PM participates in culmination of Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign’s Amrit Kalash Yatra
Lays foundation stone for Amrit
Vatika and Amrit Mahotsav Memorial developed from soil collected from every
part of country
Launches ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ - MY Bharat platform
Presents Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Awards to top 3 performing States or
Union Territories - 1. Jammu and Kashmir, 2. Gujarat and 3. Haryana and
Rajasthan
Presents Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Awards to top 3 performing Ministries - 1.
Ministry of External Affairs, 2. Ministry of Defence; and Ministry of Railways
and Ministry of Education for joint 3rd position
“MY Bharat is going to play a big role in nation-building in 21st century”
“Meri Mati Mera Desh Abhiyan is a live example of how the youth of India can
organize and achieve every goal”
“Many great civilizations have perished but there is a consciousness in the
soil of India which has saved this nation from ancient times till today”
“The soil of India creates an affinity for the soul towards spirituality”
“Amrit Vatika will teach the coming generation about ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’”
“Amrit Mahotsav has, in a way, added the missing pages of history for future
generations”
“During the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the country completed the journey from
Rajpath to Kartavya Path”
“MY Bharat is a proclamation of the youth power of India”
The Prime
Minister, Narendra Modi participated in the programme marking the culmination
of Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign’s Amrit Kalash Yatra at Kartavya Path in New
Delhi today. The programme also marks the closing ceremony of Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav. During the program, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of
Amrit Vatika and Amrit Mahotsav Memorial and launched ‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ - MY
Bharat platform for youth of the country.
Modi also presented the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Awards to
the top 3 performing States or Union Territories as well as Ministries or
Departments. The top 3 performing states or union territories are Jammu and
Kashmir, Gujarat and Haryana and Rajasthan for the joint third position, while
the top 3 performing ministries are Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of
Defence, and Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Education for the joint third
position.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked
that Kartavya Path is witnessing the Mahayagya on the occasion of Sardar
Saheb’s birth anniversary. Recalling 12th March 2021 when the initiation of
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi Yatra, the Prime
Minister observed the conclusion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on 31st October
2023, the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. Drawing an analogy to the Dandi
March Yatra which saw the participation of every Indian, the Prime Minister
drew attention to the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav creating a new record of people’s
participation. “Dandi March reignited the flame of independence while Amrit
Kaal is turning out to be the resolution of the 75-year-old journey of India’s development
journey”, Modi emphasized.
He underlined
that the 2 year long celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav are coming to a
conclusion with the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ Abhiyan. He also noted the
foundation stone laying of Smarak which will remind the future generations of
today’s historic organization. He also congratulated the states, union
territories and ministries that were recipients of the best-performing awards.
He pointed out that as we bid goodbye to a grand
celebration, we are initiating a new resolution with MY Bharat. “MY Bharat
organization is going to play a big role in nation-building in the 21st
century”, PM Modi said.
Pointing to the collective strength of Indian youth, the
Prime Minister said “Meri Mati Mera Desh Abhiyan is a live example of how the
youth of India can organize and achieve every goal.” PM Modi highlighted the
countless youth participation from every nook and corner of the country and
said that 8500 Amrit Kalash have reached the Kartavya Path from all over the
country and crores have Indians have taken Panch Pran pledge and have uploaded
selfies on the campaign website.
Explaining why soil was used as an element for the
culmination of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Prime Minister cited the words of a
poet and said that it is the soil of the land where civilizations have
flourished, humans have progressed and it holds the imprint of eons. “India’s
soil has consciousness. It has a life form that has prevented the downfall of
civilization”, Shri Modi said, noting how a multitude of civilizations have
collapsed while India still stands strong. “The soil of India creates an
affinity for the soul towards spirituality”, he said as he highlighted the
numerous sagas of India’s valor and touched upon the contributions of Shaheed
Bhagat Singh. Highlighting how every citizen is deeply rooted to the soil of
the motherland, the Prime Minister said, “What is life if it is not repaying
the debts of the soil of India.” He underlined that soil from the thousands of
‘Amrit Kalash’ that have arrived in Delhi will remind everyone of the sentiment
of Kartavya or duty and inspire each one to accomplish the resolve of a Viksit
Bharat. He urged everyone to contribute towards nation-building.
The Prime Minister said that the Amrit Vatika which will
be established with saplings from all over the country will teach the coming
generation about ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. The Prime Minister told the
audience about the artwork Jan, Janani, Janambhoomi in the New Parliament
Building which has been made by 75 women artists from the soil of all the
states.
The Prime Minister said that the most positive impact of
the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) which ran for about 1000 days has been on
the young generation of India. He said that today's generation has not
experienced slavery and he is also the first Prime Minister born in free India.
He said that AKAM has reminded the people that there was not a single moment
during the foreign rule when there was no movement for freedom and no section
or region was untouched by these movements.
The Prime Minister said, “Amrit Mahotsav has, in a way,
added the missing pages of history for future generations.” He said the people
of India made Amrit Mohotsav a people’s movement. He said the success of Har
Ghar Tiranga is the success of every Indian. People came to know about the
contribution of their families and villages in the freedom struggle. He said
that a district-wise database of the freedom fighters has been created.
