External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the Indian diaspora in Geneva, saying life is not just “life, but also”khata-khata(an easy task), it requires hard work. The use of the phrase was also a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had claimed that the Congress would solve ‘khata-khata’ issues if it came to power.
Talking about the human resources required for building infrastructure, he said that those who have done the work understand the importance of hard work and diligence.
“Unless we develop the human resources that require hard work, unless you build the infrastructure, unless you have those policies in place, then there is no life ‘khata-khata“Life is hard work. Life is labour. Anyone who has had a job and worked hard at it knows this. So my message to you is that we have to work hard at it,” he said.
Mr Jaishankar said that without manufacturing no country can become a major power in the world.
“And there are people who say we are unable to do it, we should not even try it. So, now ask yourself can you really become a major power in the world without manufacturing? Because a major power needs technology. One cannot develop technology without developing manufacturing,” he said.
#Watch | Interacting with the Indian community in Geneva, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, “…Unless you build the infrastructure and human resources, implement those policies, it is hard work. Life is not ‘khata-khata’, life is hard work and toil…”
(Video Source: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) pic.twitter.com/Bdcv76dNgJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 13, 2024
Mr Jaishankar said that India has achieved a lot in terms of human resources and today the intention is to take it even further.
“In terms of human resources… it is again important to look at the achievements here. So I can tell you that the intention today is really to accelerate it, to build on it, to keep telling ourselves that what we have done is just a beginning. I mean, there is no intention to rest at any stage,” he said.
Mr Jaishankar said that apart from professional interactions, world leaders are interested in what is happening in India.
He said, “When I travel around the world – and you must have noticed that I do quite a lot (laughs) – most of my counterparts, most of the presidents and prime ministers, meet me. Yes, we discuss foreign policy, but that is the professional part of it. But actually, they are very interested in what is happening in India.”
Talking about food aid in India, Jaishankar said, “Sometimes the conversations, even the words, are very similar. The leader of a very large Arab country said we have a food distribution system and Minister, you don’t know how much leakage we have. Because he was very curious how we manage food aid today, where today they are covering 830 million people. How do we manage it with much less leakage than before? Today people ask how have you improved your income tax collection? Because every president and prime minister is interested in increasing their revenues.”
Mr Jaishankar said there are lessons for the rest of the world in what India is doing.
He said, “When I look back at these ten years, I find that yes, there have been good changes in our country, but I would also like to tell all of you that these changes are actually visible at the global level as well. Today other countries watch with keen interest, they may not be able to copy it exactly, but what we are doing has a lesson hidden somewhere for the rest of the world. And people feel that this country, whose per capita income is still less than US $3000, is capable of doing so much.”
Mr Jaishankar said achievements are meant to inspire, not satisfy.
He said, “Achievements are not for satisfaction but for inspiration. It does not mean that I did well, so my work is over. Rather it means that I did well and I could have done a lot more. And if I could do this in two terms, how much more can I do in the third term?”
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