Seeking to boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Action Plan of the 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' will be unveiled on January 16 and urged the states to help spread this campaign across the country's nook and corner.
Modi, who had made the announcement about the campaign in his last Independence Day address, said the programme will be designed to suit Indian conditions and 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, this spread to all the departments of the government.
"Can India be a 'Start-up Capital'? Can the youth in the states have the opportunities in the form of start-ups, with innovations, whether it be manufacturing, service sector or agriculture? In everything, there should be freshness, new ways, new thinking. The world cannot move ahead without innovation," he said in his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme, the last one for this year.
He said 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 of 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.
The programme is aimed at promoting bank financing for start-up ventures and offer incentives to boost entrepreneurship and job creation.
Modi, in his 20-minute address, 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 Prime Minister 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, if any.
Modi also talked about the initiatives being taken by the government for the disabled people in terms of accessibility etc. He coined a new term for them -- 'Divyang' (people with extraordinary capabilities) instead of 'viklang' (handicapped) -- saying most of the times it has been seen that such people have capabilities which even normal people do not have.
He mentioned 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 Prime Minister, whose radio address came two days after Christmas, greeted the countrymen on the festival as he hailed the country's diversity, saying because of this the nation gets to celebrate festivals one after another.
"India is full of diversity. There are hosts of festivals. Even before one festival ends, another comes... Sometimes, it looks like that India is a 'festival-driven economy'. They become the reason for economic activity for the poor people," he said.
He also greeted the country on the upcoming new year, wishing that it brings to the countrymen happiness, new hope, new enthusiasm and new resolve to touch greater heights.
He noted that festivals and New Year celebrations are the occasions for tourism and appealed to the people to keep the tourist destinations clean so that a good image is presented to the world.
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 B R Ambedkar.
During this, the rights of the citizens were elaborately highlighted, he said, adding the duties of the citizens also need to be talked about. In this connection, he suggested that there should be debates and exhibitions to highlight duties of the countrymen.
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On urea, Modi said when his government assumed office,
states would write to the Centre for it but now they do not do so.
The government, he said, had also stopped theft in fertilisers and launched an initiative of neem coated urea, which was only on paper till now.
"... One important thing we have done is we have put an end to corruption and blackmarketing linked to urea."
"These people who keep shouting and are worried against Modi. This is the reason for their worry and anger against me - that I have put an end to black marketing and corruption..."
"Modi pricks their eyes because for five years they ate things for free (mufat ki malai khayi hui hai) and that has been closed now, this is the reason."
Modi reminded farmers of his promise before the (Lok Sabha) elections that till he was here, no one would be able to lay their hands on Delhi's treasury.
"Today we have been able to stop malpractices in fertilisers and have brought in neem coated urea," he said.
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Speaking on the importance of soil health, Modi said, "I
request the youth of this country, especially Bangalore youths, to focus on innovations."
Stating that there was growing importance of science and technology today, Modi said by using a mobile, a patient can check his basic health parameters like BP level.
"Lots of things have happened. Our youths who are involved in innovations... Can't they make a small instrument using which a farmer can measure health of his soil, what is wrong with the soil and what is fine..."
He also called upon the rural youth to establish private soil testing laboratories at the taluka level.
"If you are ready, this government is ready to frame a programme for this... We are ready to give money from Mudra Yojana for this."
Modi said this would bring in change as the youth would get employment and the country would progress technically and farmers would be able to know about their soil health.
