New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said Covid-19 pandemic is testing our resilience, public health system and economic system.
Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, he said, “When 2020 began, did anyone imagine how it would pan out?” He said that India had among the lowest death rates from the virus in the world.
The PM hailed India’s role in the global economy, saying that even as the country battled the Covid-19 pandemic, floods, cyclones and locusts, India’s resolve only grew stronger.
“We were among the first to advocate the use of masks and face coverings as a public health measure. We were also among hte earliest to create public awareness campaigns about social distancing,” he said.
He further said that 1.3 billion Indians have embarked on the mission of an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat. According to Modi, India’s strengths would act as a global force multiplier, merging the local with the global.
“Friends, 1.3 billion Indians have embarked on one missionâto make an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat for our self reliant India. Aatma Nirbhar Bharat merges the local with global. It ensures Indiaâs strengths act as a global force multiplier. Time and again, india has found that our goal is the global good,” he said.
“Despite our large local needs, we did not shy away from our global responsibilities. The responsibility of being the worldâs leading producer of generic medicines. We ensure constant supply to the world. We are also at the forefront of research on the vaccine for Covid,” he added.