New Delhi, June 16, 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that green shoots were visible in the economy due to efforts of the past few weeks and noted that the focus should be on both life and livelihood with a boost to health infrastructure, testing and tracing and an increase in economic activity.
The Prime Minister made the remarks on the first day of his sixth meeting with chief ministers and union territories through video conferencing on ways to deal with coronavirus crisis. Referring to Unlock 1, he said offices have opened and crowds have increased in markets.
"Now precautions are even more important. Any carelessness or laxity will weaken our fight against coronavirus and will undo all our efforts. The more we are able to contain coronavirus, the more the economy will open up. Because of the efforts made in the last few weeks, green shoots in the economy are visible," he said.
The Prime Minister said there is a rise in power consumption which was earlier falling and fertilizer sale in May this year has seen a significant increase.
"Sale of fertilizers has doubled in comparison with May last year. Sowing of Kharif has increased by 12-13 per cent compared with last year. Two-wheeler production has increased to 70 per cent to that of pre-lockdown. Digital payments in retail have reached around the pre-lockdown level. Toll collection has increased. It shows growth in economic activity. Exports have bounced back after three months like last year. It all encourages us to move ahead," he said.
He asked the chief ministers to continuously keep driving the fact that danger of the virus is not over yet and said there is a need to remain vigilant while opening up the economy.
Referring to Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign, he said several decisions have been taken to support MSMEs.
The Prime Minister said that if quick disbursal of credit to industries is ensured through bankers committees, these industries will be able to start working quickly while also ensuring the provision of employment opportunities.
Smaller factories need guidance and handholding. We have to work together on value chains so that trade and industry can get back to its pace," he said.
He noted that "Specific Economic Activity Points" in the states should work 24 hours a day and loading and unloading should be quickened to give a further boost to economic activity.
Referring to reforms announced by the government in agriculture marketing, he said new avenues to sell produce and increase in income would increase demand in the economy.
"When farmers' income will increase, demand will also increase along with the pace of the economy. In northeastern states and tribal areas, opportunities will develop in farming and horticulture. Gates of new markets are about to open for organic products, bamboo and other tribal products," the Prime Minister said.
He said states will also benefit from a cluster-based approach for local products.
"States will also get the benefit of the cluster-based strategy which has been announced for local products. For this, it is important that we identify such products at the block and district level which can be processed. These products can be also launched in the market," he said.
The Prime Minister highlighted that India is among countries with the least number deaths due to COVID-19 and noted that the country can minimise its losses if all the rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus are followed.
"The recovery rate has gone above 50 per cent in India. For us the death of even one Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where there have been least deaths due to COVID-19," he said.
"The two weeks of `Unlock 1' has given us a lesson that if follow all rules and directions, then the country will be able to minimise its losses. To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. 'Do gaz ki doori', hand-washing and use of sanitisers are of utmost importance. With markets opening and people stepping out, these precautions are even more important," he added.
He said that timely decisions have helped in containing coronavirus in the country.
"Two weeks have passed since Unlock 1. Our experience during this time could be beneficial for us in the future. Today I will get to know ground reality from you. Your suggestions will help in chalking out future strategy," he said.
The Prime Minister said that timing matters a lot in overcoming any crisis.
"Timely decisions have helped a lot in containing coronavirus in the country. When India's fight against COVID-19 will be analysed in the future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism," he said.
The Prime Minister said that in the last few weeks, thousands of Indians returned to India from abroad and hundreds of migrant workers reached their home towns.
"Almost all modes of transport have resumed operations, still COVID-19 impact has not been that huge in India as in other parts of the world," he said.
The meeting saw participation from Punjab, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Goa, Manipur, Nagaland, Ladakh, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu, Sikkim and Lakshadweep.
A PMO release said that the chief ministers thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership during such a challenging time and uniting the country to fight for the collective fight against the virus.
They provided feedback about existing health infrastructure in their states and efforts for augmentation to tackle the impact of the virus. They mentioned about the awareness campaigns being run by them, help being provided to workers who have returned home, usage of Aarogya Setu app and kickstarting of economic activities in the states.
Thanking the chief ministers for their views, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of being focused on both life and livelihood.
He said health infrastructure will need to be boosted with emphasis on testing and tracing, economic activity will also need to be increased.
The decisions need to be taken keeping in view both current needs and future requirements, he said.
Home Minister Amit Shah said that while the country has so far fought a successful battle against the pandemic, the road ahead is long and suggestions given by the Prime Minister including use of mask, maintaining `do gaz doori' should be followed by all.
Prime Minister Modi had held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday.
The COVID-19 count in India reached 3,43,091 on Tuesday with an increase of 10,667 cases and 380 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Need to boost health infrastructure, increase economic activity: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that there is a need to boost health infrastructure with emphasis on testing and tracing and also economic activitiy should be increased.
