On Wednesday, April 17th, over 10,000 people from different backgrounds gathered at The Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru for an event called "An Evening of Music and Meditation with Viksit Bharat Ambassadors." The attendees included people from all walks of life, including Art of Living disciples, instructors, professionals, and educated individuals of various ages.

The VBA 2024 event was honoured by the presence of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, who served as the Chief Guest. He spoke about important topics, ranging from the importance of democratic participation to celebrating cultural and religious milestones.

One of the highlights of the evening was the screening of a film showcasing Viksit Bharat's journey and its transformative impact over the past decade.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to governance, adherence to religious customs, and his leadership in fulfilling the aspiration of establishing the Ram Mandir.

Gurudev lauded PM Modi's role in fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of establishing the Ram Mandir, underscoring the emotional significance of celebrating Ram Navami at the birthplace of Bhagwaan Shri Ram after 500 years. He lamented that previous governments did not do enough about it and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended 'politics over Ram Mandir' and turned a centuries-old dream into reality in the shortest possible time.

"Despite historical challenges, Prime Minister Modi's resolute leadership has ensured the timely construction of a magnificent temple. His meticulous attention to detail and personal commitment during the consecration process have set a compelling example for others to emulate," he said.

Witnessing PM Modi's sincere efforts and strict adherence to religious customs, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that the Prime Minister doesn't believe in superficial things and does everything with a 'clean heart and strong resolve'.

"PM Modi followed the ascetic 11-day Yam Niyam before the Pran Pratistha ceremony of Ram Lalla. He also keeps fast on all nine days of Navratri. By strictly following the Hindu rituals, he has set a benchmark for his successors, and they will have a tough time meeting the standards set by PM Modi," said Ravi Shankar.

"PM Modi has set high governance standards in the last ten years. He doesn't socialize on Sunday; he does 'Mann Ki Baat' with the countrymen. He celebrates Diwali with the jawans on the borders. Whoever becomes his successor in times to come will have to maintain this standard," he said.

Gurudev remarked on the Prime Minister's high standards in governance and urged future leaders to uphold similar dedication and integrity. He emphasized the need for committed leadership to realize the vision of Viksit Bharat, a mission to achieve a developed India by 2047.

"Prime Minister Modi has raised the bar for future leaders by prioritizing duty over personal comfort. His commitment to spending Diwali with the army and engaging in regular public addresses like 'Mann Ki Baat' sets high standards, emphasizing the importance of selfless service and echoing the ideals of Lord Ram. This places significant challenges on future prime ministers, who must uphold these standards to advance India's development," he said.

"To set ourselves on the path of development, we have to unite our efforts and inculcate a positive mindset. You can't become a Viksit Bharat Ambassador unless you are eager and inspired to attain it. To achieve this mission, everyone should come together and contribute to it," he said.

Addressing the audience, Gurudev called on first-time voters to recognize their role as active participants in shaping the nation's future. He encouraged them to vote with a sense of responsibility and optimism, stressing that every vote contributes to the country's progress.

"You should think about yourself as an active participant of the vibrant democracy and vote with a positive mindset that your vote has the power to give direction to the country's growth," he said.

He appealed to first-time voters not to get discouraged and disoriented by local issues but to vote to take Bharat to new heights.

"To become an agent of change and a stakeholder in the country's development, you must cast your ballot," he told the Viksit Bharat Ambassadors.

"We are all citizens of the world's biggest democracy, and we must keep doing our bit to make it stronger and contribute, even if you consider it insignificant," he added.

In concluding remarks, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reiterated the collective responsibility to ensure India's development as Viksit Bharat. The event concluded on a note of optimism and determination, with attendees invigorated to contribute towards the nation's progress.

 

The Vision of Viksit Bharat: 140 crore dreams, 1 purpose

The Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement aims to encourage citizens to take responsibility for contributing to India's development. VBA meet-ups and events are being organized in various parts of the country to achieve this goal. These events provide a platform for participants to engage in constructive discussions, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies for contributing to the movement.

