16 Aug 2017

The spirit of empathy, social service and volunteerism is alive in India, and there are many people and organisations that work for the poor and disadvantaged.

This was said by the acting High Commissioner of India in Botswana, Mr Chellappan Gurusubramanian.

He urged Indians to work in unity and purpose in order to ensure that the benefits of government policies reached all sections of society, as the partnership between citizens and government remained essential.

Reading the independence message from the India president, Mr Gurusubramanian said social service and volunteerism was often demonstrated by running schools for street children, caring for stray animals, birds and providing water to hard-to-reach communities in remote areas or cleaning rivers and public places.

Mr Gurusubramanian said the government was enabling communication infrastructure, and that it was for each of them to use the Internet for the right purposes to bridge the knowledge gap, create opportunities, enhance educational and information access.

He said the Indian government was promoting the idea of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao, and that it was up to them to ensure that their daughters were not discriminated against and got the best education.

The acting high commissioner said the government was advocating for transparency and eliminating corruption in public recruitment and procurement, and that it was for each of them to answer their inner conscience in everyday life.

He noted that in 2022 India would complete 75 years of independence, and that it was their resolve to attain certain milestones. He added that there were obvious parameters such as a house for every family, power on demand, better roads and telecommunications, a modern railway network, rapid and sustained growth.

Mr Gurusubramanian said the new India must include the humanist component that was in their DNA, and which has defined their country and their civilisation, adding that the new India must rush towards the future, but must also be a compassionate society.

“A compassionate society that enriches our human capital and equips our young people by promoting accessible, affordable and world-class educational institutions where quality health-care and nutrition are not a challenge,” he said.

He said the world was looking at India with admiration, and that India was seen as a responsible global citizen, a growing economy and a solution provider to various international challenges such as climate change, disasters, conflicts, humanitarian crisis, radicalism and terrorism.

He added that after natural disasters, many people were motivated and that civil groups and public agencies worked day and night in rescue and relief operations displaying selflessness.  BOPA