PM SAYS INDIA FULFILLING GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY IN COVID-19 TIMES

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday said that India has been fulfilling its global responsibility amid the pandemic by sending Covid-19 vaccines to other countries in the world.

Addressing the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Davos Dialogue on via video conferencing, the Prime Minister said: “In these tough times, India has been undertaking its global responsibility from the beginning. When airspace was closed in many countries, India took more than one lakh citizens to other countries and delivered essential medicines to more than 150 countries,” the Prime Minister said. “India is saving the lives of people in many other countries of the world by sending Covid vaccines and developing the necessary infrastructure for vaccination,” he added.

He said that India would vaccinate 300 million people including the elderly and those with co-morbidities against Covid-19 in the next few months.

Reminding how India beat all odds in the global fight against Covid-19, PM Modi said, “Last year, in February-March, a lot of experts had said the India will be the worst-affected country, there will be tsunami of cases. They predicted 2 million deaths in the country. But India moved ahead with a proactive public participation.”

“Today, India is among countries that have succeeded in saving the maximum lives. The country, which comprises 18% of the world’s population, has saved the world from disaster by bringing the situation under control,” he emphasised.

The Prime Minister noted that there are two ‘Made in India’ vaccines against coronavirus and many more vaccines will come from India in the time to come. “In just 12 days, India has vaccinated more than 2.3 million healthcare workers. In the next some months, we will achieve our target of vaccinating 300 million elderly people and people with comorbidities,” he said. “Right now there are two ‘Made in India’ vaccines. World Economic Forum will be relieved to know that in the time to come many more vaccines will come from India,” he added.

India began a nationwide vaccination drive against the coronavirus on 16 January. An estimated 3 crore people will be vaccinated in the first phase in the largest vaccination drive in the world.

On the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, PM Modi said that India has the “capacity, capability and reliability” to strengthen the global supply chain. “India launched ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ with the resolve of increasing the capacity of our economy. India made one reform after the other to provide a high growth trajectory to the economy in this decade. These reforms were long-awaited,” he said.

Asserting the Indian government has continuously taken several majors steps to boost manufacturing in India, Prime Minister Modi noted that corporate tax was brought down to 15 per cent for new manufacturing units. “The government has continuously taken several majors steps to boost manufacturing in India. Corporate Tax brought down to 15 percent for new manufacturing units. GST rates have been reduced. Through GST and Faceless Assessment tax structure has been simplified. Labour laws have been reformed,” he said.