Join the movement on the NaMo App:

https://www.narendramodi.in/ViksitBharatAmbassador

The NaMo App: Bridging the Gap

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's app, the NaMo App, is a digital bridge that empowers citizens to participate in the Viksit Bharat Ambassador movement. The NaMo App serves as a one-stop platform for individuals to:

Join the cause: Sign up and become a Viksit Bharat Ambassador and make 10 other people
Amplify Development Stories: Access updates, news, and resources related to the movement.
Create/Join Events: Create and discover local events, meet-ups, and volunteer opportunities.
Connect/Network: Find and interact with like-minded individuals who share the vision of a developed India.

The 'VBA Event' section in the 'Onground Tasks' tab of the 'Volunteer Module' of the NaMo App allows users to stay updated with the ongoing VBA events.

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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. Expressing his pride and joy on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that today marks a new chapter in the Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat Abhiyan. He noted that India's largest state has now become one of the states with the highest number of international airports. PM Modi shared that he felt doubly proud , first, for having laid the foundation stone of this airport and now inaugurating it, and second, because the name of this grand airport is linked to Uttar Pradesh. "This is the state that chose me as its representative and made me a Member of Parliament, and its identity is now associated with this magnificent airport," remarked Shri Modi.

Highlighting the far-reaching impact of the new airport, the Prime Minister said that the Noida airport will benefit a vast region encompassing Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr, and Faridabad. He emphasised that the airport will bring numerous new opportunities for the farmers, small and medium enterprises, and the youth of western Uttar Pradesh. "Aircraft will fly from here to the world, and this airport will also become a symbol of a developed Uttar Pradesh taking flight," said Shri Modi, extending his heartfelt congratulations to the people of the state, especially western UP.

Speaking about the current global situation, the Prime Minister observed that the entire world is deeply concerned today, with a war raging in West Asia for over a month, creating crises of essential commodities including food, petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilizers in many countries. He noted that India imports a very large quantity of crude oil and gas from the conflict-affected region. "The Government is taking every possible step to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families and farmers," affirmed Shri Modi.

Underscoring India's continued momentum of rapid development even during times of global crisis, the Prime Minister noted that in Western Uttar Pradesh alone, this is the fourth major project to be either inaugurated or have its foundation stone laid in recent weeks. "During this period, the foundation stone of a major semiconductor factory in Noida was laid, the country's first Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat train gained speed, the Meerut Metro was expanded, and today the Noida International Airport is being inaugurated," highlighted PM Modi.

The Prime Minister credited the current Government for these remarkable achievements in UP's development. He noted that the semiconductor factory is making India self-reliant in technology, the Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat Rail are providing fast and smart connectivity, and the Jewar Airport is connecting entire North India to the world. " Today under the current government, the same Noida is becoming a powerful engine of UP's development," asserted Shri Modi.

Elaborating on the history of the airport project, The Prime Minister recalled that the Jewar Airport was approved by Atal ji as early as 2003. And as soon as the current government was formed here, the foundation was laid, construction happened, and now it has started operations," said Shri Modi.

Drawing attention to the region's emerging role as a logistics hub, the Prime Minister pointed out that this area is becoming the hub of two major freight corridors , special railway tracks laid for goods trains, which have enhanced North India's connectivity with the seas of Bengal and Gujarat. He noted that Dadri is the strategic point where both these corridors converge, meaning whatever farmers grow and industries produce here can now reach every corner of the world swiftly, by land and by air. "This kind of multi-modal connectivity is making UP a major attraction for investors worldwide," explained PM Modi.

Addressing the transformation of the region's image, the Prime Minister said. "Today, Noida is ready to welcome the entire world. This whole area is strengthening the resolve of Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.

The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the farmers who gave up their lands to make this project a reality, noting that agriculture and farming hold great importance in the region's economy. Shri Modi noted that the expansion of modern connectivity will further boost food processing prospects in Western UP, adding, "The agricultural produce from here will now reach global markets more efficiently."

