Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a broad appeal to the nation to adopt austerity measures, including fuel conservation and a return to remote work, to safeguard foreign exchange reserves amid a global economic crisis exacerbated by the conflict in West Asia.

Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally at the Parade Grounds, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for collective action to navigate international supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures. He redefined the concept of national service, stating that patriotism involves not only ultimate sacrifice but also responsible living and the fulfilment of civic duties during periods of global instability.

Strategies for Resource Conservation

A central theme of the Prime Minister’s address was the critical need to preserve foreign currency. He noted that the soaring global cost of energy has made it a national responsibility to limit the consumption of imported fuels.

“Since petrol and diesel have become extremely expensive across the world, it is our responsibility to save fuel and thereby save the foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel,” Modi said.

To achieve this, he urged citizens to:

  • Utilise Metro rail and other public transit systems.
  • Practice car-pooling for necessary private travel.
  • Prioritise rail transport for the logistics of goods.
  • Accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.

The Prime Minister also called for a return to the operational efficiencies necessitated by the pandemic. He advocated for the revival of work-from-home arrangements and virtual conferencing to reduce the national footprint.

“During the Corona period, we adopted work from home, online meetings, video conferences, and developed many such systems. We had also become accustomed to them. Today, the need of the hour is that we restart those practices, as it would be in the national interest, and we must once again give them priority,” he said.

Domestic Consumption and Tourism

In a push to limit foreign exchange outflows, the Prime Minister asked citizens to forego international vacations and overseas weddings in favour of domestic tourism and celebrations within India. He further advised a one-year moratorium on the purchase of non-essential gold.

Modi encouraged a "Made-in-India" priority for daily commodities, such as footwear and accessories, and suggested that families reduce their intake of edible oils to benefit both personal health and the national economy.

Agricultural Reforms

Turning his attention to the agrarian sector, the Prime Minister urged farmers to cut their use of chemical fertilisers by half. He promoted a shift toward natural farming and solar-powered irrigation to protect soil vitality and decrease reliance on imports.

He highlighted the government's role in absorbing global price shocks, noting that while a bag of fertiliser costs approximately Rs 3,000 internationally, the Indian government provides it to local farmers for less than Rs 300.

Global Context and National Unity

The Prime Minister observed that the world is currently grappling with a severe supply chain crisis initiated by the pandemic and intensified by the war in Ukraine. He acknowledged that the proximity of a major conflict is having a profound impact on the Indian economy, particularly regarding the cost of energy.

“We don’t have big oil wells. We have to import petrol, diesel and gas. The prices of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers have skyrocketed. For the last two months, the government has been making continuous efforts to save people from the impact by shouldering the burden.”

Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister stated that government intervention alone cannot solve the crisis if supply chains remain broken.

“When the supply chain continues to be in crisis, no matter what measures we take, the difficulties only increase. Therefore, now we must fight unitedly, keeping the country and Mother India first,” he added.

With inputs from IANS