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Shri Narendra Modi's speech during allotment of 8076 Houses for the Urban Poor

Published By : Admin | November 17, 2011 | 13:01 IST

Dt : 17/11/2011

Ahmedabad

Bharat Mata ki Jay..!!

 

Sitting on the dais, my fellow Cabinet Ministers, Urban Development Minister of the State Shri Nitinbhai Patel, The popular MP of this constituency Shri Harinbhai Pathak, Chairman of the AUDA Shri Dharmendrabhai Shah, Karnavati’s Mayor Shri Hasitbhai Vora, Chairman of Gandhinagar’s GUDA Shri Ashokbhai Bhavsar, Former MLA Shri Jitubhai Waghela, the always running MLA Shri Babubhai BJP, Ahmedabad City BJP President and MLA of Ellisbridge Shri Rakeshbhai Shah, Rakhial MLA Shri Vallabhbhai, All the leaders of Taluka Panchayat, District Panchayat and the Municipal Corporation present here and dear Citizen Brothers & Sisters who have come in large numbers…

For whom is the Government? The Government is for the poor, it is for the helpless. Gentlemen, when a businessman falls sick, does he face any problem in getting the treatment done by a doctor? Not at all, call one and 50 are present. But what about the poor? The Government has to worry about the poor and build hospitals and has to make sure that the treatment of the poor is done at a concessional rate. If a rich boy wants to study, does he face any problem? He can call 15 teachers at his home. But what if a poor child wants to study? The Government has to construct schools, pay the teachers, provide the uniforms and do all the arrangements because education of the poor is necessary and this responsibility is of the Government. The same way in this age, if a rich or a middle class person wants to build home, they may make it from his savings, but poor can’t even buy 2 feet space because he does not have that much capacity. So the Government has to build houses for the poor, though it causes a burden of crores of rupees. If a poor gets a good house, he can start a new life and hence the Government has started a campaign to provide houses for the poor. You will be happy to know Gentlemen, that the way eight thousand houses are ready today, one lac more houses will be ready at the cost of 1700 crores, one lac houses! And in the coming days, in the urban areas like Surat and Ahmedabad, the Government has undertaken the task of building many houses for those who have to spend their lives in huts under the scheme “A house for a Hut“. Lacs of houses are going to be built for the poor in this state. Congress ruled for 40 years in Gujarat. This Government is going to provide more houses than might have provided in these 40 years. When a poor gets a house, his lifestyle changes too. When a person brings something in his house, he develops the habit of preserving it. As now he is spending his life in a hut, living in a jerry house then he feels that why to spend on this? He doesn’t even spend on a doormat. But if gets such a house, he starts thinking of saving some money to buy a doormat the next month. Next month he will decide to save some more money for a mate because it doesn’t’ look good when guest comes. Then he realizes that I should not waste money as now children are growing up so I should buy a TV. Once he gets a house, he starts saving to improve his living standard. If there is shortage of money he starts working hard and gradually tries to reach to the level of others. Poor’s house often becomes a weapon in his fight against the poverty. Once a person starts living with self respect then he wishes to forget the poverty. And I firmly believe that those 8000 family who are getting these houses, should not only take just shelter but also make a resolution to begin a new life and don’t let poverty enter the house now. Go ahead with such determinations.

When we allot these flats, you will be provided the flats with a market value of about 20-25 lacs rupees at a nominal token amount and that too because it brings some responsibility. The Government is giving you so much, if I ask you for something, will you give, Friends? Very few people are responding, will you..? I don’t want what Nitinbhai has said about, I don’t want anything under the table as generally asked for. I want your word. Will you promise? All those who get these houses decide two things in their life. One, we will educate our children. Whatever hurdles may arise, we will not make our children leave their studies. Will you do it..? Will you educate your children..? Especially daughters..? Say loudly..! Secondly, a sin which is becoming uncontrollable in the cities and that is the sin of female feticide. And as the man is becoming modern, this infection is increasing. As soon as they come to know that it is a female child, they get the abortion done. Ladies & Gentlemen, I request all those who are going to get the house, take the pledge that they will never commit the sin of getting the female fetus aborted, they will not kill the daughter in her mother’s womb, they will let their daughter to be born on this earth. Gentlemen, if you won’t allow ‘Lakshmi’ (daughter) to take birth, ‘Lakshmiji’ (Goddess of Wealth) will never come to your house, we will never get happiness and therefore at the time of getting this house, develop the feeling in your mind that now you don’t want to live your life depending on others. We have to start our new life with the pledge that there will not be any hurdle in the education and progress of our children. We should take the decision of stepping in this house with such resolution.

