BELAGAVI, 27 MAY

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday appealed to the corporates and "public leaders" to do all that they can to support research and development, as it will reflect in the growth of the country’s economy and even in its diplomatic power.

He stressed the need to develop a culture where every Indian is fit and healthy, stating that the entire country at the moment is part of a marathon march for 'Viksit Bharat' in 2047.

Speaking at the 18th foundation day celebration of ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine here, he said, "We are living in big times. India, home to one sixth of humanity, is no longer a sleeping giant. No longer a country without potential. It is a country on the rise and the rise is unstoppable."

Recalling his parliamentary days and the time when he was a Union minister in 1991, Dhankar said the size of our economy in 1990 was smaller than that of London and Paris.

"... look at where we are at the moment, the fifth largest global economy, ahead of the UK. They ruled us for over 100 years. (We are) ahead of France, and it is a matter of time we will be ahead of Japan and Germany also. No small achievement," he said.

Dhankar also stressed the need to contain not just the disease but the source of it and said the focus should be on precaution and prevention.

He further said, "We are having big... achievements in space, on land, on roads, on infrastructure, on sea, in defence... it should not be difficult for us to involve every village in this pious task to make us health conscious, health aware." -PTI