IndiaPosted at: Oct 25 2026 12:31PM


PM Modi urges ‘vocal for local’ push as Mann Ki Baat completes 12 years, highlights grassroots innovation and self-reliance

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on citizens to prioritise locally made products during the festive season, support small businesses and traditional artisans, and strengthen cleanliness drives ahead of Diwali and Chhath, as his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat completed 12 years.
Addressing the nation in the 139th episode, Modi said everyday consumer choices could strengthen local industries, generate employment and advance the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, while highlighting community-led initiatives in water conservation, organic farming, healthcare, scientific research and technological innovation.
Recalling that Mann Ki Baat was launched on Vijayadashami in 2014, Modi described its 12-year journey as an opportunity to recognise the contributions of ordinary Indians whose efforts often go unnoticed. He said the programme had brought inspiring stories from villages, towns and cities into the national conversation and enabled him to connect with people across the country. “For me, Mann Ki Baat is nothing less than a pilgrimage to understand closely the efforts of the people of our country and to salute their contributions,” he said, comparing the programme with India's centuries-old tradition of pilgrimage.
The Prime Minister said the affection and trust of listeners were invaluable, adding that the programme had consistently celebrated the perseverance, courage, dedication and spirit of service displayed by ordinary citizens. With the festive season under way, he urged people to make conscious purchasing decisions by giving preference to products made by local artisans, small businesses and traditional craftspeople.
Emphasising the growing reach of Indian products in international markets, Modi cited the examples of Bihar's makhana reaching Greece and Karnataka's arhar dal being exported to the Maldives. “Makhana from Purnia in Bihar is now reaching Greece, while arhar dal from Kalaburagi in Karnataka is going to the Maldives,” he said, presenting these developments as evidence of the opportunities available to Indian farmers and producers through improved market access.
He stressed that product quality and packaging were essential for traditional goods to compete in wider markets. Citing the Shabari Naturals initiative in Maharashtra, he said tribal products such as honey, mahua, chironji and bamboo-based goods were being marketed with packaging incorporating elements of tribal art.
The packaging, he noted, had received Japan's Good Design Award. He also highlighted a Karnataka-based bamboo start-up working on packaging materials made from bamboo and agricultural residues, describing such ventures as examples of young entrepreneurs finding innovative uses for locally available resources.
Khadi and Village Industries also featured prominently in his appeal. Modi said sales of Khadi and Village Industries products exceeded Rs 28 crore on Gandhi Jayanti this year, Rs 1.5 crore more than in the previous year. The increase, he said, reflected growing public interest in Khadi and offered tangible benefits to artisans and craftspeople whose livelihoods depend on traditional industries. “My personal appeal to you is to give priority to products made by local artisans,” he said, urging consumers to make the festive season an opportunity to support domestic production and preserve traditional skills.
The Prime Minister also called for greater attention to cleanliness in neighbourhoods and public spaces ahead of Diwali and Chhath. He said cleanliness drives were being undertaken in several places and emphasised that individual responsibility, reinforced by collective action, could significantly improve the surrounding environment. Festive celebrations, he said, should be accompanied by concern for health, safety and the well-being of others.
Turning to environmental conservation, Modi highlighted efforts to revive the Heval river in Uttarakhand's Tehri Garhwal district, where falling water levels and the drying up of natural water sources had raised concerns. Local residents and the administration worked together on rainwater conservation, groundwater recharge and large-scale plantation, helping revive the river and dozens of natural water sources. He said the initiative demonstrated how community participation and cooperation with local authorities could restore ecological resources and strengthen water security.
Modi linked the effort to India's traditional respect for nature, stressing that protecting water sources and maintaining cleanliness were shared responsibilities. He said such community-led initiatives showed that environmental challenges could be addressed through sustained local action rather than relying solely on government intervention.
In Punjab's Malwa region, the Prime Minister highlighted the work of the Kheti Virasat Mission through its Nav-Trinjan initiative, which promotes organic cotton cultivation without chemical inputs. The initiative also encourages the cultivation of naturally coloured cotton, reducing the need for chemical dyes in the production of yarn and fabric.
A weaving school established under the programme is helping preserve traditional handloom skills and pass them on to younger generations, with women among its principal beneficiaries. Modi spoke of women who had previously worked as labourers or domestic workers but had acquired weaving skills and were now producing shawls, towels and other fabrics. The initiative, he said, was helping them earn a livelihood while preserving indigenous knowledge and promoting environmentally sustainable production. Recalling his meeting with members of the initiative on National Handloom Day, he congratulated the team for demonstrating how traditional skills could be adapted to contemporary needs and create economic opportunities for women.
Access to healthcare through technology was another major theme of the address. Modi said the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine service had facilitated nearly 50 crore teleconsultations, describing the achievement as evidence of India's capacity to use digital technology to make essential services accessible to people in remote and underserved regions. He attributed the programme's reach to technological capabilities, the commitment of medical professionals and the confidence of citizens.
To illustrate its impact, he recounted the case of Oho-Tahane, a Jarawa child on Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, who developed a high fever and breathing difficulties. Local health workers used e-Sanjeevani to consult a specialist, who identified pneumonia and guided the child's treatment.
Modi also cited the case of Kunhi Koya, a man in his sixties in Kalpeni in Lakshadweep, who received medical assistance through a consultation with a doctor in Kavaratti. In Zanskar in Ladakh, the service helped a pregnant woman, Kunzang Dolma, who developed complications, while a 12-year-old boy in Nagaland's Peren district received assistance for an ear infection and fever. These examples, he said, demonstrated how telemedicine could connect local health workers and patients with specialists who might otherwise be difficult to reach.
