Calls upon youth to become an ‘anti-corruption cadre’ and act as ambassadors of digital payment schemes. Digital payments can check black money and play a key role in fighting corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, as he appealed to the youth to become an “anti-corruption cadre”.
Speaking in his monthly Mann ki Baat radio programme, he said people, especially the youth, should become ambassadors of digital payment schemes rolled out by the government.
“Lead this movement. Take it farther, as it has a very major and prominent role in the fight against corruption and black money. To me, each and every individual involved in this mission constitutes a new anti-corruption cadre in the country. In a way, you are a soldier in the cause of cleanliness and purity.”
He said people were gradually “shedding their hard currency mindset” and moving towards digital currency. The youth were leading the way as their mobile phones had become the new tool to make and receive payments.
In the past two months, 10 lakh people had been rewarded and over 50,000 traders had won prizes.
Over ₹150 crore had been disbursed as prize money to people who had promoted and carried forward the digital payment campaign, the Prime Minister said.
The digital payment schemes, he said, would complete 100 days on April 14, the 126th birth anniversary of B.R. Amdedkar.
Swachh Bharat
Referring to his favourite Swachh Bharat campaign, he said a “psychological barrier” should not come in the way of cleaning toilets.
Some senior bureaucrats had recently demonstrated cleaning of a “twin pit” toilet. “They also showed how convenient these new technique toilets are and there is absolutely no inconvenience. There should be no hesitation in emptying or cleaning these toilets and a psychological barrier should not come in the way at all.”
Mr. Modi congratulated the players who defeated Pakistan in the final of the “Blind T-20 World Cup”.
On the role of women, he said be it in the field of sports or space science, they lagged behind none.
The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme was no longer just a government programme. It had become a campaign for societal empathy and public education. “This, I believe, is a healthy sign,” he said.
More scientists needed
India needed more scientists to harness technology for the benefit of the common man, the Prime Minister said as he hailed the scientific community for the record launch of 104 satellites and the successful test-firing of a new missile.
“The attraction for science among our young generation should increase … When science is harnessed keeping in mind the needs of the common people, it becomes the most valuable contributor to general humanity.”
Referring to the successful 38th successive launch of the PSLV that placed a record 104 satellites in orbit, Mr. Modi said ISRO scientists had brought laurels to the nation. “The satellites belonged to various countries … India has created history by becoming the first country to successfully launch 104 satellites into space in one go,” he said.
On the successful test-firing of a ballistic interceptor missile, he said it could destroy an ‘enemy’ missile at an altitude of around 100 km above the earth surface. Only four or five countries in the world possessed this capability, he said.
Mr. Modi also lauded the farmers for the record production of foodgrains this year.
“Our farmer brothers and sisters have toiled hard to fill our granaries … More than 2,700 lakh tonnes of foodgrains have been produced in the country this year. This is eight per cent more than the last record set by our farmers,” he said.