131537132

ongoing global turmoil with the collective effort of its 140 crore citizens.He maintained that India is the fastest growing major economy in the world.Modi said India clocked 7.7 per cent GDP growth in the fiscal year 2025-26, while the expansion was 7.8 per cent in the January-March quarter. The news that has come today makes it clear how strong the foundation of India's economy is, he said while speaking at an event in Daman, where he launched development projects of Rs 2,970 crore and inaugurated a new terminal of the airport in the Union Territory. I left Delhi this morning, but the (GDP) figures that have come in front of me are really making me happy, and I also want to share this happiness with you, Modi told the gathering.Even in this bad phase of global crisis, India is managing itself well with the collective efforts of its 140 crore citizens, the PM asserted in comments coming in the backdrop of the more than three-month-old conflict in West Asia which has disrupted global energy supplies.The reform express that this country is running on, the amount of infrastructure that is being developed, the amount of work that is being done for the welfare of the poor at all levels have resulted in the country becoming the fastest moving among major economies, the PM said. I assure countrymen that despite the global crisis, India will continue to move forward at a fast pace with the same determination on the path of reform, performance and transformation. This is my guarantee to the people of the country, Modi asserted.While development is important for his government, it is equally important that such a development model is sustainable, Modi pointed out.He said the first test of development for the NDA government is the change in the lives of the poor, tribals and middle class, and for this, the health sector remains its utmost priority.Modi maintained that before 2014, when he assumed office, only 60 per cent of children were fully vaccinated in the country, but today this figure has risen to nearly 90 per cent.On improvement in institutional deliveries, he pointed out that more than 90 per cent of the child births are now taking place in hospitals.Women have benefited the most from health schemes, he added.He said the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu is also the identity and heritage of India, and the government is focused on its development.The UT is dreaming of developing like Singapore, and infrastructure projects like NAMO airport, the iconic bridge on Damanganga river, and the convention centre will lay the foundation of a new vision about its future, he said. There will be huge opportunities here from the hospitality economy. The vision that we have prepared for the blue economy in this region will also come true with the help of high tech infrastructure, he said.Daman has also seen reforms in the education sector, and many efforts are being taken to encourage girls to continue education, he said. Our preparations of today will strengthen Indian workforce in the fields of design, law, engineering, medical education, IT, drone and renewable energy. For this, expansion of professional institutes is vital, he said.The PM said India is focused on tourism, and small places are being connected with big opportunities, with heritage tourism, beach tourism, eco tourism, and adventure tourism getting new energy.The UT of DNH, Daman and Diu provides huge opportunity for growth in the sector, and is benefiting from policies as it has seen nearly 10-time growth in tourist footfall within a few years, Modi pointed out.The projects Modi dedicated span healthcare, civil aviation, tourism, infrastructure, connectivity and public welfare sectors, including a new terminal building of NAMO Airport, the NAMO Hospital, an iconic bridge, the Daman convention centre and the NIFT campus at Daman.Modi also laid the foundation stone of important projects costing Rs 885 crore for the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. These projects include development of port facilities on the eastern and western sides of Kalpeni and Kadmat islands there.