The Prime Minister added that nearly 1.9 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs had been established across the country, expanding access to primary healthcare and encouraging regular health check-ups, particularly in rural areas. He said e-Sanjeevani was strengthening the network by connecting these facilities with medical expertise and making consultations more accessible to people living far from major hospitals.
Modi also underlined the importance of organ donation, recalling the decision of the family of Shivani from Narmadapuram in Madhya Pradesh to donate her organs after she died in a road accident. Despite their grief, the family chose to help others through organ donation, he said, describing the decision as an example of how personal tragedy could become an act of service to humanity and offer hope to other families.
Scientific research and innovation among young Indians received particular attention following Modi's recent visit to Chennai. He spoke about his interaction with scientists, researchers and young innovators at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, where he inaugurated the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre.
The centre has developed a brain-imaging technology platform capable of producing high-resolution digital three-dimensional images of the human brain. Its stated ambition is to map and study 100 human brains in detail using the Param Shakti supercomputer, with the resulting data intended to be made available as an open-source resource for researchers across different disciplines.
Modi said the human brain remained one of science's most complex challenges despite advances in technology, while conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia continued to pose major medical problems. A deeper understanding of the brain, he suggested, could open new avenues for research and treatment. He acknowledged the contributions of industry, the government, IIT Madras alumni and academic researchers to the development of the centre.
The Prime Minister said his interactions at IIT Madras had also introduced him to start-ups developing solutions to practical problems. These included technologies to assess gold quality and prevent fraud, systems to recover money lost through banking fraud, and the use of artificial intelligence to assist cervical cancer screening. Other innovators were working on electric vehicles capable of operating over water, fast-charging batteries for drones and electric vehicles, and applications of artificial intelligence in defence technology.
He said India's talent had never been in short supply, but stronger innovation ecosystems were enabling young people to translate their ideas into practical solutions. Institutional support, opportunities for experimentation and an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, he said, were essential to turning scientific capabilities into achievements that could benefit society.
As October 31 approaches, Modi paid tribute to Narinder Singh Kapany, widely known as the Father of Fibre Optics, whose birth centenary falls on that day. Born in Punjab's Moga district, Kapany conducted pioneering research into the transmission of light through fine optical fibres, helping transform modern communications. Modi said the internet and digital communication systems that have become central to contemporary life would be difficult to imagine without fibre-optic technology. He urged young Indians to learn about Kapany and other Indian scientists whose work had made lasting contributions to the world.
The Prime Minister also appealed to citizens to participate enthusiastically in the Run for Unity on October 31, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Observed as National Unity Day, the occasion commemorates Patel's role in India's freedom struggle and the integration of the country's princely states. Modi urged families, friends and neighbourhood groups to participate in the run and reaffirm their commitment to national unity.
Traditional agriculture in the Northeast was another focus of the broadcast, with Modi highlighting the revival of millet cultivation in Meghalaya and Nagaland. He recalled that India's initiative to mark 2023 as the International Year of Millets had drawn global attention to the nutritional value of the crops, known in India as Shri Anna, and their deep roots in the country's food traditions.
In Meghalaya's West Jaintia Hills district, two women have encouraged millet cultivation by developing value-added products such as cookies, cakes, muffins and baby food. Their efforts have helped create demand for millet-based products and encouraged farmers to return to the crop. In West Garo Hills, farmer Chekzing Sangma has adopted modern cultivation methods, improving his income and raising awareness of millet farming in his village.
Modi also cited Kezoma village in Nagaland's Kohima district, where millet cultivation had been discontinued for more than a decade. Residents revived the practice in 2024 and organised their first millet festival in 2025. The subsequent increase in demand for millet-based products, he said, showed how communities could preserve traditional crops while creating new livelihood opportunities.
The address also paid tribute to Maharishi Valmiki, whose birth anniversary falls on October 26. Modi said the Ramayana continued to offer lessons in perseverance, compassion, service and social harmony thousands of years after its composition. Referring to Lord Ram's relationships with Shabari and Nishadraj, he highlighted the values of respect and inclusiveness. He said the temples dedicated to Maharishi Valmiki, Nishadraj and Shabari at the Ram temple complex in Ayodhya reflected the continuing relevance of these values, and noted that Ayodhya's airport had been named after Maharishi Valmiki.
Modi also recalled the life of Bhai Parmanand, whose 150th birth anniversary will be observed on November 4. Associated with the Arya Samaj and the Indian freedom struggle, Parmanand worked among Indian indentured communities in Guyana and South Africa and was among the founding members of the Ghadar Party. The British sentenced him to transportation to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands for his revolutionary activities.
The Prime Minister recommended Parmanand's autobiography, Aapbeeti: Kaale Paani Ki Kaaraavaas Kahaani, as an important account of the sacrifices made by freedom fighters. He also recalled Parmanand's contribution to education, including his association with Bhagat Singh as a teacher, and urged young people to learn more about his life and legacy.
Extending greetings for Diwali, Chhath and other forthcoming festivals, Modi urged citizens to celebrate safely and in good health while sharing their happiness with others. He also invited listeners to continue sending suggestions and accounts of inspiring initiatives, saying their contributions helped shape the subjects and direction of future episodes.
The 139th episode of Mann Ki Baat combined the programme's 12-year milestone with a broad appeal for local enterprise, environmental conservation, accessible healthcare, scientific innovation and the preservation of India's cultural and agricultural traditions. Through examples ranging from village-level conservation projects and traditional crafts to digital healthcare and advanced brain research, Modi sought to reinforce his message that national progress depended not only on major government initiatives but also on the sustained efforts of citizens, communities, entrepreneurs and researchers across the country. UNI SKA AAB
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