Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked youngsters to join the Swachh Bharat Summer Internship 2018' launched by his government and announced incentives, including credit point by the UGC, for participants, saying it is an opportunity for those who want to make a change in the society.
In his monthly Mann ki Baat' broadcast, Modi also pitched for water conservation, saying it should be everyone's responsibility and asserted that his government has spent Rs 32,000 crore annually outside the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) budget and 150 lakh acre land have benefitted from it in the last three years.
In his over 30-minute address, Modi touched on a number of topics, including Indian athletes', especially women's, achievement in the Commonwealth Games, people's response to his call for fitness and also paid tributes to Prophet Mohammad and Lord Buddha ahead of the month of Ramzan and Buddha Purnima' respectively.
Noting that India had carried out nuclear tests on Buddha Purnima on May 11 in 1998, when BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee was prime minister, Modi said youths need to imbibe Vajpayee's mantra of Jai Vigyan' (hail science) to make India modern and strong.
Giving a call to students to join the Swachh Bharat' campaign during their summer vacation, he said three ministries of his government have launched an internship programme and it is an opportunity for those who want to work for the society, contribute positively and bring about a change.
"The best of the interns who have strived in schools and colleges with excellent work will be rewarded with recognition at the national level.
Not just that, those interns who accomplish their tasks well will be awarded two credit points each by the UGC," Modi said.
It will also boost the cleanliness campaign, a signature project of his government, those who participate in it will feel a sense of fulfillment when the country celebrates the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, he said.
Turning to water conservation, he said India has traditionally done it and cited examples of many temples and other historic places that have done so and noted that some rivers in states like Kerala and Uttar Pradesh have been revived recently.
