The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the ‘Odisha Parba 2024’ celebrations today at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he greeted all the brothers and sisters of Odisha who were present at the event. He remarked that this year marked the centenary of the death anniversary of Swabhav Kavi Gangadhar Meher and paid tributes to him. He also paid tributes to Bhakta Dasia Bhauri, Bhakta Salabega and the writer of Oriya Bhagavatha, Shri Jagannath Das on the occasion.

“Odisha has always been the abode of Saints and Scholars”, said Shri Modi. He remarked that the saints and scholars have played a great role in nourishing the cultural richness by ensuring the great literature like Saral Mahabharat, Odiya Bhagawat have reached the common people at their doorsteps. He added that there is extensive literature related to Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Oriya language. Remembering a saga of Mahaprabhu Jagannatha, the Prime Minister said that Lord Jagannath led the war from the forefront and praised the Lord’s simplicity that he had partaken the curd from the hands of a devotee named Manika Gaudini while entering the battlefield. He added that there were a lot of lessons from the above saga, Shri Modi said one of the important lessons was that if we work with good intentions then God himself leads that work. He further added that God was always with us and we should never feel that we are alone in any dire situation.

Reciting a line of Odisha poet Bhim Bhoi that no matter how much pain one has to suffer, the world must be saved, the Prime Minister said that this has been the culture of Odisha. Shri Modi remarked that Puri Dham strengthened the feeling of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. He added that the brave sons of Odisha also showed direction to the country by taking part in the freedom struggle. He said that we can never repay the debt of the martyrs of Paika Kranti. Shri Modi remarked that it was the good fortune of the government that it had the opportunity to issue a commemorative postage stamp and coin on Paika Kranti.

Reiterating that the entire country was remembering the contribution of Utkal Kesari Hare Krishna Mehtab ji at this time, Shri Modi said that the Government was celebrating his 125th birth anniversary on a large scale. The Prime Minister also touched upon the able leadership Odisha has given to the country from the past till now. He added that Draupadi Murmu ji, hailing from a tribal community, was the President of India. And it was a matter of great pride for all of us. He further added that it was due to her inspiration, schemes worth thousands of crores of rupees for tribal welfare were implemented in India today and these schemes were  benefiting the tribal society not only of Odisha but of the entire India.

Remarking that Odisha is the land of women power and its strength in the form of Mata Subhadra, the Prime Minister said that Odisha will progress only when the women of Odisha progress. He added that he had the great opportunity to launch the Subhadra Yojana for my mothers and sisters of Odisha a few days back which will benefit the women of Odisha.

Shri Modi highlighted the contribution of Odisha in giving a new dimension to India’s maritime power. He noted that the Bali Jatra was concluded yesterday in Odisha, which was  organised in a grand manner on the banks of the Mahanadi in Cuttack on the day of Kartik Purnima. Further, Shri Modi remarked that Bali Jatra was a symbol of India’s maritime power. Lauding the courage of the sailors of the past, the Prime Minister said that they were brave enough to sail and cross the seas despite the absence of modern technology like today. He added that the traders used to travel by ships to places like Bali, Sumatra, Java in Indonesia, which helped promote trade and enhance the reach of culture to various places. Shri Modi emphasised that today Odisha’s maritime power had an important role in the achievement of a developed India’s resolve.

The Prime Minister underlined that today there is hope for a new future for Odisha after continuous efforts for 10 years to take Odisha to new heights. Thanking the people of Odisha for their unprecedented blessings, Shri Modi said that this had given new courage to this hope and the Government had big dreams and had set big goals. Noting that Odisha will be celebrating the centenary year of statehood in 2036, he said that the Government’s endeavour was to make Odisha one of the strong, prosperous and fast-growing states of the country.

Noting that there was a time when the eastern part of India including states like Odisha were considered backward, Shri Modi said that he considered the eastern part of India to be the growth engine of the country’s development. Therefore, he added that the Government has made the development of eastern India a priority and today all the work related to connectivity, health, education in the entire eastern India had been expedited. Shri Modi highlighted that today Odisha was getting three times more budget than the central government used to give it 10 years ago. He added that this year, 30 percent more budget had been given for the development of Odisha as compared to last year. He assured that the Government was working at a fast pace in every sector for the holistic development of Odisha.

“Odisha has immense potential for port-based industrial development”, exclaimed the Prime Minister. Therefore, he added that trade will be promoted by developing ports at  Dhamra, Gopalpur, Astaranga, Palur, and Subarnarekha. Remarking that Odisha was the mining and metal powerhouse of India, Shri Modi said that this strengthened Odisha’s position in the steel, aluminium and energy sectors. He added that by focusing on these sectors, new avenues of prosperity can be opened in Odisha.

Noting that the production of cashew, jute, cotton, turmeric and oilseeds was in  abundance in Odisha, Shri Modi said that the Government’s effort was to ensure that these products reach the big markets and thereby benefit the farmers. He added that there was also a lot of scope for expansion in the sea-food processing industry of Odisha and Government’s effort was to make Odisha sea-food a brand that is in demand in the global market.

