Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi’s Ramzan Wishes & Call for Waste Management

PM Modi spoke about the need to conserve the environment & urged citizens to come together to mark Yoga Day. (Photo: PTI) 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, spoke about issues ranging from the merits of constructive criticism in a democracy to stressing on the need for a system of waste management for a cleaner India.

Addressing the nation during the 32nd address of his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi described surveys and opinion polls which assessed the work done by his government in its three years as a “healthy sign.”

Audit and assessment of the performance of the present government in the last three years is happening all over on newspapers, social media or TV for the last 15 days. There have been many surveys and several opinion polls. I see this entire process as a very healthy sign.

PM Modi said that constructive criticism strengthens democracy, and that this churning was important for an aware and awakened nation.

“The works done during these years were tested on every touch stone. It was analysed by every segment of society. And this is a great process in democracy,” he said.

I firmly believe that governments must be accountable in a democracy and the public at large must be provided with a report card of works done. 

“There were some praises, some support, and sometimes shortcomings were also pointed out, I understand the importance of all these things. The mistakes and the shortcomings once highlighted can be rectified. Whether something is good, little less effective, or bad, whatever it is, one has to learn from it and move ahead in life putting the learning from it into practice,” he added.

Greets the Nation on the Onset of Ramzan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the nation on the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, where Muslims keep a dawn-to-dusk fast. He said:

On the start of Ramzan, I convey my greetings to people across the world. The holy month of Ramzan will help in keeping peace, unity and goodwill in the nation. 

He also said that people give importance to prayer, spirituality and charity during Ramzan.

India’s cultural diversity is its strength. One-twenty-five crore Indians can take pride that people belonging from all communities of the world are present in the country who reverberate the message of peace, unity and goodwill.

PM Lauds Versova Beach Clean-Up

Emphasising on the need for creating a ‘Clean India’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised environmentalist Afroz Shah and his efforts towards cleaning Mumbai's Versova beach.

Lauding the efforts of Shah, who started cleaning the beach in October 2015, he called it a "people's movement”.

I heartily congratulate Afroz Shah and his entire team for their efforts in cleaning Mumbai’s Versova beach

‘Must Not Treat Garbage as Waste’

“On June 5, on the occasion of World Environment Day, the government, in association with the state governments, will launch a massive movement of waste collection in 4,000 cities across the country,” he said.

We must not treat garbage as waste, it is wealth, a resource. Once we start looking it as wealth, we will come up with new means of waste management. 

He said under the movement, separate dustbins – green for liquid waste and blue for dry waste will be installed in these cities to develop a culture of segregating the two types of wastes.

"I am confident that we can develop a culture of segregating waste and contributing towards waste effective waste managements,” he said.

‘Savarkar’s Role in India’s Freedom Movement Can’t be Forgotten’

He also talked about the contributions made by Veer Savarkar in India’s freedom struggle, the need to conserve the environment, the need to end the VIP culture and the how three generations of the family should come together to practice yoga on Yoga Day.