Modi talks about daily safety, women empowerment in 'Mann Ki Baat'

New Delhi: Touching upon the issues of daily safety, women empowerment and "technology for welfare" in his monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his dream of "New India" was the one where women were strong and empowered and equally contributed to the country's development.

He also urged the people to become conscious and aware of their own safety and said technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) must ensure the welfare of the poor, the underprivileged and the needy.

Urging the concerned departments under corporations and municipalities who possess the fire brigades to visit different schools once a week or a month and conduct mock drills, he said it will have dual benefit free of cost.

The Prime Minister said that India was a land of geographic and climatic diversities.

"As far as disasters are concerned, the country has witnessed different disasters including chemical and industrial mishaps."

Modi lauded the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for reaching areas hit by earthquakes, floods, cyclones and landslides within no time.

Speaking about International Womens' Day on March 8, the Modi said: "There are many programmes that are held in our country and the world. Today the country is moving forward from the path of women development to women-led development."

Quoting Swami Vivekananda's saying that the idea of a perfect womanhood was perfect independence, Modi said the dream of "New India" was where the women were empowered.

"It is our duty to ensure the participation of women in every field of life, be it social or economic life.

"Today, woman power has shown inner fortitude and self-confidence, has made herself self-reliant. Not only has she advanced but carried forward the country and society to newer heights.

Modi urged countrymen to felicitate mothers and sisters, who have completed 100 years, on the occasion of International Women's day.

Hailing efforts of a group of women from Jharkhand who organised a hygiene campaign for an entire month and constructed 1.70 lakh toilets in just 20 days, Modi said they showed that women power was an integral component of the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.

He mentioned the current budget in which an emphasis has been laid on turning 'waste to wealth' and 'waste to energy' through bio-gas.

"A target has been set to use cattle dung, agricultural waste, kitchen waste to produce Bio gas based energy. Under the GOBAR-Dhan Scheme, our farmer brothers and sisters will be encouraged to consider dung and other waste not just as a waste but as a source of income."

He said that machines were getting smarter through self-learning and urged researchers to make use of AI to make the lives of the "divyangs" (differently abled), farmers and the needy more simpler.

He said that through AI, "we can be alerted about natural calamities. Can we help the farmers to know about their crops return? Can it be used to improve the reach of the medical services and help in curing the diseases in more advanced way?"

"The technology and machines should be used for the betterment of the humankind," he added.

He described the electricity supply to Gharapuri Isle, which houses the Unesco World Heritage site Elephanta Caves, as a "new beginning of a period of development".

"Electricity has reached three villages of the Elephanta Island after 70 years of independence, and this has led to much joy and enthusiasm among the people there," Modi said.

"For 70 years, the lives of the denizens of three villages -- Raj Bander, Mora Bander and Shet Bander -- were engulfed by darkness, which has got dispelled now and there is brightness in their lives."