15th August Speech In Hindi English & Tamil 2018
The Prime Minister recalled some of the resolves he had made in his Independence Day address last year. He said the promise of toilets in all schools had been almost fulfilled, with the cooperation of States. He said financial inclusion had received a big boost with the opening of 17 crore bank accounts through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. He said the Rs. 20,000 crore deposited in the Jan Dhan accounts reflected the "richness of India's poor" (गरीबों की अमीरी).
The Prime Minister also spoke of the welfare schemes launched by the Union Government, including Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, and the schemes launched for labour welfare.
Describing children as the greatest brand ambassadors for "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan," the Prime Minister said this vision had generated great interest for the people of India.
The Prime Minister announced the "Start-Up India" initiative, which would encourage entrepreneurship among the youth of India. He said each of the 1.25 lakh bank branches, should encourage at least one Dalit or Adivasi entrepreneur, and at least one woman entrepreneur. "Start-Up India, Stand-Up India," the Prime Minister said.
On the long-standing demand from ex-serviceman for One-Rank, One-Pension, the Prime Minister reiterated that the demand had been accepted by the Government "in-principle." He said the modalities were being worked out with stakeholders, and he was hopeful of a positive outcome.
The Prime Minister reiterated his Government's resolve to make India a developed nation by 2022, with a house and access to basic services like electricity, to all. He said the Government had resolved to connect with electricity, all the 18,500 villages which still remain without power, within the next 1000 days. He also reiterated his vision for the development of eastern India.
Questioning the practice of "interviews" for recruitments even at relatively junior levels, the Prime Minister called upon concerned departments to end this practice at the earliest, and to promote merit by recruiting only through transparent, online processes.