PM Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat completes 50 episodes today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio broadcast ‘Mann ki Baat’ completes 50 episodes on Sunday. The first episode of the programme was aired on October 24, 2014 when PM Modi had urged citizens to use at least one khadi product, saying it would help poor weavers. The popular radio programme, in its previous episodes, has covered issues of social, national as well as international implication: education of the girl child, tackling exam stress, climate change and drug menace.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office issued on Friday said that after the first episode was aired, the sale of khadi products went up by 120 per cent. Citing an instance, the official said after the PM advocated the use of khaadi products, the railway ministry, police department, Indian Navy, postal department of Uttarakhand and many such government organisations took initiatives to promote the use of home-spun cotton.

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The ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme is broadcast every month on the last Sunday on the All India Radio, the Doordarshan and the Narendra Modi (NaMo) app at 11 am.

Besides, the monthly radio programme is also streamed on the YouTube channels of the Prime Minister’s Office, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, AIR and DD News and is simultaneously broadcast on AIR’s website - www.allindiaradio.gov.in. AIR broadcasts the programme in regional languages immediately after the Hindi broadcast. The regional language versions are repeated at 8 pm.

In the 49^th edition, the Prime Minister addressed the issue of stubble burning in Punjab. He said instead of burning it, it should be cultivated in the field itself. This will not only increase the soil strength but will also help prevent air pollution.

Taking cue from a listener, Modi dedicated the entire December 2014 episode to making India drug-free. He requested all those active on the social media to create a continuous online movement by using #DrugsFreeIndia hashtag.

The episode in January 2015, was the first ever joint radio address by an Indian Prime Minister and an American President.

PM Modi and then US President Barack Obama shared some personal stories and accounts and answered questions like “what makes you smile after a long day at work?? or “did you ever think you would reach the position you have reached today?”

The PM also discussed how examinations should be celebrated as a festival. Narendra Modi followed it up with a book titled “Exam Warriors” which discussed how to deal with exam pressure as well as a community-driven initiative to make exams fun.

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In May 2015, the PM talked extensively about June 21 being declared by the United Nations as the ‘International Yoga Day’.     

In June 2015, the prime minister shared the account of a Haryana village sarpanch who launched #SelfieWithDaughter campaign and the hashtag soon became a social media rage with millions of posts from citizens from all walks of life — celebrities, national as well as global leaders, the statement said. PM Modi had termed the initiative special for Haryana as the state has a skewed sex ratio.

Recently, the Prime Minister Modi invited citizens to the ‘Fit India’ challenge and nominate celebrities to join.