In the contract of these houses, our AUDA’s friends have made a good provision. The provision is that when the Government takes possession, they will have to hand over the houses according to all the specifications. The Government is not going to accept if there is any single broken door or a window. He will be told that wait, this is not proper, complete it than only we will take it and you are going to get such quality house. Because often some problems might have arisen in the first building while the construction of last building was in progress… But this contract has a provision that the contractor has to hand over all the houses properly constructed. Due to this reason, the beneficiaries will get the houses constructed completely as per the rules and specifications. The Government has already made such arrangement. These houses have been built at different places. Some are here, others are in the eastern area, and few are also in the west zone. Now at the time of draw, you can’t know where you will get the house. You may be staying in Thaltej and may get the house here in Singarva then you will face difficulties. So I have suggested to AUDA that if these poor families want to interchange flats with one another, there should not be any problem, please get it exchanged internally. But to find out the person for exchange will be your responsibility. The Government will not go to find him. You have to hunt out that this man is in Thaltej and wants to go to Singarva, so you better go to Singarva and I am going to Thaltej. Second provision is for the convenience of nearly 200 handicapped families. If there is a handicapped member in the family, he faces a lot of inconvenience while going up and down the stairs… I have requested AUDA friends that let us not add to the suffering of those who have already been suffering and allot them ground floor flats. We have tried to pursue this whole project with the social and sympathetic aspects. Ladies & Gentlemen, previously when the houses that were built in the villages… be it Indira Awaas, Sardar Awaas, Ambedkar Awaas or many other such schemes… But what used to happen? One house would be built of one piece of land in one corner of the village, in another corner second house would be built and the third one at yet another place, they don’t feel that something is made. This Government made a basic consideration. We made a list of poor people requiring houses and under which scheme they may be benefitted. And whether by keeping aside a piece of land, can we build all the houses together, like a colony? So then the Government would provide road, drainage, electricity, etc. The Government may also provide Anganwadi and some place for shop if there are more number of houses. The scenario has been changed as compared to the past when the houses were scattered. In this Golden Jubilee year, we have undertaken the construction of colonies as a Golden Service. In Ahmedabad and Mehsana districts the construction work has been done and the work is progressing fast in every district. The Government has brought about such a basic change so that the poor get house with basic facilities. Though this has caused a very heavy economic burden on the Government, when there will be colonies, they will get a better opportunity to live life. In villages often the houses are built on a useless piece of land, full of pits and during the monsoon these house of the poor are flooded with water. We instructed them to construct these houses on the upper level areas so that during the rain, at least they don’t have to suffer. With such types of suggestions, this Government always worries about the betterment of the poor.

