India can become world’s toy hub; time to be vocal about local toys: PM

Tribune Web Desk

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Chandigarh, August 30

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday began the 68th edition of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ with assuring the nation that even though the country is battling at various fronts, the country can fight it together.

The Prime Minister said India had the talent and ability to become a toy hub for the entire world and called upon start-ups to work towards realising this potential while being “vocal about local toys”.

He said the global toy industry was over Rs 7 lakh crore but India’s share was very small, as he stressed on the need to work to increase it.

Modi called upon start-up entrepreneurs to ‘team up for toys’ and said it was time to get vocal for local toys.

PM Modi praises various apps that were part of ‘app innovation challenge’, calls it a good sign for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

He stressed on the fact that several ‘toy clusters’ were being developed in India such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Varanasi.

“Building a toy industry will give a boost to the MSME sector.”

Talking about the ‘app innovation challenge’, he said apps were made by the youth of the country belong to the tier 2 and tier 3 cities. He also named a few apps during the interaction.

Modi said besides classroom learning, educational apps played an important role in building confidence among students.

He also asked young entrepreneurs to develop computer games in and also about India.

He also laid stress on the importance of nutrition and nourishment.

“September will be observed as Nutrition Month,” Modi said to lay stress on the how nutrition plays part in the overall development of the student, adding: “The food we eat influences our mental and intellectual development.”

He also said that just like a class monitor, efforts are being made to stress the importance of nutrition and nourishment monitor along with developing a nutrition card.

In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast, the prime minister also said people have shown an unprecedented restraint and simplicity in their festivals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also hailed farmers for an increase in the sowing area for different grains.

“This is a time for festivals but at the same time, there is also a sense of discipline among people due to the COVID-19 situation…There is a close link between nature and our festivals,” Modi said.

PM Modi suggested various measures to teachers to help bring to light the role of numerous ‘unsung heroes’ of freedom struggle.

In his address, Modi also noted that India will complete its 75 years of Independence in 2022 and suggested a host of measures to teachers to help bring to light contributions of thousands and lakhs of “unsung heroes” of the freedom struggle.

It is important that our youngsters are aware of them, he said.

Moving towards the end of his speech, he mentioned the ‘unsung heroes’ of the Indian Armed Forces. Modi talked about Sophie and Vida — pride canines under the Indian Army — who were recently conferred with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card.

Narendra Modi laid stress on the contribution of dogs in the Indian Armed Forces and impressed upon how indigenous breeds of dogs were also being trained to help the forces in various disaster management and rescue operations.

Towards the end of his ‘Mann ki Baat’, he said how the Indian Council of Agricultural Research was conducting studies on the Indian dog breeds to make them better and more useful.

He urged the countrymen to adopt an Indian dog breed when they think of buying one. — With inputs from PTI