New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 9th address to the nation from the rampart of the Red Fort on the occasion of 76th Independence Day on Monday called upon the countrymen to follow five resolutions to make India a developed nation in the next 25 years.

“In the coming years, we have to focus on Panchpran – First, moving forward with bigger resolves and a resolve to develop India; second, erasing all traces of servitude; third, being proud of our legacy; fourth, focusing on our strength of unity; and fifth, fulfilling the duties of citizens with honesty, which applies to the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers, as well,” he said.

“There are ups and downs in the history of every nation. We have conquered all the odds, and deprivations, and we are where we are today because of all of us Indians,” he said, adding that respect for women is an important pillar for India’s growth, and stressed the need to extend support to ‘Nari Shakti.’ “We do nothing that lowers the dignity of women,” he said.

Focusing on the fact that for the first time, an Indian-made gun was being used in the traditional Independence Day salute, he said the country was making many efforts to ensure it was self-reliant. “I especially salute the seven and eight-year-olds who turned their back on foreign toys and have embraced only Indian toys,” he said.

“A self-reliant India or Atma Nirbhar Bharat is the responsibility of every citizen, every government, and every unit of society. Self-reliant India -- this is not a government agenda or a government programme. This is a mass movement of society, which we have to take forward… I invite the private sector to ensure that made-in-India products are spread globally,” he said.

“Our aspiration society has waited for a long time. But now they are not ready to force their future generations to live in wait and hence the first dawn of this ‘Amrit Kaal’ has brought a huge golden opportunity for us to fulfil the aspirations of that aspiration society,” he said, adding that the world is looking at India proudly and with anticipation. The world has started searching for solutions to the problems on the soil of India. This change in the world, this change in the thinking of the world, is the result of our experienced journey of 75 years, he said.

“Experience tells us that we can achieve our goals once we are determined. Be it the goal of renewable energy, the intention of building new medical colleges in the country or creating a workforce of doctors, the pace has increased a lot in every field. How long will the world continue to distribute certificates to us? How long will we live on the certificates of the world? Shall we not set our own standards? Can a country of 130 crores not make an effort to exceed its standards? Under no circumstances should we try to look like others,” he asked.

The Prime Minister said that India is becoming a manufacturing hub. It is building a foundation for a Self-reliant India. Be it manufacturing of electronic goods or mobile phones, today the country is progressing at a very fast pace. Which Indian wouldn’t be proud when our Brahmos is exported to the world, he asked.

Stating that four lakh Common Service Centers of India are being developed in villages which are being managed by the youth of that village, he said: “This Digital India movement of developing semiconductors, entering 5G era, spreading the network of optical fibers is not just to establish ourselves as modern and developed, but it is possible because of three intrinsic missions.”

Talking about corruption and nepotism, he said: “We have to fight against corruption with all our might. In the last eight years, we have been successful in working for the betterment of the country by saving two lakh crore rupees which used to go into the wrong hands, using all the modern systems like Direct Benefit Transfer, Aadhaar and Mobile.” /BI/