Ladies & Gentlemen, this Government is with the poor at every stage of life since the time of birth to the death. It works for the poor even since before birth. I stress upon that this Government provides expenditure of delivery to the expecting mother of an un-affording family. Not only this, it pays Rs.200 per day to her and also to her husband during 2-3 days of her hospital stay. In addition to this, it also pays auto or tractor fare to this poor woman for going from her home to the hospital. The Government starts spending since the child is in the mother’s womb. The Government has appointed doctors to take care of your children’s birth. The Government looks after your child till 6 moths and ensures that it does not die and it remains healthy. The Government arranges door to door polio vaccination campaign every three months so that your child does not suffer from polio and does not become handicap. The Government runs Anganwadi, free of charge, so that when your children grow, they can start playing, singing songs, can start recognizing toys and start knowing various things. Your younger children can get better nourishment that is why the Government gives FREE water soluble powder hence they can get required nutrition. When they grow little more, the family gets FREE hamper of nutritious edibles from the Government. The Government is concerned about your children's health. When your child grows further and ready to go to school, the Government gives free education. The Government spends for the teachers, for books, and provides free uniforms. The Government also provides free hostel facility for needy students. Even free concession passes are provided to girls if they have to travel in bus for the school. The Government thinks all these only because children of the poor can study. Your child studies and wishes to go to the college, the Government provides college education, without having to spend even a single rupee, to the poor children. If your child wants to become an advocate or a doctor, the Government spends on it also. After becoming an advocate, if he wishes to open an office or to become a notary or to become a doctor, the Government gives lacs of rupees in his hand so that he can manage his life. If any poor child feels like flying an aero-plane, becoming a pilot and desires to study abroad, then the Government gives money to study abroad. The Government also worries about your employment, worries to make you financially self sufficient. If the poor people do not have home, the Government gives it to them. The Government provides 2-3 kg grains at concessional rates so they can get cheap grains and can cook. Not only this, if any family having an extremely poor condition then the Government provides expense for the cremation also.

When the child of the poor is admitted in the school, the Government is doing his health check-up and by chance he gets some illness , then irrespective of the expenses, either 5 lacs - 10 lacs or to be send to Chennai or Bangalore for heart operation, then these poor children are operated from the Chief Minister’s fund. Sometime poor parents do not know the seriousness of such sickness… and if by chance they loss him then they take it as their fate, they do not even understand. In the State, eyes are being checked and FREE spectacles are given to about 1.5 lac poor children so that if he wants to study, he can. Try to imagine that the Government is always ready to help the poor at each and every step of their cradle to cremation.

Under the ‘Garib Kalyan Mela’, this Government is giving Rs. 5000-7000 crores directly in the hands of poor people without any corruption. The Government worries for poor widow. The pension is sent to her place with due respect so that she can live her life respectfully. If she wants to learn either sewing work or embroidery work, the Government trains her. The Government gives her sewing machine, if she needs. Poor widow can live with self reliance is the concern of the Government. If poor person reaches to the age of 60 years and question of what to eat in the evening having no livelihood, then the Government sends his pension directly at home so that he has not to extend his hand for the purpose. Thus the Government works day and night through out (birth to death) for the poor.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Gujarat has started fight against poverty. Friends, we have to remove poverty from Gujarat. The Government has initiated the efforts to float the spring of growth so that each and every person lives with honour and pass the life happily. But unfortunately some discontented errant people do not wish to see the growth of Gujarat. Their bread can be cooked only if the people remain illiterate, therefore they do not have interest in education and do not wish to have welfare of poor people, so they can use them to fill their ballot boxes. Ladies & Gentlemen, that is only reason I ask, if you wish the real development, then we will have to become partners in the development. ”Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (Everybody’s Development with Everybody’s Co-operation), with this Mantra we have come forward and is necessary to make full effort to make it significant and we will make it.

Just think, this Government has planned three such schemes for the urban poor. Rs.2000 crores worth package is allotted for the uplift of the urban poor. A scheme called ‘Ummid’ is planned. Those urban poor children who have left their studies after 5th - 6th standard, who are not interested in the study or no such facility… if seeking employment, they should know something. What if they don’t have any skill? If he wants to distribute newspapers, but does not know bicycle riding… or does not have a bicycle, then what? This Government has started giving training in such small skills under the ‘Ummid’ project. Skill development programs of 3 weeks, 5 weeks. They should be trained in some skill. Ladies & Gentlemen, because of these skills, more than one lac such poor children got employment in the last two years. Formerly they used to get Rs.800 to Rs.1000 in ordinary work, today now they are getting Rs.5000 to Rs.7000 per month because of these skills. This is what we have done by the ‘Ummid’ project.

