Prime Minister praises women in first Mann Ki Baat of 2018

In 2018’s first Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a large portion of his monthly address to women achievers. He lauded the efforts of women made through the years gone by and their contribution in several fields including India’s economy.

It is in our culture to respect women. #MannKiBaat https://t.co/dnSgAXuRAi pic.twitter.com/YAwIjyNuDf

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2018

The 40^th edition of his public address had the PM talking of the country’s future and how it is impossible to reach greater heights without women’s participation. He said, “It can only be possible only if and when women walk shoulder-to-shoulder with men, and in fact lead the way.”

Here, I would like to mention the Matunga Railway station which is an all-women station. All leading officials there are women. It is commendable: PM @narendramodi #MannKiBaat

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2018

He remembered the crucial contribution of Kalpana Chawla who died in Columbia space shuttle crash on February 1, 2003. He then came back to his union minister of Defence, Nirmala Sitharaman who recently went on board Sukhoi-30MKI.

ALSO READ: PM Narendra Modi praises India’s women’s world cup squad

PM Modi spoke about various achievements women are getting in the country for example the all-women Navy crew circumnavigating the globe and the all-women operated station in Matunga, Mumbai and also the all-women bikers of the BSF who displayed their skills at the Republic Day parade.

I want to talk about something very unique in Bihar. A human chain was formed to spread awareness about evils of Dowry and child marriage. So many people joined the chain: PM @narendramodi during #MannKiBaat

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 28, 2018

The PMO India tweeted about one of the crucial issues that Modi talked about in his speech that of dowry and child marriage. He applauded the efforts and idea of a Human-chain that people in Bihar formed to pread awareness about the evils of criminal issues like such.

In lines of the hinterlands of the country, the Prime Minister also mentioned about the women of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh. “This is a Maoist affected area, but the women there are operating e-rickshaws. This is creating opportunities, it is also changing the face of the region and is also environment friendly,” he said.

“It is in our culture to respect women. In our ancient Sanskrit teachings, it is stated that the blessings we get from the almighty if we have one baby girl is equal to that of having 10 baby boys,” PM added in his discourse.

Other than this, he congratulated the winners of Padma Shree awards. He said that the process of nomination has changed and become more transparent giving prominence to a person's work rather than his name.