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Text of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's speech at Saansad Adarsh Graam event at Jayapur Varanasi

Published By : Admin | November 7, 2014 | 15:06 IST

Minister from UP government Sri Ahmad Hussain ji, the local representative from the area Sri Surendra Singh ji, our MLC Sri Kedar Nath Singh ji, respected sister Durga Devi ji, Sri Arvind ji and my dear brothers and sisters who have gathered here in large numbers. 

The government of India has envisioned a new programme - The Saansad Aadarsh Graam Project. I, being a parliamentarian need to take responsibility of a village under this plan too. I have been reading different versions in the newspapers about my decision to adopt Jayapur village for this plan. Each one gives some version and this baffles me. I am surprised at how some fertile brains are working to spread stories about my decision to adopt this specific village. Such reasons given are ones that even I am not aware of. Why I chose this village has a very simple reason and the reason is that when Bhartiya Janta Party chose me to contest elections from Banaras, that time a big tragedy occurred where 5 people lost their lives in a fire in Jayapur. The first ever name that I became aware of after being selected for the Banaras constituency was that of Jayapur. That too I heard in a moment of crisis. Though I was neither the MP nor we had a government here, I called up the government officials, I called up my party workers and asked them to reach here for help. So this is the reason Jayapur occupied a place in my mind and my heart. So our relationship started in a moment of crisis and those relationships that spring from crisis often last a lifetime. So this is the reason for my association with Jayapur. I consider this as a fortunate association. Rest all the stories being spread are false and they have no basis. None that I am aware of. 

Now some people are writing that the Prime Minster is adopting a village. Well, this scheme is such where it is the other way round i.e. the villages are adopting a parliamentarian. Whatever position we may hold, either that of Minister, Chief Minister or even a Prime Minister, nothing can be compared to the learning that we can receive from the villagers. If I intend to become a good people’s representative, if as a public representative I want to understand people and their problems, learn something worthwhile then I cannot do so by sitting with clerks and officers. I can gather this knowledge only by interactions with the learned and experienced people of the village. They might not have been to school or had college education but what they have is a vast store of knowledge and experience. They have such a vast body of experience that they know practical ways of resolving issues, which can be a great learning experience for the public representative. This is why I have chosen Jayapur and I request you to adopt me in return and teach me ways to resolve your issues. Even after so many years of Independence our villages remained where they were then. Why so? It is now your turn to say that for the past 60 years you sat in your offices at Lucknow and Delhi and made endless policies and spent millions to no avail. Now listen to us and do what we think is better for us. 

I am also witnessing that the villages are competing to be adopted for this scheme. They are expecting the Parliamentarian to choose their village for adoption. The reason for this is a misconception among the villagers that if the parliamentarian adopts their village, a lot of money is going to flow in. Well this scheme has no money. This scheme does not involve money for if there is money, and then there will definitely be a corrupt person to pocket that money. The reason for launching this scheme was that despite running several schemes and spending lots of money, there was no change in lives of the villagers. The idea of this scheme is to find answers to these very questions. 

A few days back I invited the senior bureaucrats for tea during Diwali. These are those top notch officials who practically run the country. All of them are so highly placed that a common citizen cannot possibly approach them. I called them and gave them a job. I asked them to visit the place of their first posting. That very place where they must have been posted for around a year, where they started their careers and received their initial training. I asked them to revisit those places with their children and families. Tell them how you started as a fresher, how you functioned out of your first office and try and remember those people who helped you. Take your families to meet your acquaintances there. I asked them to spend at least three days in that very same location. And think how far they have reached in these 30-40 years whereas the village you started in remained where it was. Go and see for yourself and show the same to your family also. I want to create sensitivity, something that invokes some kind of proactive thought, where they think that it is their responsibility to bring to the forefront all those who supported them when they were new. The public representatives need to think to bring development to all those who have been instrumental in bringing them onto the national political scene. Hence it is my vision to go among these very people, work along with them and see that the government policies designed for them are fully implemented. See if there is the desired change in the village. If there is a difficulty in launching these programmes, then whatever policy level changes need to be made can be decided. If the MP is successful in achieving this, then the entire machinery of the government will get accustomed to working for people. 

