India of 21st century empowering citizens with the use of technology: PM Modi

Addressing his fifth Post Budget Webinar on the subject of ‘Ease of Living using Technology’, the Prime Minister said that every budget in the past few years has stressed the ease of living for people with the help of technology.

"In this year’s budget too, the priority is given to technology and a human touch," he added.

He noted that government intervention has been reduced and citizens do not consider the government to be an obstacle, adding that instead, the citizens are looking at the government as a catalyst where technology plays a huge role".

Elaborating on the role of technology, the Prime Minister said with schemes like One Nation One Ration Card, JAM Arogya Setu and CoWin App, railway reservation and Common Service Center the government has enhanced the ease of living of the citizens.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the ease of communication with the government as the dialogue has become easy and people are getting quick resolutions.

"Faceless resolution of Income tax system-related grievances is the real example of effective use of technology," he said, adding that now between your grievances and the redressal there is no person, just technology ".

He asked various departments to collectively think about using technology for solving their problems and reaching global standards.

The Prime Minister highlighted the equal opportunities that technology is providing to everyone and said that the government is investing heavily in technology.

"Along with creating modern digital infrastructure, the government is ensuring that the benefits of digital infrastructure reach everyone equally," Modi said.

Referring to 5G and AI and their impact on industry, medicine, education and agriculture the Prime Minister emphasized the need to set a few targets.

“Can we identify 10 such problems of the society which can be solved by AI”, he said.

The Prime Minister informed that several significant steps have been taken to support MSMEs and stressed the need to brainstorm and identify the obstacles faced by MSMEs.

Highlighting the contradictions in the priorities of the previous governments, the Prime Minister recalled how a particular section of people always looked for government intervention and expected it to do good for the people.

He said their entire life was spent in the absence of these facilities.

“The lack of trust between the government and the people is the result of a mindset of slavery”, the Prime Minister remarked as he pointed out that the government has won back the trust of the citizens by decriminalizing petty offences and becoming a loan guarantor for MSMEs.

Highlighting the role of technology, the Prime Minister pointed out that technology can help in creating a finished product that can help in capturing the global market. "one should not limit themselves to only the internet and digital technology" he said.