Narendra Modi: ‘Make in India’ key word for defence

He said, “After ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan’, now it’s time for ‘Jai Jawan’ to make our sainiks strong enough to compete with soldiers from other countries. Imported weapons are expensive and do not carry the latest technology. Our soldiers are ready to even give up their lives for the country, but we need to provide them the latest arms and ammunition. It is time to ensure that they carried the best weapons in the world. The ‘Make in India’ concept should be taken forward to make the country independent in all sectors,” he said.

Reiterating the need to manufacture all our defence equipment in the country, Mr Modi said that the helicopters built in Tumakuru will serve various purposes for soldiers, including carrying of war equipment and medicines to those stationed in remote areas. He said that the first helicopter built at the unit might fly in 2018 and hoped that it would produce 600 helicopters in 15 years. Around 4,000 families will get their livelihood directly or indirectly from the unit. “This will also be a platform to empower the poor and downtrodden according to the vision of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he said.

Sir John Bertrand Gurdon, 82, who won the coveted prize in 2012, said this was his first unsavory experience at a science event. “I have come to the Indian Science Congress held in other cities, but I had not problems like this,” he told Deccan Chronicle. In fact, he encountered trouble again when he entered a special enclosure to meet Mr Modi along with other special invitees: another round of jostling. He is scheduled to return home (Britain) soon after his special lecture “Nuclear reprogramming and prospects for cell replacement in humans” here on Monday.

It was a first for Prof Arthur Bruce McDonald, too, who explained how he handed over his cell phone to the faculty member accompanying him before passing through the metal detector to face frisking. This Canadian astrophysicist was awarded the Nobel prize in Physics, jointly with Japanese physicist Takaaki Kajita, in 2015. “Perhaps, this (frisking) is because of the attack by terrorists in Pathankot,” he remarked. Ironically, all of them were felicitated and presented gold medals by Mr Modi during the inaugural.

According to him, some studies indicate that country stands to lose about $4.58 trillion before 2030, due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions. “The WHO fact sheet on the global burden of disease says that non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death world-wide. In 2008, 80 per cent of deaths due to these diseases were in developing countries, up from 40 per cent in 1990. By 2030, low-income countries will have eight times more deaths attributed to NCDs than high-income countries,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that in India, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other NCDs are estimated to account for 60 per cent of all deaths. “These diseases account for about 40 per cent of all hospital stays and roughly 35 per cent of all recorded outpatient visits,” he added. He warned that the country would face the tragedy of productive lives cut short and families that must deal with untimely loss; the huge toll on the economy; and excessive burden on the over-stretched health system. He called for efforts to increase awareness, acceptance and adoption of AYUSH system of medicine. "In doing so, we will create better wellness among people, rely more on local resources and reduce healthcare costs. We will also reduce the social and economic costs to our society and promote a more environment friendly health care system,” he contended.