I want to create an environment where the residents of Jayapur feel empowered about taking a decision for their well being. I have been seeing that Jayapur is in limelight these days a lot. Many government officials have visited the place. The village was cleaned, roads repaired. On asking why these special efforts are being made, it was the preparation for Modi ji’s visit. The villagers held the view that if Modi ji visits the village frequently it will become very clean. Are you correct in thinking this way? Now that the village has been cleaned, I would appreciate that you take a call that now all of us work together to keep the village clean. Isn’t this the beginning of an ideal village? I want you to think about the oldest tree in the village. Have you ever spared it a thought? Has the village school master ever thought of taking his students to that tree and tell them about its age, that it is some 150-200 years old, that generations from grandparents to parents to these children have played under this tree? This will foster a bonding with that tree. Today no village might know about its oldest tree. Why is this so? Are we no longer fond of them? Do we think about the elders of the village, how many are above 100 years of age, how many are above 75 years or more? How many children of the village sit with these elders and talk about the old days, about the childhood of their elders. How was their school, how were their teachers, what were the food habits at that time, how did they cope with the changing seasons. Have you ever tried this? Sadly, the closed and family like environment so common in a village scenario has suddenly started shrinking. Can we work together to bring back this environment? 

Let me ask you. Do you know the day when your village was established? There must be a day when this village came into existence. If you do not know then go to the government offices and find out when this village found existence in government records. If no record exists then decide upon a day which would be celebrated as the day when this village was born, like we celebrate our birthday. All those who have left the village in order to earn their living will also come back that day. All the senior people of the village who have attained 75, 80 or 90 years should be honoured. Tell me, on such a day, will you not clean the village? Will there be change in the mindsets or not? If someone from the village has gone out, and one day if he returns, on finding the school fan missing, he will donate one? 

How do we make our village an ideal one, not with the help of the government, but by awakening the collective strength of the society. We will decide that no child in the village would eat without first washing their hands. Tell me, do we need the government for this kind of a job. I was reading a report about a neighboring country where 40 out of 100 children die because of diseases related to not washing hands. Means 40 children out of hundred died because they did not wash hands. How much do we love our children? If the kids fall sick everyone feels sad. So let us all decide that no child from this village will ever eat anything without first washing his hands. You will not expect a prime minister to be talking about these issues. There must be some mistake. Well our leaders in the past were so accustomed of talking tall, that it never changed the ground realities. I am not here to talk big. I have to achieve a larger goal by these small targets. 

I want to ask the people of this village, some must have passed 10th, some must have passed 12th grade, some might be graduates, people of different age groups like 50 or 60 years old- have you ever been to the school where your child goes to study? Have you seen the school? Do you check if the teacher comes or not? Is the drinking water clean or dirty, if there is a toilet or a library in the school, if the computers in the school are in a working condition or not. Have we ever taken an interest in these issues? What we have done is admitted our children in school, dumped our child there at the mercy of the teacher and left him to his fate. This attitude doesn’t work. We have to be more proactive. We can decide to make a committee of the members of one neighborhood who will go each day and supervise the functioning of the school. Tell me then, our school, however small it might be, will truly turn into a temple of learning or not. It is such an easy job. 

I often tell the poor families in the villages to celebrate the birth of the girl child. But do we really celebrate the birth of a girl. Some families often end up feeling sad if a girl child is born. The daughter in law of the household has to face everybody’s ire. Will our Jayapur village celebrate the birth of a girl child? The goddess of wealth enters our household, so this should be celebrated or not, should we not be equally proud of our daughters. See, how few girls are being born in comparison to the number of boys. The reason of this is that the daughters are killed in the womb itself. If we kill the girl child in the womb itself so how will the social cycle function. If 1000 boys are born and only 800 girls are there, 200 boys will remain unmarried. What then will happen to our villages, our society? And is this the job of the government? Isn’t this our responsibility as a society to protect and honour our women? That is why I am here today, in Jayapur. We have decided whatever we were doing is past, now we have to think of a new way forward. I even say this that if you have a farm or a small piece of land, sow five plants when your daughter is born to celebrate the occasion. The girl will grow up and so will the trees. When she is old enough to get married, sell those trees and you will get the money to marry her off. 

We have to work together to develop new social structure. When the village celebrates its inception day, there will be no room for casteism. All will live in unity, casteism will not survive and once free of this social ill, no one can stop you from being a force so strong beyond everyone’s imagination. Hence this entire Aadarsh Gram Yojana involves implementing government schemes properly, on time and effectively. We have to implement it in a fashion that optimum results are obtained. The MP will provide necessary guidance and the work will gather momentum. Once the government officers realize how the work is to be done in the village, others too will follow soon. 

I have an intense desire to do many things for this village and the district of Banaras which are now under my responsibility. But I do not intend to work in the usual format of the governmental set up utilizing the funds of the government treasury. I want to use the people’s power by encouraging people’s participation. 

