My dear countrymen, Namaskar.

Let us begin today’s’ Mann Ki Baat with a phone call.

Phone Call…

Thank you very much for your phone call. My young friends have asked me many questions related to Science; they keep writing on quite a few points. All of us have seen that the sea appears blue, but we know from routine life experiences that water has no colour. Have we ever thought about why water acquires colour in rivers and oceans? The same thought occurred to a young man in the 1920s. The same question gave rise to a great scientist of modern India. When we talk about Science, the first name that strikes us is Bharat Ratna Sir C.V. Raman. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for his outstanding work on light scattering. One of his discoveries is famous as the Raman Effect.

 We celebrate February 28 as National Science Day since, on this very day, he is said to have discovered the phenomenon of light scattering, for which the Nobel Prize was conferred upon him. This land has given birth to many great scientists. On the one hand, there has been a tradition of great Mathematicians like Bodhayan, Bhaskar, Brahmagupt, and Aryabhatt; on the other, in the field of medicine, Sushrut & Charak have bestowed upon us a place of pride. Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose, Har, Gobind Khurana, and Satyendranath Bose have brought laurels to India. The famous particle BOSON has been named after Satyendranath Bose. I recently got an opportunity to participate in a programme in Mumbai – the inauguration of the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence. It was interesting to learn about the ongoing miraculous accomplishments in Science. Artificial Intelligence aids in making robots, Bots, and other machines for specific tasks. Through self-learning, devices today can enhance their intelligence to a more competent level. This technology can be harnessed to better the lives of the underprivileged, the marginalized, and the needy. In that programme on Artificial Intelligence, I urged the scientific community to deliberate on how Artificial Intelligence could help us make life easier for our diverse brothers & sisters. Can we make better predictions of natural disasters using Artificial Intelligence? Can we use it to provide assistance to farmers on crop yield? Can Artificial Intelligence be used as a tool to simplify the outreach of health services and modernize medical treatment?

         A few days ago, I accompanied the Prime Minister of Israel to Ahmedabad, Gujarat, to inaugurate ”I create”. A young person referred to developing a digital instrument that converts the written word into voice. This is to aid those incapable of speech to converse generally like anyone else. I feel we can harness Artificial Intelligence in many such fields.

         Science and Technology are value-neutral. They don’t’ possess any value in themselves. Any machine will work the way we want it to. It entirely depends on us what task we want it to perform. Here, human objectives assume significance: using Science for the sole purpose of human welfare to assist human lives to the most incredible heights.

         Thomas Alva Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, failed many times in his experiments. Once asked about it, he quipped, “”I have devised ten thousand ways of how NOT to make a light bulb””. I mean that Edison transformed even his failures into his strengths. Coincidentally, I am fortunate today to be in Auroville, the land, the karmabhoomi of Maharshi Arvind. As a revolutionary, he challenged British rule, fought against them, and questioned subjugation. Thus, as a great sage, he examined every facet of life. Extracting answers, he showed the right path to humanity. The relentless quest to ask questions to know the truth is fundamental. And this is the very essence, the real inspiration behind scientific inventions and discoveries. Never rest till every ”why”, ”what” & ”how” are answered. I congratulate our scientists and all those connected with Science on National Science Day. May our young generation be inspired for the quest for truth & knowledge; may they be motivated to serve society through Science. I wish them the best.

