Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his gratitude to Sudha Murty while responding to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Parliament session on Wednesday.
Modi thanked Murty for addressing pertinent issues in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty advocated for a government-sponsored vaccination program to combat cervical cancer during her maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. She also emphasized the importance of promoting domestic tourism.
Murty, who was nominated to the Upper House by the President on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2024, highlighted the importance of cervical vaccination for girls aged nine to 14. She said, “If girls take this vaccination, cervical cancer can be avoided. We should promote this vaccination for the benefit of our girls because prevention is better than cure.”
Murty explained that cervical vaccination, developed in the West, has been effectively used for the past 20 years. “It is not expensive. Currently, it costs ₹1,400 for those in the field. With government intervention and negotiation, the cost could be reduced to ₹700-800. Given our large population, this would greatly benefit our girls in the future,” she stated.
In addition to women’s health, Murty advocated for the growth of domestic tourism, proposing the nomination of 57 domestic tourist destinations as World Heritage Sites.
She highlighted several notable sites, saying, “There is a marvellous statue of Bahubali at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka and a group of beautiful monuments in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh. In the East, Tripura boasts fantastic sculptures like Unakoti, and Mizoram has natural root bridges. The eastern part of India is truly a gift from God.”
Murty also mentioned the beautiful Mughal gardens in Kashmir, noting that while they are popular filming locations, they are not listed as World Heritage Sites. She suggested, “The tourism package should be well-structured, with good toilets and roads, to attract more visitors and increase revenue within our country.”
Additionally, Murty pointed out that some of the 2,500-year-old monuments in Sarnath are still not listed as World Heritage Sites.