Emphasising that Government’s effort was to make Odisha a preferred destination for investors, the Prime Minister said that his government was committed to promoting ease of doing business in Odisha and investment was being promoted through Utkarsh Utkal. Shri Modi highlighted that as soon as the new government was formed in Odisha, an investment of Rs 45 thousand crore was approved within the first 100 days. He added that today Odisha had its own vision as well as a roadmap, which would promote investment and create new employment opportunities. He congratulated the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi ji and his team for their efforts.

Shri Modi remarked that by utilising the potential of Odisha in the right direction, it can be taken to new heights of development. Emphasising that Odisha can benefit from its strategic location, the Prime Minister said that access to domestic and international markets was easy from there. “Odisha was an important hub of trade for East and South-East Asia”, said Shri Modi and added that Odisha’s importance in global value chains would further increase in the times to come. He further added that the government was also working on the goal of increasing exports from the state.

“Odisha has immense potential to promote urbanisation”, highlighted the Prime Minister and added that his Government was undertaking concrete steps in that direction. He further added that the Government was committed to build a large number of dynamic and well-connected cities. Shri Modi underscored that the Government was also creating new possibilities in the tier two cities of Odisha, especially in the districts of western Odisha where development of new infrastructure can lead to creation of new opportunities.

Touching upon the field of higher education, Shri Modi said that Odisha was a new hope for students across the country and there were many national and international institutes, which inspired the state to take the lead in the education sector. He added that these efforts were promoting the startup ecosystem in the state.

Highlighting that Odisha has always been special because of its cultural richness, Shri Modi said the art forms of Odisha fascinate everyone, be it the Odissi dance or the paintings of Odisha or the liveliness that is seen in the Pattachitras or the Saura paintings, a symbol of the tribal art. He added that one got to see the craftsmanship of Sambalpuri, Bomkai and Kotpad weavers in Odisha. The Prime Minister remarked that the more we spread and preserve the art and craftsmanship, the more the respect for Odia people would increase.

Touching upon the abundant heritage of architecture and science of Odisha, the Prime Minister remarked that the science, architecture and vastness of the ancient temples like Sun Temple of Konark, the Lingaraj and Mukteshwar amazed everyone with their exquisiteness and craftsmanship.

Noting that Odisha was a land of immense possibilities in terms of tourism, Shri Modi said there was a need to work across multiple dimensions to bring these possibilities to the ground. He added that today along with Odisha, the country also had a Government that respects Odisha’s heritage and its identity. Underlining that one of the conferences of G-20 was held in Odisha last year, Shri Modi said that the Government presented the grand spectacle of the Sun Temple in front of the heads of states and diplomats of so many countries. The Prime Minister said he was pleased that all the four gates of the Mahaprabhu Jagannath Temple complex have been opened along with the Ratna Bhandar of the temple.

The Prime Minister emphasised that there was a need to undertake more innovative steps to tell the world about every identity of Odisha. He cited an example that Bali Jatra Day can be declared and celebrated to make Bali Jatra more popular and promote it on the international platform. He further added that celebrating Odissi Day for arts like Odissi dance could also be explored along with days to celebrate various tribal heritages. Shri Modi said that special events could be organised in schools and colleges, which would create awareness among people about the opportunities related to tourism and small scale industries. He added that Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan was also going to be held in Bhubaneswar in the upcoming days and was a huge opportunity for Odisha.

Noting the rising trend of people forgetting their mother tongue and culture across the globe, Shri Modi was pleased that the Oriya community, wherever it lives, had always been very enthusiastic about its culture, its language and its festivals. He added that his recent visit to Guyana had reaffirmed how the power of mother tongue and culture kept one connected to their motherland. He added that about two hundred years ago, hundreds of labourers left India, but they took Ramcharit Manas with them  and even today they are connected to the land of India. Shri Modi emphasised that by preserving our heritage, its benefits could reach everyone even when development and changes take place. He added that in the same way, Odisha can be propelled to new heights.

The Prime Minister underscored that in today’s modern era, it was important to assimilate modern changes while strengthening our roots. He added that events like the Odisha Festival could become a medium for this. He further added that events like Odisha Parba should be  expanded even more in the coming years and should not be limited to Delhi only. Shri Modi underlined that efforts must be undertaken to ensure that more and more people join it and the participation of schools and colleges also increases. He urged the people from other states in Delhi to participate and get to know Odisha more closely.

Concluding the address, Shri Modi expressed confidence that in the times to come, the colours of this festival would reach every nook and corner of Odisha as well as India by becoming an effective platform for public participation.

Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Electronics & IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, President of Odia Samaj, Shri Siddharth Pradhan were present on the occasion among others.

Background

Odisha Parba is a flagship event conducted by Odia Samaj, a trust in New Delhi. Through it, they have been engaged in providing valuable support towards preservation and promotion of Odia heritage. Continuing with the tradition, this year Odisha Parba was organised from 22nd to 24th November. It showcased the rich heritage of Odisha displaying colourful cultural forms and will exhibit the vibrant social, cultural and political ethos of the State. A National Seminar or Conclave led by prominent experts and distinguished professionals across various domains was conducted.

My dear countrymen, Namaskar. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ means touching upon the collective efforts of the country; referring to the achievements of the country; discussing the strength of the people. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ means touching upon the dreams of the youth, the aspirations of the citizens of the country. I wait for ‘Mann Ki Baat’ throughout the month, so that I can communicate with you directly. There are innumerable messages! My earnest endeavour is to read as many messages as possible; to brainstorm on your suggestions.

