‘Spitting bad habit, poses serious challenge’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the people in the holy month of Ramadan, which began yesterday, should pray more than ever before so that before Eid, the world is free from Coronavirus and people can celebrate Eid with enthusiasm but called upon the people to follow guidelines of administration on physical distancing during the pious month.
In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on All India Radio, Modi urged the people to follow guidelines of the local administration during Ramadan as it is very important to follow the rules of physical distance on the streets, markets, Mohallas and Colonies.
Expressing gratitude to all those community leaders who are making people aware about the two yards distancing and not moving out of the houses, the Prime Minister said the Coronavirus has changed the manner of celebrating festivals all over the world including India and it has changed the ways of their observance.
He said the people should pray more during the month of Ramadan than ever before so that before Eid the world is free from the virus and people celebrate Eid, which falls by May end after completion of the holy month, with enthusiasm and gaiety like earlier times.
“The holy month of Ramadan has begun. The last time when Ramadan was celebrated, no one had imagined that we would be facing such a huge predicament this time around. But, now that this trouble has come to plague the entire world, it gives us an opportunity to mark this month as an icon of restraint, goodwill, sensitivity and service,” Modi said.
Asserting that Corona has changed the manner of celebrating festivals all over the world including India, he said this time our Christian brethren too celebrated Easter within the confines of their homes.
“It is imperative at present to fulfill this responsibility of ours towards society and nation. Only then will we be able to prevent the spread of Corona. We will be able to defeat the pandemic,” he added.
People recently observed many festivals such as Bihu, Baisakhi, Puthandu, Vishu and Odia new year while staying indoors, he said.
Calling upon the people not to be over confident, Modi said: “Let us not harbour a feeling that if Corona has not yet reached our city, our village, our street or our office, it is not going to reach now.
“See! Never make such a mistake! The experience of the world is narrating a lot to us. And, here in our country we are always reminded again and again—`Where caution has been lowered, the accident has happened’. Remember, our ancestors have guided us very well in dealing with such situations that fire, debt and illness, if taken lightly, grow again at the first opportunity, assuming dangerous proportions.
Modi said in over-enthusiasm, there should be no negligence at the local level or elsewhere.
“We will always have to remain cautious. And, I will reiterate we will have to maintain a distance of two yards and keep healthy. Do Gaz Doori, Bahut Hai Zaroori,” he said calling upon the people to maintain social distance and used face masks.
The Prime Minister hoped that there may be some good news in the fight against the Coronavirus during his next ‘Mann ki Baat’ episode, usually the last Sunday of every month.
Modi said another awareness that has come about in society is that people now understand the damage that can be cause by spitting in public places.
“It had been a part of the bad habits that people would spit anywhere and it presents a serious challenge both the cleanliness and health,” he said and urged the people to eradicate the spitting habit. He also said it will not only boost the hygiene levels, but also help in preventing the spread of Corona infection.
Modi said India’s “people-driven” battle against COVID-19 is the only way for the country to overcome the pandemic, and asked people to shun any complacency that they will not be infected by the Coronavirus because it has so far not affected the places where they live or work.
He said the country is in the middle of a ‘yudh’ (war) and asserted that people have to continue being careful and take precautions.
His note of caution comes against the backdrop of the Union Government and States relaxing lockdown norms to revive economic activities.
Modi hailed States, emergency workers and civil society groups for their contribution in combating the pandemic, and said that the resolve shown by the people of the country has led to the beginning of a transformation with businesses, offices, educational institutions, medical sector rapidly undergoing new changes.
With the country under a lockdown since March 24 midnight, he said India’s people-driven battle against the pandemic will be discussed when the world discusses the crisis later.
“India’s fight against the Coronavirus is people-driven in the truest sense of the term. Along with people, Government and administration are fighting it as well… This is the only way we can win over the virus,” he said.
Lauding the contribution of people in terms of helping the poor with food and medicines, he likened the exercise with ‘mahayagya’ in which everybody is eager to contribute.
“We are fortunate that today the whole country, each and every citizen of the country, every person is a soldier in this battle and also leading the battle,” he said.
India’s decision to export medicines needed by several countries, including developed nations, has earned it praise from world leaders, Modi said, noting that it did so as part of its ethos.
The health crisis, Modi said, has made the world pay special attention to Indian heritage of yoga and ayurveda as people look to them to boost their immunity.
Modi expressed confidence that the world will acknowledge the significance of India’s traditional medicine system in a similar way it adopted yoga, and lamented that hundreds of years of foreign rule have resulted in Indians failing to realise their own strengths.
Everyone in this battle is putting up a fight as per one’s capacity and ability, and altruism has gained in strength in recent years, Modi said, asserting that he bowed to this sentiment.
He asked people to join ‘covidwarriors.Gov.In’, a digital platform that links volunteers, health professionals, representatives of civil society and local administration with each other to take care of relief works.
Over 1.25 crore people are already part of this portal, he said.
Airlines have clocked a distance of over three lakh km under “Lifeline Udan” project to deliver over five hundred tons of medical supplies to different parts of the country, while the railways has been running more than 100 parcel trains on close to 60 routes, Modi added.
The fight against the epidemic has also given people a fresh perspective to look at the world around them with the importance of sanitary workers and neighbourhood shopkeepers being realised like never before, he said.
People used to think negatively of police but a humane and sensitive aspect of policing has manifested itself now as uniformed personnel has been helping those in need, he added.
After yoga, the world will accept India’s age-old ayurveda principles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday and added that the youth will have to take the lead in explaining it to countries scientifically.
The Prime Minister said it is a “misfortune” that people of the country always refuse to acknowledge own strengths and glorious traditions.
“But when another country says the very same thing on the basis of evidence-based research, when they teach us our own formula, we instantly accept it,” he lamented.
Possibly, this is largely due to hundreds of years of “bondage” (foreign rule). “Due to this, often we fail to realise our own strengths,” he said.
He said just as the world has happily accepted yoga, it will surely accept India’s age-old ayurvedic principles.
“Of course, the youth will have to resolve to do this and explain these principles to the world in a scientific language so that they understand it,” he said.
People across the world are paying special attention to the importance of ayurveda and yoga amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, pointing out that the social media is full of write-ups related to its benefits in boosting immunity.
He reminded people to follow the Coronavirus-related protocol issued by the Ayush Ministry to increase immunity.
“Warm water, decoction and other guidelines issued by the Ayush Ministry would be very helpful for you if you include it in your daily routine,” he suggested.
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