Prime minister Narendra Modi has hailed India’s fight against Covid-19 as people-driven, and also urged people to use the occasion as an opportunity to look at our lives with a fresh perspective.

“India’s fight against Corona is people-driven, in the truest sense of the term. In India it is the people who are fighting the Corona; it is you who are putting up a fight. Along with the people, the government and the administration are fighting as well,” Modi said in his monthly radio address, Mann ki Baat, on Sunday.

“A vast country such as India, with its proactive endeavour on the path of development, is fighting a decisive battle against poverty. This is the only medium it possesses to fight the Corona and triumph over it. And we are fortunate that today the whole country; each and every citizen of the country; every person is a soldier in this battle; nay, leading the battle,” he said, in his Hindi address.

“Cast a glance anywhere, you’ll notice that India’s fight is people driven…at a time when the whole world is trying to extricate itself from the clutches of this pandemic. In future when it will be dwelt upon in hindsight; when ways and means will be reflected upon, I do believe that India’s people-driven fight will also be touched upon,” said the PM.

Modi noted that today at each and every place, in neighbourhood lanes, people have come forward to help each other. From food for the underprivileged, arranging rations, ensuring lockdown, arrangements in hospitals to manufacturing medical equipment indigenously… “the entire country is marching ahead together in the same direction, towards a single common objective. Collective applause, thaalis, lamps, candles are reflective of a rising sentiment that has inspired countrymen to be altruistic, motivating each and every one on the way”.

Comparing the scenes everywhere with a ‘Mahayagya’, Modi said every individual is eager to contribute in it. “A case in point are our farmer brothers and sisters – on the one hand, they are toiling day and night amidst the scourge of the pandemic; on the other, displaying due concern to ensure that none in the country goes to bed hungry. Everyone is putting up a fight, as per one’s capacity and ability. There are some who are waiving off rent; there are others depositing entire amounts received through prizes and pension in PM CARES. Some are donating vegetables grown on farms; others are feeding a multitude of the under privileged. Some are making masks; at places, our construction workers are whitewashing and painting schools meant for their quarantine stay.”

He said, “with utmost humility and deepest respect, I bow to this sentiment displayed by a 130 crore countrymen.”

To facilitate people’s selfless endeavour towards the country, as per people’s inclination and time, the government has come up with a digital platform called covidwarriors.gov.in. Through the medium of this platform, the government has linked volunteers of social organizations, representatives of civil society and local administration with each other, the PM said. “It did not take long for 1.25 crore people to be part of this portal. They comprise doctors, nurses, ASHA-ANM workers, our friends from NCC and NSS, professionals from myriad fields…all of them have made the platform their own. These people are of immense help at the local level in preparing Crisis Management Plans and implementing them,” he said, inviting people to join covidwarriors.gov.in and be a Covid warrior in the service of the country.

Modi also urged people to introspect at this critical juncture. “We feel that during the fight against this pandemic, we have been accorded an opportunity to look at our lives, our society and the happenings around us, with a fresh perspective. There is a far-reaching change in the viewpoint of the society. Today we realise the importance of each person who is connected with our lives. Whether they are household helps, common workers who fulfill our various needs or personnel working in shops nearby – we are realising what a major role they play in our lives. Similarly, personnel delivering essential services, labourers working in marketplaces, the auto rickshaw drivers in our neighbourhood – today we realise how difficult our lives can be without them.”

He also reiterated the slogan he coined earlier this week, ‘Do Gaz Doori, Bahut Hai Zaroori!’ (“Maintain a distance of two yards and keep yourself healthy!”).