India has left lockdown behind, will get our growth back, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India has now left the lockdown behind and has entered unlock phase 1.

Also read: COVID-19 cases cross 1.98 lakh-mark in India; death toll at 5,598

“While it is true that coronavirus has slowed down our growth, India has now left the lockdown behind and has entered unlock phase 1. So in a way, we have already started getting our growth back. I have confidence in India’s capabilities, crisis management,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi was attending the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Session 2020- “Getting Growth Back” where he addressed the issue of economic slowdown due to coronavirus and how to revive it as alarm bells ring for Indian economy.

Here are the highlights of PM Modi's speech: 

1: Coronavirus is an unprecedented crisis where we have several priorities as we handle the situation — we have to revive the economy while keeping the welfare of the poor in mind.
 
2: Getting growth back is what we also have our motto as we reopen the economy. I have full faith in India's crisis management, talent, technology, innovation, and intellect.
 
3: I have faith in India's farmers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders. Therefore, yes, we will get our growth back. India will get its growth back. Friends, coronavirus may have impeded our speed, but the reality today is that we have left the lockdown phase behind and now we are in the Unlock 1.0 phase.
 
4: A large part of the economy has reopened. The rest will reopen on June 8. 

5: We were able to do all this because even as the rest of the world was struggling in the grips of coronavirus, we took the right steps at the right time.

6: To bring India back on track for fast-paced growth five things are very important: Intent, Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure, Innovation.

7: Under PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana, Rs 53,000 crore worth of financial assistance has already been provided to the poor.
 
8: During the lockdown, the govt provided 80 million LPG cylinders right at the doorstep of the poor.

9: We have made decisions to make our economy and sectors future-ready. Our reforms are not scattered; rather, our reforms are planned, futuristic. For us, reforms mean taking it to the logical conclusion.

10: The private sector's participation across sectors of the economy are now truly a reality.

11: If a country like ours, which is the biggest storehouse of coal, had to import coal for its requirements, there were policy bottlenecks that needed reform.