VARANASI, Dec 25:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today ruled out privatisation of Railways and said that people must not be wary of foreign and private capital being utilised for improving infrastructure of the national transporter which, in turn, will help boost the country’s economy.
On a visit to his constituency here, Modi recalled his childhood days when he had sold tea near a railway station, saying, “I have an association with Railways that is older than what most of Railway employees can claim to have.
“There is a misunderstanding that Railways is being privatised. However, I want to make it clear that we are not privatising Railways. We cannot go in this direction. You don’t have to worry. It is neither our wish nor thinking,” he said, asking the unions not to pay heed to “rumours” in this regard.
The Prime Minister made it clear that he planned to utilise the enormous capital available with business establishments within the country as well as abroad for improving the infrastructure.
“We need to understand and appreciate the potential of the Railways’ huge infrastructure which, if utilised properly, can transform the country’s economy,” he said.
He was speaking at the Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), on the outskirts of the city, where he inaugurated a project for expansion of the workshop and also dedicated to the nation a 4500 horse-power air-conditioned passenger train engine.
“We can take the example of a village where there is a railway station through which very few trains pass. Now the existence of the station would naturally result in good electricity supply.
“If we construct a few rooms in the vicinity, we can use these for setting up skill development centres which can work wonders for the unemployed youths in the village and nearby areas,” Modi said.
Modi said Railways can be made an attractive career option for many talented young people.
“For that we would need to bring in technological upgradation and better human resource management. It is for this purpose that we have decided to set up four Railway universities across the country,” he said.
“At these universities, young men who have an interest in Railways and its operations can get best-possible training before they get a job,” Modi added.
The Prime Minister, who also inaugurated a project for expansion of the DLW workshop, said, “This project should be seen as an important part of my Government’s Make in India campaign.
“I feel proud to have dedicated to the nation the modern rail engine which, I am told, has 96 per cent of its components indigenously built.
“I have got an assurance from officials here that efforts will be made so that even the remaining four per cent are developed here.
“We have come a long way since the days when we had to import foodgrains from other countries.”
He said that the country has come a long way and the dream of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, of self-sufficiency in food, has been realised.
“We must now dream of fulfilling all our needs on our own strength and leave behind the current times wherein we are importing all sorts of things from defence equipment to teargas shells,” Modi added.
The Prime Minister, however, allayed fears over introducing private and foreign investment for improving railway infrastructure and said, “why must we increase the burden on common man’s pocket for improving services, upgrading technology and expanding infrastructure.
“Why not utilise the vast funds that is available with business groups be it here or outside the country”.
“Please have no fear. If a foreign company contributes in improving the condition of our railway stations and in the bargain erects a skyscraper in the vicinity, the country will be the ultimate gainer.
“We need to look at novel ways to improve Railways. That is why I have decided to use the funds at my disposal under the MPLAD scheme for the laying down more benches at the stations in Varanasi,” Modi added.
Making a strong pitch for producing good teachers in large numbers, Modi launched a mission in this regard amid his assertion that the whole world is looking at India with great expectations “but we are not ready”.
He advocated introduction of a five-year training course after schooling for those aspiring to pursue a career in teaching and said the country should aim to export top-class teachers across the world.
On a visit to his constituency, Modi said an environment needs to be created for producing teachers who are rooted in the country’s culture and tradition and can be exported in lakhs as there is a large demand globally.
“The 21st century is the century of knowledge and India has the responsibility to make its contribution. It is the demand of time,” he said while addressing a function at Banaras Hindu University here as part of ‘Good Governance Day’ celebrations.
“My experience of six months as Prime Minister says that the whole world is looking at India with expectations. But we are not ready. The world is ready but we are not ready,” he said.
Launching a mission in the name of BHU founder and Bharat Ratna awardee Madan Mohan Malaviya for teachers’ training, Modi said an environment needs to be created where children aspire to become teachers after 10th or 12th and can be trained in this area.
“There is a dearth of good teachers. Even if you ask rich people who have crores of rupees, what they want, they will say they need good teachers. Even a driver says he needs good teachers,” he said.
Observing that “Good education does not fall in the realm of infrastructure,” he said, “Can’t there be a scenario where children decide early to become teachers? We should create an environment where children can decide to become teachers after 10th or 12th.
For creating that environment, he said there can be teachers training course after 10th or 12th where an aspirant knows what he is going to become. The training can include child psychology, tradition, counseling of children. It can all happen through training.