A while back our Village Pradhan, Durga Devi ji was giving her speech. I asked her about her qualification? She informed that she had studied till the eighth standard. Now see, how high was her confidence level because of her education. I felt proud; I was truly impressed by the manner in which she expressed her views. Don’t we want our daughters to be educated? If our Pradhan is educated, so shall be all the daughters of this village. 

Why is it so, that even for taking polio drops someone from the government office has to come to call us? Shouldn’t the youth of the village take the responsibility to see that all children receive polio drops, that no child should be inflicted by polio, that there is no one who is handicapped? The government can bring you the polio drops but it is your responsibility to see that the children receive it. So we will take this responsibility, won’t we? 

I have spent time with you, interacted with party workers and officials to understand your problems. I am confident that people in the administration which is primarily being run by the state government, will see to it that the tasks are undertaken and duly taken to their culmination. What the government needs to do and what as villagers we need to do… we will decide now. And I repeat, the MP will not adopt the village, rather the village has to adopt the MP. We have to work in a new direction and create an ideal village. I am grateful to the people of Jayapur. Naturally if I have made inquiries about the works being done, the organizational functioning, then I will try to find new ways too. But I do not wish to discuss this on the stage here. I will raise these issues at the necessary forums. At the same time I expect you people to sit together and decide what works you can undertake and to work on your own collective strengths. 

I have heard that there is a water crisis in this village. The government will do what it needs to do. But let us decide that we will not allow even a single drop of rainwater to go waste. There will no longer be water crisis. But all of us have to work together for this. Whatever we have been doing is past. Now we have to think of a new way forward. We have to march ahead with our social strength. We will no longer wait for the government to do something for us. We will work together as a force and involve our neighbouring villages too. I have seen this happening in some villages. The people have done it and so will Jayapur do it. 

I express my gratitude for the love and respect showered by you and I want to assure you that we will work together as a team to create a new Jayapur, a better Jayapur. 

With this belief in my heart, I express my sincere gratitude to you all. Thank You! 

(The original speech was in Hindi, this is the English rendering. Original speech remains the authoritative version) 

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Today every Indian holds the same resolve that we have to end terrorism - PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat
Today every Indian holds the same resolve that we have to end terrorism - PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat
May 25, 2025
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QuoteThe protection of honeybees is not just a protection of the environment, but also that of our agriculture and future generations: PM Modi

My dear countrymen,

Namaskar. Today the whole country is united against terrorism; filled up with anger and resolve. Today every Indian holds the same resolve that we have to end terrorism. Friends, the valour displayed by our forces during Operation Sindoor has made every Indian proud. The precision and accuracy with which our forces destroyed the terrorist hideouts across the border is amazing. Operation Sindoor has lent a new confidence and enthusiasm to the fight against terrorism across the world.

Friends,

Operation Sindoor is not just a military mission; it is a picture of our resolve, courage and a transforming India and this picture has infused the whole country with a sense of patriotism and has painted it in the hues of the tricolour. You must have seen that in many cities, villages and small towns of the country, Tiranga Yatras were organised. Thousands of people came out holding the tricolour, to pay their respects & honour to the country's armed forces. In many a city, a large number of youth came together to become Civil Defence Volunteers… and we saw that the videos from Chandigarh went viral. Poems were being written on social media, songs of resolve were being sung. Little children were creating paintings that carried great messages hidden in them.

I had gone to Bikaner just three days ago. There, children had gifted me one such painting. ‘Operation Sindoor’ has influenced the people of the country so much that many families have made it a part of their lives. In Katihar in Bihar, Kushinagar in UP, and many other cities, children born during that period have been named ‘Sindoor’.

Friends,

Our soldiers destroyed terror bases; it was their indomitable courage, along with the power of weapons, equipment and technology made in India. It also included the resolve of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The sweat of our engineers, our technicians, in fact, that of everyone… is involved in this victory. After this campaign, a renewed energy is visible in the whole country regarding ‘Vocal for Local’. Many things touch the heart. A parent remarked, “We will now buy toys only made in India, for our children. Patriotism will start from childhood.” Some families have taken a pledge, “We will spend our next vacation in some beautiful place in the country.” Many young persons have taken a pledge to ‘Wed in India’… that they would get married in the country itself. Someone also said, “Now whatever gift we will give, it will be made by an Indian artisan.”

Friends,

This itself is the real strength of India – ‘connection between people and minds… public participation’. I urge all of you too… come, let us take a pledge on this occasion – wherever possible in our lives, we will accord priority to products made in the country.

