Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for collective public participation to help India tackle global economic disruptions, supply chain pressures and rising prices triggered by international conflicts, while urging citizens to adopt austerity measures and prioritise domestic production.
The Prime Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of several development projects in Hyderabad. Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy were present on the occasion.
“Patriotism is not only about sacrificing one’s life for the country, but also about living responsibly and fulfilling one’s duties towards the nation during difficult times,” Modi said.
Referring to global economic uncertainty and conflicts affecting international markets, the Prime Minister appealed to citizens to contribute through changes in daily habits and consumption patterns.
He urged people to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using metros and public transport wherever available, opting for car-pooling when private vehicles were necessary, and preferring railways for movement of goods.
“We should revive the spirit of efficiency that we adopted during the Covid period. Work-from-home, online conferences and virtual meetings can once again help the nation save resources,” he said.
Appealing for conservation of foreign exchange reserves, Modi said citizens should avoid unnecessary foreign travel, overseas vacations and destination weddings abroad.
“If possible, for one year, avoid non-essential gold purchases. Every such step strengthens the country’s economic position,” he said.
The Prime Minister also called upon people to prioritise Made-in-India products in their daily lives.
“Whether it is shoes, bags or daily-use items, we should give preference to products made in India,” he said.
Modi further urged families to reduce edible oil consumption, saying it would benefit both national economic health and personal well-being.
Addressing farmers, the Prime Minister said, “We should reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 50 per cent and move towards natural farming to protect soil health and reduce import dependence.”
He also encouraged wider use of solar-powered irrigation pumps instead of diesel pumps in agriculture.