New Delhi
Remembering the dark phase and inhuman exploitation under colonial rule that led to utter poverty in India, among the oldest civilisations and once known as a source of knowledge and wisdom, President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday emphasised on first recalling the brave souls who made great sacrifices to free the motherland from the shackles of foreign rule.
“Some were well known, while some remained little known till recently. We are celebrating this year the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, who stands as a representative of the freedom fighters whose role in the national history is now being recognised in true proportions,” the President pointed out in her address to the nation on the eve of Republic Day.
In the early decades of the twentieth century, their struggles consolidated in an organized nationwide independence movement, she said, adding it was the nation’s good fortune to have the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Babasaheb Ambedkar, who helped it rediscover its democratic ethos.
“Republic Day is indeed a matter of collective joy and pride for all citizens. Seventy-five years, someone might say, is only the blink of an eye in the life of a nation. No, I will say, not these past 75 years. This has been the time when the long-dormant soul of India has awakened again, taking strides to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations,” she asserted.
Praising the Government, she said it has redefined the notion of welfare, making basic necessities such as housing and access to drinking water a matter of entitlement.
“Every effort is being made to extend a helping hand to the marginalized communities, particularly of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. For example, there have been pre-matric and post-matric scholarships, national fellowships, overseas scholarships, hostels and coaching facilities for the youth from the SC communities. The Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana is making progress in reducing poverty among the SC communities by adding employment and income generation opportunities.
“There have been dedicated schemes for aiming for the socio-economic development of ST communities, including Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan and Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN). A Development and Welfare Board has been constituted for the De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities,” she outlined.
She spoke of Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act having been replaced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam and said reforms of such magnitude require an audacity of vision.
She also backed the Modi Government’s ‘One Nation One Election’ plan even as she highlighted India’s rapid strides in different sectors.
FOR HIS PART
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with NCC cadets, NSS volunteers, tribal guests and tableaux artists who would be a part of the upcoming Republic Day parade. During the interaction at his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg on Friday, many participants expressed their joy of meeting the Prime Minister in person, to which he replied that “this demonstrates the strength of Indian Democracy”.
Interacting with a participant from Arunachal Pradesh, Modi highlighted that the unique feature of the State was it is where the first rays of the sun reach India. He mentioned that in Arunachal Pradesh, people greet each other with “Jai Hind” instead of “Ram Ram” or “Namaste.” The Prime Minister encouraged everyone to experience the diversity, art, natural beauty, and love of the people in Arunachal Pradesh. He urged people to visit the entire region of Ashtalakshmi, including Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya, mentioning that there is so much to see that even two or three months may not be enough.
The PM asked the participants if there was any work done by the unit that has been widely recognized in their area while working with the NSS team. Sharing his experience, a participant from Jharkhand said that one notable effort involved helping the Mahiri community in Dumka, known for crafting bamboo items. He added that the community faced challenges as their products were only sold seasonally. He said that the unit identified such artisans and connected them with factories that manufacture incense sticks (agarbatti).
