You can watch the full address here:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Sunday, 28 January, in the first ‘Mann Ki Baat’ of 2018.
Nothing Impossible for Women If They Have a Strong Will: PM Modi
In the 40th edition of the Prime Minister’s monthly radio programme, he said that nothing was impossible for women if they had a strong will.
Remembering astronaut Kalpana Chawla ahead of her death anniversary on 1 February, Modi said she gave out a valuable message to all Indians, especially young girls.
Emphasising that women in India are progressing in every field and have amazed the entire world, Modi said several verses of the Holy Vedas were composed by women.
"Let me tell you that one daughter is equal to 10 sons... The punya (good) we get from 10 sons, we get that from one daughter...," said Modi in his radio programme, which is also the first of 2018.
He also praised the "human chain" formed in Bihar against social evils against dowry and child marriage, and said flexibility and continuous efforts for self-correction are a hallmark of society.
Padma Award Selection Process Transformed: Modi
The Prime Minister also spoke about how the selection process for picking Padma award winners has been transformed under his government, asserting that more significance has now been given to the nominee’s work than name.
Modi highlighted works of some winners whose names were announced on the eve of Republic Day, and said common people, who are not living in big cities and not seen in newspapers and TV, have received it.
In the last three years, he said, the selection process has been made online, which has led to transparency and anybody can now nominate people for the honour.
He called upon society to hear the stories of these winners so that they could enrich and inspire others.
‘Pay Tribute to Bapuji by Following His Path’
With Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary falling on 30 January, he said no tribute to him can be bigger than following the path he had shown.
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