NEW DELHI — As India celebrated its 74th Independence Day with muted enthusiasm all over the nation by honoring the martyrs and paying tribute to the corona warriors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on India to become self-reliant and use its vast natural resources to produce for the domestic as well as the global market.

Modi addressed the nation on Independence Day after unfurling the national flag at the majestic Red Fort here. Maj. Shweta Pandey, a woman Army officer assisted the prime minister in unfurling the national flag atop the ramparts of Red Fort.

Hailing from Lucknow, Maj. Pandey has won more than 75 medals and 250 certificates in a variety of national and international events during her school and college days.

In his address, Modi stated, as we celebrate the 74th Independence Day, we look forward to the important milestone ahead — our 75th year of Independence. And as we lead up to it, it brings new energy and determination to take the nation forward. When we reach that milestone, we shall celebrate in a grand manner.

Today, we focus on taking India to new heights, to build a new India — an atma nirbhar (self-reliant) India. India will most certainly achieve this. History is evidence to the fact that when India is determined to achieve something, it has always done so. A self-reliant India has now become the mantra for 130 crore Indians.

How long will we export raw material and import finished goods? Time has come that we put this cycle to an end. India must now manufacture everything it consumes, and not just that — export to the world too as we grow.

Modi said, “I am confident that India will realize this dream. I am confident of the abilities, confidence and potential of my fellow Indians. Once we decide to do something, we do not rest till we achieve that goal.”

The event at Red Fort this year was relatively muted in terms of participation of people in view of the situation created by COVID-19. The general public was not invited to the event.

Instead, 1,500 corona warriors, including 500 police personnel who have recovered from the infection, attended the function in a symbol of the citizens' determination to fight the pandemic and emerge winners.

Modi said, India faced centuries of foreign rule. All efforts were made to destroy our nation, our culture, our traditions, but they underestimated our self-belief and determination. We lived through it all and emerged victorious in the end.

Those who were busy finding new places to put their flags, who wanted to expand their empire underestimated us. The world saw two world wars and so many nations faced immense destruction, but we rose through it all. Our freedom struggle was seen by the world, the prime minister said.

The prime minister lauded and thanked all personnel in the forefront combatting the pandemic in India. “On behalf of the entire nation, I want to thank the efforts of all corona-warriors. All those healthcare workers, doctors and nurses, who have worked tirelessly to serve the nation amid the pandemic. Many have even lost their lives. The nation salutes them.” Modi said.

“We have seen that when we put our mind to it, we can achieve anything. We never made PPE kits, our production of masks and ventilators was meager, but today we are making them all,” he added.

Modi, during his 90 minutes long speech, also announced unique health ID for every Indian citizen. Announcing the National Digital Health Mission, the prime minister said that a unique health ID will be provided to every citizen which will have their details of diseases, diagnosis, report, medication and so on.

He extolled the “Atma nirbhar Bharat” spirit of the country that has resulted in achieving self-reliance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned India's strategy for the development of COVID-19 vaccine, adding, that scientists are working on this mission with strong determination.

“India is working on three COVID-19 vaccines, which are at different stages of trials. Once they are closer to getting final clearances, we will announce a road map for distribution,” he said.

He spoke on his government’s efforts in boosting the agri business, stating: “We are working to double farmers' income. Some of you may not know this, but unlike any other business, where a businessman has the freedom to sell their product or service in any part of the country or the world and at a price they want, our farmers, till now did not have that freedom.

“They could only sell to who they were told to sell. Now, we have removed these restrictions, and given farmers the freedom to sell at the best price, and to who they want.”

He also stressed the need for India’s commitment to make its security apparatus and army strong as it has for establishing peace and harmony. He highlighted that mammoth steps that have been taken to make the country self-reliant in the defense sector.

Modi said recently, import of more than 100 military equipment has been stopped. "From missiles to light military helicopters, from assault rifles to transport aircraft — all will be made in India. Our Tejas is getting ready to equip itself as per the modern requirements, for putting up a show of its majesty, speed and strength," he said.

Modi also announced plans for environmental protection and launched projects to conserve Gangetic dolphins and Asiatic lions and also to make Ladakh carbon neutral. "A special campaign is being worked out to reduce pollution in 100 selected cities with a holistic approach," he said.

Announcing big plans for Ladakh, he said, "Just like Sikkim has made its mark as an organic state, efforts are being made to make Ladakh a carbon-neutral region." Carbon neutrality means achieving a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing it from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.

Referring to the face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley that took place in June, Modi issued a warning to hostile neighbors saying that India’s defense forces had given a befitting reply to those who challenged the country's sovereignty, in their own language.

Modi also spoke at length about the need to boost India’s infrastructure and resolve connectivity issues. He announced that all six lakh villages in India would be connected with optical fibers within 1,000 days.

PM Modi also said that Rs.110 lakh crore would be invested in over 7,000 projects across sectors under the National Infrastructure Policy. He also highlighted initiatives taken up by his government in the last six years, such as Jal Jeevan Mission.

Additionally, he said that the center has set up a committee to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for girls in India. “We have set up committee to reconsider the minimum age for marriage of our daughters. We will take appropriate decision after the committee submits its report,” Modi said.

“Whenever women received opportunity, they made India proud and strengthened it. Today, nation is determined to provide equal opportunities of self-employment and employment to them. Today women are working in coal mines, our daughters are touching the sky while flying fighter planes,” he added.

Modi thanked world leaders for extending warm greetings on the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day on Saturday, adding India has "so much to be proud of". — Agencies