NEW DELHI, April 24 - The coronavirus pandemic has taught the country �to be self-reliant and self-sufficient� and not look for solutions abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told grassroots leaders on Friday as he stressed that every village, district and State should be able to provide for its basic needs.
Applauding people for their grit in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, Modi said the collective power of the villages is helping the country move forward and complimented the rural India for its simple and motivating mantra of Do Gaz Ki Doori to popularise social distancing.
The slogan given by the rural India showed the wisdom of the people, he said.
The Prime Minister said skills and knowledge of people are put to test during the time of a crisis, but India�s villages have displayed the best of their efforts to fight the pandemic.
Notwithstanding the limited resources at its disposal, India has taken the challenge proactively and showed its resolve to move forward with new energy and new ways, he said.
The Prime Minister was interacting with gram panchayat heads and members to mark Panchayati Raj Divas on Friday. The programme was scheduled to be held in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh but was held by a video bridge following the coronavirus-induced lockdown.
�This pandemic has thrown at us new challenges and problems which we have never imagined, but it also taught us a very good lesson with a strong message.
�It has taught us that we have to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. It has taught us that we should not look for solutions outside the country. This is the biggest lesson we have learnt,� he said.
Every village has to be self-sufficient enough to provide for its basic needs. Similarly, every district has to be self-sufficient at its level, every state has to be self-reliant at its level and the whole country has to be self-reliant at its level, he said. � PTI
