‘Mann Ki Baat’: PM Narendra Modi asks first-time voters to turn out in record numbers in Lok Sabha polls

Neeraj Mohan

New Delhi, February 25

In his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to first-time voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers in the upcoming elections.

PM Modi said his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast would not be aired for the next three months in line with political ethics in view of the General Election.

With the polls expected in April-May, he said there was a possibility that the model code of conduct would be enforced in March like it was done in 2019, a reference to the expected announcement of the election schedule next month.

In the 110th episode of the programme, he urged first-time voters to poll in record numbers in the elections and said their maiden vote should be cast for the country. In the broadcast that came days ahead of International Women’s Day, the PM hailed ‘Nari Shakti’ and said it was touching new heights in every field.

His programme largely focused on empowering women in agriculture, water conservation, natural farming, wildlife conservation and technology and the Election Commission’s campaign, “Mera Pehla Vote – Desh Ke Liye”.

Amid long discussions on the pivotal role of women in various sectors, particularly agriculture, the PM interacted with Sunita Devi, affectionately known as ‘Namo Drone Didi,’ and Kalyani Prafulla Patil, highlighting their inspiring journeys and innovative initiatives in farming.

In a telephonic conversation, Sunita shared her journey of becoming a ‘Drone Didi’ after receiving training at a local company in Allahabad. Despite initial unfamiliarity with drones, Sunita diligently learned the intricacies of drone operations and use in agriculture. She emphasised the significant role drones play in crop management, especially during the rainy season, facilitating pesticide spraying and minimising manual labour.

Similarly, Kalyani, who holds an MSc degree, transitioned to farming in her village. Kalyani’s innovative approach includes organic sprays made from local flora to minimise pesticide usage and rainwater harvesting initiatives in government buildings.

The PM highlighted the empowerment of women in male-dominated fields like agriculture. He applauded their resilience, dedication and transformative contribution to sustainable farming practices.

He also shared the story of Jayanti Mahapatra and Biren Sahu, a couple from Odisha, who have set up the Manikastu Goat Bank. The initiative provides goats to farmers for two years, helping them improve their livelihoods through goat rearing. With ‘Mann Ki Baat’ being paused now, the PM requested people to continue sharing achievements and stories using the hashtag #MannKiBaat on the social media.