With floods having lashed major parts of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sent out a message that the Centre is working closely with states to help the flood-hit people.
With floods having lashed major parts of the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sent out a message that the Centre is working closely with states to help the flood-hit people. In his monthly radio programme, he pitched for technological solutions to daily life problems and informed about the government plans to earmark Rs10 crore for innovation.
Touching upon a host of issues, the Prime Minister spoke about the Indian participation in the Rio Olympics, upcoming Independence Day celebrations, his recent visit to South Africa and passage of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill, 2016, that will allow states to access nearly Rs 42,000 crore of fund and channelise it for afforestation projects.
Talking about the floods that have hit some parts of the country, Mr Modi said, “sometime back, we were concerned about drought but now we are enjoying the rains and there are reports about floods. The state governments and the Centre are working closely, making all efforts to help the flood-affected people.” A number of states, including Assam and Bihar, are reeling under floods, which have killed over scores of people and caused widespread damage to property.
“India is going through many problems. We encounter problems in daily life. Now, we will have to look for technological solutions,” he added.
Exhorting youth to go for research to find technological solutions to such pro-blems, Mr Modi referred to the “Atal Innovation Mission” (AIM) through which the government intends to create an ecosystem of innovation, experiment and entrepreneurship and generate jobs.
“If we have to prepare next generation innovators, we will have to connect our children with the AIM. That is why, the Central government has taken the initiative of Atal Tinkering Labs,” the Prime Minister informed.
Whichever school establishes these labs, it will get Rs 10 lakh and an equal amount for maintenance of these labs for five years, he said.
Turning to the upcoming 70th Independence Day celebrations, Mr Modi said the country should also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement on August 8.
He asked the countrymen to celebrate these events like a festival by creating an atmosphere of nationalism. “This should not remain a government function but a celebration of the countrymen,” he said.
