Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal on February 13, 2022, said technology can play a very big role in taking prosperity to the remotest corners of India. Technology, he said, can really help us democratise basic amenities, such as Healthcare through Telemedicine, and Education through EdTech.
“For example, why are we making the ONDC, the Open Network for Digital Commerce? The idea is that the small retailers should be protected also. We are OK with the large eCommerce also contributing to the nation’s economy and working their way through. But should the small retailers be allowed to become extinct like in the Western world, where Mom & Pop stores are almost gone or should we not protect livelihoods,”asked Goyal while interacting with students after addressing the Policy Conclave 2022, organised by IIT Kanpur.
Goyal said that PM Narendra Modi, thinking about the welfare of 135 crore citizens, has given us a vision for India @2047, which is called the Amrit Kaal.
“Unless you have ambitious targets, unless you dream big, unless you have significantly large hopes, aspirations, desires, you can never achieve greatness. There was a time when our population was considered a curse, but Prime Minister Modi has converted that entire thinking to talking about our young population as our biggest strength. Our demographic dividend gives us huge opportunities, opens the doors to a very bright future for the country! And therefore we need a holistic vision which envisions growth in all sectors, makes it easier to do business, promotes innovation, research, development, modernity, and yet also respects family values, our culture, makes it easier to live, that we call Ease of Living for every single citizen,” he said earlier during his address, according to a PIB release.
Goyal said India’s tryst with destiny must not merely remain a wishful rendezvous but must transform into prosperity, progress, and development. “And in that journey, IIT-Kanpur and all the IITs will be at the forefront, I have no doubt in that,” he said.
Goyal gave a Five Point Action Plan to IIT students to unleash India’s golden era:
- In all your ventures, make Scale, Quality, and Job Creation the focal point
- Provide innovative solutions for farmers, artisans and weavers, small retailers, etc and help realise the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat & Make in India for the World
- Study digital platforms (e.g. Single Window, PM GatiShakti, ONDC) & give ideas to enhance facilities
- Help set the agenda/themes for India’s G20 presidency starting in Dec’22
- Make Seva and Samarpan your guiding philosophy & give back to the nation
Goyal said IIT-K is the pride of India and the world from being the 1st institute in India to offer Computer Science stream to being home to distinguished alumni like Narayana Murthy (Founder, Infosys), Arvind Krishna (CEO, IBM), and Mukesh Bansal (Founder, Myntra & CEO Cure.fit) to name a few. He said the Satellite city of Kanpur is rich in history and culture. “From inspiring Maharishi Valmiki to write ‘The Ramayana’ to creating world class engineers, Kanpur is integral to India’s progress,” he said.