NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday was conferred with Bhutan’s highest civilian award, adding to the long list of awards already in the feather of his cap.
While conferring the award, Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck highlighted India’s support to Bhutan under PM Modi’s leadership over the years and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. “HM highlighted all the unconditional friendship and support Modiji extended over the years and particularly during the pandemic. Much deserving! Congratulations from the people of Bhutan. In all interactions, seen Your Excellency as a great, spiritual human being. Looking forward to celebrating the honour in person,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) of Bhutan said in a Facebook post.
Here are the list of awards conferred to PM Modi by other countries: Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud (the highest honour of Saudi Arabia awarded to non-muslim dignitaries) in 2016; State Order of Ghazi Amir Amanullah Khan (highest civilian honor of Afghanistan) in 2016; and Grand Collar of the State of Palestine Award (highest honor of Palestine awarded to foreign dignitaries) in 2018.
Other awards include Order of Zayed Award (highest civilian honor of the United Arab Emirates) in 2019, Order of St. Andrew award (highest civilian honor of Russia) in 2019; Order of the Distinguished Rule of Nishan Izzuddin (highest honour of the Maldives awarded to foreign dignitaries) in 2019 and King Hamad Order of the Renaissance (this Bahrain Order – First Class is a top honour by the gulf country) in 2019.
Legion of Merit by the US Government was also given to PM Modi for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.”
Awards Conferred by Organisations/Foundations include the Seoul Peace Prize (awarded biennially to those individuals by Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation who have made their mark through contributions to the harmony of mankind, reconciliation between nations and to world peace) in 2018.
Prime Minister has also received Champions of The Earth Award (UN’s highest environmental honor); First-ever Philip Kotler Presidential award (offered annually to the leader of a Nation) in 2019; Global Goalkeeper’ Award by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2019 and Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award by the Cambridge Energy Research Associates CERA in 2021. (ANI)
Development of Kashi can be
roadmap for the entire country: Modi
Stating that the development of Varanasi can be a roadmap for the entire country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the development of the city has been carried out in a traditional manner which has set an example of how local skills and products can become the identity of a city.
Addressing the inauguration of the All India Mayors’ Conference, PM Modi said, “I am thankful to the Ministry of Urban Affairs and the government of Uttar Pradesh for choosing my constituency Kashi for this wonderful programme. Varanasi’s development can become a roadmap for the entire country. The majority of our cities are traditional cities. Their development has also been in a traditional manner. We can learn from such places about how local skills and products can be the identity of that city.” Emphasizing the importance of public participation in the all-round development of cities, the Prime Minister said, “The more public participation we witness, the better it will be for the city. For instance, can NCC cadets take care of all statues of Indian heroes in their respective cities? We can also enlighten our cadets about their heroics. Mayors can ensure this during their tenure.”
The Prime Minister suggested people to use LED bulbs to significantly bring down their electricity bills and urged the Mayors participating in the event to ensure that every street and corner of their city has proper lighting.
PM Modi said, “You should decide that every street in my city should have every bulb, LED. With this, the electricity bill of the Municipality, Municipal Corporation will be reduced significantly and the lighting will also improve. In this way, LED bulb should be available in every house of your city, it will reduce the electricity bill in middle-class houses.”
PM Modi also stressed on the need to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and develop local industries by establishing the right environment for businesses to flourish.
“We need to focus on how we can empower our MSMEs, development of local industries and the right environment for businesses to flourish. Mayors can also significantly to PM SVANidhi Yojana, helping street vendors with micro-finances,” said the Prime Minister.
Speaking about increasing the accessibility of resources to the specially-abled, PM Modi said, “Keeping in view the persons with disabilities in cities, every new building, new road, or other construction work should follow the provisions of Accessible India Campaign. It is important to keep the sufferings of the handicapped in mind while making your plans.”
(ANI)