Friends, today is a very special day – it is NCC Day. As soon as the name of NCC comes up, we remember our school-college days. I myself have been an NCC Cadet, so I can say with full confidence that the experience gained from it is invaluable for me. ‘NCC’ instills a spirit of discipline, leadership and service in the youth. You must have seen around you that whenever there is a disaster; be it a flood, an earthquake or an accident, NCC cadets unfailingly make themselves available there to help. Today, efforts are being undertaken continuously to strengthen NCC in the country. In 2014, about 14 lakh youth were associated with NCC. Now in 2024, more than 20 lakh youth are associated with NCC.

Compared to earlier times, provision for NCC has been made in five thousand new schools and colleges… and the biggest aspect is that earlier the number of girl cadets in NCC was just around 25% (percent). Now the number of girl cadets in NCC has risen to almost 40% (percent). The campaign to connect more and more youth residing along the border with NCC is also going on continuously. I would urge the youth to join NCC in maximum numbers. You will notice that no matter what career you choose, NCC will help you a lot in personality development. Friends, the role of the youth in building a developed India is very significant. When young minds come together and deliberate upon the country’s future journey, positively, concrete paths emerge. You know that on the 12th of January, on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the country celebrates ‘Youth Day’. Next year is Swami Vivekananda’s 162nd birth anniversary. This time it will be celebrated in a very special way. On this occasion, a Maha Kumbh of young minds is going to be held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi on 11-12 January, and the name of this initiative is ‘Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’. Crores of youth from all over India will participate in it. 2 thousand such youth selected from villages, blocks, districts, states will gather at Bharat Mandapam for the ‘Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’. You might remember that from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I have urged such youths to join politics, none of whose family members or even the entire family have had a political background.

To connect 1 lakh such youths, new youths, to politics, many special campaigns will be run in the country. ‘Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’ is also one such effort. Experts from the country and abroad will grace this. Many national and international personalities would also be there. I will also be present in it for as much time as possible. The youth will get an opportunity to present their ideas directly before us. How can the country take these ideas forward? How can a solid roadmap be made? A blueprint will be prepared for this. So you too get ready; this is a great opportunity for those who are going to build the future of India, who are the future generation of the country. Come, let us build the country together, make the country developed.

My dear countrymen, in Mann ki Baat, we often talk about such youth. There are many youths who are working selflessly for the society and are engaged in finding solutions to numerous minor problems of the people. If we look around us, we see so many people who need some kind of help or information. I am happy to know that some youths have formed groups and addressed such issues as well. For example, Virendra, who lives in Lucknow, helps the elderly in the matter of Digital Life Certificate. As you know as per rules, all pensioners have to submit Life Certificate once a year. Till 2014, the process was such that the elderly had to go to the banks and submit it themselves. You can imagine how much inconvenience it used to cause to our elderly. Now this system has changed.

Now, by enabling the Digital Life Certificate, things have become very simple; the elderly do not have to go to the bank. Youths like Virendra have a major role in ensuring that the elderly do not face any problem on account of technology. They keep making the elderly of their neighbourhood aware about it. Not just that, they are also making the elderly tech savvy. Today, with such efforts, the number of people receiving Digital Life certificates has crossed the 80 lakh mark. Among these, more than 2 lakh are such elderly people whose age has crossed even 80.

Friends, in many cities, the youth are also coming forward to make the elderly a part of the digital revolution. Mahesh from Bhopal has taught many elderly people of his locality to make payments through mobile. These elderly people had smart phones, but there was no one to tell them their correct usage. The youth have also come forward to save the elderly from the risk of Digital Arrest. Rajiv from Ahmedabad warns people about the risk of Digital Arrest. I had discussed Digital Arrest in the last episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The elderly are the most common victims of such crimes. In such a situation, it is our responsibility to make them aware and help them stay safe from cyber fraud. We have to explain to people again and again that there is no provision of digital arrest in the government; this is a blatant lie, a conspiracy to trap people. I am happy that our young friends are participating in this work with full sensitivity and are motivating others as well.

My dear countrymen, these days many experiments are being conducted for the education of children. The effort is to enhance the creativity of our children and their love for books. It is said that ‘books’ are humans’ best friend and what better place than the library to strengthen this friendship. I want to share one such example from Chennai with you. Here one such library has been set up for children, which has become a hub of creativity and learning. It is known as Prakrith Arivagam. The idea of ​​this library is the brainchild of Shriram Gopalan ji, who is associated with the world of technology. During his work abroad, he remained connected with the world of latest technology. But, he also kept thinking about developing the habit of reading and learning in children. After returning to India, he established Prakrith Arivagam. It has more than three thousand books, which children eagerly wait to read. Apart from books, different types of activities being organized in this library also attract children. Be it Story Telling sessions, Art Workshops, Memory Training Classes, Robotics Lessons or Public Speaking, there is something or the other, to the liking of everyone.

Friends, The Food for Thought Foundation has also established many wonderful libraries in Hyderabad. It’s their endeavor as well, to ensure that children get books to read with solid information on as many topics as possible. The Prayog library of Gopalganj in Bihar has started being talked about in many cities in the neighbourhood.