His remarks came at the sixth interaction with Chief Ministers to discuss the situation emerging post Unlock 1.0 and plan ahead for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. "On the one hand, health infrastructure will need to be boosted with emphasis on testing and tracing, economic activity will also need to be increased. The decisions need to be taken keeping in view both current needs and future requirements," the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister noted that with the efforts of the past few week, green shoots in the economy are visible, including rise in power consumption which was earlier falling, fertilizer sale in May this year seeing a significant increase, a healthy increase in Kharif sowing in comparison to last year, production of two wheelers increasing, digital payment in retail reaching pre lockdown level, increase in toll collection in May and bouncing back of exports.
The Prime Minister said there is the significant importance of agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and MSMEs in the participating States, provisions for which have been made under 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan'.
Talking about the provisions to provide timely credit to MSMEs, he said that if quick disbursal of credit to industries is ensured through Bankers Committees, these industries will be able to start working quickly while also ensuring provision of employment opportunities. "Smaller factories require guidance and hand-holding," he said.
He mentioned the importance of working together on value chains to give fillip to trade and industry. "Specific Economic Activity Points in the states should work 24 hours a day and loading and unloading should be quickened to give further boost to economic activity," he said.
The Prime Minister observed that timely decisions taken to combat the pandemic have been effective in containing its spread in the country.
"When we look back, people will remember that we have presented an example for cooperative federalism to the world. We have tried to save each and every life," the Prime Minister said.
He underlined that all modes of transport are now open, lakhs of migrant labourers have travelled back to their villages, thousands of Indians have returned from abroad, and even though India has a huge population, coronavirus has not assumed as life-threatening a form as in the rest of the world.
Modi said that health experts world over are praising the discipline shown by Indians, adding that the recovery rate in the country is now over 50 per cent. He also noted that India is amongst the nations with the least deaths due to coronavirus.
Prime Minister mentioned that a big lesson is that if we remain disciplined and follow all rules, coronavirus will cause least damage.
He emphasized on the importance of usage of mask/ face cover, without which no one should venture out. "This is not just important for the person concerned but also for his family and community," he said.
The Prime Minister also talked about following the mantra of 'do gaz doori', washing hands with soap and using sanitizer. He forewarned that any laxity in discipline will weaken our fight against the virus.
Modi mentioned the benefits set to accrue to farmers through reforms in the agriculture sector, including new avenues to sell produce, increase in income which in turn would increase demand in the economy.
"New opportunities for North-East and tribal regions in the areas of farming and horticulture are set to be created, with opening up of new markets for organic products, bamboo products and other tribal produce. The States will also benefit from a cluster based approach for local products," he said, adding that such products should be identified at each block and district level for better processing and more effective marketing.
He emphasized on the need of working together to ensure that the announcements made under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan fructify at the earliest.
According to a release by Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Chief Ministers thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership during such a challenging time and uniting the country to fight for the collective fight against the virus.
"They provided feedback about existing health infrastructure in their states and efforts for augmentation to tackle the impact of the virus. They mentioned about the awareness campaigns being run by them, help being provided to workers who have returned home, usage of Aarogya Setu app, and kickstarting of economic activities in the states," it read.
Losses due to coronavirus can be minimised if all rules are followed: PM Modi
India is among countries with least number deaths due to COVID-19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday and noted that the country can minimise its losses if all the rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus are followed.
The Prime Minister made the remarks on the first day of his sixth meeting with chief ministers and union territories through video conferencing on ways to deal with crisis created by coronavirus. "The recovery rate has gone above 50 per cent in India. For us the death of even one Indian is unsettling but it is also true that India is one of the countries where there have been least deaths due to COVID-19," he said.
"The two weeks of `Unlock 1' has given us a lesson that if follow all rules and directions, then the country will be able to minimise its losses. To even think of stepping out without a mask or face cover is not right at present. 'Do gaj ki doori', hand-washing and use of sanitisers is of utmost importance. With markets opening and people stepping out, these precautions are even more important," he added.
The Prime Minister said that green shoots are visible in the economy because of the efforts made in the last few weeks.
He said that timely decisions have helped in containing coronavirus in the country.
"Two weeks have passed since Unlock 1. Our experience during this time could be beneficial for us in the future. Today I will get to know ground reality from you. Your suggestions will help in chalking out future strategy," he said.
The Prime Minister said that timing matters a lot in overcoming any crisis.
"Timely decisions have helped a lot in containing coronavirus in the country. When India's fight against COVID-19 will be analysed in future, this time will be remembered for how we worked together and served as an example of cooperative federalism," he said.
The Prime Minister said that in the last few weeks, thousands of Indians returned to India from abroad and hundreds of migrant workers reached their home towns.
"Almost all modes of transport have resumed operations, still COVID-19 impact has not been that huge in India as in other parts of the world," he said.
Prime Minister Modi held a detailed meeting with senior ministers and officials to review India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday.
With an increase of 10,667 cases and 380 deaths in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 count in India reached 3,43,091 on Tuesday.