Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first Independence Day address to the nation was indeed inspiring. The Editorial, “ >Offering hope without hype ” (Aug. 16), rightly said the philosophy underpinning his speech seemed to be that small things can make a bigger impact. His promise of ensuring separate toilets for boys and girls in all schools is a need of the hour. The dismantling of the Planning Commission is to be welcomed in view of its lost importance in the present context. Though it did well under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in the first few years of Independence, it subsequently became a show piece for the Centre as allocations depended on the whims and fancies of the bureaucracy.
P. Narahari,
Hyderabad
For the first time in many years, the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech was impressive. The one-step-at-a-time approach, especially on the cleanliness front, is laudable. One hopes State leaders too will concentrate on the basics, instead of promising sophisticated airports and huge infrastructure projects when there are not enough decent roads for commuters and no decent public toilets.
V. Lalitha,
Visakhapatnam
Mr. Modi’s address to the nation brought out his oratorical skills. His government’s decision to dismantle the Planning Commission, a brainchild of Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of Independent India, is in keeping with changing times. As such, India needs many changes and one hopes the vision outlined by the Prime Minister will bring them about. His gesture of acknowledging his predecessors' accomplishments is welcome.
Rajakumar Arulanandam,
Palayamkottai
The Planning Commission is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body. It was formed only to accommodate a few renowned economists. The Commission in its current form has become outdated. In this jet-speed age, planning for the next one year is prudent but planning for five years does not make sense any more.
Deekshitha Punugoti,
Ongole
The speech was unusual in many ways. It covered all the basic needs of the nation from cleanliness and law and order to digitalisation. National addresses by the Prime Minister will, however, have a wider reach and better appeal if they are simultaneously relayed in regional languages.
S.N. Agrawal,
Bangalore
It is indeed gratifying to note that Mr. Modi in his address referred to the urgent need for toilets in schools. I belong to Chennai, currently on a visit to the U.S. and Canada. Washrooms in these countries are well-maintained and equipped — in petrol outlets, small coffee shops, malls, and so on. A civilised country should have basic amenities. The Prime Minister should be thanked for giving the issue the attention it deserves.
G. Rajagopal,
Calgary, Canada
While correctly highlighting the issue of toilets for girls in state-run schools, Mr. Modi’s call to the private sector to act on this matter through corporate social responsibility mode does not raise confidence. We need the guarantee of budgetary allocations and a committed machinery rather than the uncertain sentiments of corporates whose discretionary interventions are only bound to increase the disparities within the system.
Firoz Ahmad,
Delhi
The ‘Forever Analysis’ of the Prime Minister’s Independence address is likely to keep the Delhi cocktail circuit abuzz for a long time. Everyone has a different take, somewhat like the blind men guessing what an elephant is actually like. Yet, before guessing what Mr. Modi plans to do, it is nice to see that he focusses on limited, selected things at a time.
R.P. Chaturvedi,
Noida
For the first time in years, a Prime Minister, in his address to the nation, reminded the citizens to do their part in building a new social order. He reinforced that nation-building is a partnership between the government and the citizen.
G. Venkatakuppuswamy,
Bangalore
