Dedication of India’s youth greatest strength of ‘Viksit Bharat’: PM Modi in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

                   Keep Himalayan valleys on your winter holiday itinerary, says PM Modi

New Delhi: The dedication of India’s youth is the greatest strength of ‘Viksit Bharat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday citing recent achievements across diverse sectors ranging from space manufacturing to farming.In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, the prime minister listed the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’, the Constitution Day celebration at the Central Hall, and the hoisting of ‘Dharmadhwaja’ atop the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya among the inspirational developments in November.

He also highlighted the inauguration of the world’s largest LEAP engine MRO facility in Hyderabad and the induction of INS ‘Mahe’ into the Indian Navy.“Just last week, Skyroot’s Infinity Campus gave a new boost to India’s space ecosystem. This is a reflection of India’s new thinking, innovation, and youth power,” PM Modi said in the 128th episode of his ‘Mann ki Baat’ address.PM Modi referred to a video on social media of a unique drone competition organised by ISRO.“In this video, the youth of our country, especially our Gen-Z, were trying to fly  drones in conditions similar to Mars,” he said, adding that the youth were trying to fly drones solely with the help of cameras and in-built software in the absence of GPS support on Mars.

PM Modi recalled that the young team tasted success after several rounds of failure when the drone crashed.He said the scientists at ISRO too were disappointed when the Chandrayaan-2 lost contact, but built upon the failure to finally succeed with Chandrayaan-3.“It was the success of the new confidence built after coming out of failure. I saw that same spark in the eyes of the young people seen in this video,” he said.“Every time I see the dedication of our youth and the spirit of commitment of our scientists, my heart fills up with enthusiasm. This dedication of the youth is one of the greatest strengths of Viksit Bharat,” the prime minister said.

The prime minister spoke at length about bee farming initiatives across the country, achievements in the field of sports, India winning the bid for hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030, and his visits to South Africa for the G20 Summit and Bhutan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, highlighted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag granted to Sulai Honey of Ramban district and Bhaderwahi Rajma of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir.He described the recognition as an important achievement that has brought national and international attention to these traditional products.

The GI tag has increased the brand value of both items and opened new avenues for export.Experts say the certification will help protect the originality of these products while creating fresh opportunities for the local economy.With demand rising in domestic and global markets, the development is expected to improve the earnings of farmers and producers associated with these trades.Officials say this boost will contribute to the overall socio-economic growth of the region.Sulai Honey and Bhaderwah Rajmash were officially granted the GI tag on August 30, 2023.

In Ramban district alone, more than six hundred people are involved in beekeeping, and the recognition is expected to strengthen their livelihood prospects.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India has immense potential to become a major destination for winter tourism and lauded the steps taken by the Uttarakhand government in this regard.In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, Modi said that while fewer than 2,000 tourists visited Adi Kailash until three years ago, this number has now increased to over 30,000.

The prime minister said that several countries have built successful tourism models around winter sports and activities such as skiing, snowboarding, trekking and ice climbing.India, with its diverse landscapes and mountain regions, is well-positioned to develop similar opportunities, he said.The prime minister urged citizens to consider the Himalayas when planning vacations, as the region offers memorable experiences during the winter season.“During these winter days, the Himalayan valleys become a part of an experience that lasts a lifetime. If you are planning a trip this winter, be sure to keep the Himalayan valleys in mind,” he said.

Modi said these days, winter tourism in Uttarakhand is attracting a lot of people. Destinations like Auli, Munsyari, Chopta, and Deyara are gaining popularity during the winter season.He said a few weeks ago, Uttarakhand’s first High Altitude Ultra Run Marathon was held at Adi Kailash, at an altitude of over 14,500 feet in Pithoragarh district, which saw participation of more than 750 athletes from 18 states across the country.“The 60-kilometre-long Adi Kailash Parikrama Run began at 5 am in the biting cold. Despite the cold conditions, the enthusiasm of the people was palpable. While fewer than 2,000 tourists visited Adi Kailash until three years ago, this number has now increased to over 30,000,” he said.

The prime minister mentioned that Uttarakhand will also host the Winter Games in the coming weeks, with preparations for snow-based sports such as skiing and snowboarding already underway.Additionally, he highlighted that improvements in connectivity, infrastructure and the introduction of a new homestay policy have supported the growth of winter tourism in the state.Modi also referred to the growing trend of destination weddings in hill states, particularly on the banks of the Ganga, as part of the broader appeal of winter travel.