New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lock down 4.0 from May 18^th with different rules. In his speech to the nation on Tuesday night at 8 pm, Modi announced an economic package of Rs. 20 Lakh crores to tackle the down side of the Covid- 19 crisis.

He highlighted in his speech that India must realize its potential as the lead player in the 21^st Century by focusing on its self-reliance. An economic package of Rs 20 lakh crore, amounting to 10% of GDP, will help India realize its full potential, he said. The package is to be “factored on land, labour, liquidity and law” and will promote Make In India even while rescuing MSMEs, farmers and others, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the five pillars for self-reliance i.e.

• India can become self-reliant. This would be based on 5 pillars:
  1) Economy: An economy that takes quantum jumps and not incremental gains.
  2) Infrastructure: Infrastructure is synonymous with a modern India.
  3) Our system: A system that helps us realizes dreams, which is based on tech-driven facilities.
  4)Demography: Vibrant demography our strength.
  5) Demand: The demand and supply chain, we need to utilize the potential. We need to increase demand in the nation. Each stakeholder must be active.

In Lockdown 4.0, we will follow norms, fight COVID-19 and move ahead. It will be based on suggestions by the state. Details will be informed by May 18 after suggestions from state. We will fight and move forward by following rules. Our responsibility to make India a self-reliant India will be powered by the energy of the 1.3 billion population. With new energy and new determination, we need to move ahead. Who can stop us then? We can make India self-reliant; and we will. With faith and hope, I urge citizens to take care of their health and the ones around them.

Modi said that the world is battling Covid- 19 since four months, 42 lakh have been infected globally. Over 2.45 lakh have died. In India, many have lost their loved ones. I offer my condolences. Entire world in a way, fighting a battle, working to save lives, this is an unprecedented crisis. We need to save lives and move forward at the same time. We have to remain careful and follow rules to live and more ahead.

Self-reliance is imperative. Self-reliant India is the only way out. We stand at a crucial juncture. This crisis has a message for India, an opportunity. I’d try explaining using an example. When the crisis started, not a single PPE kit was made in India; N-95s were produced in negligible numbers. Today, in India, 2 lakh PPEs and 2 lakh N-95s being produced, he said. In his speech he also said when India became open defecation free, the world changed. Be it tuberculosis, malnutrition or polio, India’s action impacted the world. International Solar Alliance is India’s gift to world in the fight against global warming. India’s medicines serving as ray of hope in today’s times.

Package for farmers, for workers, who irrespective of circumstances, work for the nation. Package for MSMEs, who pay taxes sincerely and contribute. Package for Indian industry, from Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman will inform in detail, said Modi. The reform is in a bid to ensure that such a crisis impacts agriculture in the least possible manner. In a bid to enhance Human Resources and bid to strengthen financial system.

These reforms will attract investment and help Make in India. Hawkers, workers, help – they have faced difficulties in this time and have made sacrifices. Our duty now to make them better off, to work to further their interests. Keeping this in mind, be it poor, be it workers, be it fishermen, be it from formal or informal sector, certain key announcements will be made, said Prime Minister.

Local manufacturing, local supply chain: We realize the importance now. Local met our demands, local saved us. Brands that are global were once similarly local. When people used them and these were branded, they became global from local. It’s time to be vocal for local. We need to buy local products and spread the word. I am sure that we can do this. Your efforts have only increased my faith in you.

I am proud to recollect that I had asked citizens to buy khadi and to support handloom workers; and in a short time, demand and sales touched record levels. You made it a big brand too. We got the results; and good results. Scientists and experts say that Covid- 19 will stay with us for long, but we can’t make our lives revolve around this. We will wear masks, maintain distance, but not lose sight of our targets, said Modi.