‘India’s Covid-19 story is a story of atmanirbharta, which saved lakhs of life, atmavishwas, that we can fight the coronavirus, and the signature leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ours is a story of India’s resilient public health system and of everyone working together as team India to battle the pandemic,’ said Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. Dr Paul was speaking at NITI Aayog’s first in-house lecture series on India’s Development Strategies.

NITI’s flagship in-house lecture series aims to sensitize participants about major initiatives and exercises of the government, develop shared commitments, create a more productive and inclusive environment and provoke innovative thinking for meeting the developmental objectives of the nation.

While delivering the inaugural lecture, ‘Covid-19 Vaccination: The India Story’, Dr Paul walked the audience through India’s journey to 2 billion doses by July 2022. Dr Paul spoke about the enabling structures set up by NITI since 2020 and about the evolution of different vaccines and their impact, and India’s vaccine maitri programme.

Today’s lecture was followed by a panel discussion between Dr VK Paul; Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary (Health); Dr Krishna Ella, Founder, Bharat Biotech; and Priyam Gandhi-Mody, author and political strategist, moderated by NITI Aayog CEO Param Iyer.

At the first lecture of the #NITI In-House Lecture Series, BharatBiotech Chairman and MD Krishna M. Ella highlighted India’s vaccine prowess and the need for the government and the private sector to work together in combating emerging biological threats.

Our collective resolve to address the pandemic along with ensuring proactive decisions was at the core of our fight against #COVID, such as getting healthcare & frontline workers vaccinated first and then opening it to the rest of the population, said Secretary (Health) Rajesh Bhushan. 

In his closing remarks, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery said, ‘Our vaccination drive, as envisioned by the PM, illustrates what India can accomplish when its people come together in the spirit of jan bhagidari. The global community looks at India as a role model because of its effective vaccination programme based on the “Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam” ideology.’

The India Development Strategies lecture series will be held every month. The lectures will focus on national developmental priorities, policies for inclusive growth, best practices in various sectors, initiatives to promote cooperative and competitive federalism.