Modi urges festive shoppers to support local artisans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged consumers to prioritize goods made by local artisans in festive-season shopping during his Mann Ki Baat broadcast on October 25, saying purchases would strengthen the Vocal for Local campaign and support self-reliance. Modi cited Indian products reaching overseas markets, including makhana from Purnia in Bihar going to Greece and arhar dal from Kalaburagi in Karnataka being exported to the Maldives. He presented the examples as evidence that local products were reaching global consumers. The broadcast accounts do not independently establish the scale or duration of those exports. He also highlighted packaging and traditional crafts, saying tribal products from Maharashtra were gaining recognition through packaging reflecting tribal art. Modi said the growing popularity of Khadi was supporting artisans whose skills sustain traditional production. He encouraged consumers to give locally made products priority during festival shopping. In Punjab’s Malwa region, Modi described NavTrinjan, an initiative of Kheti Virasat Mission that promotes organic cotton farming. He said cotton is grown without chemicals and that naturally coloured cotton can be...