Similarly, ’Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana’ is started for our tribal people and a special package of Rs.1000 crore is given to them for their development. In the same way fishermen, who sail boats in the sea, our ferrymen who are waiting for the development. The Government has made a special package of Rs.15000 crore for their welfare.

We are worrying for the urban poor, worrying for the poor people living on the sea shores and we also worry for the poor forest dwellers. We have planned for overall development of all these poor people. Nobody should remain behind that is the concern of this Government. This is the reason, my friends, why Gujarat is developing, it is progressing in all the areas today… New factories have now started coming in Gujarat. So many people have got their livelihood. Today, in the family of farmers, if farming is limited and if there are four sons in the family then parents would also think that one son do farming and other three will manage to do some job or a small business. The farmer also wants some job or a shop. What would happen to these sons of the farmer, if Gujarat does not progress? Where they would get their livelihood from?

New companies are coming to Gujarat for car manufacturing now. Five Million cars are likely to be manufactured in Gujarat, Five Million..! 50 lacs cars every year..! Maruti, Peugeot and Ford are coming here, Nano has come, General Motors is also here, Truck and Tractor manufacturers are also coming here, countless… Just think, Five Million Cars..! And Ladies & Gentlemen, our statistics say that making one car, right from the beginning to end up to when it comes on the road, it gives employment to 10 people..! One can imagine now that how many people will get some work. Drivers, Engineers… With 5 lac cars, these car factories have the capacity to feed five crore people. If this car goes to Lucknow, then driver of Lucknow will get his livelihood. If it goes to Chennai, the driver there will get his livelihood. Ladies & Gentlemen, Gujarat is moving towards the development of such an industry... and even today, many times the labours are not available in Gujarat, people do complain for that. Even in agriculture, workers are not easily found. If we ask these builders, they also talk in the same tune that everything is fine, machines are also there but workers are not available. The reason? So many employment opportunities have arisen in Gujarat. Harinbhai Pathak was just telling that the Govt. of India has answered in the Parliament that the highest employment in India, 78% employment, is available in Gujarat only. 78%..! And the whole of India is in the rest 22%. If 100 people are employed, then 78 are in Gujarat and remaining 22 are in rest of the country. You just think, because of these the progress that has occurred in Gujarat, it has become possible for the youth and the poor to get employment.

We are developing Tourism. If the tourism is developed, who will get the employment? Snack seller, Tea kettles, small toy maker, bag maker, Rickshaw drivers, Taxi drivers… a poor person will get his earning if the tourism is developed. We have made great effort for the development of tourism, only because the poor people can get work.

The Government has taken a bid to see that how the maximum job opportunities can be made available to the poor. The Government has also taken up a challenge to give education to the poor. How they can get better health care that is real worry of the Government. If poor person sends his children to the school, then the Government takes his insurance. Gujarat is the only state in India, where from nursery to school and then in the college, for each student, around one and a quarter crore students, the Government has taken insurance for them. If something unforeseen event occurs to student, then his family gets 1-2 lacs for which the premium is paid by the Government. Even the farmers are now started being insured. Formerly, if big industrialist traveling in a car and if he met with an accident then he gets insurance, but if a farmer working in a field and if he does not have insurance and by chance he gets snake bite and dies then nobody is there to ask him or his family. If somebody dies of spurious liquor, he used to get Rs. 2 lacs. The Government used to give money to such people, but not to any farmer if he dies. Friends, our Government has insured the farmers and if a farmer falls into the well and dies or dies due to snake bite, then in such case, this Government has made an arrangement that his family immediately gets Rs. 1 lac.

