For an hour this evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with citizens at an indoor stadium in Delhi in what has been described as his first Obama-style townhall. The event marks two years of MyGov, an app will also be launched to allow mobile users to connect with website of the Prime Minister's Office.
PM Modi ends his townhall address.
PM Modi hits out at cow vigilantes during his address:
Q: How do you manage to travel long distances like Mexico to New Delhi and continue to work round the clock? How would you describe your foreign policy?
Q: In 2019, when your government finishes its first term, will there be concrete, tangible changes?
Q: What must be the qualities of a worker/volunteer? How did you come up with MyGov idea?
PM Modi responds to these questions:
India from the eyes of economics must grow and prosper. The time has changed. The world is interdependent. Everyone is connected to everyone. To understand this carefully and use this is a very important work.
Indians living abroad as a power, they have respect. The governments respect them. They can play a big role in bringing Indians around the world together. The diaspora is very active these days.
India's many initiatives are being supported by world over.
One tourism - e-visas have boosted tourism in India. Cleanliness programmes are also helping.
Our diversity is our strength. We must leverage it to market out tourism potential
India's heritage must be used to invite the people from across the world
India has such a huge variety of foods that if we harness its potential, we can make the world go crazy about it
Social service is a part of our culture
A spirit of social service is a part of our culture. We have always helped people in times of need
Cows mostly die of eating plastic bags and these Gau rakshaks should urge people not to throw plastic on roads, this will be a big sewa
In response to a question on foreign policy, PM Modi said:
PM Narendra Modi is now taking next set of questions on foreign policy, tourism and volunteering.
Our guiding principle - 'Khadi for nation, Khadi for fashion': PM Modi
- If we spend just 5% of our total spend on clothes on handloom and khadi and we will transform lives of our poor
PM Modi Speaks On Smart City Concept- Smart city is a concept for cities and for villages we have Smart City+ Mission - 300 Rurban villages
- The unique spirit of our villages must remain and at the same time they must have facilities associated with cities
If there is one sector that can power the economy it's the agriculture sector: PM Modi- Through 'Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana', we will be able to provide adequate amount of water to the farmers
- There is a lot of strength in villages. We must not let them fade. We need the soul of villages and facilities of cities
We need to focus on preventative and affordable healthcare: PM Modi said answering one of the citizen's question.
- So much money is spent on advertising about the importance of vaccinations, and even then so many children are not vaccinated.
- We have introduced insurance in budget; so that the poorest of the poor receives good health care.
- Now Health department is doing all they can to go to every house to create awareness.
- We are working towards not only health insurance but also health assurance.
India is among the fastest growing economies in the world: PM Modi
- Technology and good governance will benefit farmers. Most powerful thing in democracy is Grievance Redress System
- I raise one issue but the whole system is addressed. We are taking few initiatives for good governance
- The world is in recession. Despite the purchasing capacity of world going down, we have a growth rate of 7.6%
- Development and Good Governance should have a balanced relation
- Economic development should be constant, it shouldn't go up and down. This is necessary for us to be at the top
- Our aim is to provide easy access to information to common man
Anurag Thakur, Lieutenant of the Territorial Army tweeted:
Responsibility with accountability is hallmark of good governance: PM Modi at Townhall
- The spirit of a democracy is incomplete if one thinks the citizen's role stops at voting. Participative democracy is essential
- Often, Governments think only about winning the next election and then their policies are also shaped accordingly.
- 'Last mile delivery' is as important as policies. The benefits must reach the intended beneficiaries
- If we don't focus on good governance then lives of normal people will not change.
- Good governance, people awareness and opinion makers are very important. The one who is responsible must take ownership and answer.
- Good governance means those processes that are redundant do not exist.
- Grievance redressal systems are the biggest strengths of a democracy.
He thanks the citizens for associating with MyGov in such large numbers.
The Prime Minister is now taking questions from the the citizens from all over India. He is being asked questions on good governance, the economy and health sector.
PM Modi launches the MyGovIndia's Merchandise website.
PMO Mobile App is the first citizen-based app designed by six students. This app would help citizens to directly get in touch with PMO's website.
PM Modi waves at the crowd as he takes the stage.
PM Narendra Modi reaches Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi for the Townhall.
PM Modi will shortly interact with the citizens at the Townhall. This is the first of its kind Town-hall being addressed by the Prime Minister, and will include launch of new MyGov initiatives and distribution of prizes to winners of MyGov contests - Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat, Duties of a Citizen, Governance Quiz and India-Africa Quiz.
The fourth session on 'Dissemination' concludes. PM Narendra Modi to arrive at the venue shortly.
Government and Social Media
"The Government of India has optimized the use of social media, more than any other government in the world," Journalist Smita Prakash
Our PM believes that we need to be both digitally and physically present: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Current discussion on Dissemination: Structured Communication on Governance Issues
"MyGovIndia is the digital bridge between the citizens and the government,"saidPP Chaudhary, Minister Of State, Law and Justice, and Electronics and IT.
"MyGovIndia a delivery platform, it can help government deliver on it's promises," said Journalist Smita Prakash
Character of our country has changed over years, people now want to participate in the governance,one of the panelists for the session, journalist Rajat Sharma said.
Government Of India Believes In Digital India And Live India: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Social media is an empowerment tool,empowering every individual both giving and receiving information. It is also an accountability tool: Arun Jaitley
The fourth session 'DISSEMINATE' has begun. Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad are sharing their insights in the panel discussion.
35 lakh people are connected to the myGov platform and that the site has logged constructive suggestions on a variety of subjects, including smart cities, Union Budget, net neutrality, new education policy amongst others.
The audience intently following the inaugural session.
Mann Ki Baat is a unique effort of PM Modi to connect with people.
More than 1.2 lakh people have given their ideas and 78 lakh have made phone calls to listen Mann Ki Baat.
I would like My Gov India to become platform to showcase achievements of those common people who don't get space on TV etc.
Our PM Narendra Modi calls himself Pradhan Sevak and that reflects the people centric change in governance: Ravi Shankar Prasad
Those who think for the country and work for its development have been given a platform to participate.
It's our effort to connect with people directly in governance of India.
In last two years we have added 12 Cr mobile phones in India.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, MoS, Cabinet Secretary Inaugurate Second Anniversary event of MyGov.
Chosen for their engagement with MyGov, about 2000 people have been invited as audience.
During the event a new app will be launched to allow mobile users to connect with website of the Prime Minister's Office.
The event marks two years of MyGov, the government's citizen engagement platform.