Modi asks people to be vocal for local toys

Ravi S Singh

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pitched for scaling up the country’s toys industry to expand its footprint in the global market.

In his virtual address to the Grand Finale of the country’s first ‘Toycathon-21’, Modi said the global toy market is worth about 100 billion dollars, but India’s share was a meagre 1.5 billion dollar.

He addressed it after interacting with participants through video-conferencing.

India imports 80 per cent of its domestic demand for toys resulting in outflow of crores of rupees abroad.

Batting for “vocal for local”, he said the purpose of the Toycathon was an effort aimed at making India a hub for ideation and production of toys.

The “Toyconomy” of the country is linked to country being “atmanirbhar” (self-reliant). Artisans and smallscale units producing toys are located in villages. A boost to the industry will help them.

He said toys play an important role in the development of a child’s psychology. They are the stepping stone of socialisation and help shape the psychic development of the child. Toys are the first friend of the children.

Urging entrepreneurs, start-ups and other stake-holders to step up the plate with quality production, Modi said the country has a huge potential in the toy and the gaming industry, including the digital sector.

The country sparkles with ideas and concepts from mythology, folklore and culture, and with incidents galore relating to Independence struggle and heroics of the freedom fighters.

He said the toys and gaming modules imported are designed on concepts which are not in sync with India’s culture and civilisational values. They promote violence and thoughts which stress the mind.

He said toys and gaming tools should encapsulate the country’s philosophy, the ancient wisdom, welfare thoughts and humanism which are the bedrock of country’s civilizational mores.

“The world is now receptive to India’s culture and tradition,” Modi said, and added that the Indian toys and gaming modules should tap in this emerging global new trend. He referred to yoga, saying it could popularise the industry.

“The toys should be based on modernism and innovative solution based on tradition with the help of cutting-edge technology in order to be globally competitive.”

He said India was making rapid strides towards being “atmanirbhar” in all sectors, and assured help to the toy industry.