116th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’: Inspiring Stories of Youth, Culture, and Environmental Conservation

This comprehensive speech from Mann Ki Baat touches upon various inspiring themes, initiatives, and the spirit of collective efforts in India. Here’s a summary of its key highlights:

1. Youth Empowerment and NCC (National Cadet Corps):

• Celebrating NCC Day, the PM emphasized the transformative impact of NCC on youth, instilling discipline, leadership, and service.
• NCC’s reach has expanded to over 20 lakh cadets, with a significant increase in girl cadets (40%).
• A call for maximum youth participation in NCC for personality development and nation-building.

2. ‘Vikasit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue’:

• Scheduled for 11-12 January 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Delhi, coinciding with Swami Vivekananda’s 162nd birth anniversary.
• An initiative to gather 2,000 youth leaders from across India to present ideas for India’s development, inspiring new participation in politics and leadership.

3. Digital Inclusion:

• Examples of young changemakers like Virendra (Lucknow) and Mahesh (Bhopal) aiding elderly citizens with Digital Life Certificates and digital payments.
• Awareness campaigns against cyber fraud like “Digital Arrest” scams.

4. Libraries and Education:

• Creative libraries like Prakrith Arivagam (Chennai) and others in Bihar and Hyderabad are fostering a love for books among children and aiding competitive exam preparation.
• Libraries are becoming hubs for creativity and social transformation.

5. Indian Diaspora and History:

• The Indian diaspora’s contributions in countries like Guyana and Oman are being documented through projects preserving their historical and cultural legacies.
• The PM invited citizens to share stories of Indian immigrants with #IndianDiasporaStories.

6. ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Campaign:

• Over 100 crore trees planted in just five months under this campaign, now gaining international traction.
• Stories of remarkable contributions, such as 12 lakh trees planted in 24 hours in Indore and unique women-led efforts in Rajasthan.

7. Sparrow Conservation:

• Campaigns like Kudugal Trust in Chennai and Early Bird in Mysuru are promoting biodiversity and reviving the sparrow population, engaging children creatively.

8. Cleanliness and Sustainability:

• A special Swachhata Abhiyan has led to clutter-free government offices and waste-to-wealth innovations.
• Examples include Akshara and Prakriti from Mumbai creating fashion items from fabric scraps and Kanpur’s Ploggers Group converting garbage into tree guards.

Key Messages:

• The PM underscored the importance of youth in shaping a developed India.
• Citizens were encouraged to take proactive roles in conservation, sustainability, digital inclusion, and cultural preservation.
• Collective efforts and creativity were celebrated as powerful tools for transformation.

This episode is a testament to how grassroots initiatives, guided by inspired leadership, are creating significant impact across India.

Summary of the 116th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’