THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 25, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted that nearly 50 crore tele-consultations have been conducted through the e-Sanjeevani platform, describing it as a testament to the power of technology, dedication of doctors and people's trust in the healthcare system, while urging citizens to prioritise locally made products during the festive season to accelerate the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Addressing the 139th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi also showcased grassroots initiatives in sustainable agriculture, water conservation, traditional crafts, millet cultivation and scientific research, underlining how community participation and innovation were transforming lives across the country.

The Prime Minister said e-Sanjeevani had reached even the remotest corners of India, enabling people in geographically isolated regions to access specialist medical advice without the hardship of travelling long distances.

He cited examples from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Ladakh and Nagaland to illustrate the impact of the telemedicine service. In Baratang Island, a child from the Jarawa tribe suffering from pneumonia received timely expert medical assistance through the platform. In Lakshadweep, a doctor in Kavaratti guided a local medical team treating an elderly man, while in Zanskar, Ladakh, a pregnant woman received specialist assistance. A 12-year-old boy in Nagaland also benefited from prompt diagnosis and treatment for an ear infection and fever.

Modi said nearly 1.9 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country were bringing healthcare facilities closer to people and evolving into wellness centres for village panchayats. He noted that regular health check-ups in rural areas were becoming more common, with e-Sanjeevani playing a significant role.

Emphasising the importance of domestic products, the Prime Minister said the ‘Vocal for Local’ movement was helping Indian goods find markets abroad. Makhana from Bihar's Purnia was reaching Greece, while arhar dal from Karnataka's Kalaburagi was being exported to the Maldives, opening new opportunities for farmers.

He also pointed to the growing importance of packaging in making local products attractive to consumers and competitive in international markets. Products such as honey, mahua, chironji and bamboo-based items marketed through Maharashtra's ‘Shabari Naturals’ initiative feature packaging inspired by tribal art, which has received Japan's prestigious Good Design Award. A bamboo start-up in Karnataka, meanwhile, is developing packaging material from bamboo and agricultural residue.

Modi said sales of Khadi Gram Udyog products exceeded Rs 28 crore on Gandhi Jayanti, an increase of Rs 1.5 crore over the previous year. He urged people to give preference to products made by local artisans while shopping for the festive season, saying such purchases would boost their morale and strengthen the movement towards self-reliance.

The Prime Minister also highlighted efforts to revive traditional agricultural practices and empower rural women. In Punjab's Malwa region, the Kheti Virasat Mission's ‘Nav-Trinjan’ initiative is promoting organic cotton cultivation without chemicals, including cotton varieties with natural colours that do not require additional chemical dyes.

A weaving school established under the initiative has helped women acquire skills and improve their livelihoods. Modi cited the examples of Ramandeep Kaur, who moved from labour work to skilled weaving, and Rekha Rani, whose handwoven shawl was presented to the President of India. Other women who previously worked as domestic help or agricultural labourers are now producing textiles using indigenous organic cotton.

On environmental conservation, Modi spoke about the revival of the Heval river in Uttarakhand's Tehri Garhwal region. After declining water levels and drying natural springs raised concerns, villagers and the local administration joined hands to promote rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge and tree plantation. These measures helped revive the river and restore dozens of natural water sources.

He urged people to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings ahead of Diwali, Chhath and other festivals, stressing that small individual efforts could bring significant changes to communities.

The Prime Minister also drew attention to India's advances in brain research. Recalling his visit to Chennai earlier this month, he said the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT Madras had developed a brain-imaging technology platform to create high-resolution digital three-dimensional images of human brains. The initiative aims to map and study 100 human brains in detail using the Param Shakti supercomputer, with the resulting data to be made available as an open-source resource for researchers.

Modi said deeper understanding of the human brain could create new avenues for research into conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia, for which definitive cures remain unavailable. He also praised the family of Shivani from Madhya Pradesh's Narmadapuram for deciding to donate her organs following a fatal road accident, describing the decision as an example of humanity that could help save lives and support scientific research.

Highlighting youth-led innovation, he referred to start-ups working on technology to verify gold quality, recover money lost to bank fraud, use artificial intelligence to screen for cervical cancer, develop flying electric vehicles, create fast-charging batteries and apply AI in defence technology.

He also paid tribute to Narinder Singh Kapany, widely known as the Father of Fiber Optics, ahead of his 100th birth anniversary on October 31, urging young people to learn about Indian scientists whose work has shaped modern communication.

The address further highlighted the revival of millet cultivation in the Northeast. In Meghalaya's Khanduli village, two women developed millet-based cookies, cakes, muffins and baby food, boosting demand for the traditional crop. In Sadolpara, farmer Chekjing Sangma adopted modern cultivation methods, while Nagaland's Kezoma village resumed millet farming in 2024 and organised its first millet festival in 2025.

Modi also recalled the contributions of Maharishi Valmiki and freedom fighter Bhai Parmanand, urging the youth to draw inspiration from their lives and ideals. He called on citizens to participate in the October 31 Run for Unity marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister extended greetings for Diwali, Chhath and other upcoming festivals, urging people to celebrate with their families, remain safe and healthy, and share their happiness with others.