Prime Minister Modi discusses India’s approach to the COVID-19 health

crisis with Bill Gates

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation co-chair, Mr. Bill Gates via video conference. The dignitaries
discussed the global response to COVID-19, and the importance of global
coordination on scientific innovation and R&D to combat the pandemic.

Prime Minister underlined the conscious approach that India has adopted in
its fight against the health crisis - an approach based on ensuring public
engagement through appropriate messaging. He explained how this people-
centric bottom-up approach has helped win acceptability for physical
distancing, respect for front-line workers, wearing of masks, maintaining
proper hygiene, and respecting lockdown provisions.

Prime Minister also highlighted how some of the previous developmental

initiatives taken by Government - expanding financial inclusion, strengthening
last mile delivery of health services, popularising cleanliness and hygiene
through the Swachh Bharat Mission, drawing upon India’s Ayurvedic wisdom
to enhance people’s immunity, etc - had helped increase the effectiveness of
India’s response to the present pandemic.

Prime Minister appreciated the health related work being done by the Gates
Foundation not only in India but also in many other parts of the world,
including for coordinating global response to COVID-19. He sought
suggestions from Mr. Gates on how India’s capacities and capabilities could be
better leveraged for the general benefit of the world.

Some of the ideas that the dignitaries explored in this context included
drawing upon India’s unique model of last-mile health service delivery in
rural areas, dissemination of the effective contact-tracing mobile app
developed by Government of India, and above all by leveraging India’s
massive pharmaceutical capacity to scale-up the production of vaccines and
therapeutics upon their discovery. They agreed that given India’s willingness
and capacity to contribute to global efforts, particularly for benefit of fellow
developing countries, it was important for India to be included in the ongoing
global discussions for coordinating responses to the pandemic.

Prime Minister also suggested that the Gates Foundation could take the lead in
analysing the necessary changes in lifestyles, economic organization, social
behaviour, modes of disseminating education and healthcare, that would
emerge in the post-COVID world, and the associated technological challenges
that would need to be addressed. He said that India would be happy to
contribute to such an analytical exercise, based on its own experiences.

In a previous meeting last November, during Gates’ three-day visit to India, he

reinforced his Foundation’s commitment to supporting the Government of
India, in its efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), with a
particular focus on health, nutrition, sanitation and agriculture. And he
commended the Prime Minister on prioritizing nutrition as a key focus area,
and the efforts being made under the National Nutrition Mission.

It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the
"Global Goalkeeper" award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last
September for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by his government. The
award ceremony took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) session in New York. The annual awards of the
organization, in five categories, are presented to leaders and individuals for
their efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On that occasion, PM Modi lauded the countrymen for contributing to the

grand success of the cleanliness mission, saying he shared the honour with
them. He dedicated the award to those Indians who transformed the Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan into a mass movement and made it a part of their daily lives.

Terming it as a significant moment personally to receive the award on the

150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister said Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan is proof that when 130 crore Indians take a pledge, any
challenge can be overcome. He added that India is making remarkable
progress in fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a Swachh Bharat."In the last
five years, a record of more than 11 crore toilets were constructed. This
mission has benefitted the poor and women of the country the most”, Prime
Minister noted. In addition to improving sanitation and health, building of 11
crore toilets has also boosted economic activity in villages, PM added.

**************