Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his latest Mann Ki Baat address to champion a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering India's self-reliance. Speaking ahead of the Deepavali and Chhath festivals, he urged citizens to embrace the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign by prioritizing domestic products.
Modi highlighted the achievements of various individuals and organizations in areas such as organic farming, indigenous products, digital healthcare, scientific research, and environmental conservation. He noted that these efforts are creating new opportunities and contributing to the vision of a self-reliant India.
One of the standout mentions was Maharashtra’s ‘Shabari Naturals’, which received Japan’s Good Design Award for its packaging. Modi also praised a Karnataka start-up for developing packaging materials from bamboo and agricultural waste. He emphasized the growing popularity of Khadi, underscoring its significance in the local economy.
During a recent visit to Chennai, Modi visited the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The center has developed a brain imaging technology platform and plans to study 100 human brains. This research, utilizing the Param Shakti supercomputer, will make its data available as an open resource.
Modi also met with young innovators at IIT Madras who are working on various cutting-edge projects. These include gold quality testing, recovering funds lost to bank fraud, AI-based cervical cancer screening, flying electric vehicles, fast-charging batteries for drones and electric vehicles, and AI applications in defense technology.
On the healthcare front, Modi highlighted the success of the e-Sanjeevani scheme, which has facilitated about 50 crore tele-consultations, reaching remote areas of the country. Additionally, nearly 1.9 lakh ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandirs’ are providing healthcare facilities nationwide.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to scientist Narinder Singh Kapany, known as the ‘Father of Fibre Optics’, ahead of his 100th birth anniversary on October 31. Kapany’s pioneering work in transmitting light through thin fibers has significantly advanced modern communication networks.
Modi also commended the Kheti Virasat Mission in Punjab’s Malwa region for promoting natural cotton cultivation. This initiative involves growing organic cotton without chemicals and producing naturally colored cotton, which eliminates the need for additional dyes. The organization has established a weaving school to pass on traditional skills and create livelihood opportunities for women.
The International Year of Millets in 2023 received global acclaim, two friends developed millet-based products like cookies, cakes, muffins, and baby food, boosting demand and encouraging farmers to resume cultivation. In Sadolpara village, farmer Chekjing Sangma adopted modern cultivation methods to increase his income. Meanwhile, in Nagaland’s Kezoma village, millet cultivation resumed in 2024 after more than a decade, leading to the village's first millet festival in 2025.
Modi also addressed environmental conservation efforts, highlighting community initiatives to revive the Heval river in Uttarakhand’s Tehri Garhwal region. He underscored the importance of organ donation, citing the inspiring decision of a family from Narmadapuram in Madhya Pradesh to donate the organs of a road accident victim named Shivani.
In a call to action, Modi urged citizens to participate in the ‘Run for Unity’ on October 31, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, celebrated as National Unity Day. He also commemorated the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki on October 26, emphasizing the messages of service, compassion, and social harmony found in the Ramayana.
Additionally, Modi paid homage to Bhai Parmanand, whose 150th birth anniversary falls on November 4. Parmanand, associated with the Arya Samaj, traveled to South Africa, met Mahatma Gandhi, and worked with indentured laborers in Guyana. A prominent figure in the freedom movement, he was a founding member of the Ghadar Party and was sentenced by the British to transportation to the Andaman Islands, known as Kala Pani. Later, he entered the field of education and taught Bhagat Singh. Parmanand was also linked with the Hindu Mahasabha for many years.
