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  India   All India  15 Aug 2017  Build a ‘humane’ new India by 2022: President on Independence Day eve

Build a ‘humane’ new India by 2022: President on Independence Day eve

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Aug 15, 2017, 1:40 am IST
Updated : Aug 15, 2017, 1:40 am IST

Kovind said this spirit of empathy and of social service and volunteerism was very much alive in India.

President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the Nation on the eve of 71st Independence Day, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
 President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the Nation on the eve of 71st Independence Day, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: In his maiden address to the nation, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday called for a “partnership between citizens and the government” to create a New India by 2022 that is a “compassionate society” and includes the “humanist component integral to the nation’s DNA”.

Addressing the nation on the eve of its 71st Independence Day, Mr Kovind remembered the role of leaders of the freedom struggle, including India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and asked the people to draw inspiration from freedom fighters. The President said there was a need to invoke the same spirit today for nation-building.

He said the generation that had brought us freedom was diverse, which included men and women from all parts of the country and a variety of “political and social thought”.

“The stress on the moral basis of policy and action, belief in unity and discipline, faith in a synthesis of heritage and science, and promotion of the rule of law and of education — all of it is located in a partnership between citizens and the government,” Mr Kovind said.

The new President said that is how India has been built — by a partnership between citizens and the government, between individuals and society, between a family and the wider community.

“Today, in big cities, we may not even know our neighbours. Whether in cities or villages, it is important to renew that sense of caring and sharing. This will make us a gentler and happier society and help us understand each other with greater empathy,” he said. Mr Kovind said this spirit of empathy and of social service and volunteerism was very much alive in India.

“There are so many people and organisations that work quietly and diligently for the poor and the disadvantaged. We should also work with unity and purpose to ensure that the benefits of government policies reach all sections of society,” he said.

He said partnership between citizens with government remains crucial to the success of several flagship announcements of the Narendra Modi government like voluntarily giving up LPG subsidy, demonetisation, the introduction of GST, besides schemes like “Beti bacaho, beti padhao”, Swachchh Bharat, among others.

“I am happy that the transition to the GST system has been smooth. It should be a matter of pride for all of us that the taxes we pay are used for nation-building — to help the poor and marginalised, to build rural and urban infrastructure, and to strengthen our border defences,” he said.

The President said in 2022, the country will complete 75 years of Independence and “it is our national resolve to attain certain desired milestones for a New India by then”.

Tags: independence day, ram nath kovind, modi government, demonetisation
Location: India, Delhi, Delhi