Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon start-ups and entrepreneurs to “team up for toys”, pointing out that India’s share in the ₹7 lakh crore global toy market is minuscule. He asserted that the country has the potential to be a hub for the industry.
In his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ address, Mr. Modi spoke on a range of issues but kept the focus on the theme of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
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Asking start-ups to be “vocal for local”, Mr. Modi urged them to develop computer games in and based on India.
“Our country has so many ideas, so many concepts; our history has been very rich. Can we make games based on that? I call upon the young talent of the country — make games in India and make games based on India too. It is said let the game begin! So, let us start the game,” he said.
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“You will be surprised to know that the global toy industry is of more than ₹7 lakh crore. Such a big business, but India’s share is very little in this. Now, just spare a thought for a nation which has so much of heritage, tradition, variety, young population. Will it feel good to have such little share in the toy market?” he asked. “To my start-up friends, to our new entrepreneurs I say team up for toys. For everybody it is the time to get vocal for local toys.”
Highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat
Mr. Modi lauded citizens for maintaining unprecedented restraint and simplicity in celebrating festivals during the pandemic. He noted how Ganeshotsav at many places used idols made of eco-friendly material and reiterated the slogan of Do gaz ki doori, Mask hain zaroori [Maintaining six feet distance and wearing mask are essential].
Mr. Modi praised farmers for proving their mettle during the pandemic. He said the sowing of kharif crops increased by 7% over last year, paddy by nearly 10%, pulses close to 5%, oilseeds around 13% and cotton 3%.
Ahead of Teachers’ Day, Mr. Modi appreciated the role of teachers in imparting education through technology and innovation and urged them to teach students about local events and heroes of the freedom struggle as India approached 75 years of Independence in 2022.
He said this would highlight the stories of “unsung heroes” who lived and died for the country but had faded into “oblivion”.
In the context of being vocal for local, Mr. Modi also mentioned Indian breed of dogs and how they are now being taken into security agencies as well.
Mr. Modi also said September would be “Nutrition Month” like the previous, with the government now making it into a mass movement and building an agricultural database of crops grown in each district and their related nutritional value.
Students want pariksha pe charcha: Rahul
Hitting out at Mr. Modi for not addressing students taking NEET/JEE, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “JEE-NEET aspirants wanted the PM do ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ [discussion on exams] but the PM did ‘Khilone Pe Charcha’ [discussion on toys].”