PM Modi calls for 'repair and prepare' as India emerges from second wave of pandemic

As India emerges from a devastating second COVID-19 wave, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the focus must be on repairing and preparing the health infrastructure as well as the economy for future challenges.

To prepare a base for a sustained higher growth rate, the government continues to unleash reforms and has also extended free food distribution schemes to aid the poor hit hard by the pandemic.

"Over the past year, we have witnessed a lot of disruption in different sectors. Much of it is still there," PM Modi said at the VivaTech Summit. "Yet, disruption does not have to mean despair. Instead, we must keep the focus on the twin foundation of repair and prepare."

This time last year, the world was still seeking a vaccine and today, two vaccines are being made in India, and more are in the development or trial stages, he said.

"We have to continue repairing health infrastructure and our economies," he said, adding, "And when I say prepare, I mean insulating our planet against the next pandemic, ensuring we focus on a sustainable lifestyle that stops ecological degradation, strengthening cooperation in furthering research as well as innovation."

Indian economy suffered its worst contraction in four decades as coronavirus-induced lockdowns stalled businesses and economic activity.

While attempts were made to control the spread of infections and healthcare infrastructure built to treat the ill, the government implemented huge reforms across sectors — from mining to space, banking, and atomic energy.

"This goes on to show that India as a nation is adaptable and agile," he said.

After the brutal second wave in April and May, COVID-19 cases has fallen more than 80 percent since the peak five weeks ago. This, as also the pick-up in the pace of vaccination has aided state governments to relax restrictions at a relatively faster pace than in 2020.

"I believe where convention fails, innovation can help. This has been seen during the COVID-19 global pandemic, which is the biggest disruption of our age. All nations have suffered losses and faced anxiety about the future," PM Modi said.

While many conventional methods were put to test, innovation that came to the rescue. "Digital technology helped us cope, connect, comfort, console," he said and went on to site the seamless distribution of free ration to 80 crore people and cooking gas to the poor using the biometric digital identity Aadhaar system.

Innovation also helped overcome inadequate testing capacity and shortage of face masks, PPE kits, ventilators and other such equipment.

"Our doctors adopted telemedicine in a big way so that some COVID-19 and other non-COVID issues could be addressed virtually," he said.

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On the government side, indigenous IT platform, Aarogya Setu, enabled effective contact tracing and COWIN digital platform is helping vaccines to millions.

"Had we not been innovating, then our fight against COVID-19 would have been much weaker," he said. "We must not abandon this innovative zeal so that we are even better prepared when the next challenge strikes."

India, he said, is home to one of the world's largest startup ecosystems and several unicorns have come up in recent years.

Stating that the country offers what innovators and investors need, the Prime Minister invited the world to invest. "I invite the world to invest in India based on the five pillars of talent, market, capital, eco-system and culture of openness."

PM Modi said India has 1.18 billion mobile phones and 775 million internet users — more than the population of several nations.

Data consumption in India is among the highest and cheapest in the world. Also, Indians are the largest users of social media. "There is a diverse and extensive market that awaits you," he said.

He said startups must explore areas as such, healthcare, eco-friendly technology including waste recycling, agriculture, and new-age tools of learning.

"History has shown that leadership in new technology drives economic strength, job, and prosperity. But our partnerships must also serve a larger purpose, in the service of humanity. This pandemic is not only a test of our resilience but also of our imagination. It is a chance to build a more inclusive, caring and sustainable future for all," he added.