changeadminIn the first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address of the year 2026, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on several environmental issues, including cleanliness, waste management and afforestation.
This month’s address on the eve of Republic Day was the 130th Episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, where, as usual, the Prime Minister shared stories about individuals and groups embarking on environmental initiatives.
Grassroots Cleanliness Drives Across India
The Prime Minister highlighted the growing awareness among young people in India about maintaining cleanliness around them.
In Itanagar, a group of youngsters united to clean neglected public spaces, expanding their mission to cities like Naharlagun, Doimukh, Seppa, Palin, and Pasighat. These dedicated volunteers have removed over 11 lakh kilograms of garbage, showcasing the power of youth-led action.
In Nagaon, Assam, residents emotionally tied to their old streets formed a team that grew organically, clearing heaps of roadside waste.
In Bengaluru, professionals are tackling the growing crisis of sofa waste through innovative local solutions. Similarly, in Chennai, a dedicated team excels at recycling landfill waste.
These examples highlight how every cleanliness effort—individual or collective—paves the way for cleaner cities.
Individual Champions of the Environment
The Prime Minister mentioned that environmental protection often starts small, with one person sparking change.
Benoy Das from Cooch Behar, West Bengal, exemplifies this. For years, he has single-handedly planted thousands of trees, funding saplings himself and collaborating with locals, students, and municipal bodies to green roadsides.
In Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district, forest beat-guard Jagdish Prasad Ahirwar noticed a gap during patrols: undocumented medicinal plants. He identified over 125 species, photographing each and recording its name, uses, and location.
The Forest Department compiled this into a book, which is now invaluable to researchers, students, and officials.
National Movements and Growing Awareness
This spirit of planting trees has scaled up nationally, as seen in the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, where millions of people have joined, planting over 200 crore trees and reflecting heightened public commitment to environmental protection.
Celebrating Millets: Shree Anna’s Rise
The Prime Minister also appreciated the growing love for millets, or Shree Anna, across India, where people are leveraging the grains as a nutritional source.
In Tamil Nadu’s Kalla-Kurichi district, around 800 women farmers with the Periyapalayam Millet FPC built a processing unit amid rising demand, now supplying millet products directly to markets.
In Rajasthan’s Ramsar, over 900 farmers at the Ramsar Organic Farmer Producer Company process pearl millet into popular ready-to-eat laddus. Many temples now offer only millet-based prasad.
Shree Anna boosts farmers’ incomes, enhances health as a nutritious superfood, and suits our winter season perfectly.
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