Economy, Infrastructure, System, Demography and Demand are 5 pillars that can make India self-reliant, says PM Modi

Addressing the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that building a Self Reliant India was essential in a post-COVID-19 world. He highlighted that India's self-reliance would be based on 5 pillars - Economy, Infrastructure, System, Demography and Demand.

Emphasizing on self-reliance, the Prime Minister said India's global competitiveness depends on self-reliance. He said the reforms over the past 6 years have to be taken forward to build a self-reliant India. Adding to this, he said, the corona outbreak had shown us the importance of local markets and local supply chains and thus, it should be supported. There is a need to adopt the mantra of "local" and work towards its progress.

Highlighting how India has converted the disaster into an opportunity, PM Modi said that when the pandemic erupted, PPE kits and N-95 were hardly made in India but the now around 2 lakh PPE kits and N-95 masks are being made in India daily. He said the meaning of self-reliance has changed.

At the same time, he highlighted the gravity of the pandemic which has infected more than 42 lakh people across the world and has led to the death of over 3 lakh people globally and the whole world is engaged in a fight for life against the virus. He said that while the crisis is unlike anything seen before, humanity must not lose faith and determination. The Prime Minister added that the 21st century is said to be the Indian century. He said that India bears a responsibility. Recalling the Shastras, he highlighted the importance of self-reliance.

Prime Minister also expressed confidence in India's capabilities and manpower. He said that India would build new supply chains, create better products and lead the global recovery.