India did not become a problem but was a solution-giver for the world because it trusted its scientists and doctors during the COVID–19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. He also said that coming out of the negative impact of Covid, India has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

He said in that atmosphere of negativity during the pandemic, India relied on its strength. “We trusted our scientists, doctors, our youth. And, we came out as a ray of hope, not a worry for the world. We did not become the problem, but we became the solution giver,” he added.

He also said that coming out of the negative impact of Covid, India has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

Addressing children who were orphaned due to COVID-19, Modi said the PM CARES for children is a reflection of the fact that every citizen is standing with them.
The prime minister said that under the scheme if someone needs an education loan for professional courses, for higher education, then PM-CARES will help in that too.

Speaking about the PM-CARES fund, he said this fund also helped a lot in preparing hospitals, buying ventilators, setting up oxygen plants during the Corona period.

“Because of this many lives could be saved and the future of many families could be saved,” he said. Modi did not of course refer to the record number of deaths during the Covid crisis - highlighted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) but denied by his government - which happened because initially, the government had become complacent about the pandemic resulting in shortage of hospital beds, medicines, and oxygen. There were also numerous reports of bodies of people who died of Covid, but who could not be given a proper funeral, found floating on the holy Ganga river in Uttar Pradesh, which was against glossed over the government as a "gross exaggeration".

Motivating children who lost their parents in the pandemic, Modi said even in the biggest atmosphere of despair, “if we believe in ourselves, then a ray of light is definitely visible. Our country itself is the biggest example of this”.

He said India sent medicines and vaccines to countries around the world. “Even in such a big country, we took the vaccine to every citizen,” he added.

“We took vaccines to our citizens; about 200 crore (two billion) vaccine doses have been administered in the country,” he added.

He further said the heights that India has achieved in the last eight years - the Modi government last week week celebrated its eight years in power  - no one could have imagined earlier.

 “Today, India's pride has increased in the world, our India's power has increased in the global forums. And I am glad that youth power is leading this journey of India,” Modi was quoted by Indian news media as saying. 

Modi also said that the country is getting out of the vicious cycles of corruption and regional discrimination, in which it was trapped before 2014, making no mention of the religious polarisation and attacks on Muslims and Christians which have marked the BJP-led government's years in power that have also seen numerous achievements on the economic, infrastructural and social fronts. Modi recently dismissed them as "small tensions' that were played up by the opposition parties to embarrass his government in the eyes of the world.