians or government offices for financial help. Ayushman Bharat has put an end to this problem forever. So many people had to suffer due to long queues outside the hospitals, delays in treatment and lack of medical history. Now for the first time, efforts have begun to resolve these issues through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

Friends,

Who can understand better than the people of Uttarakhand how difficult it is to travel so many times for routine checkups during illness and for small remedies. To overcome this difficulty of the people, there is the facility of an e-Sanjeevani app now. Now patients sitting at their homes in villages are taking consultation from the doctors in the hospitals of the cities. Now the people of Uttarakhand have also started taking advantage of this.

Brothers and sisters,

A strong health infrastructure for last mile delivery is also very important to make health facilities accessible to all. Till 6-7 years ago, only a few states had the facility of AIIMS, today work is in progress to set up AIIMS in every state. We are moving fast from 6 AIIMS to build a strong network of 22 AIIMS. The government also aims to have at least one medical college in every district of the country. In the last seven years, 170 new medical colleges have opened in the country. Work is in progress for dozens of new medical colleges. Here in Uttarakhand also, new medical colleges have been approved in Rudrapur, Haridwar and Pithoragarh.

Friends,

Atal ji had fulfilled the dream of the creation of Uttarakhand. Atal ji believed that connectivity is directly linked to development. Due to his inspiration, today work is being done for connectivity infrastructure in the country at unprecedented speed and scale. I am satisfied that the Government of Uttarakhand is working seriously in this direction. With the blessings of Baba Kedar, the grandeur of Kedar Dham is being enhanced further and new facilities are being developed there for the devotees. I also keep on reviewing the progress of these projects through the drone camera several times. Work on the all-weather road connecting Chardham is going on in full swing. The Chardham project is not only creating a huge facility for the pilgrims coming from across the country and abroad, it is also connecting the challenging regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. The development of about 150 km stretch of Chardham Road in Kumaon is going to give a new dimension to the region. The rail connectivity of Uttarakhand will also get further expansion from the Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line. Apart from road and rail, Uttarakhand has also benefited from the progress regarding air connectivity. The capacity of Dehradun airport has been increased from 250 to 1200 passengers. Heliport infrastructure is also being promoted in Uttarakhand under the enthusiastic and energetic leadership of Chief Minister Dhami ji.

Friends,

Commendable work is being done in Uttarakhand regarding water connectivity. Women here have started getting huge benefits of this, their life is becoming easier. Before the start of the Jal Jeevan Mission in 2019, only 1.30 lakh households in Uttarakhand had access to tap water. Today tap water is available in more than 7.10 lakh houses of Uttarakhand. That is, about six lakh houses in the state have got water connection within just two years. Just as the gas connection provided under the Ujjwala scheme gave relief to women, the toilets built under the Swachh Bharat Mission gave convenience, security and respect to women, similarly the water connection from the Jal Jeevan Mission is proving to be a lot of relief for women.

Friends,

Uttarakhand has a huge role in the security of the nation. The brave young men and daughters are the pride of the Indian security forces. Our government is also working very seriously for the interests of every soldier, every former soldier. It is our government which fulfilled the 40 years old demand of our military brothers by implementing the One Rank One Pension. And our Dhami ji himself is a soldier's son. He was also telling us how much this decision has helped the soldiers.

Friends,

It is our government which has paid tributes to the brave soldiers of the country by building a National War Memorial in Delhi. It is our government which has ensured the benefit of the Battle Casualties Welfare Fund to the martyrs of the Army as well as Navy and Air Force. It is our government which has resolved the four decades old issue of promotion of JCO and other ranks. We are also increasing the use of digital technology so that ex-servicemen do not face pension related problems.

Friends,

When the brave soldiers of the army have modern weapons and equipment to protect themselves then they are able to compete with the enemy easily. In such places where the weather is always bad, modern equipment helps them a lot. The self-reliance campaign launched by our government in the defence sector is also going to be of great help to our military comrades. And surely all these efforts of the government will benefit Uttarakhand and its people.

Brothers and sisters,

We are making a very sincere and earnest effort to end decades of neglect of Devbhoomi. With better infrastructure, the deserted villages are returning to life. During the Corona period, I have had many conversations with many youths and farmers here. It is a matter of satisfaction when they tell me that a road has been built near their house, or they have opened a Home Stay. The new infrastructure is going to open many opportunities for the youth in agriculture, tourism, pilgrimage and industries.

Friends,

There is an enthusiastic team full of young energy in Uttarakhand. In the next few years, Uttarakhand will enter 25 years of its formation. Uttarakhand is going to complete 25 years of its formation in the very near future. Therefore, this is the right time to get involved in deciding the height at which Uttarakhand will be. The government at the center is giving full help to this new team of Uttarakhand. The joint efforts of the central and state governments are the basis of fulfilling the dreams of the people here. This double engine of development is going to give new heights to Uttarakhand. With the blessings of Baba Kedar, may we fulfill every resolution!  With this wish, all the very best!

Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.

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DS/AKJ/VK/AK