Apart from youths of around 12 villages getting the facility to read books from this library, this library is also providing other important facilities to the people. Some libraries are such that they are very useful for students in preparing for competitive examinations. It is indeed very heartening to note that the library is being used in the best possible way to strengthen the society. You too should develop friendship with books and see how it brings a change in your life.

My dear countrymen, I have returned from Guyana, a country in South America, the night before yesterday. Thousands of kilometres away from India, a ‘Mini India’ dwells in Guyana too. Around 180 years ago, people from India were taken to Guyana to work in the fields and for other tasks. Today, people of Indian origin in Guyana are leading the country in every field… be it politics, business, education or culture. The President of Guyana, Dr. Irfan Ali, is also of Indian origin and is proud of his Indian heritage. When I was in Guyana, a thought struck my mind which I am sharing with you in ‘Mann Ki Baat’. Just like Guyana, there are lakhs of Indians in dozens of countries across the world. Their ancestors have their own stories of decades; even those over 200-300 years ago. Can you be on the lookout for such stories of how Indian immigrants made their mark in different countries! How they took part in their freedom struggle! How they kept their Indian heritage alive! I want you to find out such true stories, and share them with me. You can also share these stories on the NaMo App or on MyGov with #IndianDiasporaStories.

Friends, you will also find an extraordinary project going on in Oman very interesting. Numerous Indian families have been living in Oman for many centuries. Most of them who have settled there are from Kutch in Gujarat. These people had created important trade links. Even today they have Omani citizenship, but Indianness is ingrained in their personae. With the support of the Indian Embassy in Oman and the National Archives of India, a team has started the work of preserving the history of these families. Thousands of documents have been collected under this campaign so far. These include diaries, account books, ledgers, letters and telegrams. Some of these documents even date back to the year 1838. These documents are full of sentiments. When they reached Oman years ago, what kind of life they lived, what kind of joys and sorrows they faced, and, how their relations with the people of Oman progressed. All of this is a part of these documents. The ‘Oral History Project’ is also an important basis of this mission. In this mission, senior people from there have shared their experiences. People have expressed in detail about their lifestyle there.

Friends, a similar ‘Oral History Project’ is being carried out in India as well. Under this project, history enthusiasts are collating the experiences of the victims during the period of partition of the country. Now, there are very few people left in the country who have witnessed the horrors of Partition. In such a situation, this effort has become even more significant.

Friends, the country, the place that preserves it’s history, its future is also secure. With this very thought in mind, an effort has been made in which a directory has been created to preserve the history of villages. A campaign is also going on in the country to preserve evidences related to India’s ancient maritime capability. Under this series, a very big museum is also being built in Lothal. Apart from that, if you are aware of any manuscript, any historical document, any handwritten copy, you can preserve it with the help of National Archives of India.

Friends, I have come to know about another such effort being undertaken in Slovakia which is related to conserving and promoting our culture. Here, for the first time, our Upanishads have been translated into the Slovak language. These efforts also underscore the global influence of Indian culture. It is a matter of pride for all of us that there are crores of people across the world who cherish India in their hearts.

My dear countrymen, I now want to share with you one such achievement of the country which will make you happy and proud, and if you have not done it, you will probably regret it. A few months ago, we started the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. People from all over the country participated in this campaign with great enthusiasm. I am very happy to tell you that this campaign has crossed the important milestone of planting 100 crore trees. A 100 crore trees, that too, in just 5 months.

This has been possible only due to the tireless efforts of our countrymen. You will be proud to know one more fact related to this. The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign is now spreading to other countries of the world as well. When I was in Guyana, I witnessed this campaign there as well. There, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfan Ali, his mother in law, and other family members joined me in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.

Friends, this campaign is going on continuously in different parts of the country. A record of tree planting was made in Indore, Madhya Pradesh under the campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ – more than 12 lakh trees were planted here in 24 hours. On account of this campaign, the barren area of Revati Hills of Indore will now turn into a green zone. A unique record was made through this campaign in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan – here a team of women planted 25 thousand trees in one hour. Mothers planted trees in the name of their mothers and inspired others too. Here, more than 5 thousand people planted trees at one location.

This too is a record in itself. Under the campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, many social organizations are planting trees according to local needs. Their effort is that wherever trees are planted, a complete eco system should develop in an environment friendly manner. Therefore, these organizations are planting medicinal plants at some places, and at other places, they are planting trees to facilitate nesting for birds. In Bihar, the women of ‘Jeevika Self Help Group’ are running a campaign to plant 75 lakh trees. The focus of these women is on fruit trees, so that income could also be generated in the future.

Friends, by joining this campaign, any person can plant a tree in the name of his mother. If the mother is with you, you can plant the tree along with her, otherwise you can become a part of this campaign by carrying her photograph with you. You can also post a selfie with the tree on mygov.in. We can never repay the debt of what our mother does for all of us, but by planting a tree in her name, we can keep her presence alive forever.