Acknowledging the contribution of sugarcane farmers to reducing India's dependence on crude oil, the Prime Minister highlighted the significant role of ethanol produced from sugarcane. PM Modi highlighted that without the increase in ethanol production and its blending with petrol, India would have had to import an additional four and a half crore barrels,approximately 700 crore litres of crude oil annually, adding, "The hard work of our farmers has given the country this enormous relief during the time of crisis."

The Prime Minister further elaborated that ethanol has not only benefited the nation but has also greatly benefited farmers, with approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore worth of foreign exchange being saved. He recalled the earlier days when sugarcane farmers had to wait for years for their dues. "Today, thanks to the efforts of the current Government, the condition of sugarcane farmers has improved significantly," affirmed Shri Modi.

Emphasizing that airports are not merely amenities but catalysts for progress, the Prime Minister pointed out the remarkable expansion of India's aviation infrastructure. Highlighting that today, there are more than 160 airports, PM Modi remarked that the Air connectivity is now reaching not just metropolitan cities but also smaller towns. “ The current government has made air travel accessible for the common Indian," asserted Shri Modi, adding that the number of airports in Uttar Pradesh has been increased to seventeen.

Highlighting the impact of the UDAN scheme, the Prime Minister said that the government has consistently strived to ensure that while airports are built, airfares remain within the reach of ordinary families. Noting that more than one crore sixty lakh citizens have travelled by air at affordable rates by booking tickets under the UDAN scheme, Shri Modi remarked, “ Recently, the Central Government has further expanded the UDAN scheme with an approval of approximately Rs 29,000 crore, under which 100 new airports and 200 new helipads will be built in smaller cities in the coming years. UP will also benefit immensely from this."

Speaking about India's rapidly growing aviation sector, the Prime Minister noted that as new airports are being built, the demand for new aircraft is also rising, with various airlines placing orders for hundreds of new planes. Shri Modi observed that this creates tremendous opportunities for the youth, including pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance professionals, adding that "our government is also expanding training facilities in the aviation sector" to meet this growing demand.

Addressing a critical gap in India's aviation ecosystem, the Prime Minister drew attention to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) sector, noting that 85 per cent of Indian aircraft still have to go abroad for MRO services. PM Modi noted that the government has resolved to make India self-reliant in the MRO sector as well and highlighted that today, the foundation stone of an MRO facility has been laid here at Jewar. “When ready, it will serve aircraft from India and abroad , generating revenue for the country, keeping our money within India, and creating numerous jobs for the youth," announced Shri Modi.

Underlining the government's priority of ensuring citizen convenience and saving their time and money, the Prime Minister spoke about the expansion of modern rail services such as Metro and Vande Bharat. "The Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Rail has already been used by over two and a half crore passengers. The journey between Delhi and Meerut that used to take hours is now completed in minutes," said PM Modi.

Underscoring the unprecedented investment in modern infrastructure for a Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister shared that over the past eleven years, the infrastructure budget has been increased more than six-fold, with Rs 17 lakh crore spent on highways and expressways and over one lakh kilometres of highways constructed. He noted that railway electrification has expanded from 20,000 kilometres before 2014 to over 40,000 kilometres since then, with nearly 100 per cent of the broad-gauge network now electrified. The Prime Minister highlighted that for the first time, the Kashmir Valley and the capitals of the North-East are being connected to the rail network, while port capacity has more than doubled in the past decade and the number of inland waterways continues to grow. "India is working at a rapid pace in every sector necessary for building a Viksit Bharat," stated Shri Modi.

Calling for collective effort and national unity in the face of global challenges, the Prime Minister said he had spoken at length in Parliament and held detailed discussions with Chief Ministers about tackling the crisis arising from the ongoing conflict. He appealed to the people to face this crisis with a calm mind and patience, calling it the greatest strength of Indians. PM Modi reiterated that what is in the interest of Indians and in the interest of India, that alone is the policy and strategy of the Government of India." I am fully confident that all political parties will lend strength to the country's united efforts”, concluded Shri Modi.