We are worried about the welfare of the poor. In the past, in case of sudden sickness or may be heart attack, or may be snakebite or any other health problem. Even an auto rickshaw driver used to refuse to come and was first asking for money on seeing a poor. Such was the condition in the past, nobody would come forward. If you call an ambulance, it would go to fill the petrol, by that time the patient would pass away. Ladies & Gentlemen, the Government has started 108 service. Just dial 108 and it does the task of taking a poor family to the hospital without charging a single penny. Today the 108 has become lifeline in Gujarat. What is the reason? This is the Government working only and only for the poor, working for the welfare of the poor and instead of keeping poor as they are, this is the Government that prepares the poor to fight against the poverty and for this reason different endeavors have been undertaken.

The houses that are being allotted today are also a weapon to fight against the poverty. By using this weapon, make two resolutions in your life that you will educate your children and will not commit the sin of feticide. I wish, you go to live in these new houses with great pomp, may you be very happy and never be a burden on the society. I offer my best wishes with a request that whenever you get a chance, repay the society that has given you everything.

 

Jay Jay Garvi Gujarat..!!

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My dear countrymen,

Namaskar. 2025 has just about arrived; it is knocking at the door. On the 26th of January 2025, our Constitution is completing 75 years. It is a matter of great honour for all of us. The Constitution, handed over to us by our Constitution makers, has stood the test of time in every sense of the term. The Constitution is our guiding light, our guide. It is on account of the Constitution of India that I am here today, being able to talk to you. This year, on Constitution Day, the 26th of November, many activities have commenced that will go on for a year. A special website named constitution75.com has also been created to connect the citizens of the country with the legacy of the Constitution. In this, you can read the Preamble of the Constitution and upload your video. You can read the Constitution in myriad languages; you can also ask questions pertaining to the Constitution. I urge the listeners of Mann Ki Baat, school going children, college going youth, to visit this website and become a part of it.

Friends,

The Maha Kumbh is also going to be held in Prayagraj from the 13th of next month. At this time, mammoth preparations are going on at the Sangam banks there. I remember, just a few days ago when I went to Prayagraj, my heart was filled with joy after viewing the entire Kumbh area from a helicopter. It’s so huge! So beautiful! Such grandeur!

Friends,

the specialty of the Maha Kumbh is not only in its vastness. The specialty of the Kumbh is also in its diversity. Crores of people congregate for this event. Lakhs of saints, thousands of traditions, hundreds of sects, many Akharas, everyone becomes a part of this event. There is no discrimination anywhere, no one is big, no one is small. Such a scene of unity in diversity will not be seen anywhere else in the world. Therefore, our Kumbh is also the Maha Kumbh of unity. This time's Maha Kumbh will also bolster the mantra of Maha Kumbh of unity. Let me tell all of you; when we participate in the Kumbh, let us bring along this resolve of unity with us. Let us also make a resolve to annihilate the feeling of division and hatred in the society. If I have to say it in a few words, then I will say... Mahakumbh Ka Sandesh, Ek Ho Poora Desh… The message of the Mahakumbh, let the whole country be united. and putting it in another way, I will express... Ganga Ki Aviral Dhara, Na Bante Samaj Hamara... Like the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga, let our society be undivided. Friends, this time in Prayagraj, devotees from the country and the world will also be witness to the digital Maha Kumbh.

With the help of digital navigation, you will be able to reach different ghats, temples, and akharas of sadhus. The same navigation system will also help you reach parking spaces. For the first time, an AI chatbot will be used in the Kumbh event. All kinds of information related to Kumbh will be available in 11 Indian languages ​​through the AI ​​chatbot. Anyone can ask for any kind of help through this chatbot, either by typing text or by speaking in. The entire Fair area is being covered with AI-powered cameras. If someone gets separated from one’s kith and kin during the Kumbh, these cameras will help in finding them. Devotees will also get the facility of a digital lost & found center. Devotees will also be provided information about government-approved tour packages, accommodation and homestay on their mobile phones. If you too go to the Mahakumbh, then avail of these facilities… and yes, do upload your selfie with #EktaKaMahakumbh.