My dear countrymen, all of you must have seen sparrows chirping on roof tops or trees during your childhood. Sparrows are known as Kuruvi in ​​Tamil and Malayalam, Pichhuka in Telugu and Gubbi in Kannada. Stories about sparrows are told in every language and culture. Sparrows play a very important role in maintaining bio-diversity around us, but today sparrows are hardly visible in cities. Due to increasing urbanization, sparrows have gone away from us. There are many children of today’s generation who have seen sparrows only in pictures or videos. Some unique efforts are being made to bring back this lovely bird in the lives of such children. Chennai’s Kudugal Trust has involved school children in its campaign to increase the sparrow population. The people of the organisation go to schools and tell the children how important sparrows are in everyday life. This organisation trains children to make sparrow nests. For this, the people of the organisation taught the children to make a small wooden house. In that, arrangements for food and shelter were made for the sparrows. These are homes that can be placed on the outer wall of any building or on a tree.

Children participated in this campaign with enthusiasm and started making nests for sparrows in large numbers. In the last 4 years, the organization has prepared ten thousand such nests for sparrows. With this initiative of the Kudugal Trust, the sparrow population has started rising in the surrounding areas. If you too make such efforts in your surroundings, sparrows will certainly again become a part of our lives. Friends, an organization in Mysuru, Karnataka has started a campaign called ‘Early Bird’ for children. This organization runs a special kind of library to tell children about birds. Not only this, it has prepared a ‘Nature Education Kit’ to create a sense of responsibility towards nature in children. This kit contains story books, games, activity sheets and jig-saw puzzles for children. This organization takes children from cities to villages and introduces them to birds. On account of the efforts of this organization, children have started recognizing many species of birds. The listeners of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ can also develop a different perspective in children to see and understand their surroundings through such efforts.

My dear countrymen, you must have noticed that as soon as someone mentions a ‘government office’, a picture of a pile of files emerges in your mind. You must have seen something similar in films too. So many jokes are made on these piles of files in government offices; so many stories have been written. These files used to gather dust after lying in offices for years and years, and would start accumulating dirt.

A special Swachhata Abhiyan was launched to remove such decades-old files and scrap. You will be happy to know that this campaign has brought amazing results in government departments. Cleanliness has freed up a lot of space in offices. This has also brought in a sense of ownership among the people working in the offices. They have also become serious about keeping their work place clean.

Friends, you must have often heard elders say that where there is cleanliness, Goddess Lakshmi resides there. The concept of ​​’waste to wealth’ is very old in our country. In many parts of the country, the ‘youth’ are transforming items considered useless, that is waste, to wealth. They are innovating in different ways. They are earning money from that; generating avenues of employment. These youth are also promoting a sustainable lifestyle through their efforts. The effort of two daughters of Mumbai is really very inspiring. These two daughters named Akshara and Prakriti are creating fashion items through fabric scraps. You also know that the scraps that come out during cutting and stitching of clothes are considered useless and thrown away. Akshara and Prakriti’s team transforms the same fabric scraps into fashion products. Caps and bags made from cuttings are literally flying off the shelves.

Friends, a good initiative is on in Kanpur, UP as well, pertaining to cleanliness. Here some people go for daily morning walks picking up plastic and other garbage spread on the banks of the Ganga. This group has been named the ‘Kanpur Ploggers Group’.

This campaign was started by a few friends collectively. Gradually, it became a big campaign of public participation. Many people of the city have joined this campaign. Its members have now started collecting garbage from shops and houses as well. Tree guards are made from this garbage in the Recycle Plant, i.e., people of this group also protect the plants with tree guards made from garbage.

Friends, Iitisha from Assam too is an example of how tiny efforts can lead to big success. Iitisha has studied in Delhi and Pune. Iitisha has left the glitz and glamour of the corporate world and is engaged in cleaning the Sangti Valley of Arunachal. A lot of plastic waste had started accumulating there because of tourists. The river there, which was once pristine, had become polluted because of the plastic waste. Iitisha is working with the local people to clean it. People of her group spread awareness among the tourists there and put up bamboo dustbins all over the valley to collect plastic waste.

Friends, such efforts lend momentum to India’s Swachhata Abhiyan. This is a perpetual campaign. This must certainly be happening around you as well. Do keep writing to me about such efforts.

Friends, that is all for this episode of Mann Ki Baat. I eagerly await your feedback, letters and suggestions throughout the month. Your messages every month inspire me to do even better. We will meet again next month in another episode of Mann Ki Baat with new achievements of the country and countrymen. Until then, my best wishes to all the countrymen. Thank you very much.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Indian Community at an event organised in Georgetown, Guyana today. The President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Philips, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo, Former President Donald Ramotar were present among others. Addressing the gathering, Shri Modi thanked the President and expressed happiness over the grand welcome he received with special warmth on his arrival. He further thanked the President and his family for their warmth and kindness. “The Spirit of hospitality is at the heart of our culture”, said Shri Modi. The Prime Minister remarked that he planted a tree with the President and his Grandmother as part of the Ek Ped Maa ke Naam initiative of the Indian Government. He added that it was an emotional moment which he would remember forever.

The Prime Minister remarked that he was deeply honoured to receive the order of excellence, the highest national award of Guyana. He thanked the people of Guyana for the gesture. Shri Modi dedicated the award in honour of 1.4 billion Indians and the 3 lakh strong Indo-Guyanese community and their contributions to the development of Guyana.