         Friends and safety in crises and disasters are topics on which many messages keep coming, and people keep writing to me. In a comment posted on Narendra Modi Mobile App, Shriman Ravindra Singh from Pune has referred to occupational safety. He writes that safety standards at factories and construction sites are not up to the mark in our country. Since March 4 is National Safety Day, the Prime Minister should include safety in the Mann Ki Baat programme to raise safety awareness. Regarding public safety, two aspects are fundamental- proactiveness and preparedness. Safety is of two kinds – one is safety during disasters, and the other is safety in everyday life. If we are unaware of safety in daily life and cannot attain a certain level, it will get tough. Wdisasteread signboards on streets bearing lines such as – ‘सतर्कता हटी – दुर्घटना घटी’ – ‘Lose alertness – invite mishaps’ or ‘एक भूल करे नुकसान, छीने खुशियां और मुस्कान’ – ‘One mistake can cost you dear- rob you of your joy & smile’ or इतनी जल्दी न दुनिया छोड़, सुरक्षा से अब नाता जोड़ो – ‘Don’t be in a hurry to leave this world – embrace the culture of safety’ orसुरक्षा से न करो कोई मस्ती वर्ना जिन्दगी होगी सस्ती – ‘Don’t play around with safety, your life will be treated cheap’. Beyond that, these sentences serve no purpose in our lives. Leave aside natural disasters; most mishaps result from our mistakes or others. If we stay alert and abide by the prescribed rules & regulations, we shall not only be able to save our own lives but also prevent catastrophes from harming society. Sometimes, many workplace safety slogans come across, but none follow their letter and spirit. I urge the fire brigade under corporations and municipalities to visit school children once a week or once a month and perform mock drills for them. This will have a dual benefit – the fire brigade will undergo a readiness exercise, and the new generation will learn alertness. And all this at no added cost. It will be a natural part of the overall learning curve. India is a land of geographic and climatic diversities. As far as disasters are concerned, this country has borne the brunt of many natural and man-made disasters, such as chemical & industrial mishaps. Today, the National Disaster Management Authority, NDMA, is the vanguard when dealing with disasters in the country. During earthquakes, floods, cyclones, and landslides, NDMA reaches the area within no time. They have issued guidelines and keep imparting training regularly for capacity building. In Districts prone to floods and cyclones, an initiative named ”Aapada Mitra” has been launched to train Volunteers. Training and awareness have a vital role to play. Two to three years ago, thousands of people would lose their lives every year due to heat waves. After that, NDMA organized workshops on heatwave management as part of a campaign to raise awareness among people. Mass participation led to good results. In 2017, the death toll on account of heatwave remarkably came down to around 220 or so. This proves that if we prioritise safety, we can attain safety. I laud the role played by innumerable individuals and citizens who immediately embark upon rescue and relief operations wherever a disaster strikes. And there are numerous such unnamed, unsung heroes. Our Fire and rescue services, National Disaster Response Forces Armed Forces, Paramilitary Forces… these brave hearts go beyond the call of duty to help people in distress, often risking their own lives. Organizations like NCC and Scouts also contribute to this task; they are getting trained, too. Recently, we have attempted to have a joint exercise for disaster management between countries on the lines of joint military exercises involving different countries worldwide. India has made a pioneering effort – BIMSTEC, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan & Nepal – a joint disaster management exercise involving these countries was undertaken. It was a novel humanitarian experiment on a large scale. We’ll’ have to turn ourselves into a risk-conscious society. In our culture, we often talk of the safety of values; we now need to realize the values of safety. We’ll’ have to make it part of our life, our being. During air travel, we must have frequently encountered air hostesses giving a rather longish speech and safety instructions at the beginning of a flight. We must have heard it hundreds of times. But today, if one of us is taken inside an aircraft and asked about the location of equipment, say life jackets, and how to use them, I can say that none of us can give the right answer. So, was there a provision for giving our information? Yes, there was. Was there a scope of direct visibility when the information was given? Of course, there was. But we did not respond actively. WHY? Because by nature, we are not conscious. And that is why our ears hear when we sit in the aircraft, but no one realizes that ”these instructions are for me”. We experience this in all walks of life. Let us not think that safety is only meant for someone else. If we all become conscious and aware of our safety, the essence of the safety of society will be built. 

         My dear countrymen, in the current budget, emphasis has been laid on turning ”waste to wealth” and ”waste to energy through Biogas under the Swachch Bharat Campaign. An effort was initiated named GOBAR-Dhan – Galvanizing Organic Bio Agro Resources. This GOBAR- -DHAN scheme aims to ensure village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy by converting cattle dung and solid agricultural waste into Compost and Bio Gas. India is home to the highest cattle population in the world, close to 300 million in number, with a daily output of 3 million tonnes of dung. Some European countries and China use animal dung and other Bio-waste to produce energy. But India was lacking full capacity utilization. We are making rapid strides in this direction under the Swachch Bharat Mission (Rural).   

A target has been set to use cattle dung, agricultural, and kitchen waste to produce biogas-based energy. Under the Gobardhan Scheme, our farmer brothers & sisters in rural India will be encouraged to consider dung and other waste not just as a waste but as a source of income. Under the aegis of ‘GobarDhanYojana’, many benefits will accrue to rural areas. Keeping the village clean and sanitized will be easier, livestock health will improve, and farm yields will increase. Biogas generation will increase self-reliance in energy utilized for cooking and lighting. Farmers and cattle herders will be helped to augment their income. There will be novel opportunities for newer jobs linked to waste collection, transportation, biogas sales, etc. An online trading platform will be created to better implement ‘Gobar Dhan Yojana’; it will connect farmers to buyers so that they can get the right price for dung and agricultural waste. I urge entrepreneurs, especially our sisters residing in rural India, to step forward and, through the creation of self-help groups and cooperative societies, take full advantage of this opportunity. I invite you to become part of the movement comprising clean energy and green jobs, to become a part of the initiative to convert the waste in your village to wealth, and by converting dung into ”Gobar dhan.”

