In R-Day eve address, President urges people not to let guard down as Covid still widespread

New Delhi, January 25: Noting that Covid-19 has been an extraordinary challenge to humankind, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Tuesday that tackling the pandemic was bound to be more difficult in India due to high population density and limitation of resources in a developing economy, but people have "shown an unmatched resolve" against coronavirus.

In his address on the eve of 73rd Republic Day, the President said the world had never been in so much need of help as now. He said it had been over two years now and humankind was still battling with coronavirus. Hundreds of thousands of lives had been lost and the world economy had been reeling under the impact of Covid-19 . [caption id="attachment_576142" align="aligncenter" width="750"] President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the nation on the eve of Republic Day.[/caption] The President urged people not to let their guard down as the pandemic is still widespread. The President said the world had suffered from unprecedented misery, and surge after surge of new variants of coronavirus had been posing new crises. Also read | Punjab elections 2022: Poll process begins, 12 nominations filed on Day 1 "It has been an extraordinary challenge to humankind. The pandemic management was bound to be all more difficult in India. We have a high population density, and as a developing economy, we did not have the level of resources and infrastructure needed to battle this invisible enemy. But it is only in such difficult times that the resilience of a nation shines forth," he said in his address on Republic Day eve. "I am proud to say that we have shown an unmatched resolve against coronavirus," he added. [caption id="attachment_576141" align="aligncenter" width="750"] The President also lauded the vaccination drive against Covid-19.[/caption] The President said the vaccination drive against Covid-19 was progressing at a quick pace in the country. "In the first year itself, we raised the healthcare infrastructure and also reached out to help others. By the second year, we had developed indigenous vaccines and launched the world's biggest vaccination drive in history. During the pandemic, we have reached out to several other countries with vaccines and other medical help. This contribution by India has been appreciated by international organisations," he added. President Kovind said countless families had gone through a harrowing time and there were no words to express collective trauma. He noted that the time of crisis "has also made us appreciate how we all Indians are connected as one family". "The time of social distancing has brought us close to each other. We have realised how much we depend on each other. Doctors, nurses and paramedics have risen to the challenge, working long hours in difficult conditions even at the risk of their lives to attend to patients. Others have kept the nation moving, managing supply chains and utilities. The leadership, policymakers, administrators and others at the central and state levels have made timely interventions," he added. [caption id="attachment_576140" align="aligncenter" width="750"] The President said precautions taken till now had to be continued.[/caption] Also read | Patiala temple 'sacrilege' accused 'wanted to hug idol', says preliminary investigation "There have been setbacks, unfortunately, as the virus makes a comeback with new mutations. Countless families have gone through a harrowing time. There are no words to express our collective trauma. The only saving grace is that many lives could be saved. As the pandemic is still widespread, we must remain alert and not let our guard down," he said. The President said precautions taken till now had to be continued. -PTC News