Recalling the beautiful memories of his visit to Guyana two decades ago as a curious traveller, Shri Modi expressed happiness that now he had returned to the land of many rivers as the Prime Minister of India. Noting that there were a hoard of changes from then till now, he remarked that the love and affection of the Guyanese people remains the same. “You can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an India”, said Shri Modi and added that his experience of the tour had reaffirmed it.

Recalling his visit to the Indian arrival monument, earlier in the day, the Prime Minister remarked that it brought to life the long and arduous journey of the ancestors of Indo- Guyanese people nearly two centuries ago. Noting that the people had come from different parts of India, Shri Modi said that they brought with them the diversity of cultures, languages and traditions and made Guyana their home over time. He added that these languages, stories and traditions are today a rich part of the culture of Guyana. He lauded the spirit of the Indo-Guyanese community for their fight for freedom and democracy. He noted that they had worked to make Guyana one of the fastest-growing economies leading to a rise to top from humble-beginnings. Lauding the efforts of Shri Cheddii Jagan, Shri Modi said Shri Jagan rose to be a leader of global stature from his beginnings in a humble background of a family of labourers. He added that President Irfan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, former President Donald Ramotar were all ambassadors of the Indo-Guyanese community. The Prime Minister also noted that many Indo-Guyanese like Joseph Roman, one of the earliest Indo-Guyanese intellectuals, Ram Jaridar Lalla, one of the earliest Indo-Guyanese poets, Shana Yardan, the renowned women poet and others have had a profound impact in the fields of art, academics, music and medicine.

Highlighting that our commonalities provided a strong foundation to India-Guyana friendship, Shri Modi said Culture, Cuisine and Cricket were three important things in particular that connected India with Guyana. He added that this year’s Diwali was special as Shri Ram Lalla had returned to Ayodhya after 500 years. He further added that the people of India also remembered that the holy water and shilas from Guyana were also sent to build the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He lauded that their cultural connection with Mother India was strong, despite being oceans apart and he could feel this when he visited the Arya Samaj Monument and Saraswati Vidya Niketan School earlier in the day. Shri Modi remarked that both India and Guyana were proud of our rich and diverse culture and saw diversity as something to be celebrated, not just accommodated. He added that both countries were showing how cultural diversity was their strength.

Touching upon the cuisine, the Prime Minister noted that the Indo-Guyanese community also has a unique food tradition which has both Indian and Guyanese elements.

Discussing the love for cricket which binds our nations strongly, Shri Modi said it is not just a sport, but a way of life, deeply embedded in our national identity. He added that the Providence National Cricket Stadium in Guyana stands as a symbol of our friendship.Underling that Kanhai, Kalicharan, Chanderpaul were all well-known names in India, Shri Modi said Clive Lloyd and his team have been a favourite of many generations. He added that young players from Guyana also had a huge fan base in India. He further added that many Indians enjoyed the T-20 World Cup that was hosted there earlier in the year.

The Prime Minister remarked that he had the honour of addressing the Guyanese Parliament earlier in the day. He added that coming from the Mother of Democracy, he felt the spiritual connection with one of the most vibrant democracies in the Caribbean region. Shri Modi underlined that India and Guyana have a shared history that binds us together such as the common struggle against colonial rule, love for democratic values and respect for diversity. “We have a shared future that we want to create”, said Shri Modi emphasising the aspirations for growth and development, Commitment towards economy and ecology and belief in a just and inclusive world order.

Expressing that the people of Guyana are well-wishers of India, Shri Modi highlighted “India’s journey over the past decade has been one of scale, speed and” sustainability.”. He added that in In just 10 years, India has grown from the tenth largest economy to the fifth largest and soon, India will become the third-largest. Lauding the youth, he said they have made us the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world. Shri Modi further highlighted that India was a global hub for e-commerce, AI, fintech, agriculture, technology and more. Emphasising India’s space missions to Mars and the moon, the Prime Minister said from highways to i-ways, airways to railways, we are building state of art infrastructure. Underling that India had a strong service sector, Shri Modi said that now India was also becoming stronger in manufacturing and India had become the second largest mobile manufacturer in the world.

“India’s growth has not only been inspirational but also inclusive”, highlighted the Prime Minister and added that India’s digital public infrastructure was empowering the poor and the Government had opened over 500 million bank accounts for the people and connected these bank accounts with digital identity and mobiles. This, he said, helped people receive assistance directly in their bank accounts. Shri Modi also said that Ayushman Bharat was the world’s largest free health insurance scheme, benefiting over 500 million people. He added that the Government had built over 30 million homes for those in need. “In just one decade, we have lifted 250 million people out of poverty”, highlighted Shri Modi. He added that even among the poor, the initiatives had benefited women the most and Millions of women were becoming grassroots entrepreneurs, generating jobs and opportunities.

Emphasising that while all this massive growth was happening, India was also focused on sustainability, Shri Modi said that in just a decade, India’s solar energy capacity grew 30-fold and had moved towards green mobility, with 20 percent ethanol blending in petrol. He added that at the international level too, India had played a central role in many initiatives to combat climate change like the International Solar Alliance, the Global Biofuels Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure among other initiatives having a special focus on empowering the Global South. The Prime Minister emphasised that India had also championed the International Big Cat Alliance and Guyana, with its majestic Jaguars, also stands to benefit from this.

