In his 93rd episode of radio talk ‘Mann Ki Baat’ , Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke about the priority given to development of sign language in the country saying “ten thousand words of the sign language are ready to help specially-abled and New Education Policy has included this language
On September 23, many school courses have also been launched in sign language, he said. The Prime Minister cited examples where sign language immensely benefited people in different States.
“Pooja, who hails from Haryana, is very happy with the Indian sign language. Earlier, she was not able to communicate with her son, but after going through sign language training in 2018, the lives of both mother and son have become easier”, he said.
Similarly, Modi said, “Manju of Kerala has also benefited a lot from these efforts. She is not able to hear since birth. Not only that, this has been the situation in the lives of her parents as well. In such a situation, sign language has become a means of communication for the whole family.”
Modi stated his radio talk by speaking about the return of cheetahs to the country after over five- decades saying “People from all corners of the country have expressed happiness and order over the return of cheetahs” and sought people to participate in the competition to give them their names.
He said a task force will monitor them and on the basis of that it will be decided when people can see them.
In the broadcast, the Prime Minister paid tributes to BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya on his anniversary saying he was a profound thinker and a great son of the country and referred to his philosophy of ‘Ekatatm Manavtabad’. In the same vein he said that an important day of ‘Amrit Mahotsav’ is coming on September 28 when the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh will be celebrated.
“Three days later, that is, on the 28th of September, is a special day of Amrit Mahotsav. On this day, we will celebrate the birth anniversary of Bhagat Singh ji, the brave son of Mother India”, Modi said and announced that Chandigarh airport be named after Bhagat Singh.
“Just before his birth anniversary, as a tribute, an important decision has been taken, it has been decided that the Chandigarh airport will now be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh,” said the Prime Minister.
“Let us take inspiration from our freedom fighters, following their ideals and build the India of their dreams… this is our tribute to them,” he said. Modi remembered another significant occasion on September 28. “I will tell you only two words and I know your enthusiasm will increase fourfold. These two words are - Surgical Strike. Hasn’t the Josh risen!!”, he exhorted.
He reminded listeners that in his last episode of Mann Ki Baat, he spoke about the year 2023 being the International Year of Millets.
Modi said he came to know that people had become excited about and started using millets in their daily diet. He suggested making an e-book that will record people’s experience of dishes prepared with millets. Speaking about being ‘Vocal for local’, in the coming festival season, Modi asked the people to break all previous records of buying khadi, handloom, or handicraft products.
He said plastic bags are extensively used during festivals, he said. However, the harmful waste of polythene during the festivals of cleanliness is against the spirit of the festivals.
“On the occasion of Bapu’s birth anniversary on the 2nd of October, we have to take a pledge to intensify ‘Vocal for Local’. Through our resolution of this campaign, we now include our local artisans, craftsmen and traders in the joy of festivals,” the Prime Minister said.
“During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we are onwards with the goal of a self-reliant or Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It will be a true tribute to freedom fighters. That’s why I request you to break all the records this time to buy these products of Khadi, handloom or handicrafts,” he said.
On making the ocean clean, he cited an example saying “People in Goa’s Kakinada were told about the harm caused by plastic during a Ganpati immersion.