New Delhi: Noting that the global toy industry is worth over Rs 7 lakh crore but India's share is very small in the sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gave a clarion call to be "vocal for local toys", stressing on the need for making the country a toy hub.
Addressing his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister said India has the talent and the ability to become a toy hub.
The Prime Minister said that the toy industry is very diverse and some of the regions in India are being developing as toy clusters to make the nation a toy hub. Channapatna in Karnataka's Ramanagara, Kondapalli in Andhra Pradesh' Krishna, Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Dhubri in Assam, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh are among the places in India which are being developed in the toy sector.
Mentioning that there has been a tradition of local toys in India, the Prime Minister said there are several expert toy craftsmen in India.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Modi said he was thinking about his young friends and how they can get more toys. He said that the best toys are those that bring out creativity.
"Let us team up for toys. This industry is quite diverse. We should focus on this industry. Small industries, MSMEs as well as big industries also come in its range. The entire country will have to work hard together to take the toy industry forward," the Prime Minister said in his half-hour address to the nation.
Seeking support of those trying to begin start-ups and new businesses, the Prime Minister said this is the time to be "vocal for local toys". "Team up for toys. Let us make toys together... Let us begin the game for children."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to adopt dogs of Indian breeds, while emphasising on the need for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.
Addressing his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio programme, Modi said, "Next time when you think of keeping a pet dog, then you must bring one of the Indian breed dogs home. When self-reliant India is becoming the mantra of the masses, then no area should be left behind."
The Prime Minister said that the Indian Army, Central Industrial Security Force, and the National Security Guard have started inducting dogs of Indian breeds. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is also conducting research on Indian breed dogs.
Hailing the role of dogs in security forces, he named two such daredevil characters -- Sophia and Vida - who were commissioned with the Chief of Army Staff commendation card on the 74th Independence Day, this year. The duo was honoured for discharging their duties while defending the nation.
He added, "Dogs play an important role in disaster management and rescue missions. In India, NDRF has trained dozens of such dogs. These dogs are experts in detecting people trapped under the debris in an earthquake or building collapse."
Modi also named several Indian breeds such as Mudhol Hound, Himachali Hound, Rajapalayam, Kanni, Chippiparai and Combai. "The cost of their upkeep is also quite less, and they are also accustomed to Indian conditions. Our security forces have also inducted and trained Indian breed dogs in their dog squads."
"There are many such brave dogs with our armed forces who live for the country and also made the supreme sacrifice," the Prime Minister said, adding that such dogs have played a crucial role in preventing many bomb blasts and terror conspiracies.
"One such dog Balram detected a large amount of explosives on the Amarnath Yatra route in 2006. In 2002, Bhawna detected an IED. While diffusing the IED, the terrorists triggered a blast and it was martyred," Modi rued.
He said that two to three years ago, CRPF's sniffer dog named Cracker was also martyred in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur. "Recently, you would have seen an emotional scene on TV, where Beed police bade a tearful adieu to their dog Rocky. Rocky had helped police solve more than 300 cases."
(IANS)
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