The Standing up for India Inc, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that he does not believe in the culture of criticising industry and corporates who he believes are doing exemplary social work alongside their business.
Modi also wanted citizens to not just pay their taxes honestly but do their bit for social transformation.
“In our country, the general image is to abuse businessmen, industrialists. I don’t know why it is so but it has become a fashion. This is not a line of thought I agree with,” Modi said, addressing IT professionals and tech honchos in a townhall where he urged technology companies to contribute their expertise and manpower to bring social change.
This is the second time that Modi has stood up for corporate India. In July, Modi had stated that he was not scared to be seen with industrialists as his conscience was clear and that they too had contributed to the development of the country.
With the recent spike in international oil prices creating a mini-panic on retail fuel prices in the country, Modi said moving to electric vehicles is an answer and wanted domestic social entrepreneurs to develop a low cost model that is supported by affordable and easily chargeable battery.
At the event, IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra and Mindtree showcased the social transformation efforts being undertaken by them and their employees and pledged their support to the newly launched initiative ‘self4society’.
The new portal ‘self4society.mygov.in’ — named as ‘Main Nahi Hum’ — will act as a platform for companies to contribute their technology, skills and HR resources towards various social causes, including financial literacy, financial inclusion, small business enablement, and Swachh Bharat. As many as 85 IT companies which employ two million people have already registered themselves on the platform.
Modi said the taxpayer base in India has risen not due to threat of penal action but because taxpayers have faith that their money is being used properly and for the welfare of people. “I appreciate honest tax payers whose numbers have increased. But tax that is paid is part of the system. Social service is tax-plus something. We need to create that,” Modi said.
Modi further said volunteering efforts by the tech companies could bring about transformation in various sectors, including agriculture. Youngsters must venture out and work for the welfare of farmers, he said, and appealed to hard-working farmers to embrace drip irrigation.
Emphasising that saving natural resources was a collective responsibility, Modi said, “We have become very careless when it comes to consumption of water. We need to conserve water and recycle water too.” Modi said the symbol of the Swachh Bharat Mission is the spectacles of Mahatma Gandhi, who is the inspiration for a clean India. “We are fulfilling Bapu’s vision,” he said.
“On many occasions, what sarkar (government) can’t do, sanskar (culture) can do. Let us make cleanliness a part of our value systems,” he said as he asked citizens and the tech community to think how they can add value to society through social efforts.
Governments may have schemes and budgets but the success of any initiative lies in public involvement, he said. “I am sure people want to work for others, they want to serve society and bring a positive difference,” Modi pointed out.
The townhall was attended by corporate bigwigs and industry leaders such as Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra, Nasscom president Debjani Ghosh, NIIT Technologies Vice Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Thakur and Indian Cellular Association National President, Pankaj Mohindroo. Among others, Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy participated through video conferencing.