Friends,

now in 'Mann Ki Baat' i.e. MKB, we will talk about KTB. Many of the elderly may not know about KTB. But just ask children, KTB is a superhit among them. KTB means Krish, Trish and Baltiboy. You might know that the favourite animation series of children is called KTB - Bharat Hain Hum and now its second season is also out. These three animation characters tell us about those heroes and bravehearts; men and women associated with the Indian freedom struggle who are not discussed much. Recently, its season-2 was launched in a very special way at the International Film Festival of India, Goa.

The best thing is that this series is broadcast not only in many Indian languages ​​but also in foreign languages. It can be watched on Doordarshan as well as other OTT platforms.

Friends,

the popularity of our animation films, regular films, TV serials shows how much potential India's creative industry has. This industry is not only contributing to the country's progress but is also taking our economy to new heights. Our film and entertainment industry is very vast. Films are made in many languages ​​of the country; creative content is produced. I also congratulate our film and entertainment industry because it has strengthened the sentiment of 'Ek Bharat - Shreshtha Bharat'.

Friends,

in the year 2024, we are celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of many great personalities of the film world. These personalities have accorded Indian cinema recognition at the world level. Raj Kapoor ji introduced the world to the soft power of India through films. Rafi sahab's voice had that magic which touched every heart. His voice was amazing. Be it devotional songs or romantic songs, sad songs, he brought every emotion alive with his voice. His greatness as an artiste can be gauged from the fact that even today the young generation listens to his songs with the same passion - this is the distinct mark of timeless art. Akkineni Nageswara Rao Garu has taken Telugu cinema to new heights. His films presented Indian traditions and values ​​very well. Tapan Sinha ji's films gave a new vision to the society.

Their films always carried the message of social consciousness and national unity. The lives of these personalities are an inspiration for our entire film industry.

Friends,

I want to give you a piece of another good news. A great opportunity is on the way to showcase India's creative talent to the world. Next year, for the first time, the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit i.e. WAVES summit is going to be organised in our country. All of you must have heard about Davos, where the world's economic giants gather. Similarly, in the WAVES summit, giants from the media and entertainment industry and people from the creative world will come to India. This summit is an important step towards making India a hub of global content creation. I feel proud informing you that the young creators of our country are also joining with full enthusiasm in the preparations for this summit. When we are moving towards a 5 trillion dollar economy, our creator economy is bringing in a new energy.

I would urge the entire entertainment and creative industry of India - whether you are a young creator or an established artist, associated with Bollywood or regional cinema, a professional from the TV industry, an expert in animation, gaming or an innovator in entertainment technology - to be a part of the WAVES summit.

My dear countrymen,

all of you know how the radiance of Indian culture is spreading to every nook & corner of the world today. Today I will tell you about such efforts from three continents, which are witness to the global reach of our cultural heritage. All of them are miles apart from each other. But their eagerness to know India and learn from our culture is the same.

Friends,

the more the world of paintings is filled with colors, the more beautiful it is. Those of you who are connected to ‘Mann Ki Baat’ through TV can watch some paintings on TV right now. You will immensely like watching our Gods and Goddesses, dance forms and great personalities in these paintings. You will get to see many things,besides the flora and fauna found in India in these paintings. These include a splendid painting of Taj Mahal which has been made by a 13 year old girl. You will be surprised to know that this Divyang girl has made this painting with her mouth. The most interesting thing is that the people who made these paintings are not from India but are students from Egypt. Just a few weeks ago, around 23 thousand students from Egypt participated in a painting competition. There, they had to prepare paintings depicting Indian culture and the historical relations between the two countries. I appreciate all the youth who participated in this competition. No amount of praise for their creativity would be enough.

Friends,

there is a country in South America called Paraguay. The number of Indians living there would not be more than one thousand. A wonderful effort is being done in Paraguay. At the Indian Embassy there, Erica Huber offers Ayurved Consultation. These days, a large number of local people are reaching out to her to get Ayurved based advice. Erica Huber might have studied engineering, but her heart lies in Ayurveda. She did courses related to Ayurveda and over time, she became proficient in it.

