Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated that India will extend every possible help in relief, rescue and rehabilitation work to Nepal. The mountainous nation, on Saturday, was rocked by an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richtor scale, which claimed over 1,500 lives and caused extensive damage.

“Relief work is to be carried on after rescue operation. Rehabilitation work will be quiet longer, but humanity has its own strength. Nepal is their own for over 125 crore Indians. Their sorrow is our sorrow. India will try to wipe the tears of every Nepalese, hold their hand and will help in every possible way,” Modi said in the seventh edition of his radio broadcast ‘Maan Ki Baat’ on Sunday. This edition has no set agenda unlike previous ones where he choose topic such as farmers’ problems and drug abuse.

Starting in a grim tone, Modi recalled the earthquake at Kutch in Gujarat on January 26, 2001, and said he could imagine the horrible situation after such a natural calamity. India has dispatched relief and rescue aircrafts with trained professionals along with relief materials. The Centre has also decided to provide all assistance to the affected people in the neighboring states of Bihar and West Bengal.

Using this opportunity, the Prime Minister also lauded India’s evacuation exercise in war-torn Yemen. He appreciated the fact that the men in uniform evacuated not only Indians but also nationalities belonging to 48 countries, includin the US and France. All this brought praise from the International Community and this was also communicated to him during his recent foreign tours.

Manual scavenger

Later, speaking on various social issues, Modi set the target for eradicating manual scavenging completely in a year. He has also called for educating each and every child from poorest of the poor family. “Is it a matter of pride that even today some families still carry human excreta on their heads? I have appealed to my Government to get rid of this during the 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Saheb Ambedkar,” he said.

Recalling Ambedkar’s thrust on education, he said, “Our effort should be that every son or daughter of the poorest of the poor, living in villages and towns, should not be illiterate.” This would be the best tribute to Ambedkar during his birth anniversary celebrations, he said. The celebrations started on April 14 and will continue for a year.

Sports

He highlighted the accomplishments of Saina Nehwal and and Sania Mirza. Both of them hold the number one world ranking in their respective sports (badminton and lawn tennis). However, he expressed his anger with the reaction of certain sections of society over India’s loss in the World Cup Cricket semi-final. "When we lost to Australia in cricket, what some people did towards our team, it is not right. ‘ Jay ’ (victory) and ‘ parajay ’ (loss) are a part of life,” he said.

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