Highlighting the importance of 'khadi', Modi said that it has the power to provide employment to crores of people.
Highlighting the importance of 'khadi', Modi said that it has the power to provide employment to crores of people.
Calling on the nation to embrace 'khadi' as it was the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the fabric signified the culture of India and added that it was bound to produce employment in the nation. He also added that he will ensure that farmers are provided relief through crop insurance scheme.
Addressing the nation in the 16th edition of his 'Mann ki Baat' programme, he said that Khadi had become a symbol of the nation with its own identity.
-"In relation with Khadi, Sardar Patel has said that India's freedom lays in Khadi and so does the nation's cultural identity. In India, the very religion of non-violence lays in Khadi and so does the development of farmers,-" the Prime Minister said.
Lauding the people associated with Khadi, he said that the fabric was quickly gaining attention among the youth and was carving a niche for itself in the world of fashion.
He added that the Railways Ministry, Police Department, Indian Navy, Uttarakhand Postal Service and other government offices had taken the initiative to promote Khadi.
-"Due to the efforts of many government organisations in the field of Khadi, around 18 lakh people can be granted employment,-" the Prime Minister said.
Talking about bringing in solar energy in Khadi generation, he said that using the sun to power the spinning wheels had been a revolutionary idea.
-"Geeta and Komal Devi from Rajasthan and Sadhna Devi from Bihar wrote to me on how powering the spinning wheel using solar energy had brought a radical change in their lives,-" he added.
The Prime Minister reminded the nation that when they remember Mahatma Gandhi on 30th January, they should include at least one item of Khadi clothing in their wardrobe.
PM @narendramodi quotes Sardar Patel on Khadi. He is addressing the issue of Khadi during #MannKiBaat https://t.co/ORSt201yKG
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 31, 2016Modi also appreciated the efforts of Haryana and Gujarat towards empowerment of the girl child.
-"On January 26, the government schools of Haryana and Gujarat undertook a special step by asking the educated girls to hoist the national flag. This step taken by them is a great example of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Badhao' scheme,-" said Modi.
-"I want to express my greetings to Haryana, as there has been a rapid increase in birth rate of girl child in the state,-" he added.
The Prime Minister also appreciated the social transformation that is taking place in the country, saying there has been a huge increase in the number of births of the girl child.
For the first time in 10 years, the sex ratio in Haryana has shown an upward trend, with the sex ratio at birth for December 2015 crossing the 900 mark with 905 girls per 1,000 boys.
The Prime Minister's praise comes in the backdrop of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar earlier crediting the success of the ambitious 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' programme to the state government's multi-pronged strategy.
The Chief Minister said while 12 districts have recorded sex ratio above the 900 mark in December 2015, Sirsa district tops the list with sex ratio of 999 girls per 1,000 boys.
He said a target to achieve sex ratio above 950 within the next six months has now been set for the entire state.
