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Mann Ki Baat
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi in his 123rd episode, aired on June 29, opened with heartfelt greetings, celebrating individuals across the globe who participated in
Shri Narendra Modi said, “Now, over these 10 years, this event is turning grand with every passing year. This is also an indication that more and more people are adopting yoga in their daily lives. We have seen so many attractive pictures of ‘Yoga Day’ this time. Three lakh people performed yoga together on the beach of Visakhapatnam. Another amazing visual emerged from Visakhapatnam itself… more than two thousand adivasi students performed 108 Surya Namaskars for 108 minutes. Imagine how much discipline, how much dedication there must have been! A grand glimpse of yoga was also witnessed on our naval ships. In Telangana, three thousand divyang friends participated in a yoga camp together.”
This time the theme was also very special, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health’. This is not just a slogan; it is a direction which makes us realize the essence of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. I am sure, the grandeur of this year’s Yoga Day will certainly inspire more and more people to adopt yoga.
India’s Triumph Over Trachoma
PM proudly announced that India has been declared trachoma-free by the World Health Organization—a major public health victory. Trachoma, an infectious disease that previously threatened blindness, has been eradicated due to sustained health efforts, cleanliness drives (Swachh Bharat), and universal access to clean drinking water (Jal Jeevan Mission) .
Social Security Coverage Expands
In a significant progress report, the PM highlighted that over 64% of Indians (approximately 95 crore people) now benefit from at least one social security scheme, according to the International Labour Organization. This marks a noteworthy increase from just 25 crore in 2015 . These benefits strengthen families, improve livelihoods, and reflect India’s commitment to inclusive welfare.
Environment and Community-Driven Sustainability
The Prime Minister praised a wave of local environmental initiatives:
• Ramesh Karmale of Pune, who alongside his family, established 70 rainwater harvesting trenches around Junnar Hills in just two months,
• Ahmedabad’s “Mission Million Trees”, which planted one million trees, including a special Sindoor forest in memory of fallen soldiers—each sapling dedicated as ‘Mother Trees’ ,
These initiatives underscore the immense change that disciplined communities can achieve.
Reviving Craft Heritage: Eri Silk of Meghalaya
The PM lauded Meghalaya for securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Ari Silk, a traditional craft woven by indigenous Khasi artisans. He emphasized that such recognition empowers local women-led self-help groups to enhance livelihoods and promote local craft culture. He urged citizens to support “Swadeshi” by choosing products like Eri silk and thereby fuel a self-sufficient India .
Spotlight on Women-led Success Stories
A celebratory segment focused on entrepreneurial women transforming their communities:
• In Telangana’s Patrasala, women shifted from agricultural labor to lead community-driven success,
• In Kalaburagi, Karnataka, a women’s cooperative built a brand around jowar rotis, producing 3,000 daily, now available online and in Bengaluru .
These narratives reaffirm the PM’s mantra: “Women-led Progress” is essential to India’s future.