In his last Mann ki Baat of the year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised hope for a new dawn in 2016 which is full of opportunities for the youth. Speaking in his 15th episode of the monthly radio programme, Modi said the Government is trying to boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots and job creation and for that an action plan on ‘Start-up India’ will be unveiled on January 16. This programme also aims at promoting bank financing for start-up ventures and offer incentives to entrepreneurship.
Modi had made an announcement about the ‘Start-up-India’ campaign in his last Independence Day address and said the programme will be designed to suit Indian conditions. He added focus would be on ensuring benefits for the youth from the lowest strata of the society.
“My dear young friends, in my August 15 address from the Red Fort, I had made preliminary mention about Start-up India, Stand-up India. After that, there was a talk in all the departments of the Government whether India can become a ‘Start-up Capital’. Can the youth in the States have the opportunities in the form of start-ups, with innovations, be it manufacturing, service sector or agricultureIJ In everything, there should be freshness, new ways, new thinking. The world cannot move ahead without innovation,” Modi said.
He added the ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ campaign has brought new opportunities for the youth. “On January 16, the Government of India will unveil the full action plan for Start-up India, Stand-up India... A structure will be presented before you. This programme will be connected to the country’s IITs, IIMs, central universities and NITs. Wherever there are youth, they will be linked through ‘live
connectivity’,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said the Government will design the programme according to the needs of the country. Giving an idea, he said if some youth develops something through innovation to make a poor labourer’s life comfortable, he would ask banks to help such people.
The PM also announced that the ‘National Youth Festival’ with the theme ‘Indian youth on development skill and harmony’ will be held in Raipur from January 12 to 16, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
The PM said it was wrong to assume that the assets of knowledge are confined to some cities only and added that youth with capabilities are spread all over the country. “They want opportunities. This ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ should not be limited to only some cities but spread to every nook and corner of the country. In this context, I urge the States also to push this campaign. On January 16, I will be with you to give a detailed overview of the campaign,” he said while welcoming suggestions from people.
Modi also talked about the initiatives being taken by the Government for the disabled people in terms of accessibility etc and coined a new term for them — ‘Divyang’ (people with divine powers) instead of ‘viklang’ (handicapped). He said that most of the times it has been seen that differently-abled persons have extra ordinary capabilities.
Referring to the direct benefit scheme for lPG subsidy, Modi said 15 crore people are benefitting from it and that the scheme ‘Pehal’ has made it to the Guiness Book of World Records. The Prime Minister also noted that Parliament recently had a good debate on the Constitution to mark the birth anniversary of its architect BR Ambedkar. “During this, the rights of the citizens were elaborately highlighted,” the PM said, adding the duties of the citizens also need to be talked about.