This is not just a matter of economic self-reliance… it is a feeling of participation in nation building. One step of ours can become a huge contribution to the progress of India.
Friends, travelling to a place by bus is such a common thing. But I want to tell you about a village where a bus has reached for the first time. People there had been waiting for this day for years. And when the bus reached the village for the first time, people welcomed it by playing the Dhol-Nagara. Upon seeing the bus, their joy knew no bounds! There was a paved road in the village… people needed it, but a bus could never run here before. Why… because this village was affected by Maoist violence. This place is in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, and the name of this village is Katejhari. This change in Katejhari is being felt in the entire surrounding region. Now the situation here is becoming normal rapidly. On account of the collective fight against Maoism, basic facilities have started reaching such areas as well. The people of the village say that with the arrival of the bus, their lives would become much easier.

Friends,

In 'Mann Ki Baat' we have already discussed the Bastar Olympics held in Chhattisgarh and the Science Lab in Maoist affected areas. The children here are passionate about science. They are also doing great in sports. Such efforts reflect how courageous the people living in these areas are. These people have chosen the path of improving their lives amidst so many challenges.

I am also very happy to know that the results of Dantewada district in the 10th and 12th standard examinations have been excellent. With nearly ninety five percent result, this district topped the 10th standard results. Whereas in the 12th standard examination, this district secured the sixth position in Chhattisgarh. Imagine! Dantewada, where Maoism was once at its peak… today the flag of education is flying high there. Such changes fill us all with pride.

My dear countrymen,

I now want to share a piece of good news related to lions. In just the last five years, the population of lions in Gir, Gujarat has increased from 674 to 891. This number of lions that emerged after the lion census is very encouraging. Friends, many of you must be wondering how this animal census is conducted! This exercise is very challenging. You will be surprised to know that the Lion Census was conducted in 11 districts, in an area of ​​35 thousand square kilometres. For the census, the teams monitored these areas round the clock… twenty four hours. Both verification and cross verification were done in this entire campaign. This enabled the counting of lions to be completed with utmost precision.

Friends,

The rise in the population of the Asiatic Lion shows that when the sense of ownership strengthens in the society, amazing results happen. A few decades ago, the situation in Gir was very challenging. But the people there came together to bring about a change.

Along with the latest technology, global best practices were also adopted there. During this time, Gujarat became the first state where women were appointed as Forest Officers on a large scale. All these have contributed to the results we are seeing today. We will have to remain vigilant and alert like this for wildlife protection.

My dear countrymen,

Just a couple of days ago, I went to the first Rising North East Summit. Before that, we also celebrated the 'Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav' dedicated to the strength of the North East. The North East is something extraordinary; its strength, its talent, is really amazing. I have come to know an interesting story about crafted fibres. Crafted fibres is not just a brand; it is a beautiful confluence of Sikkim's tradition, the art of weaving, and the sense of fashion today. It was started by Dr. Chewang Norbu Bhutia. He is a Veterinary Doctor by profession and a true Brand Ambassador of Sikkim's culture by heart. He thought… ”why not give a new dimension to weaving!” And this thought gave birth to Crafted Fibers. He connected traditional weaving with modern fashion and made it a social enterprise. Now he doesn't just make clothes, he weaves lives. He provides skill training to local people, making them self-reliant. By connecting village weavers, cattle rearers and self-help groups, Dr. Bhutia has created new avenues of employment.

Today,

Local women and artisans are earning well through their skills. Crafted Fibers' shawls, stoles, gloves, socks… all are made by local handloom. The wool used in it is obtained from the rabbits and sheep of Sikkim. The colors are also completely natural - no chemicals, only the hues of nature. Dr. Bhutia has lent a new identity to the traditional weaving and culture of Sikkim. Dr. Bhutia's work teaches us how much tradition can attract the world when it is combined with passion.

My dear countrymen,

Today I want to tell you about a wonderful person who is an artist as well as a living inspiration. His name is - Jeevan Joshi; age 65 years. Now imagine, how full of life one who has 'Jeevan' in one’s name itself must be. Jeevan ji lives in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. During childhood, polio took away the strength of his legs, but polio could not snatch his courage. Even though his walking speed slowed down, his mind kept soaring on every flight of imagination. In this flight, Jeevan ji gave birth to a unique art… he named it 'Baget'. In this, he makes beautiful art pieces from the dry bark that falls apart off pine trees. The very bark, which people generally consider useless - becomes a heritage as soon as it comes into Jeevan ji's hands. Every creation of his bears the fragrance of the soil of Uttarakhand. Sometimes it is the folk instruments of the hills, and at times it seems as if the soul of the hills has permeated that wood. Jeevan ji's work is not just art, it is a sadhana.