Friends,

it is a matter of great pride for us that Tamil is the oldest language in the world and every Indian is proud of it. The number of people learning it is constantly rising in countries around the world. At the end of last month, a Tamil Teaching Programme was started in Fiji with the support of the Government of India. This is the first time in the last 80 years that trained Tamil teachers are teaching the language in Fiji. I am happy to know that today the students of Fiji are taking a lot of interest in learning the Tamil language and culture. Friends, these things, these incidents, are not just success stories. These are also the saga of our cultural heritage. These examples fill us up with pride. From Art to Ayurveda and from language to music, there is so much in India, which is making its mark in the world.

Friends,

in this winter season, several activities related to sports and fitness are being organised across the country. I am happy that people are making fitness a part of their daily routine.

From Skiing in Kashmir to kite flying in Gujarat, enthusiasm for sports can be seen everywhere. Campaigns like #SundayOnCycle and #CyclingTuesday are promoting cycling.

Friends,

I now want to tell you something unique which is a symbol of the changes taking place in our country and the zeal and enthusiasm of young friends. Do you know that a unique Olympic has started in our Bastar! Yes, a new revolution is coming into being in Bastar through the first Bastar Olympics. It is a matter of great joy for me that the dream of Bastar Olympics has come true. You will also be happy to know that this is taking place in the region which was once a witness to Maoist violence. The mascot of the Bastar Olympics is - ‘Wild Water Buffalo’ and ‘Hill Myna’. It reflects the rich culture of Bastar. The defining Mantra of this sports Mahakumbh is -

‘Karsay Ta Bastar Barsaye Ta Bastar’

i.e. ‘Bastar will play - Bastar will win’.

In the very first instance, one lakh 65 thousand players from 7 districts have participated in the Bastar Olympics. This is not just a statistic - it is the proud story of the resolve of our youth.

Athletics, Archery, Badminton, Football, Hockey, Weightlifting, Karate, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Volleyball - our youth have gloriously displayed their talent in every sport. Kari Kashyap ji’s story inspires me a lot. Kari ji, who hails from a small village, has won a silver medal in archery.

She says - “Bastar Olympics has given us not just a playground but an opportunity to move ahead in life”. What Payal Kawasi ji from Sukma says is no less inspiring. Payal ji, who won a gold medal in Javelin Throw, says - “With discipline and hard work, no goal is impossible”. The story of Punem Sanna ji from Dornapal in Sukma is an inspiring tale of New India. Punem ji, who was once under Naxal influence, is today winning medals by racing on a wheelchair. His courage and zeal is an inspiration for everyone. Archer Ranju Sori from Kodagaon has been chosen as the ‘Bastar youth icon’. She believes that Bastar Olympics is giving the youth from remote areas an opportunity to reach the national stage.

Friends,

Bastar Olympics is not just a sports event. It is a platform where development and sports are merging together, where our youth are honing their talent and building a new Bharat. I urge all of you to:

- Encourage such sports events in your area
- Share stories of sports talents from your area with #KhelegaBharat – JeetegaBharat
- Give local sports talents an opportunity to progress

Remember, sports not only lead to physical development, but is also a powerful medium to connect society with the sportsman spirit. So play well and bloom well. My dear countrymen, two big achievements of India are attracting the attention of the world today. You will also feel proud to hear about them.

Both these successes have been achieved in the field of health. The first achievement has been in the fight against malaria. Malaria has been a big challenge confronting humanity for four thousand years. Even at the time of Independence, it was one of our biggest health challenges. Malaria ranks third among all infectious diseases that kill children between one month and five years of age. Today, I can say with satisfaction that the countrymen have collectively, strongly fought this challenge. The report of the World Health Organization - WHO mentions - “In India, there has been an 80 percent reduction in the number of malaria cases and deaths due to it between 2015 & 2023.“ This is no mean achievement. The most heartening thing is that this success has been achieved through everyone’s participation. Everyone from every corner of India, from every district, became a part of this campaign. In the tea gardens of Jorhat in Assam, malaria used to be a major cause of concern for people until four years ago.

