Ahead of Mann ki Baat 10th anniversary, PM highlights efforts to save water

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday marked the soon to be celebrated 10th anniversary of his radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' by praising the success of initiatives taken as part of his campaigns for water conservation and Swachh Bharat.

Linking the completion of the 10-year journey of these efforts with the festive occasions of Navratri/Dussehra, the PM hailed it as a "divine coincidence".

"Ten years ago Mann Ki Baat started on the day of Vijayadashami on Oct 3. And, what a divine coincidence it is that this year on Oct 3, when 10 years of Mann Ki Baat are completed, it will be the first day of Navratri," PM Modi said.

Talking about people's initiatives, he cited examples of local efforts for both water conservation and under the clean India mission, which is going to complete 10 years on Oct 2. He mentioned how some women have given a new lease of life to the Ghurari river in Uttar Pradesh's water-stressed Bundelkhand region and regenerated a pond in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh.

PM Modi also expressed his satisfaction over the continual rise of FDI in the country facilitating the success of 'Make In India' that completed 10 years this month.

He urged people to take forward the 'vocal for local' campaign by adopting locally manufactured products. "Any such product, that has been made with the sweat of an Indian artisan, that is made on Indian soil, is our pride - we always have to lend glory to this pride," PM Modi said.

The PM also noted the US' gesture of returning 300 ancient artefacts smuggled out of India. "When we are proud of our heritage, the world also respects it, and as a result of that, today many countries of the world are returning to us such artefacts that were taken away from here".

'Efforts being made to preserve languages'

The PM also shared in his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme the inspiring story of Ramjit Tudu from Odisha whose determination to send messages in his mother tongue "Santhali" on his mobilephone led him to create a digital platform where literature related to the language can be read and written in 'Ol Chiki' - the Santhali script.

He said a campaign has been started to give a new identity to Santhali with the help of digital innovations. "Ramjit Tudu, resident of Mayurbhanj, Odisha, is running a campaign to create an online identity for the Santhali language," PM Modi said.

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