“For almost two years now, humanity is battling a once in a lifetime global pandemic. Our shared experience of fighting the pandemic has taught us we are stronger and better when we are together,” said Prime Minister while addressing Global Citizen Live on Saturday.
Global Citizen is a global advocacy organization that is working to end extreme poverty.
He further said that we saw glimpses of this collective spirit when our COVID-19 warriors, doctors, nurses, medical staff gave their best in fighting the pandemic. We saw this spirit in our scientists and innovators, who created new vaccines in record time. Generations will remember how human resilience prevailed over everything else.
“In addition to COVID, other challenges remain. Among the most persistent of the challenges is poverty. Poverty cannot be fought by making the poor more dependent on governments. Poverty can be fought when the poor start seeing governments as trusted partners. Trusted partners who will give them the enabling infrastructure to forever break the vicious circle of poverty,” he added.
Talking about poverty, PM said that when power is used to empower the poor, they get the strength to fight poverty. And therefore, our efforts include banking the unbanked, providing social security coverage to millions, giving free and quality healthcare to 500 million Indians. It would make you happy that about 30 million houses have been built for the homeless in our cities and villages. Another mass movement taking place in India is to provide drinking water connection to every household. The Government is spending over a trillion dollars for next-generation infrastructure. For several months last year and now, free food grains have been provided to 800 million of our citizens. These, and several other efforts will give strength to the fight against poverty.
Pointing out the concerns over climate change, he said that the threat of climate change is looming large before us. The world will have to accept that the any change in the global environment first begins with the self. The simplest and most successful way to mitigate climate change is to lead lifestyles that are in harmony with nature. The great Mahatma Gandhi is widely known for his thoughts on peace and non-violence. But, do you know that he is also among the greatest environmentalists of the world. He led a zero carbon footprints lifestyle. In whatever he did, he put the welfare of our planet above everything else.He highlighted the doctrine of trusteeship, where we all are trustees of the planet with the duty of caring for it.
Today, India is the only G-20 nation that is on track with its Paris commitments. India is also proud to have brought the world together under the banner of the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, he added.
Concluding his address, Prime Minister Modi said that what can be a better manifesto for a global citizen other than us keeping working together for a kind, just and inclusive planet.