He has dedicated his entire life to this art. Artists like Jeevan Joshi remind us that no matter what the circumstances are, if the intention is strong, nothing is impossible. His name is Jeevan and he has really shown what it means to live life.

My dear countrymen,

Today there are many women who are working in the fields as well as touching the heights of the sky. Yes! You heard it right, now the women of the village are flying drones as Drone Didi and ushering in a new revolution in agriculture.

Friends,

In Sangareddy district of Telangana, women who had to depend on others till some time ago… today those very women are completing the work of spraying pesticides on 50 acres of land with the help of drones. Three hours in the morning, two hours in the evening and the work is done. Neither the scorching sun, nor the danger of poisonous chemicals. Friends, the villagers have also accepted this change wholeheartedly. Now these women are not known as 'drone operators' but as 'sky warriors'. These women are telling us that change comes when technology and determination go together.

My dear countrymen,

less than a month is left for 'International Yoga Day'. This occasion reminds us that if you are still away from yoga, join yoga now. Yoga will change the way you live your life. Friends, since the beginning of 'Yoga Day' on 21 June 2015, attraction towards it is rising continuously.

This time too, the zeal and enthusiasm among people all over the world with regard to 'Yoga Day' is amply visible. Myriad institutions are sharing their preparations. The pictures of past years have been very inspiring. We have seen that during these years, people in various countries have made Yoga Chain or Yoga Ring. There are many pictures which depict four generations doing yoga together. Many people have chosen iconic places of their city for yoga. You too can think of celebrating Yoga Day in some interesting way this time.

Friends,

The government of Andhra Pradesh has started YogAndhra Abhiyan. Its objective is to develop the yoga culture in the entire state. Under this campaign, a pool of 10 lakh people practising yoga is being created. I will get an opportunity to participate in the 'Yoga Day' program in Visakhapatnam this year. I am happy to know that this time too our young friends are going to perform yoga at iconic places related to the heritage of the country. Many youth have pledged to create a record and become a part of the Yoga Chain. Our Corporates too, are not lagging behind in this. Some institutions have set aside a separate place for yoga practice in their offices. Some start-ups have set up ‘office yoga hours’. There are also people who are preparing to go to villages and teach yoga. This awareness of people about health and fitness gives me immense joy.

Friends,

Along with ‘Yoga Day’, something has happened in the field of Ayurveda as well, which you will be very happy to know about. Just yesterday, i.e. on 24th May, an MoU was signed in the presence of WHO Director General and my friend Tulsi Bhai. Along with this agreement, work has started on a dedicated traditional medicine module under the International Classification of Health Interventions. This initiative will help in making AYUSH reach maximum number of people across the world in a scientific manner.

Friends,

You must have seen blackboards in schools, but now ‘sugar boards’ are also being installed in some schools – not blackboard, but sugar board! The aim of this unique initiative of CBSE is to make children aware of their sugar intake. By understanding how much sugar should be consumed and how much sugar is being consumed, children have started choosing healthy options themselves. This is a unique effort and its impact will also be very positive. It can prove to be very helpful in inculcating healthy lifestyle habits from childhood. Many parents have appreciated it and I believe that such initiatives should also be taken in offices, canteens and institutions. After all, if there is health, there is everything. Fit India is the foundation of a strong India.

My dear countrymen,

How can it be possible that there is talk of clean India and the listeners of 'Mann Ki Baat' stay behind? I have full faith that all of you are strengthening this campaign at your own level.But today I want to tell you about an example where the resolve for cleanliness conquered even insurmountable challenges. Just imagine, a person is climbing snowy mountains, where it is difficult to breathe, there is danger to life at every step and still that person is engaged in cleaning there. Something similar has been done by members of our ITBP team. This team went to climb the world's most difficult peak, Mount Makalu. But friends, they didn't just climb the mountain… they added another mission of 'cleanliness' to their goal. They took up the task of removing the garbage lying near the peak. Just imagine, the members of this team brought down more than 150 kg of non-biodegradable waste with them. Cleaning at such a height is not an easy task. But this shows that where there is determination, the path is created automatically.

