Time to be more vigilant now: Modi’s word of caution on Mann Ki Baat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio talk on Sunday (May 31) called for more vigilance against COVID-19 from citizens, especially when the country, locked down for more than two months, is slowly opening up.

“Last time when I spoke to you, passenger trains, air services, buses were not operational, but this time curbs have been lifted. Shramik special trains and other passenger trains have resumed. With due precautions, passenger flights have taken off. A major chunk of the economy is active again. But, we need to be more vigilant now. Be it maintaining a distance of six feet, wearing masks, staying at home as far as possible, we must follow all these precautions without the slightest laxity,” the prime minister said.

Related news: Lockdown 5: Hotels, malls, religious places can open from June 8

Modi’s advice comes on the last day of the Lockdown 4.0, and ahead of Unlock 1, which will see the further easing of curbs including the opening of religious places, eateries, and public travel.

Calling the fight against the pandemic a “people-driven” movement, Modi said the country when compared to other nations, has fared well in arresting the spread of the virus. “Our challenges are different, but we haven’t let corona to spread as fast as it has spread in other countries,” he said.

He said it has been only possible due to the ‘Seva Shakti’ or power of service of the people

“We Indians proved that the ideas of service and sacrifice are not mere ideals, but are a way of life in India,” the prime minister said, giving a shout out to people, who have gone out of the way to do their bit in alleviating the pains of their countrymen.

He cited the example of C Mohan, a barber in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district, who has spent ₹5 lakh saved for the education of his daughter on the welfare of the poor. He also mentioned about Gautam Das, a vendor in Agartala who is feeding dal and rice to the poor as well as Raju, a differently-abled man in Punjab who has distributed 3,000 marks to around 100 families.

The prime minister also appreciated the efforts of the common man in innovating during the crisis. Nasik’s Rajendra Yadav, a farmer, for instance, has made a hand sanitising machine using his tractor.

Modi, however, acknowledged even though the pandemic doesn’t see any class, the poor have been hit the worst.

The central government on Saturday (May 30) extended the nationwide lockdown till June 30 in containment zones, while announcing the easing of curbs in areas outside containment zones in a phased manner.

Related news: India records largest single-day spike of 8,380 COVID-19 cases

While places of worship, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls will be operational from June 8, schools, colleges, and other educational institutes will open after consultations with states and Union territories.

International air travel, metro rail, theatres, gyms, and bars, however, will remain closed.

Modi’s Mann Ki Baat talk comes on a day when the country has reported its highest single-day spike in cases – 8,380 cases – taking the total number of cases to 1.82 lakh.