Bengaluru: An MTech graduate from Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka won the accolades of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for starting an enterprise of making products from banana stems, inspired by his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. During Sunday’s episode of his monthly programme, the prime minister said the initiative has motivated several people.
#MannKiBaat ಅಸಂಖ್ಯಾತ ಜನರನ್ನು ಸಂಪತ್ತಿನ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಕರ್ತರಾಗುವಂತೆ ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸಿದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಿತರಾಗಿ ಬಾಳೆಹಣ್ಣು ತಿರುಳಿನ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರವನ್ನು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ ಚಾಮರಾಜನಗರದ ವರ್ಷಾ ಅವರದು ಅಂತಹ ಒಂದು ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವಾಗಿದೆ. pic.twitter.com/2FcIslCeeZ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2023
Inspired by an episode of this programme, Varsha from Chamarajanagar started the business of producing manure from the banana plant, the prime minister said. The Prime Minister said,
‘Mann Ki Baat’ inspired Varsha to stand on her feet. Inspired by an episode of this programme, she started making bio-fertiliser from bananas. This initiative of nature-loving Varsha has offered lots of employment opportunities to others.
Hailing from Ummattur in Chamarajanagar, Varsha started her Akruthi Eco-Friendly Enterprises using the fibre of banana stems to manufacture a variety of products such as mats, mobile stands, pen stands, hats and fridge covers.
Varsha told reporters in Mysuru that she got inspired after listening to the prime minister in one of the episodes of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ during the Covid lockdown.
The prime minister had talked about a Tamil Nadu-based businessman who started a venture using banana fibres when several businesses were shutting down, she said. She added,
I am extremely happy that the prime minister is recognising my work. I’m now motivated to take the business to the next level.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