        My dear countrymen, we have been hearing about the myriad types of festivals – music, food, film, and many other kinds of celebrations. But in a unique endeavour in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the state’s first ‘Trash Mahotsav’ was organized. The objective behind this festival, sponsored by Raipur Municipal Corporation, was to generate awareness about cleanliness and how the city’s waste can be creatively used and inculcate awareness about various ways to recycle the garbage. A plethora of activities was organized during this festival, which found full participation of students and adults. Different types of artefacts were made utilizing rubble. Many workshops were organized to inform people about all aspects of waste management. Music performances linked to the hygiene theme were held, and artworks were created. Raipur also inspired various types of garbage or trash festivals in other districts. Many individuals taking the initiative on their behalf shared innovative ideas, held discussions, and conducted poetry recitals. A festive atmosphere regarding cleanliness got geared up. The way the schoolchildren took part in the entire endeavour was terrific. For the innovative manner in which the importance of waste management and cleanliness was displayed in this festival, I congratulate the people of Raipur Municipal Corporation, the entire populace of Chhattisgarh, its government, and its administration.

Every year on March 8, ‘International Women’s Day is celebrated. Many programs are held in our country and the world. Today, women are also felicitated with ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’, who have performed exemplary tasks in different sectors. Today, the country is moving forward from the path of Women’s development to women-led development. On this occasion, I remember the words of Swami Vivekananda. He’d’ said, ‘The idea of ​​perfect womanhood is perfect independence.’ – This idea of ​​Swami Ji about one hundred and twenty-five years ago expresses the contemplation of woman power in Indian culture. Today, it is our duty to ensure the participation of women in every field of life, be it social or economic life, it is our fundamental duty. We are part of a tradition where men were identified due to women. Yashoda-Nandan, Kaushalya-Nandan, and Gandhari-Putra were the identities of a son. Today, our woman’s power has shown inner fortitude and self-confidence and made her self-reliant. She has advanced herself and carried the country and society forward to newer heights.

After all, our dream of ‘New India’ is where women are strong and empowered and are equal partners in the country’s development. A gentleman gave me a very sound proposition a few days ago. He suggested that on 8th March, myriad events would herald’ Women’s Day.’ Why cannot we felicitate mothers and sisters who have completed 100 years in every Indian village or city? Can a program of respecting such centenarians be held, and cannot we reflect upon a long life? I liked the idea, and I’m’ bouncing it with you. You will find many examples of what woman power can achieve; if you look around yourself, many such inspiring stories will appear. I just received news from Jharkhand wherein under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, about 1.5 million women in Jharkhand – and this figure is not a small one organized a hygiene campaign for an entire month! Under the auspices of this campaign, starting from January 26, 2018, these women constructed 1 lakh 70 thousand toilets in just 20 days and made a record of sorts. About one lakh ”Sakhi Mandals,” 14 lakh women, 2 thousand women Panchayat representatives, 29 thousand water carriers, 10 thousand female cleaners, and 50 thousand women masons were involved in this campaign. You can imagine what a mammoth undertaking it was! These women of Jharkhand have shown that women’s power is an integral component of ”Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” which will change the course of the campaign of cleanliness in general life and the influential role of hygiene the people in general.

My dear Brothers and sisters, I was just watching the TV news two days ago that electricity has reached three villages of Elephanta Island after 70 years of independence, which has led to much joy and enthusiasm among the people there. You all know that Elephanta is located 10 km by the sea from Mumbai. It is an essential tourist destination. The caves of Elephanta are marked as the World Heritage sites by UNESCO and draw tourists from all over the country and abroad. Despite being such a prominent tourism centre near Mumbai, I was surprised that electricity hadn’t’ reached Elephanta after so many years of independence. For 70 years, the lives of the denizens of three villages of Elephanta Island, Rajbunder, Morbandar, and Centabandar, were engulfed by darkness, which has been dispelled now, and there is brightness in their lives. I congratulate the administration and the populace there. I am glad that the Elephanta villages and the Elephanta caves will now be lighted due to electrification. This is not just electricity, but a new beginning of a development period. There is no greater contentment and joy than the countrymen’s lives are full of shine, and there is happiness.

My dear brothers and sisters, we just celebrated the festival of Shivaratri. And now the month of March beckons us with ripe crops in the fields, playful golden earrings of wheat, and the captivating blossom of mango, which are pleasing to the mind, are the highlights of this month. But this month is also very special to all of us because of the festival of Holi. On March 2, the entire country, immersed in joy, will celebrate the festival of Holi. In The festival of Holi, the importance of colours is as important as the ceremony of ‘HolikaDahan’ because it is the day we burn our inherent vices in the fire. Holi makes us forget our rancours and allows us to be a part of each other’s happiness and glad tidings, conveying the message of love, unity, and brotherhood. I wish all my countrymen a joyous festival of Holi; I further want you colour-laden felicitations. I want to and hope that this festival will forever remain a festival of colourful cheer in the lives of all the countrymen- this is my wish. My dear countrymen, thank you very much.

Source: Press Release
Release ID: 1521626
Date: February 25, 2018
PIB Delhi
Prime Minister’s Office