PM Modi addresses United Nations World Geospatial International Congress

Hyderabad/New Delhi, Oct.11 (NSS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the United Nations World Geospatial International Congress, via video message, today.

Welcoming the international delegates, the Prime Minister said, “the people of India are happy to host you on this historic occasion as we build our future together.” Expressing his happiness at the conference happening in Hyderabad, the Prime Minister said the city is known for its culture and cuisine, its hospitality, and its hi-tech vision. The Prime Minister pointed out that the theme of the conference, ‘Geo-enabling the Global Village: No one should be left behind can be seen in the steps India has taken over the last few years. “We have been working on a vision of Antyodaya which means empowering the last person at the last mile, in a mission mode,” he said.

The Prime Minister said 450 million unbanked people, a population greater than that of the USA, were brought under the banking net and 135 million people, about twice the population of France, were given insurance, the Prime Minister elaborated. Sanitation facilities were taken to 110 million families and tap water connections to over 60 million families, he added, underlining that “India is ensuring no one is left behind.”

Technology and talent are the two pillars that are key to India’s development journey. Technology brings transformation, the Prime Minister said, citing the example of JAM trinity which has delivered welfare benefits to 800 million people seamlessly, and of the tech platform that powered the world’s largest vaccination drive. “In India, technology is not an agent of exclusion. It is an agent of inclusion,” Modi added.

The Prime Minister highlighted the role of geospatial technology in driving inclusion and progress. The role of technology in schemes like SVAMITVA and housing, and the outcomes in terms of property ownership and women empowerment, have a direct impact on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and gender equality, the Prime Minister emphasized. He said a Master Plan was being powered by geospatial technology, as is the Digital Ocean platform, he added. India has already set an example in sharing the benefits of geospatial technology, the Prime Minister stated, citing the example of the South Asia Satellite for facilitating communication in India’s neighborhood.

“India is a young nation with a great innovative spirit,” the Prime Minister said, highlighting the role of talent as the second pillar in India’s journey. India is one of the top startup hubs in the world, he added, with the number of unicorn startups having almost doubled since 2021— a testimony to India’s young talent.

According to Prime Minister Modi, the COVID-19 pandemic should have been a wake-up call for taking everyone along. There is a need for an institutional approach by the international community to help each other during a crisis, he emphasized. “Global organizations like the United Nations can lead the way in taking resources to the last mile in every region,” he highlighted. Hand-holding and technology transfer are also crucial in fighting climate change, the Prime Minister added, suggesting that best practices may be shared for saving our planet. (NSS)

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