Recalling that India had hosted President Irfaan Ali as the Chief Guest of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, last year, Shri Modi said India also received Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in India. He added that together, they had worked to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many areas. Shri Modi remarked that today, both countries had agreed to widen the scope of our collaboration – from energy to enterprise, Ayurveda to agriculture, infrastructure to innovation, healthcare to human resources, and data to development and the partnership also holds significant value for the wider region. He added that the second India-CARICOM summit held yesterday was a testament to the same. The Prime Minister remarked that as members of the United Nations, both countries believed in reformed multilateralism and as developing countries, they understood the power of the Global South. He added that they sought strategic autonomy and support for inclusive development. Shri Modi said both countries prioritise sustainable development and climate justice and continue to call for dialogue and diplomacy to address global crises.

Referring to the diaspora as the Rashtradoots, Shri Modi said they were Ambassadors of Indian culture and values. He added that the Indo-Guyanese community was doubly blessed as they had Guyana as their motherland and Bharat Mata as their ancestral land. The Prime Minister underscored that today, when India was a land of opportunities, each one of them could play a bigger role in connecting our two countries.

Urging the diaspora to participate in the Bharat Ko Janiye Quiz which was launched, the Prime Minister said that the quiz was a good opportunity to understand India, its values, culture and diversity. He urged the people to invite their friends too to participate.

Shri Modi invited the diaspora to participate with families and friends in the Maha Kumbh to be held at Prayagraj, from 13 January to 26 February next year. He also added that they could visit the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister also invited the diaspora to come and participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas that will be held in Bhubaneswar in January and partake in the blessings of Mahaprabhu Jagannath in Puri.

Lauding the work of Swami Akasharananda Ji in their efforts to deepen the India-Guyana cultural connect, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today visited Saraswati Vidya Niketan School and remarked that Indian culture and traditions are thriving in Guyana.

In a post on X, he wrote:

“Indian culture and traditions are thriving in Guyana. I had the opportunity to visit one such place which has been at the forefront of boosting cultural and people-to-people linkages – the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School. I commend all those associated with the school and also laud the work of Swami Akasharananda Ji in their efforts to deepen the India-Guyana cultural connect.”

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, on November 22, 2024, met his Japan counterpart Mr Gen Nakatani and Secretary of National Defence (Defence Minister) of the Philippines Mr Gilberto Teodoro on the final day of his three-day visit to Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Meeting with Japanese Defence Minister

The two sides reiterated the importance of defence industry and technology cooperation between the two countries. Recalling the milestone event of signing of Memorandum of Implementation of UNICORN mast in Japan last week, both sides agreed for enhanced cooperation in co-production and co-development in the defence manufacturing sector.

To further improve inter-operability between the Indian and Japanese forces, Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement between the two countries and participation of militaries in various bilateral and multilateral exercises were discussed by both the Ministers. They also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain.

Meeting with Secretary of National Defence of the Philippines

Raksha Mantri welcomed the Philippines as country coordinator for India in ASEAN and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) – Plus forum for the next cycle. Both sides agreed to expand and deepen cooperation in exchange of subject matter experts, defence industry, counter-terrorism, space and maritime domain.

Prior to his departure to New Delhi, Raksha Mantri also visited the Wat Sisakat Temple (a Buddhist Temple) in Vientiane, and sought blessings from Shri Mahaveth Chittakaro, Abbot of Sisaket Temple.

During his three-day stay in Vientiane, Shri Rajnath Singh attended the 11^th ADMM-Plus, and held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Malaysia, Lao PDR, China, US, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Australia, Japan and the Philippines.

Excellencies,

I welcome the valuable suggestions given and positive thoughts expressed by all of you. WIth respect to India’s proposals, my team will share all details with you, and we will move forward on all subjects in a time bound manner.

Excellencies,

Relations between India and CARICOM countries are based on our shared past experiences, our shared present day needs and our shared aspirations for the future.

India is totally committed to taking these relations to new heights. In all our efforts, we have focused on the concerns of the Global south, and its priorities.

Under India’s presidency, last year, the G20 emerged as as the voice of the Global South. Yesterday, in Brazil as well, i called on the global community to give priority to the countries of the Global south.

I am pleased that India and all our CARICOM friends agree that reforms are necessary in global institutions .

They need to mould themselves to today’s world and to today’s society. This is the need of the hour. In order to make this a reality, close cooperation with CARICOM and CARICOM’s support are very important.

Excellencies,

The decisions taken at our meeting today, will add new dimensions to our cooperation in every sector. The India-CARICOM Joint Commission and Joint Working Groups will have an important role to play in implementing them.

In order to take our positive cooperation forward, I propose that the 3rd CARICOM Summit be organised in India.

Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude to President Irfan Ali, to Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, to the CARICOM secretariat, and to all of you.

In a ceremony at the State House today, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana conferred upon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the highest national award of Guyana, “The Order of Excellence”​, for his ‘visionary statesmanship, for championing the rights of developing countries on the global stage, for exceptional service to the global community and for his commitment to strengthening India-Guyana relations.’

While accepting the award, the Prime Minister dedicated the honour to the people of India and to the deep-rooted historical ties between the people of the two countries. He emphasized that his State visit is testament to India’s continued commitment towards deepening India-Guyana friendship.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is only the fourth foreign leader to be conferred with the highest National award of Guyana.

