Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption and adopt precautionary practices similar to those followed during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing global economic uncertainties, rising energy prices and supply chain disruptions.
Addressing a public programme in Hyderabad, the Prime Minister said every citizen should contribute responsibly in the national interest amid prevailing international conditions. He advised people to revive several practical measures adopted during the pandemic period, including work from home, online meetings, fuel conservation, reduced foreign travel and prioritising locally manufactured products.
Referring to the global situation, Modi said the world is currently facing multiple economic and geopolitical challenges. He said supply chain disruptions, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and rising crude oil prices are affecting the global economy. According to the Prime Minister, energy conservation and foreign exchange savings have become increasingly important for a large and rapidly developing country like India. He appealed to citizens to make small changes in their daily lives to contribute to the country’s economic stability.
The Prime Minister advised companies and institutions to adopt the work-from-home model wherever feasible. He said online conferences and virtual meetings could help reduce fuel consumption and ease traffic pressure. He added that the digital work culture adopted during the COVID-19 period had ensured continuity of operations and could be reintroduced on a limited scale.
Calling fuel conservation a national responsibility, Modi urged citizens to reduce the use of private vehicles and increase the use of public transport wherever possible. He appealed to people to use metro services and public transportation, adopt carpooling, prioritise electric vehicles and promote railway freight transport.
The government believes these measures would reduce pressure on fuel imports and support environmental protection.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need to conserve foreign exchange and appealed to citizens to avoid non-essential foreign travel. He said people should promote domestic tourism and spend holidays within India. Modi further requested citizens to reduce non-essential gold purchases for one year. India is among the world’s largest gold importers, and large-scale gold imports place pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
He also urged citizens to prioritise locally manufactured products. The Prime Minister said promoting Indian-made shoes, bags, clothing and other daily-use goods would strengthen domestic industries and reduce dependence on imports. Referring to the “Vocal for Local” campaign, he described it as an important step towards economic self-reliance.
On the agriculture sector, Modi appealed to farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by up to 50 per cent and adopt natural and organic farming methods. According to the Prime Minister, these measures would improve soil quality, reduce dependence on fertiliser imports, lower farming costs and support environmental protection.
He also advocated the use of solar-powered pumps in place of diesel pumps for irrigation purposes.
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister said patriotism is not limited to sacrifices made at the border, but also includes living responsibly during difficult times.
