(file photo)
Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on June 27, 2020, addressed the 90th birth anniversary of Rev. Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan. He conveyed his greetings and wished him a long life and good health. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma has devoted his life for the betterment of the society and nation. He remarked, “Dr Joseph Mar Thoma has been particularly passionate about women empowerment and removal of poverty. The Mar Thoma Church is closely linked with the noble ideals of Saint Thomas, the Apostle of Lord Christ.”
PM Modi said that India has always been open to spiritual influences from many sources. He said that Mar Thoma Church played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle and was at the fore-front of working towards national integration. He said that COVID-19 is not only a physical sickness that is a threat to the lives of people but also takes our attention to unhealthy life-styles. He said that a global pandemic implies that humanity as a whole needs healing. He said that powered by Corona warriors, India is firmly fighting COVID-19.
The Prime Minister said that due to lockdown, many initiatives taken by the Government and a people driven fight, India is much better placed than many other nations and India’s recovery rate is rising. Due to this the severity of the virus is less than anticipated. He highlighted that India’s death per million due to Covid is under 12 compared to 574 per million in Italy. He added that the figures in America, Britain, Spain, and France are also much higher than India. He said that lakhs of villages, home to 85 crore people, remain almost untouched by Coronavirus, according to a PIB release.
He said that people driven fight against COVID-19 has given good results so far and stressed that we should not let our guard down. He said that we have to be even more careful now and wearing masks, social distancing, ‘दो गज की दूरी’, avoiding crowded places, remains more important now.
In the last few weeks, the Prime Minister said, the Government of India has addressed both short-term and long-term issues relating to the economy. He said that people-friendly and growth friendly decisions have been taken in the sectors from the sea to space, from farms to the factories. He hoped that the call for Atma Nirbhar Bharat, self-reliant India will ensure economic strength and prosperity for every Indian.
Speaking about the recently introduced Pradhan Mantri Matasya Sampada Yojana, the PM said that this scheme with an investment of over Rs 20,000 crore is going to transform the fisheries sector, increase export earnings and provide more employment to over fifty five lakh people. He expressed confidence that fishermen in Kerala will gain from various schemes. He said that decisions are taken not from comfortable Government offices in Delhi but after feedback from people in the ground.
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, also known as the Mar Thoma Church, is one of the ancient, indigenous churches in Kerala. It is traditionally believed that Saint Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ, came to India in AD 52 and established the Church. The Church is presently headed by their 21st Malankara Metropolitan, Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, who has headed the Church for the last thirteen years.