New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged the youth, during ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, to use local products till 2022 as the country marks its 75th year of Independence.
He mentioned how women of Kadipur in Uttar Pradesh have become self-reliant by learning to make slippers. The women self help group has also established a “chappal production plant” in the area. This not only has generated the revenue for the women working in the plant, but has also given employment opportunities to the villagers.
He also appreciated the Uttar Pradesh Police for taking the initiative of buying those locally produced slippers for their family members and themselves and enabling those women to earn their livelihood by the initiative.
The Prime Minister said: “As we are going to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence in the year 2022, I urge all the youth of this country to use ‘Swadesi’ and buy local products in order to give impetus to the local produce and generate employment in the country”.
He said: “Can we add products made locally to our lifestyle that have the sweat and hard work of fellow Indians? I am asking you to do this just for two to three years until the 75th year of Independence.” He said the youth of this country is self motivated and is capable of doing this without the government initiative.
Modi also mentioned ‘Swadesi Movement’ initiated by Mahatma Gandhi which encouraged people to buy local products. He said that the movement was aimed at paving the way for Indians to become self reliant and remove poverty.
He talked about youth empowerment to aid the country’s development, adding that the change depends on people born in the 21st century.
Pointing to Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on January 12, which is also celebrated as the ‘National Youth Day’ the Prime Minister asked the youth of the country to make a resolution for positive change.
Describing the President’s visit to Vivekananad Rock in Kanyakumari, and Vice president’s visit to Kutch in Gujarat for Rannotsav, as inspiring, he asked people to visit tourist places within the country.
Prime Minister applauded the role of alumni associations of Bettiah in nation building.
Taking the example of Sankalp 95, the prime minister complimented the group of alumni from the old students of KR High School, 1995 batch, in west Champaran of Bihar, for taking a resolution to create public health awareness in their area.
Bettiah Medical College and many others have joined in this initiative to improve health access for the common people in the district.
The Prime Minister cited Sankalp 95 as an example for everyone to follow.
Prime Minister said under the aegis of ‘Sankalp 95’, Government Medical College of Bettiah and many hospitals joined in this campaign.
He commended a unique initiative ‘HIMAYAT’, that has been transforming lives of thousands of disadvantaged teenagers in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister took the names of youngsters like Raqeeb Ul Rehman from Kashmir’s Anantnag district, who took up a course in retail team leadership programme and was now working in a corporate organisation.
The Prime Minister also mentioned about a number of teenagers like Faiyaz, who had trained under the HIMAYAT program.
Himayat is a placement linked skill training programme for unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir and is being implemented by the Himayat Mission Management Unit, Jammu and Kashmir State Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKSRLM).