India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just made waves in a groundbreaking speech to his nation and the world.
India Independence Day has long served as an opportunity for its Prime Minister to address the public much in the same way that US Presidents have used the State of the Union to outline their plans. This Independence Day has seen a break from tradition, however.
Rather than criticize rival Pakistan like previous leaders, PM Modi used this opportunity to address two issues that are important to him: sanitation and gender equality.
BBC News reports that PM Modi discussed his disgust in the “all pervasive filth around him” and said India must end open-air defecation and build more toilets. To that end, he pledged bank accounts to ensure all schools will have toilets.
On an equally important note, PM Modi talked of the shame that a recent spate of rapes has left on India. Rather than place blame on girls, he argued that parents must take responsibility in ending rapes by bringing up better sons and teaching them the difference between right and wrong. He continued saying that doctors must stop aborting female foetuses and mothers must stop discriminating against female children.
As sanitation and gender equality are two of our biggest priorities for this year’s Global Citizen Festival, we couldn’t be more excited about the Prime Minister’s commitment to both issues. Stay tuned as we continue to report on India’s progress on both fronts.
BBC News | India Independence Day: PM Modi says nation shamed by rape