Mann Ki Baat at 12: Modi hails e-Sanjeevani milestone, millet revival and a revived Uttarakhand river

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked 12 years of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, October 25, describing the journey as a kind of "pilgrimage" that lets him learn about the efforts of ordinary citizens. The 139th episode, aired at 11 am, highlighted community initiatives in health, farming and water conservation.

Modi recalled that the programme began on Vijayadashami 12 years ago and said messages from listeners made him feel like a member of their families.

Health and science milestones

The Prime Minister said the national telemedicine service e-Sanjeevani had handled about 50 crore teleconsultations so far, and that nearly 1.9 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were providing primary care closer to villages. He also spoke about a brain-mapping project at IIT Madras's Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, which aims to create detailed 3D maps of human brains, calling it the first mission of its kind in the world.

Farmers, rivers and local products

Modi praised the Kheti Virasat Mission in Punjab's Malwa region, whose Nav-Trinjan initiative promotes chemical-free and naturally coloured cotton and runs a weaving school that has helped many women. He described how villagers and the administration in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, revived the Heval river through rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and tree planting, bringing several local springs back to life.

He also cited examples of millet cultivation returning in Meghalaya and Nagaland, where communities have added value through products such as baked goods and baby food. On the theme of Vocal for Local, he pointed to Purnia's makhana reaching shops in Greece and Kalaburagi's tur dal being sold in the Maldives, and urged people to prefer locally made goods during Diwali and Chhath.

Patel anniversary and Run for Unity

Looking ahead to October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Modi encouraged citizens to take part in the Run for Unity. He also paid tribute to physicist Narinder Singh Kapany, known for pioneering work in fibre optics, ahead of his birth centenary, and appealed to people to keep their neighbourhoods and public places clean ahead of the festive season.

The broadcast was heard at gatherings organised by BJP leaders in several states. The programme is aired on All India Radio, Doordarshan and the Prime Minister's digital channels.