Her Excellency Sylvanie Burton, President of the Commonwealth of Dominica conferred the highest National Award-“Dominica Award of Honour” on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, for his statesmanship, support to Dominica during the Covid 19 pandemic and his commitment to strengthening India and Dominica ties. Prime Minister of Dominica H.E. Mr.Roosevelt Skerrit also graced the occasion. President of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister of Barbados, H.E. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Grenada, H.E. Mr. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, H.E. Philip J. Pierre, and Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, H.E. Mr. Gaston Browne also witnessed the award ceremony.

Prime Minister dedicated the honour to the people of India and to the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties between India and Dominica. He expressed confidence that the bilateral bond between the two nations will continue to grow and deepen in the years ahead.

The award ceremony was held today, on 20 November 2024, on the sidelines of the Second India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown, Guyana.

“India stands for freedom of navigation & overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law for peace & prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while addressing the 11^th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus forum at Vientiane, Lao PDR on November 21, 2024. Sharing his insights on the discussions on the Code of Conduct, he stated that India would like to see a Code that does not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations which are not party to these deliberations. The code should be fully consistent with international law, in particular the UN Convention Law of Sea 1982, he added.

On the ongoing conflicts & challenges to international order, Raksha Mantri asserted that it is “providential” that the 11^th ADMM-Plus is being held in Lao PDR, which has internalised the Buddhist principles of non-violence and peace. He was of the view that it is time that the Buddhist doctrines of peaceful co-existence be embraced more closely by all, as the world is increasingly getting polarised into blocks and camps, leading to increasing strain on the established world order.

“India has always advocated and practiced dialogue for resolving complex international issues. This commitment to open communication and peaceful negotiation is evident in India’s approach to a wide range of international challenges, from border disputes to trade agreements. An open dialogue promotes trust, understanding, and cooperation, laying the foundation for sustainable partnerships. The power of dialogue has always proven effective, yielding tangible results that contribute to stability and harmony on the global stage. India believes that genuine, long-term solutions to global problems can only be achieved when nations engage constructively, respecting each other’s perspectives and working toward shared goals in the spirit of cooperation,” said Shri Rajnath Singh.

Describing 21^st century as the ‘Asian Century’, Raksha Mantri said the ASEAN region, in particular, has always been economically dynamic and bustling with trade, commerce & cultural activities. He added that, all through this transformational journey, India has remained a trusted friend of the region. Citing a quote by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, while he visited South East Asia in 1927, ‘Everywhere I could see India, yet I could not recognise it’, Raksha Mantri stressed that the statement symbolises the deep and widespread cultural & historical ties between India and South East Asia.

On India celebrating a decade of the Government’s Act East policy, Shri Rajnath Singh pointed out that the dividends are paying out in the strengthening of India’s ties with ASEAN and Indo-pacific nations. This vision re-emphasised the pivotal role of ASEAN as a cornerstone of the nation’s policy, he added.

In view of the natural disasters wreaking havoc in different parts of the world, Raksha Mantri stated that it reminds of the perils of climate change. He complimented the chair for choosing the most relevant topic in today’s scenario for the 11^th ADMM-Plus Joint statement. “Strengthening resilience to climate change in the defence domain requires multi-stakeholder engagement, from developing innovative solutions to managing the adverse impacts of climate change. This includes protecting vulnerable populations as well as safeguarding our defence installations,” he added. Raksha Mantri highlighted the need to deepen the understanding of the interlinkages between climate change and threats to security. He called for developing an ADMM-Plus Defence Strategy on Climate Change.

Shri Rajnath Singh drew attention to the Global Commons – the shared natural resources and ecosystems essential to sustaining life and bringing prosperity on the planet. He underscored the need to safeguard these Global Commons in a just and balanced manner by not resorting to unilateral actions. These resources provide invaluable ecological, economic, and social benefits that extend beyond national boundaries, he said.

The 11^th ADMM-Plus forum consisted of 10 ASEAN countries, eight Plus countries, and Timor Leste. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath.

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today congratulated the Indian Hockey team on winning the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy.

Shri Modi said that their win will motivate upcoming athletes.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“A phenomenal accomplishment!

Congratulations to our hockey team on winning the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. They played exceptionally well through the tournament. Their success will motivate many upcoming athletes.”

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Georgetown today on a State Visit to Guyana from 20-21 November 2024. This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Guyana in 56 years. As a special gesture, on arrival at the airport, he was warmly received by the President of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, along with the Prime Minister of Guyana Hon’ble Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Anthony Phillips and was accorded a ceremonial welcome. More than a dozen Cabinet Ministers of the Government of Guyana were also present at the ceremony.

On his arrival at the hotel, Prime Minister was welcomed by President Ali along with the Prime Minister of Barbados, H.E. Mia Amor Mottley and the Prime Minister of Grenada, H.E. Dickon Mitchell. In addition, Prime Minister received a rousing and colorful welcome from the Indian community and the Indo-Guyanese diaspora in the presence of several Cabinet Ministers of Guyana. Between the welcome at the airport and the hotel, the entire Guyanese government Cabinet was present. As a testament to the close India-Guyana friendship, the Mayor of Georgetown handed over the “Key to the City of Georgetown” to the Prime Minister.