'Humanity won't accept defeat from COVID-19'; PM announces financial package worth Rs 20 lakh crore

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that humanity will not accept defeat from the coronavirus but the people have to stay safe and move forward. The Prime Minister also announced a special financial package worth Rs 20 lakh crore to fight the coronavirus crisis.

"This is an unprecedented crisis. But humanity will not accept defeat from the coronavirus. We have to not only protect ourselves but also move forward," he said while addressing the nation.

According to the Prime Minister, the special economic package is for our labourers, farmers, honest taxpayers, MSMEs and cottage industry. He added that more details about the economic package will be explained later by the finance miniter.

He further added that the country is standing on five pillars --economy, infrastructure, governing systems, vibrant democracy and supply chain.

Talking about the gravity of the virus, Modi said, "It has been four months since the world started fighting COVID-19. More than 42 lakh people from various countries have been infected and 2.75 lakh people have lost their lives due to the coronavirus. In India too, many families have lost their dear ones and I express my condolences to them. As the entire world is facing this crisis, we will have to further firm our resolve."

"The only way forward is self-reliance. India's self-reliance addresses concerns about world's happiness and peace", he said.

He said when the crisis began, the country did not manufacture a single PPE and only a few N95 masks were available. "Today two lakh PPE kits and two lakh N95 masks are manufactured in India daily."

The Prime Minister said during the challenging time, Indian medicines have come out as a ray of hope. "Due to this step, India is being praised across the world and the Indians feel proud. The world has started believing that India can perform much better."

The country has the sources, ability and world's best talent and can make the best products, he added.

In India, there are over 70,000 confirmed cases and more than 2,200 people have succumbed to the viral disease.