‘One of the biggest crises of this decade’: PM Modi asks Indians to embrace WFH amid West Asia tensions
VADODARA : Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on Monday, described the ongoing West Asia conflict as “one of the biggest crises of the decade” after the Covid-19 pandemic, and said India would overcome the challenge through collective public participation and responsible economic behaviour. The Prime Minister also advocated greater use of digital technology, virtual meetings and work-from-home arrangements in both government and private offices to reduce fuel usage.
He urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption, avoid unnecessary foreign exchange spending and adopt more sustainable practices to help the country navigate global economic disruptions.
Addressing an event in Gujarat, PM Modi said the world had been facing continuous instability over the past few years, beginning with the Covid pandemic and now the escalating tensions in West Asia.
“If the COVID pandemic was the biggest crisis of this century, then the circumstances created by the war in West Asia are one of the major crises of this decade,” the Prime Minister said.
“When we together overcame the challenge of COVID, we will surely get through this crisis as well,” he added. PM Modi said the government was making continuous efforts to minimise the impact of the global crisis on Indian citizens, but stressed that public participation and responsible consumption were equally important.
“Whenever the country faced war or any major crisis, every citizen fulfilled their responsibility in response to the government’s appeal. Today too, there is a need for all of us to come together and fulfil our responsibility,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that disruptions in global supply chains and rising energy costs were putting pressure on the economy and foreign exchange reserves.
PM Modi also urged people to minimise spending on activities involving foreign exchange and reiterated his appeal for “Vocal for Local.”
Calling crude oil imports a major burden on India’s economy, PM Modi appealed to citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using public transport, electric vehicles and carpooling. “I appeal to every citizen of my country to reduce the use of petrol-diesel as much as possible. Use the metro, electric buses and public transport more, and promote carpooling,” he said.
The Prime Minister also advocated greater use of digital technology, virtual meetings and work-from-home arrangements in both government and private offices to reduce fuel usage.
“It is essential that priority be given to virtual meetings and work from home in both government and private offices,” he said.
PM Modi further urged people to temporarily defer gold purchases, saying India spends massive amounts of foreign exchange on gold imports every year.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s push towards renewable energy, ethanol blending, solar power and cleaner fuel infrastructure, saying these measures were helping the country tackle global energy challenges more effectively.
Earlier on Sunday too, PM Modi had called for restrained use of imported petroleum products, saying reducing fuel consumption would help lower the adverse economic impact of the West Asia conflict on India.
Source : Moneycontrol
