Success of ‘vocal for local’, ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ dependent on country’s youth: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said success of ‘vocal for local’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ is dependent on the country’s youth.

‘Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat’ will give strength to ‘local for vocal’ movement, Mr Modi said while interacting in an ‘At Home’ event with Tribal Guests, NCC Cadets, NSS Volunteers and Tableaux Artists who would be a part of the upcoming Republic Day parade.

“When one region will feel pride for the product of the other region and will promote that, only then the local product will have national and global reach,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Modi told his young guests that India is an embodiment of collective strength of aspiration of its countrymen.

He said India means - many states-one nation, many communities - one emotion, many paths-one goal, many customs-one value, many languages-one expression and many colours-one tri colour. And this common destination is ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat’.

The Prime Minister appealed to the young guests from all parts of the country to work for raising awareness of each other’s customs, cuisine, languages and art.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister said the participation of the tribal guests, the artists, NSS and NCC cadets in the Republic Day Parade fills every citizen with energy. Their display of the country’s rich diversity fills everyone with pride.

Mr Modi said Republic Day Parade is a tribute to India’s great socio-cultural heritage and to the Constitution that gives life to the world’s biggest democracy.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for right skill set in the youth of the country. To underline this importance of skill, he informed, Skill Ministry came into being in 2014 and 5.5 crore young people have been imparted different skills and helped with self-employment and employment.

This skill focus is evident in the new National Education Policy where application of knowledge is stressed upon. Flexibility in choosing subject of one’s choice is a key aspect of the policy. The policy marks the first serious effort to bring vocation education into the mainstream of education.

From class 6 onwards, student will have the option of selecting a course in line with their interests and local needs and business. Later also, at middle level, integration of academic and vocational subjects is proposed.

The Prime Minister commended NCC and NSS for their contribution to the country in the hour of need, especially during Corona time.

He asked them to take it forward in the next phase of the fight against the pandemic.

The Prime Minister asked them to come forward to help in the COVID-19 vaccination drive and use their reach in all the corners of the country and every part of the society to spread awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine.

“By making the vaccine, our scientists have fulfilled their duty, now it is our turn. We have to defeat every attempt to spread falsehood and rumour,” the Prime Minister said. (UNI)