Replace Plastic Bags With Cloth Bags: PM Modi To Citizens In ‘Mann Ki Baat’

New Delhi: Describing ‘waste to wealth’ as an important dimension of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday (February 26), called on fellow citizens to take a pledge to replace plastic bags with cloth bags. In his 98th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address, PM Modi said Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has changed the meaning of public participation (jan bhagidaari) in the country.

Also Read: Environment Conservation Is a Commitment And Not Compulsion For India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

In ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister mentioned the cleanliness campaign by the youth of Haryana. He said,

There is a village in Haryana called Dulhedi. The youth here decided that Bhiwani city has to be made exemplary in terms of cleanliness. They formed an organisation called Yuva Swachhta Evam Janseva Samiti. The youth associated with this committee reach Bhiwani at 4 in the morning. Together, they run cleanliness drives at different places in the city. These people have so far cleared tons of garbage from different areas of the city.

Prime Minister Modi further mentioned Kamala Moharana, a resident of Odisha’s Kendrapada district who runs a self-help group. He said the women of this self-help group make things like baskets and mobile stands from milk pouches and other plastic packing materials.

Waste to wealth’ is also an important dimension of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. This is becoming a good source of income for them along with ensuring cleanliness. If we take a resolution, we can make a huge contribution towards a clean India. At least, we all should take a pledge to replace plastic bags with cloth bags, said PM Modi.

PM Modi further spoke about Indian toys and story-telling forms in ‘Mann ki Baat’. He said citizens have made ‘Mann Ki Baat’ a wonderful platform for public participation. He said,

In Mann ki Baat, we referred to Indian toys. My fellow citizens have promoted it as well, and they did so readily. Nowadays, Indian toys have become a such craze that their demand has increased even in foreign countries. When we spoke of the Indian genre of story-telling in ‘Mann ki Baat, their fame also reached far and wide. People started getting attracted to the Indian story-telling genre more and more.

Extending good wishes to countrymen for Holi, PM Modi urged that the festival be celebrated with the resolve of ‘Vocal for Local’.

Holi is just a few days away. I would like to wish a happy Holi to all of you. We have to celebrate our festival with the resolve of ‘Vocal for Local’. Do not forget to share your experiences with me as well, said PM Modi.

‘Mann ki Baat’ is a monthly address, aired on All India Radio on the last Sunday of every month, through which Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with countrymen.

Also Read: “No Less Than A Goldmine”: Prime Minister Narendra Modi On India’s Potential In Green Energy

(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 – the LGBTQ 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 current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) 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, fight malnutrition, 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 like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.