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Venkaiah Naidu calls for responsible citizens to build India (Img: Dynamite News)
New Delhi: Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has said India’s ambition of becoming a developed nation by 2047 cannot be achieved through government policies and modern infrastructure alone. Every citizen must also fulfil their responsibilities with honesty and discipline, he said at a discussion organised by Bharat Ki Soch in New Delhi on Thursday.
Naidu was the chief guest at Mantrana, a flagship discussion programme held at ITC Maurya under the theme Duties of a Citizen for a Viksit Bharat. During his approximately 45-minute address, he spoke about civic responsibility, ethical education, family values, democratic participation and the need to put national interests above personal considerations.
Naidu said protecting citizens’ fundamental rights was also linked to the fulfilment of their fundamental duties. While discussing rights was essential in a democracy, citizens needed to take their responsibilities equally seriously.
He described the rule of law, social discipline and equality as foundations for building a developed India.
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Naidu said national progress required the participation of both the government and citizens. While the government must provide good governance, quality infrastructure and opportunities for development, people must obey laws, protect public property, pay taxes and participate responsibly in democratic processes.
The former Vice President emphasised the importance of strengthening family relationships and traditional values. He said parents should spend time with their children and play an active role in shaping their personalities.
Modern education and professional skills alone, he argued, were not enough. Children also needed to develop honesty, discipline, sensitivity and a strong moral foundation.
Naidu called for greater emphasis on moral education in schools, saying education should not merely impart knowledge or prepare students for employment. It should also help develop responsible citizens. He stressed the importance of introducing younger generations to the ethical teachings found in Indian traditions and religious texts.
Drawing on his own journey from a rural background to public life, Naidu urged young people to set ambitious goals and work consistently towards achieving them. He encouraged them to stay aware of developments in society and strengthen their abilities in modern technology, digital literacy, research and innovation.
He also stressed that voters should assess candidates on their character, qualifications and capabilities when electing public representatives. Healthy traditions of discussion, debate and decision-making in Parliament and state legislatures, he said, were vital to democracy.
Naidu said national unity, social harmony and the welfare of disadvantaged communities were essential to achieving a developed India. Development benefits must reach the most vulnerable sections of society, he said.
He urged people to promote mutual respect and cooperation instead of allowing tensions based on caste, religion or region to deepen divisions. He also cautioned against misleading and sensational content circulating on social media, emphasising that peace within families, communities and the country was necessary for progress.
Opening the programme, Bharat Ki Soch president Anil Rajput highlighted the importance of everyday civic behaviour. He cited the example of an empty road at a red traffic signal at 6 am and asked whether people would still obey the rules when no police officer was present.
Rajput said such small decisions revealed whether citizens viewed rules as a burden or accepted them as a responsibility. He added that a developed India could not be defined by expressways, modern railways, technology and tall buildings alone. Protecting public property, conserving the environment, acting honestly and respecting others must also become everyday habits.
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He said Bharat Ki Soch was finalising a citizens’ charter aimed at encouraging people to practise civic duties in their daily lives.
The event also recognised winners of essay-writing and debate competitions organised for school students under Janchetna 2026. Naidu presented awards to the winners, with students encouraged to see themselves as the future leaders of the country.
The central message of the programme was that India’s 2047 ambition would require governments, institutions, families and citizens to fulfil their respective responsibilities.