Modi said the whole world has the requirement of good teachers and if India can produce good educators, “we can export teachers in lakhs.”
“There is a great demand. We need to produce teachers,” he said while announcing the launch of the mission in the name of Madan Mohan Malaviya.
The Prime Minister noted that there is a big requirement for science, technology, innovation and invention where India can play a crucial role.
He said teaching is chosen as a profession largely by those who have not been able to get into other fields and this perception needs to be changed.
About the education system in the country, he said it is “not designed to create robots…. We produce culture of education rooted in tradition… We have to see how to enrich it.”
Modi, who also launched Varanasi Mahotsava in this culturally-rich city, talked about the rich heritage of handicrafts and suggested that it could be given a fillip by involving technology.
It will help improve both quality and quantity, he said and suggested provision of online sales.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the tourism potential of Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, and suggested that schools here should have cultural programmes to attract tourists.
“Each school in Banaras should have mastery on one cultural subject, one may adopt Tulsidas, some other may adopt Kabir and so on… The school can then have one-hour programme each evening on them so that tourists can visit them. When it becomes popular, they can have tickets, earning money for the schools,” he said.
While talking about Varanasi’s cultural tradition, he referred to Yoga and the recent decision of the UN to declare June 21 as International Yoga Day.
He noted that he had made this suggestion while addressing the UN General Assembly in September this year for the first time and the resolution was adopted within 100 days.
“Usually, adoption of such resolutions takes a year or a year-and-a-half… But the Yoga resolution was adopted quickly. I feel proud that 177 countries became co-sponsors of the resolution, which is a world record,” he said.
Modi also referred to his cleanliness drive and said it had economic benefits for the poor. “On an average, a poor person spends Rs 7000 annually for treating ailments caused by bad hygiene. He can save this money when there is cleanliness all around.”
On ‘Good Governance Day’, Modi said efforts are being made for “re-engineering” of Government processes as part of the promise to provide an “open and accountable administration”.
He said his Government has worked over the last seven months with the mantra of ‘Citizen-First’ and it is committed to providing a transparent and accountable administration which works for the welfare of the common citizens.
“An open and accountable administration is what we had promised to deliver and we will do so…. I assure you, my countrymen that we will not let you down,” Modi said in a message on ‘Good Governance Day’ being celebrated on the 90th birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“Today is the birthday of our beloved leader, our former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. On this occasion, we reiterate our commitment towards providing transparent, effective and accountable governance to the people of this country. Let us embark on this mission for good governance together,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Government is working on a simpler internal work process manual, which would be delivered through an e-learning module.
“Government process re-engineering is yet another measure that we are pushing for. Ministries and Departments of the Government of India have been instructed to look into their work spheres, their internal processes and work on what and how to simplify and rationalise them,” he said.
“Good Governance is the key to a nation’s progress. Our Government is committed to providing a transparent and accountable administration which works for the betterment and welfare of the common citizen,” he said.
Describing ‘Citizen-First’ as the Government’s “mantra, our motto and our guiding principle”, Modi said, “It has been my dream to bring Government closer to our citizens, so that they become active participants in the governance process.”
During the last seven months, the Government has been consistently working towards this goal, he said.
Referring to the initiatives like starting web portals mygov.In and interact with PM to reach to the people directly, Modi said the “unprecedented response” which these have evoked, “places a large responsibility upon us, and I assure you, my countrymen that we will not let you down”.
“The effort to usher in an era of Good Governance has just begun, and begun on a very promising note. An open and accountable administration is what we had promised to deliver and we will do so,” the Prime Minister said in his message.
He said his Government considers redress of public grievances as a very important component of a responsive administration. “I have instructed all the Ministries to ensure that redress of public grievances receives the highest priority,” he added.
An important step for Good Governance, Modi said, is simplification of procedures and processes in the Government so as to make the entire system transparent and faster.
In this direction, he listed the steps taken by the government which include the push towards self-certification in place of affidavits and attestations and doing away with cumbersome and out-dated legislations.
“Already Appropriation Acts have been identified for repeal and more Acts are being reviewed,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he strongly believes that technology can and must bridge the divide between the Government and the citizens as technology is an empowering tool for the citizen and an accountability medium for the government.
“My Government fully recognises the huge potential of this tool,” he said, adding Digital India aims to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
Proposed to be implemented in phases, Digital India is transformational in nature and would ensure that Government services are available to citizens electronically, he said, adding it would also bring in greater accountability through mandated delivery of government’s services electronically. (PTI)
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