"Technology should not become a burden; use it judiciously": PM Modi

New Delhi [India], January 29 : Emphasising the importance of technology in today's world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that one cannot run away from it and it should not be considered a burden while cautioning that "excess of anything is bad."
Earlier today, the Prime Minister took questions from students, teachers and parents from different parts of the country during the seventh edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) held at Bharat Mandapam and also dwelled on the role of challenges and healthy competition.
"Excess of anything is bad," the Prime Minister said, drawing an analogy to excess mobile phone usage with home-cooked meals, which, when taken in excess, can lead to stomach problems and other issues, even though it is rich in nutrients.
He stressed making effective use of technology and mobile phones with the help of judgment-based decision-making.
"Every parent faces this issue," the Prime Minister said pointing out the subject of privacy and secrecy.
He stressed formulating a set of rules and regulations in the family and mentioned no electronic gadgets during dinner and creating "no gadget" zones in the house.
"In today's world," the Prime Minister said, "one cannot run away from technology."
He said that it should not be considered a burden but it is mandatory to learn its effective usage.
The Prime Minister suggested students educate their parents about technology being an educational resource and also recommended sharing the passcodes of every mobile phone in their homes with every member to establish transparency.
"This would prevent a lot of evil," he added.
Prime Minister Modi also touched upon monitoring screen time with the use of dedicated mobile applications and tools.
He also suggested educating the students about the resourcefulness of mobile phones in the classroom.
Chandresh Jain, a parent from Pune, Maharashtra, raised the issue of the intrusion of technology in students' lives. Kumari Puja Srivastava, a parent from Ramgarh, Jharkhand, asked about managing studies with the abundance of social media platforms. Abhinav Rana, a student from TR DAV School, Kangoo, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, raised the issue of educating and encouraging students to manage exam stress effectively while also harnessing the benefits of mobile technology as a tool for learning.
The Prime Minister emphasized not being disappointed in life and said that once this decision is made, only positivity remains.
"I have shut all doors and windows of disappointment in my life," the Prime Minister said.
He said that decision-making becomes easier when the resolve to do something is strong.
"When there is no selfish motive, there is never confusion in the decision," he said.
Giving emphasis on making the lives of the present generation easier, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the generation of today must not face the difficulties faced by their parents.
"Government strives to make a nation where not just the present but future generations have a chance to shine and show their capabilities," the Prime Minister said stressing that it should be the collective resolve of the entire nation.
The Prime Minister said that it is good to know that children know the pressures of the position of the Prime Minister.
He said that everyone faces unforeseen situations. One can react to them by avoidance, however, said the Prime Minister, such people are not able to achieve much in life.
"My approach which I found useful is that 'I challenge every challenge'. I do not wait passively for the challenge to pass. This gives me an opportunity to learn all the time. Dealing with new situations enriches me,' he added.
He further said "My biggest confidence is that I have 140 crore countrymen with me. If there are 100 million challenges, there are billions of solutions. I never find myself alone and everything is on me, I am always aware of the capabilities of my country and countrymen. This is the fundamental crux of my thinking".
He said that though he will have to be at the forefront and mistakes will be his but the capabilities of the nation give strength.
"The more I enhance the capabilities of my countrymen, my ability to challenge the challenges improves", he said.
Giving an example of the poverty issue, the Prime Minister said that when the poor themselves decide to remove poverty, pverty will go away.
"It is my responsibility to give them tools for dreaming such as a pucca house, toilet, education, Ayushman, and piped water. Once he is unshackled of the daily indignities, he will be sure of the abolition of poverty", the Prime Minister said.
He said that in his tenure of 10 years, 25 crore people came out of poverty.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister said that one should have the wisdom to prioritize things. This comes with experience and analyzing everything. He also said that he considers his mistakes as lessons.
He gave an illustration of the Covid pandemic and said that instead of sitting idle he chose to rally the people and raise their collective strength through acts like calling for diya, or 'thali'. Similarly, celebrating sporting success and right strategy, direction and leadership have resulted in a massive medal haul at international events.
He said for proper governance also, there should be a system of perfect information from bottom to top and a system of perfect guidance from top to bottom.
Throwing light on the power of positive thinking, the Prime Minister said that it gives the strength to look for positive outcomes even in the most negative situations.
The Prime Minister concluded his interaction by encouraging all students and conveying his best wishes to achieve their life goals.
Pariksha Pe Charcha is part of the larger movement - 'Exam Warriors' - led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to create a stress-free atmosphere for youngsters.