While addressing the 100th episode of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it has become a “unique festival of goodness and positivity for the people”. He also said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ is an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians.
He said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ gave him the platform to connect with people of India. “For me ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has been about worshiping the qualities in others,” said PM. “Every episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has been special. It has celebrated positivity, people’s participation,” he added.
“On October 3, 2014, day of the Vijaya Dashami festival, all of us together started the journey of ‘Mann Ki Baat’…’Mann Ki Baat’ has also become a unique festival of goodness and positivity for the country’s people. A festival that comes every month, keenly awaited by all of us. We celebrate positivity,” said PM.
He also said that he had received thousands of letters and messages from people. “Mann Ki Baat is not merely a programme but a spiritual journey for me,” said Modi. The radio broadcast has paved way for public movements as well. “Be it ‘Swachh Bharat’, Khadi or ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’…issues raised in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ became people’s movements,” he said.
As Mann Ki Baat reached the milestone of 100th episode, Mr. Modi spoke to some of these Heroes to know about their onward journey. Sunil Jaglan of Haryana joined him in Mann Ki Baat today. Mr. Modi had come across Sunil Jaglan’s ‘Selfie With Daughter’ campaign, and included it in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. In no time, ‘Selfie With Daughter’ turned into a Global Campaign.
Prime Minister said that the result of many such efforts has led to the improvement in Gender Ratio in Haryana. Sunil Jaglan told the Prime Minister that his initiatives like Selfie with Daughter brought smiles on the faces of every daughter’s father and those who love daughters.
Mr. Modi exuded pride that hundreds of inspiring stories of woman power in the country have been mentioned in Mann Ki Baat. He recalled that he had discussed the women of Deur village of Chhattisgarh. These women, through self-help groups, run campaigns to clean village squares, roads and temples.
He added that similarly, the country took inspiration from the tribal women of Tamil Nadu, who exported thousands of Eco-Friendly Terracotta Cups. In Tamil Nadu, 20 thousand women came together to revive the Nag River in Vellore. Mr Modi said many such campaigns have been led by woman power and ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has served as a platform to bring their efforts to the fore.
Modi said the monthly radio broadcast has become an important medium of learning from others. During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives.
To mark the historic event, the broadcast was aired live at the United Nations headquarters. The show was also broadcasted at the Consulate General of India in New York, and at community organisations in New Jersey for the members of the Indian-American and diaspora community. BJP’s overseas units and other non-political organisations have been roped in to ensure that the radio broadcast gets the maximum outreach abroad.