Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the challenge of textile waste, saying that it has become a major cause of worry for the entire world. Addressing the nation in his Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani on Sunday, Mr Modi expressed concern over a finding that only less than one percent of textile waste is recycled into new clothes. He said, India is the third country in the world where the maximum textile waste is generated.
The Prime Minister said, the trend of getting rid of old clothes as soon as possible and buying new ones is increasing all over the world, leading to textile waste. He, however, noted that many commendable efforts are being undertaken in India to deal with this challenge. Many Indian start-ups have begun work on textile recovery facilities. Mr Modi highlighted that many such teams are working for the empowerment of ragpickers, and others are involved in efforts towards Sustainable Fashion.
Prime Minister said old clothes and footwear are being recycled and distributed to the needy. He said, several items like decorative pieces, handbags, stationery and toys are being made from textile waste. Mr Modi hailed the organizations engaged in popularizing the ‘circular fashion brands’. He remarked that new rental platforms are also coming up, where designer clothes are available on rent. Some organizations collect old clothes to make them reusable and distribute them to the poor.
Prime Minister Modi observed that some cities are also carving a new identity for themselves in dealing with textile waste. He gave the example of Panipat in Haryana, which is emerging as a global hub for textile recycling. He added that Bengaluru is also creating a distinct identity for itself with innovative tech solutions. He said, more than half of the textile waste is collected in Bengaluru, which is an example for other cities as well. Mr Modi also mentioned Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, which is engaged in textile waste management through waste water treatment and renewable energy.
Speaking about water harvesting, the Prime Minister said, as soon as summer approaches, preparations for saving water begins in many cities and villages. He expressed satisfaction that works related to water harvesting and water conservation have gained new momentum in many states. He noted that Jal Shakti Ministry and numerous NGOs are working in this direction, and thousands of artificial ponds, check dams, borewell recharge and community soak pits are being constructed in the country.
Mr Modi further stated that like every year, preparations have been made on a war footing for ‘Catch The Rain’ campaign this year as well. He added that Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan is also being run to connect more and more people with water conservation. He stressed that the endeavour is to safely pass on the natural resources to the next generation.
The Prime Minister told listeners that over the last few years, unprecedented tasks related to water conservation have been undertaken in many parts of the country. He exuded pride that during the last 7 to 8 years, over 11 billion cubic metres of water have been conserved through newly built tanks, ponds and other water recharge structures. Mr Modi praised the efforts of countrymen, saying these led to the conservation of 11 billion cubic meters of water in different parts of the country. He elaborated that even the Govind Sagar lake, with a length of more than 90 kilometres, can conserve only 9 to 10 billion cubic metres.
Mr Modi also lauded the efforts of the people of Gadag district of Karnataka for reviving a dried up lake. Villagers, and social organizations in the vicinity, managed to clean the garbage and mud in the lake. He called this a great example of the ‘Catch The Rain’ campaign. He urged listeners to turn the Campaign into a mass movement.
In this edition of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister advised students to take up a hobby and do constructive things during their summer vacations. He emphasised that this is the time to inculcate a new hobby and hone skills. He added that there is no dearth of platforms for children today where they can learn. Mr Modi stated that children can learn about open-source software as well as app development from tech camps. He added that many schools also teach speech or drama, which are useful for children. He also said students have the opportunity to join volunteer activities and service endeavours during these holidays. He urged children to join such programs. Mr Modi asked organisations, schools and social institutions organising such summer activities to share their programmes with the hashtag – MyHolidays. He said this will help children and their parents to get information easily.
Prime Minister Modi also informed young listeners about the special calendar of MY-Bharat, which has been prepared for this summer vacation. He shared some unique efforts being made through this calendar. In the study tour of MY-Bharat, youth can learn about the function of ‘Jan Aushadhi Kendras’. They can undergo a unique experience in the border villages by becoming a part of the Vibrant Village campaign. Mr Modi highlighted that by participating in the padyatra on Ambedkar Jayanti, they can also spread awareness about the values of the Constitution. He urged children and their parents to share their holiday experiences with the hashtag – HolidayMemories. He said he will try to include their experiences in the upcoming ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
Speaking about the recently concluded Khelo India Para Games, the Prime Minister lauded the players for their dedication and talent. He was pleased to note that more players participated in these Games than earlier, which shows the growing popularity of Para Sports. Mr Modi congratulated all the players who participated in the Khelo India Para Games for their sterling efforts. He also extended his best wishes for the players of Haryana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh for securing the first, second and third positions respectively. Mr Modi said that during these games, Divyang players also set 18 national records out of which, 12 were set by women players.
Prime Minister Modi read out an excerpt from the letter written to him by arm wrestler Joby Mathew. The arm wrestler, who won a Gold Medal in this year’s Khelo India Para Games, said Winning a medal is very special, but they fight a battle every day. He said that despite this, they move forward with courage towards fulfilling their dreams. Mr Modi told Joby Mathew and all Divyangs that their efforts are a great inspiration for everyone.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the Fit India Carnival which was organized in Delhi for the first time. About 25 thousand people from different fields participated in it with the goal of staying fit and spreading awareness about fitness. He urged people to organize such carnivals in their area as well, saying that MY-Bharat can be of great help in this initiative.
Prime Minister Modi touched upon the topic of indigenous games in today’s Mann Ki Baat, saying these are now becoming a part of popular culture. He added that famous rapper Hanumankind’s new song “Run It Up” has become quite popular these days. Mr Modi highlighted that traditional Martial Arts like Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Thang-Ta have been included in Hanumankind’s song. He congratulated Hanumankind for his efforts in popularising India’s traditional Martial Arts.
The Prime Minister also shared a message by Atharva Kapoor from Varanasi, Aaryash Leekha and Atrey Maan from Mumbai who wrote to him about his recent visit to Mauritius. He was pleased to note that they enjoyed the performance of “Geet Gawai” during the visit. He said he received similar messages from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Prime Minister Modi praised the remarkable journey of the people who went to Mauritius as indentured laborers from India two centuries ago, highlighting how they have created a unique identity for themselves. He said, these people preserved their heritage and remained connected to their roots. Mr Modi shared that when he went to Guyana last year, the Chowtaal performance impressed him a lot. He also played audios of popular ‘Phagwa Chowtaal’ of Fiji and ‘Chowtaal’ of Suriname for Mann Ki Baat listeners. The Prime Minister informed that this tradition of coming together and singing is also very popular in Trinidad and Tobago. He also said that in all these countries, people read Ramayan a lot. Phagwa is very popular in these nations and all Indian festivals are celebrated with enthusiasm. Many of their songs are in Bhojpuri, and Awadhi, and Braj and Maithili are also used at times. Mr Modi hailed the people who preserve Indian traditions in these countries.
Prime Minister Modi said, there are many such organizations in the world working to conserve Indian culture for years. He cited the example of ‘Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society’ which is engaged in preserving Indian dance, music and culture. Mr Modi said, the organization recently held an event to celebrate the completion of 75 glorious years in which President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam participated as the Guest of Honour. The Singapore President had praised the efforts of this organization.
On the topic of fitness, Mr Modi said count is also playing a big role these days, be it step count or calorie count. He said the countdown to the International Day of Yoga is also beginning with less than 100 days left. He urged people to include yoga in their life. The first International Day of Yoga was celebrated 10 years ago on the 21st of June. Prime Minister expressed satisfaction that this day has taken the shape of a grand festival. He informed that the theme of International Day of Yoga this year is ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’.
Prime Minister Modi termed it a matter of pride that the curiosity about Yoga and traditional medicine is growing across the world. He highlighted that a large number of youth are adopting Yoga and Ayurveda as an excellent medium for wellness.
Mr Modi gave the example of Chile where Ayurveda is becoming rapidly popular. He added that during his visit to Brazil last year, he met the President of Chile and discussed about the popularity of Ayurveda. He mentioned a group called Somos India which has been promoting Yoga and Ayurveda for almost a decade. They also translate information related to Yoga and Ayurveda into Spanish.
The Prime Minister also spoke about how cookies are being made from Mahua flowers in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. These cookies are becoming very popular due to the efforts of four sisters of Rajakhoh village. The demand for Mahua cookies made by them is increasing rapidly. Mr Modi said that in Adilabad district of Telangana as well, two sisters have carried out a new experiment with Mahua flowers. They make various dishes with these flowers.
The Prime Minister also spoke about another flower – ‘Krishna Kamal’, which are seen in large numbers around the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. These flowers captivate tourists and have become the centre of attraction in Arogya Van, Ekta Nursery, Vishwa Van and Miyawaki forest of Ekta Nagar. Lakhs of Krishna Kamal plants have been planted there in a planned manner. Prime Minister encouraged listeners to write to him if they notice such interesting journeys of flowers.
Mr Modi also wished the entire nation on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri which began today. The Indian New Year is also commencing from today. The Prime Minister expressed delight that people from states like Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have sent him greetings in their local language regarding various festivals. People are celebrating Ugadi in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, whereas Gudi Padwa is being celebrated in Maharashtra. The Prime Minister said, during the next few days, different festivals will be celebrated including Eid, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Poila Boishakh in Bengal, and Navreh in Kashmir. He extended his greetings to the people of the country, saying these festivals show how unity is woven into the diversity of India.
