Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday stressed on India’s unity in diversity, and said as the world progresses technologically, it will still need spiritual orientation.
Speaking at the golden jubilee week celebration of the Auroville International Township in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, Modi said India has always allowed mutual respect and co-existence of different religions and cultures.
He said India was home to the age-old tradition of Gurukul, where learning is not confined to classrooms. Auroville too has developed as a place of unending and life-long education.
He said India has been the spiritual destination of the world and many great religions of the world were born in this country.
According to him, as the world progresses materially through science and technology, it will increasingly long for and need spiritual orientation for social order and stability.
Modi said at Auroville, the material and the spiritual co-exist in harmony.
He said Auroville has brought together a huge diversity of people. Indian society is fundamentally diverse and has fostered dialogue and philosophic tradition.
The prime minister said it was important today to remember the vast extent of action and thought of Aurobindo - a man of action, a philosopher, a poet - there were so many facets to his character for the good of the nation and humanity.
Meanwhile, in his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, Modi touched upon the issues of daily safety, women’s empowerment and “technology for welfare.” 
The prime minister said his dream of a “New India” was the one where women were strong and empowered and equally contributed to the country’s development.
He also urged the people to become conscious and aware of their own safety and said technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) must ensure the welfare of the poor, the underprivileged and the needy.
“If we are not aware of safety in daily life, if we are not able to attain a certain level, it will get extremely difficult during the time of disasters,” he said.
“There are messages and slogans everywhere about safety measures at work places and on streets. But these messages are hardly followed. If we stay alert, abide by the prescribed rules, we shall not only be able to save our own lives but we can prevent catastrophes harming society.”
Urging the departments under corporations and municipalities who possess the fire brigades to visit different schools once a week or a month and conduct mock drills, Modi said it will have dual benefit free of cost.
The prime minister said India was a land of geographic and climatic diversities.
“As far as disasters are concerned, the country has witnessed different disasters including chemical and industrial mishaps.”
Modi lauded the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for quickly reaching areas hit by earthquakes, floods, cyclones and landslides.
Stressing on the need to organise awareness campaign about safety, the prime minister said that thousands of people used to die due to heat wave a few years ago but after the NDMA organised workshops on heat wave management, as part of a campaign to raise awareness among people, the death count in 2017 dropped to around 220.
“Which means if people accord priority to safety, we can actually attain it,” he said.
Speaking about International Women’s Day on March 8, the prime minister said: “There are many programmes that are held in our country and the world. Today the country is moving forward from the path of women development to women-led development.”
Quoting Swami Vivekananda’s saying that the idea of a perfect womanhood was perfect independence, Modi said the dream of a “New India” was where the women were empowered.
“It is our duty to ensure the participation of women in every field of life, be it social or economic life. We are part of a tradition where men were identified due to women.
“Today, woman power has shown inner fortitude and self-confidence, has made herself self-reliant. Not only has she advanced but carried forward the country and society to newer heights.
“After all, our dream of a ‘New India’ is the one where women are strong and empowered and are equal partners in the development of the country,” he said.