Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said physically challenged people have a “divine ability” and urged people to change the way to address them. He also said the government’s “Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme” has received a place in the Guinness World Records as the largest such scheme.
The action plan of ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ will be launched on January 16, Modi said, as he greeted the nation on Christmas and New Year.
Addressing the public in his last monthly radio address “Mann Ki Baat” for 2015, Modi said: “Start-up India, Stand-up India has brought new opportunity for the youth of our country. Be it manufacturing, service sector or agriculture, this new initiative will bring in new ideas, new ways, and new innovations.”
“The action plan of ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ will be launched on January 16. A blueprint will be presented on that day,” he said while extending his “greetings for Christmas and New Year to every citizen of India”.
Modi urged the public to change the way physically challenged people are addressed.
“We often address the physically challenged people as handicapped, disabled and specially-abled. But sometimes, when we get introduced to them, we get to know that they are endowed with ‘extra power’ which can’t be seen with bare eyes,” he said.
“Then this idea came to my mind: why don’t we use the term ‘Divyang’ (divine body) instead of ‘Viklang’ for the physically challenged people?”
Modi said they are endowed with an ability which is divine. “Normal people like us are not gifted with such powers.”
On the government’s “Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme”, he said it has received a place in the record book as the largest direct benefit transfer scheme.
“It gives me immense pleasure to announce that the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme has recently found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and it has been implemented successfully.”
As of now, already Rs.40,000 crore has been transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries through different schemes, he said.
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“I believe about 35-40 schemes are being integrated with the direct benefit transfer scheme.”
Observing that there has been little discussion over fundamental duties in the country, Modi invited people’s views on it by the Republic Day.
“There is a lot of discussion on fundamental rights and there should be. But there is very little discussion on fundamental duties. Our Constitution gives importance to duties as well.”
He called on schools and colleges to hold essay-writing and poetry competitions on the topic “duties” before January 26.
Modi asked people to express their views on duties on the ‘mygov.in’ portal, so that he could learn what they think.
He also said that before Republic Day, people should take on the task of cleaning up the statues of various personalities located in various cities, towns and villages.
He also sought ideas from the youth about the ‘National Youth Festival’ that will commence on January 12, marking the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
In his bid to reach out to the people, Modi invited people to connect with him by downloading the ‘Narendra Modi App’.
On cleanliness, he stressed the need to pay attention to tourist spots.
“We must ensure cleanliness at tourist places,” Modi said citing a letter by Ganesh V. Sawaleshwarkar from Pune.
He said Ganesh raised a vital point on the importance of cleanliness at tourist places and pilgrimage sites.
Modi welcomed Ganesh’s suggestion, saying clean tourist spots will contribute to building a better image of India in the world. He said many foreigners come to visit the country during the festival season.
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