Modi on 'Mann ki Baat': Import of toys down 70%, exports rise

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged people to put ‘Tiranga’ as profile picture of their social media accounts between August 2 and 15 to mark the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

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August 2 marked the birth anniversary of Pingali Venkayya, who had designed the flag, he said on his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio programme.

Noting that the Independence Day this year would mark the completion of 75 years of India’s freedom, he urged the people to participate in the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, which would be organised from August 13-15. He said people should hoist or display the national flag at their homes during the campaign.

Recalling the freedom struggle, he said 75 railway stations in 24 states that were witness to it would be decorated as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ campaign.

Pitching for “vocal for local”, he said the country’s export of toys had increased and the import, which earlier used to be worth more than Rs 3,000 crore, had declined by 70 per cent. “India has exported toys worth more than Rs 2,600 crore to foreign countries, a count that stood at Rs 300-400 crore earlier,” he said.

“Indian manufacturers are now making toys based on Indian mythology, history and culture. Toy clusters that are there everywhere in the country. Small entrepreneurs, who make toys, are getting a lot of benefit from it. The toys made by these small entrepreneurs are now going around the world,” he said.

Underlining that the fight against Covid was not yet over, he said the interest in “holistic healthcare” had been helpful. He also spoke about the growing interest in Ayurveda and Indian medicine around the world. Investment proposals worth about Rs 10,000 crore have been received during the recent ‘Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit’.

The Prime Minister lauded Indian athletes for growing excellence in international events.

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