Not just military mission, Face of a Changing India

Operation Sindoor was not just a military mission but the face of a changing India, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 122nd episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, on May 25. While lauding the “precision and accuracy” with which the Indian armed forces attacked the terrorist infrastructure across the border, PM Modi also commended the ‘Made in India’ weapons, equipment and technology that also contributed to the victory. The PM made a fresh pitch for ‘Vocal for Local’, in this context, urging people to buy made-in-India goods, to travel within India for vacations, to gift Indian handicrafts and so on. The following is are excerpts from the episode:

My dear countrymen, Namaskar. Today the whole country is united against terrorism; filled up with anger and resolve. Today every Indian holds the same resolve that we have to end terrorism. Friends, the valour displayed by our forces during Operation Sindoor has made every Indian proud. The precision and accuracy with which our forces destroyed the terrorist hideouts across the border is amazing. Operation Sindoor has lent a new confidence and enthusiasm to the fight against terrorism across the world.

Friends, Operation Sindoor is not just a military mission; it is a picture of our resolve, courage and a transforming India and this picture has infused the whole country with a sense of patriotism and has painted it in the hues of the tricolor…

Friends, our soldiers destroyed terror bases; it was their indomitable courage, along with the power of weapons, equipment and technology made in India. It also included the resolve of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. The sweat of our engineers, our technicians, in fact, that of everyone… is involved in this victory. After this campaign, a renewed energy is visible in the whole country regarding ‘Vocal for Local’…

Friends, in ‘Mann Ki Baat’ we have already discussed the Bastar Olympics held in Chhattisgarh and the Science Lab in Maoist affected areas. The children here are passionate about science. They are also doing great in sports. Such efforts reflect how courageous the people living in these areas are. These people have chosen the path of improving their lives amidst so many challenges.

I am also very happy to know that the results of Dantewada district in the 10th and 12th standard examinations have been excellent. With nearly ninety five percent result, this district topped the 10th standard results. Whereas in the 12th standard examination, this district secured the sixth position in Chhattisgarh. Imagine! Dantewada, where Maoism was once at its peak… today the flag of education is flying high there. Such changes fill us all with pride.

My dear countrymen, I now want to share a piece of good news related to lions. In just the last five years, the population of lions in Gir, Gujarat, has increased from 674 to 891. This number of lions that emerged after the lion census is very encouraging. Friends, many of you must be wondering how this animal census is conducted! This exercise is very challenging.

You will be surprised to know that the Lion Census was conducted in 11 districts, in an area of 35 thousand square kilometres. For the census, the teams monitored these areas round the clock… twenty four hours. Both verification and cross verification were done in this entire campaign. This enabled the counting of lions to be completed with utmost precision.

Friends, the rise in the population of the Asiatic Lion shows that when the sense of ownership strengthens in the society, amazing results happen. A few decades ago, the situation in Gir was very challenging. But the people there came together to bring about a change…

My dear countrymen, today there are many women who are working in the fields as well as touching the heights of the sky. Yes! You heard it right, now the women of the village are flying drones as Drone Didi and ushering in a new revolution in agriculture. Friends, in Sangareddy district of Telangana, women who had to depend on others till some time ago… today those very women are completing the work of spraying pesticides on 50 acres of land with the help of drones. Three hours in the morning, two hours in the evening and the work is done. Neither the scorching sun, nor the danger of poisonous chemicals. Friends, the villagers have also accepted this change wholeheartedly. Now these women are not known as ‘drone operators’ but as ‘sky warriors’. These women are telling us that change comes when technology and determination go together.

My dear countrymen, less than a month is left for ‘International Yoga Day’. This occasion reminds us that if you are still away from yoga, join yoga now. Yoga will change the way you live your life. Friends, since the beginning of ‘Yoga Day’ on 21 June 2015, attraction towards it is rising continuously.

This time too, the zeal and enthusiasm among people all over the world with regard to ‘Yoga Day’ is amply visible. Myriad institutions are sharing their preparations. The pictures of past years have been very inspiring. We have seen that during these years, people in various countries have made Yoga Chain or Yoga Ring. There are many pictures which depict four generations doing yoga together. Many people have chosen iconic places of their city for yoga. You too can think of celebrating Yoga Day in some interesting way this time…

Friends, you must have seen blackboards in schools, but now ‘sugar boards’ are also being installed in some schools – not blackboard, but sugar board! The aim of this unique initiative of CBSE is to make children aware of their sugar intake. By understanding how much sugar should be consumed and how much sugar is being consumed, children have started choosing healthy options themselves. This is a unique effort and its impact will also be very positive…

…I want to tell you about an example where the resolve for cleanliness conquered even insurmountable challenges. Just imagine, a person is climbing snowy mountains, where it is difficult to breathe, there is danger to life at every step and still that person is engaged in cleaning there. Something similar has been done by members of our ITBP team. This team went to climb the world’s most difficult peak, Mount Makalu. But friends, they didn’t just climb the mountain… they added another mission of ‘cleanliness’ to their goal. They took up the task of removing the garbage lying near the peak.

Just imagine, the members of this team brought down more than 150 kg of nonbiodegradable waste with them. Cleaning at such a height is not an easy task. But this shows that where there is determination, the path is created automatically…

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