Friends,

Another important topic related to this is - paper waste and recycling. A lot of paper waste is generated in our homes and offices every day. Perhaps, we consider it normal, but you will be surprised to know that about a fourth of the country's landfill waste is related to paper. Today, there is a need for every person to think in this direction. I am happy to know that many Start-Ups of India are doing excellent work in this sector. In many cities like Visakhapatnam and Gurugram, many Start-Ups are adopting innovative methods of paper recycling. Some are making packaging boards from recycled paper, others are making newspaper recycling easier through digital methods.

In cities like Jalna, some Start-Ups are making packaging rolls and paper cores from 100 percent recycled material. You will also be inspired by knowing that recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees from being cut and thousands of litres of water is saved. Just think, when mountaineers can bring back waste under such difficult conditions, we too should definitely contribute to recycling by separating paper in our homes or offices. When every citizen of the country thinks what better one could do for the country, only then can we bring about a big change, together.

Friends,

Recently Khelo India Games were a big hit. Five cities of Bihar hosted the Khelo India games. Matches of different categories were held there. The number of athletes who reached there from all over India was more than five thousand. These athletes have praised the Sporting Spirit of Bihar and the warmth shown by the people of Bihar.

Friends,

The land of Bihar is very special. Many unique things happened here in this event. This was the first edition of Khelo India Youth Games, which reached the whole world through the Olympic channel. People from all over the world saw and appreciated the talent of our young players. I congratulate all the medal winners, especially the top three winners - Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Friends,

A total of 26 records were made in Khelo India this time. In the Weight Lifting competitions, the brilliant performances of Asmita Dhone of Maharashtra, Harshvardhan Sahu of Odisha and Tushar Chaudhary of Uttar Pradesh won everyone's heart. Sairaj Pardesi of Maharashtra went on to create three records. In athletics, Qadir Khan and Sheikh Zeeshan of Uttar Pradesh and Hansraj of Rajasthan performed brilliantly. This time Bihar also won 36 medals. Friends, the one who plays, blooms. The tournament holds great significance for Young Sporting Talent. Such events will further enhance the future of Indian sports.

My dear countrymen,

The 20th of May was celebrated as ‘World Bee Day’; a day which reminds us that honey is not just sweetness; it is also an example of health, self-employment and self-reliance. During the last 11 years, a sweet revolution has taken place in beekeeping in India. 10-11 years ago, honey production in India was around 70-75 thousand metric tons in a year. Today it has increased to around 1.25 lakh metric tons. That is, there has been an increase of about 60% in honey production. We have become one of the leading countries in the world in honey production and export. Friends, National Beekeeping and 'Honey Mission' have a big role in this positive impact. Under this, thousands of farmers associated with beekeeping were imparted training, equipment and their direct access to the market was created.

Friends,

This change is not only visible in figures; it is also clearly visible on the ground level in the villages. There is an example of Korea district of Chhattisgarh, where tribal farmers have created a pure organic honey brand named 'Sonhani'. Today that honey is being sold on many online portals including GeM, that is, the hard work of the village is now going global. Similarly, thousands of women and youth in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh have become honey entrepreneurs. Friends, now work is being done not only on the quantity of honey but also on its purity. Some start-ups are now certifying the quality of honey with AI and digital technology. The next time you buy honey, do try the honey made by these honey entrepreneurs. Try to buy honey from a local farmer; from a woman entrepreneur as well. Because every drop of it contains not only taste but also the hard work and hopes of India. This sweetness of honey is the taste of a self-reliant India.

Friends,

While we are talking about the efforts of countries related to honey, I would like to tell you about another initiative. It reminds us that the protection of honeybees is not just a protection of the environment, but also that of our agriculture and future generations. Here’s an example of the city of Pune, where a beehive was removed from a housing society - perhaps on account of security reasons or fear. But this incident forced someone to think something.

A young person named Amit decided that bees should not be removed but they should be saved. He learnt himself, researched on bees and started adding others too. Gradually he formed a team, which he named Bee Friends i.e. ‘Bee Mitra’. Now these Bee Friends transfer beehives from one place to another in a safe manner, so that people are not in danger and the honeybees also stay alive. The effect of this endeavour of Amit ji has also been great. Honeybee colonies are being saved. Honey production is increasing, and most importantly, awareness is also rising among people. This initiative teaches us that when we work in harmony with nature, everyone benefits from it.
My dear countrymen, that’s all for this episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'. Keep sending me the achievements of the people of the country and their efforts for the society. We will meet again in the next episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'… we will discuss many new topics and new achievements of countrymen. I am waiting for your messages. Thank you very much. Namaskar.