GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, May 10, made an appeal to citizens to adopt what he described as a more responsible and self-reliant lifestyle in view of growing global uncertainty, rising fuel dependence and the economic impact of international conflicts. Addressing a gathering in Hyderabad, Modi urged people to revive several Covid-era practices and make conscious choices in daily life to help reduce pressure on the country’s economy and energy resources.
Calling for a renewed focus on remote working, the Prime Minister said offices and businesses should once again encourage work-from-home arrangements wherever possible. He also stressed the need to prioritise online conferences and virtual meetings instead of unnecessary physical travel, saying such measures could significantly reduce fuel consumption and ease pressure on transport systems.
Modi repeatedly highlighted the importance of conserving petrol and diesel, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary use of private vehicles and reduce dependence on imported fuel. He appealed to people living in cities with metro rail networks to make greater use of public transport systems such as metro trains and buses. In situations where private vehicles can be avoided, he encouraged citizens to adopt carpooling practices to cut fuel usage and reduce traffic congestion.
PM Modi also pushed for wider use of electric vehicles, asking people who already own EVs to maximise their use instead of relying on petrol or diesel-powered vehicles. Beyond personal transportation, Modi urged businesses and transporters to shift more goods movement towards railways, saying rail transport could help reduce dependence on fuel-intensive road logistics.
He also appealed to Indians to avoid unnecessary foreign travel for at least a year. Referring to the growing trend of overseas vacations and destination weddings among the middle class, he said the country should focus on reducing non-essential spending abroad during a period of global crisis. Instead, he encouraged people to choose domestic tourism and hold celebrations within India, saying this would also strengthen the local economy.
The Prime Minister further requested citizens to temporarily avoid non-essential purchases of gold, arguing that lower imports would help reduce pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves. He also reiterated the government’s push for self-reliance by urging people to prioritise Made-in-India products, including shoes, bags, accessories and other everyday items.
Modi also touched upon health and household consumption habits, asking families to reduce edible oil consumption. According to him, consuming less oil would not only improve public health but also reduce the country’s import burden.
The Prime Minister called on farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by half and move towards natural farming practices to protect soil health. He also encouraged farmers to adopt solar-powered irrigation pumps instead of diesel-run alternatives in order to reduce fuel dependence in the agriculture sector.