Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took to the employment and business-oriented platform Linkedin to share his thoughts on Covid-19 saying the contagion has “changed the contours of professional life and these days home is the new office and internet is the new meeting room”.
“For the time being, office breaks with colleagues are history,” he said and went out to maintain that he too has adapted these changes. “Most meetings, be it with ministerial colleagues, officials and world leaders, are now via video conferencing," Modi wrote in an article, ‘Life in the era of Covid-19’, on the networking site.
“It has been a topsy-turvy start to the third decade of this century. COVID-19 has brought with it many disruptions,” said the PM adding India’s energetic and innovative youth can show the way in ensuring a healthier and prosperous future.
But at the same time, he cautioned “Covid-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood”.
Modi told the young professionals that digitalization has helped Government to reach out and deliver to common people in the lockdown days of Covid-19 pandemic, overcoming the bureaucratic hurdles. In order to get ground level feedback from various stakeholders, there have been videoconference meetings with several sections of society.
“There were extensive interactions with NGOs, civil society groups and community organisations. There was an interaction with Radio Jockeys too. Besides that, I have been making numerous phone calls daily, taking feedback from different sections of society. One is seeing the ways through which people are continuing their work in these times. There are a few creative videos by our film stars conveying a relevant message of staying home. Our singers did an online concert. Chess players played chess digitally and through that contributed to the fight against COVID-19. Quite innovative! The work place is getting Digital First. And, why not?” said Modi in a lengthy article.
He reiterated that the most transformational impact of Technology often happens in the lives of the poor. It is technology that demolishes bureaucratic hierarchies, eliminates middlemen and accelerates welfare measures, he said.
“Let me give you an example. When we got the opportunity to serve in 2014, we started connecting Indians, especially the poor with their Jan Dhan Account, Aadhar & Mobile number. This seemingly simple connection has not only stopped corruption and rent seeking that was going on for decades, but has also enabled the Government to transfer money at the click of a button. This click of a button has replaced multiple levels of hierarchies on the file and also weeks of delay.
“India has perhaps the largest such infrastructure in the world. This infrastructure has helped us tremendously in transferring money directly and immediately to the poor and needy, benefiting crores of families, during the COVID-19 situation,” wrote Modi, also explaining the role of Internet brought in the education sector.
“COVID-19 has made us realise the need to work on health solutions at low cost and large scale. We can become a guiding light for global efforts to ensure the health and well being of humanity, he said. The Prime Minister also wrote on the need of new investment models for farmers.
“COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood. We are in this together. Unlike previous moments in history, when countries or societies faced off against each other, today we are together facing a common challenge. The future will be about togetherness and resilience,” he said urging the young professionals to concentrate on fitness, Yoga and use of traditional medicine.
“Lastly, and importantly, please download Aarogya Setu Mobile App. This is a futuristic App that leverages technology to help contain the possible spread of COVID-19. More the downloads, more its effectiveness,” Modi stressed.