Youth in politics will have a transformative impact on India’s future: PM Modi

New Delhi: In his radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the country’s youth to join politics, saying it would be transformative for India’s future.

The Prime Minister said his recent appeal to 100,000 young people without a political background, encouraging them to get involved in politics, had been well-received.

“My dear countrymen, this year from the Red Fort I appealed to one lakh youth who have no political background to join the political system. There was an overwhelming response to my remarks. This is how we come to know that many of our youth are ready to join politics. All they are looking for is the right opportunity and the right guidance,” he said.

In a stinging swipe at opposition parties, which he has often accused of nepotism, Modi said: “Due to lack of political heritage from their grandfather or parents, they could not enter politics even though they wanted to… I hope that now with our collective efforts, the youth who have no political background will also be able to enter politics… their experience and zeal will prove useful for the country.”

He added that to help the country achieve the goal of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047, a zeal similar to that experienced during India’s struggle for independence is needed.

Read also | Mann Ki Baat on Khadi Startups and Drug Rehab, PM Modi Discusses Success Strategies with Mathematical Olympiad Gold Medalists

“I will urge all my young friends to join this campaign. This step will be transformational for your future and the future of the country,” Modi added.

In his monthly address to the nation via radio, the Prime Minister cited examples of people resorting to reusing and recycling products and also mentioned start-ups dealing in eco-friendly products.

Talking about the sanitation workers in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, he said that a group of sanitation workers there created wonderful works of art out of garbage by collecting plastic waste, used bottles, tyres and pipes from the area and then turning them into helicopters, cars and guns, hanging flower pots and many other things.

“This team of sanitation workers followed the mantra of reduce, reuse and recycle. Thanks to their efforts, the park has started looking extremely beautiful. Apart from local residents, people living in neighbouring districts also come there to have a look,” he said.

He mentioned a startup called Ecokaari that produces many beautiful items from municipal waste.

Modi also appealed to people to get involved in toy recycling and donate toys that many children no longer play with to those who cannot afford toys.