India Can Feed Other Countries If WTO Permits: PM
New Delhi, April 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India is ready to supply food grain to the world in case the World Trade Organisation permits.
The Prime Minister’s comments came as he inaugurated the hostel and education complex of Shri Annapurnadham Trust at Adalaj in Gujarat virtually.
Referring to his talk to US President Joe Biden last night, Modi said he has told the US “if WTO rules are relaxed, India can offer food grains for sending to other countries”.
He said Indian farmers were already taking care of the world. Malnutrition is often a result of lack of knowledge about food rather than the lack of food itself, he told the audience. The PM said that in Gujarat, the land of Maa Annapurna, there should not be any place for malnutrition. Terming food as the first step in the direction of health, he stressed the need for spreading awareness about the balanced diet.
He repeated that during the pandemic, government ensured free food grains for more than 80 crore people. He also referred to the return of idol of “Maa Annapurna” from Canada to Kashi recently. “Dozens of such symbols of our culture, have been brought back from abroad in last few years,” he said.
He said he was delighted to be associated with the divine, spiritual and social enterprises of Shri Annapurnadham for a long time. He said that it has been the nature of Gujarat to contribute in the field of health, education and nutrition. All communities play their part as per their capacity and Patidar community is never left behind in fulfilling their role for the society, he said.
Praising Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who was present on the occasion, for his leadership and emphasis on natural farming, Modi asked the audience to “push for natural farming wherever possible”.
Speaking about health, he noted the adverse impact on the finances of the dialysis patients, and emphasized spreading the facility of free dialysis in all the districts of the country. At the new Annapurnadham, the hostel and education complex have lodging and boarding facility of 150 rooms for 600 students. Other facilities include training Centre for GPSC, UPSC Exams, e-Library, conference room, provision of Sports Room, TV room and primary health facilities for students etc, the PMO said in a statement.
