AGARTALA / NEW DELHI, Aug 15 (TIWN): India faces "lakhs of problems" but Indians have the intelligence to overcome them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. "Yes, we face several problems. But we are capable of overcoming them," Modi said in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. "India has lakhs of problems," he added. "But the 125 crore Indians have the intelligence to overcome them."PM also sought support from all sections of society for the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative which focuses on the girl child. "I still need social support for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'," the Prime Minsiter said in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. He said one healthy, educated and economically independent woman can pull a family out of poverty. He also spoke of the bill for extending maternity leave to 26 weeks that the Rajya Sabha passed last week.Addressing the nation on the the 70th Independence Day, he said this had helped in increasing foodgrain production. Post offices across the country will be converted into "payment banks", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. "Post offices will be converted into payment banks," he said while addressing the nation from the Red Fort here on the 70th Independence Day, adding the move will create a network of banks which will help in transfering benefits to the people.

Accountability is at the root of good governance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday as he addressed the nation on its 70th Independence Day.

"Accountability should be at the root of good governance," the prime minister said in his speech from the Red Fort. 

"Good governance means a change in the life of the common man. It means the government is sensitive, responsible and dedicated to the common people," Modi added. 

PM also said saving energy was a focus of his government and pledged to distribute 77 crore electricity efficient LED lights at a subsidized rate of Rs 50 each.

"We want to distribute 77 crore more LED bulbs. I urge you all to use LED bulbs, save energy and take part in helping our nation," Modi said in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort.

"When 77 crore LED lights will be used in the country, India can save up to 20,000 MW energy and electricity worth around Rs 125 crore."

He said the government had brought down the cost of a Rs 350 LED bulb to Rs 50.

"I do not want to ask where all that money used to go (during the previous governments). I am happy to inform you that we have distributed 13 crore such bulbs."

Modi said when he took power in 2014, more than 18,000 villages in India did not have electricity. 

"When we came to power, we decided they must get electricity within a thousand days. Not even half the time has passed and 10,000 villages have got already electricity."

Modi congratulated India's farmers for enabling the country maintain its food reserves despite two years of drought, adding he aimed to double the income of farmers by 2020.

"It is my dream to double the income of farmers by 2022," Modi said in his address to the nation from the Red Fort here on the 70th Independence Day. 

He also said the government is encouraging the cultivation of pulses and their sowing has increased 1.5 times this year.