But when the tea garden dwellers united to eradicate it, they started getting success to a great extent. In this effort, they have made full use of technology as well as social media. Similarly, Kurukshetra district of Haryana has presented a very good model for controlling malaria. Here, public participation for monitoring Malaria has been quite successful. Through street plays and radio, emphasis was laid on messages which helped a lot in reducing the breeding of mosquitoes. It is only through such efforts across the country that we have been able to take the war against malaria forward more rapidly.

Friends,

another example of what we can achieve with our awareness and determination is the fight against cancer. A study of the world-renowned Medical Journal Lancet indeed raises a lot of hope. According to this Journal, now the chances of starting cancer treatment on time in India have increased a lot. Timely treatment means starting the treatment of a cancer patient within 30 days and the ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’ has played a big role in this. Because of this scheme, 90 percent of cancer patients have been able to start their treatment on time. This has happened because earlier, due to lack of money, poor patients used to shy away from getting tested for cancer and its treatment. Now, the Ayushman Bharat Yojana has become a big support for them. Now they are coming forward to get themselves treated. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana has reduced the financial problems in cancer treatment to a great extent.

It is equally good that today, people have become more aware than ever before about timely treatment of cancer. This achievement is as much of our healthcare system, doctors, nurses and technical staff as it is of all of you, my citizen brothers and sisters. With everyone's efforts, the resolve to defeat cancer has become even stronger. The credit for this success goes to all those who have contributed significantly in spreading awareness.

There is only one mantra to fight cancer - Awareness, Action and Assurance. Awareness means awareness of cancer and its symptoms, Action means timely diagnosis and treatment, Assurance means the belief that every help is available for patients. Come, let us together take this fight against cancer forward rapidly and help as many patients as possible.

My dear countrymen,

today I want to tell you about an effort in Kalahandi, Odisha, which is writing a new story of success despite a paucity of water and resources. This is the 'vegetable revolution' of Kalahandi. Where once farmers were forced to migrate; today, Golamunda block of Kalahandi has become a vegetable hub. How did this change come about? It started with a small group of just 10 farmers. This group together established an FPO - 'Kisan Utpad Sangh', started using modern technology in farming, and today their FPO is doing business worth crores. Today more than 200 farmers are associated with this FPO, including 45 women farmers.

Together, these people are cultivating tomatoes in 200 acres and bitter gourd in 150 acres. Now the annual turnover of this FPO has also risen to more than 1.5 crores. Today, vegetables from Kalahandi are reaching not only various districts of Odisha, but also other states, and the farmers there are now learning new techniques of potato and onion cultivation.

Friends,

this success of Kalahandi teaches us what all can be done with determination and collective effort. I urge all of you to:-

• Encourage FPO in your area
• Join farmer producer organizations and strengthen them.

Remember - big changes are possible even through small beginnings. We just need determination and team spirit.

Friends,

in today's 'Mann Ki Baat' we heard how our India is moving ahead with unity in diversity. Be it the sports field or the field of science, health or education – India is touching new heights in every field. We have faced every challenge together like a family and achieved new successes. In the 116 episodes of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ that commenced in 2014, I have seen that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has become a living document of the collective power of the country.

All of you have welcomed this programme; made it your own. Every month you have shared your thoughts and efforts. Sometimes the idea of ​​a young innovator has impressed me, and sometimes the achievement of a daughter has made me proud. It is the participation of all of you that brings together positive energy from every corner of the country. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has become a platform for the amplification of this positive energy, and now, 2025 is knocking at the door. In the coming year, we will share more inspiring efforts through ‘Mann Ki Baat’. I am confident that with positive thinking and spirit of innovation of the countrymen, India will touch new heights.

Keep sharing the unique efforts around you with #Mannkibaat. I know that in every Mann ki Baat next year, we will have a lot to share with each other. Best wishes to all of you for 2025. Stay healthy, stay happy, join the Fit India Movement, keep yourself fit. Keep progressing in life. Thank you very much.