PM’s Mann Ki Baat highlights 'Nari Shakti'; programme not be broadcast for 3 months in view of general election

Neeraj Mohan

New Delhi, February 25

In a special edition of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ ahead of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to women farmers, celebrating their remarkable contributions to the nation’s development.

Addressing 110th edition of the monthly Mann Ki Baat programme, Modi announced a temporary break of three months from the programme because of the upcoming general election.

Sunday’s programme focused on empowering women in agriculture, water conservation and natural farming, wildlife conservation and technology and the Election Commission’s campaign encouraging first-time voters to participate in the electoral process.

Amidst long discussions on the pivotal role of women in various sectors, particularly agriculture, the Prime Minister interacted with Sunita Devi and Kalyani Prafulla Patil, highlighting their inspiring journeys and innovative initiatives in farming.

He praised the contribution of women to the country’s development and emphasised the need for equal opportunities for women. Modi shared inspiring stories of women in various fields, including a discussion with Sunita Devi, who is using drones for agriculture. “Today there is so much discussion about Drone Didi in every village,” he said.

In a telephonic conversation, Sunita Devi from Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, shared her journey of becoming a ‘Drone Didi’ after receiving training at a local IFFCO company in Allahabad. Despite initial unfamiliarity with drones, Sunita diligently learned the intricacies of drone operations and their applications 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 Prafulla Patil, an M Sc microbiology graduate, transitioned to farming in her village, emphasising natural farming practices and water conservation. Kalyani’s innovative approach includes organic sprays made from local flora to minimise pesticide usage and rainwater harvesting initiatives in government buildings to recharge groundwater.

PM Modi highlighted the empowerment of women in traditionally male-dominated fields like agriculture. He applauded their resilience, dedication and transformative contributions to sustainable farming practices, emphasising the importance of recognising and celebrating the achievements of women farmers on International Women’s Day.

As Sunita and Kalyani embody the spirit of women empowerment in agriculture, their stories serve as inspiration for countless women across the country, said the prime minister.

The Prime Minister 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 livelihood through goat rearing.

The prime minister also spoke about the importance of preserving languages and culture and highlighted individuals preserving regional languages and cultures. He spoke how Mohammad Manshah in Jammu and Kashmir and Banwang Losu in Arunachal Pradesh were commended for their efforts in preserving and promoting the Gojri and Wancho languages, respectively.

Modi addressed the importance of technology in wildlife conservation. He highlighted initiatives that use artificial intelligence, drones and apps for monitoring and protecting wildlife. The efforts in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, to reduce conflicts between humans and tigers were specially mentioned.