The Prime Minister highlighted India’s achievements
during AKAM and mentioned India's rise to the top 5 economies in the world, the
successful landing of Chandrayaan 3, the organization of G20 Summit, historic
record of bagging more than 100 medals at the Asian Games and Asian Para Games,
inauguration of New Parliament building, passage of Nari Shakti Vandan
Adhiniyam, new records in exports, agricultural produce, expansion of the
Vande Bharat train network, initiation of Amrit Bharat Station campaign,
country’s first Regional Rapid train Namo Bharat, creation of more than 65,000
Amrit Sarovars, launch and expansion of made in India 5G, and launch of PM
Gatishakit Masterplan to improve connectivity.
The Prime Minister emphasized, “During the Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav, the country completed the journey from Rajpath to Kartavya Path. We
also removed many symbols of slavery.” He mentioned Netaji Subhash Bose’s
statue at the India Gate, New insignia of the Navy, inspiring names for the
islands of Andaman and Nicobar, the declaration of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, Veer
Baal Diwas in the memory of Sahibzaade and the decision to commemorate Vibhajan
Vibhishika Diwas on 14 August every year.
“The end of something always signifies the beginning of
something new”, the Prime Minister said, explaining a Sankrit Shlok. He noted
the launch of MY Bharat with the conclusion of Amrit Mahotsav and said, “MY
Bharat is a proclamation of the youth power of India.” He underlined that it
will become a great medium to bring every youth of the country on one platform
and ensure greater participation towards nation-building. He informed about the
launch of MY Bharat website and said that the various programs that are being
run for the youth will be included on the platform. Prime Minister Modi urged
the youth to connect with it as much as possible, fill India with new energy,
and take the country forward.
Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said that
India's independence is the fulfillment of the common resolutions of every
citizen and urged to protect it with unity. Noting the resolve to make India a
developed country by 2047, he said that this special day will be remembered by
the nation upon the completion of 100 years of independence. “We will have to
fulfill the resolve we took, the promises we made to the coming generation”,
the Prime Minister said urging to intensify the efforts. “The contribution of
every Indian is important to achieve the goal of being a developed country.
Come, let us start a new journey of the Amrit Kaal of Viksit Bharat through
Amrit Mahotsav”, he concluded.
Union Minister for Home Affairs, Amit Shah, Union
Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Anurag Singh Thakur and Union Minister
for Culture, G Kishan Reddy were present on the occasion among others.
Meri Maati Mera Desh
Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign is a tribute to the Veers
and Veeranganas who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country. In the
spirit of Jan Bhagidari, the campaign comprises many activities and ceremonies
conducted across the country at Panchayat/Village, Block, Urban Local Body,
State and National levels. The activities included building of Shilaphalakam
(Memorial) to express heartfelt gratitude to all the bravehearts who have made
the supreme sacrifice; ‘Panch Pran’ pledge taking by the people at
Shilaphalakam; planting of saplings of indigenous species and developing ‘Amrit
Vatika’ (Vasudha Vandhan) and felicitation ceremonies for honoring the freedom
fighters and the families of deceased freedom fighters (Veeron ka Vandan),
among others.
The campaign became a massive success, with over 2.3 lakh
Shilaphalakams built in 36 States/UTs; nearly 4 crore Panch Pran pledge selfies
uploaded; 2 Lakh plus ‘Veeron ka Vandan’ programs nationwide; more than 2.36
crore indigenous saplings have been planted; and 2.63 lakh Amrit Vatikas
created under the Vasudha Vandan theme across the country.
‘Meri Maati Mera Desh’ campaign also includes the Amrit
Kalash Yatra, which comprises a collection of mitti (soil) and rice grains from
over 6 lakh villages in rural areas and from wards in urban areas, which is
sent to block level (where mitti of all villages in the block is mixed) and
then to the state capital. The mitti from the state level is sent to the
National Capital, accompanied by thousands of Amrit Kalash Yatris.
Yesterday, the Amrit Kalash Yatra witnessed all the
states and UTs represented by their respective blocks and Urban Local bodies
putting mitti from their Kalash in one giant Amrit Kalash in the spirit of ‘Ek
Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’. The Amrit Vatika and Amrit Mahotsav Memorial,
whose foundation stone was laid by the Prime Minister, will be built from the
soil collected from every part of the country.
Meri Maati Mera Desh campaign was envisaged as a
culminating event of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav began
on 12th March 2021 to celebrate 75 years of India's independence. It has since
witnessed more than two lakh programmes organized throughout the country with
enthusiastic public participation.
MY Bharat
‘Mera Yuva Bharat’ - MY Bharat is being established as an
autonomous body to serve as a one-stop whole-of-government platform for the
youth of the country. In line with the Prime Minister’s vision to provide
equitable opportunities to every youth of the country, MY Bharat will leverage technology
to provide an enabling mechanism across the entire spectrum of the Government
so that they can realize their aspirations and contribute to the building of
‘Viksit Bharat’. The aim of MY Bharat is to inspire youth to become community
change agents and nation builders and enable them to act as the ‘Yuva Setu’
between the Government and the citizens. In this sense, ‘MY Bharat’ will
provide a major boost to ‘Youth Led development’ in the country.