Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday that a great nationwide ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign will be launched to honour India’s martyred men and women bravehearts.

Speaking during his 103rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said in the midst of the ongoing reverberations of Amrit Mahotsav and with the 15th of August round the corner, another great campaign is on the verge of being launched in the country.

Under this campaign many programs will be organized across the country in memory of our immortal martyrs, he added.

PM Modi said, “In memory of these luminaries, special inscriptions will be installed in lakhs of village panchayats of the country. Under this campaign, ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ will also be organised across the country. This ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ carrying soil in 7500 urns from every corner of the country will reach Delhi, the capital of the country.”

“This journey will also carry with it saplings from different parts of the country. ‘Amrit Vatika’ will be built near the National War Memorial by fusing the soil and saplings that would arrive in 7500 urns. This ‘Amrit Vatika’ will also become a grand symbol of Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat,” PM Modi explained.

PM Modi said that he had talked about ‘Panch Prana’ for the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal from the ramparts of the Red Fort last year. “By participating in the Meri Mati Mera Desh campaign, we will also take an oath to fulfil these five resolves. All of you should certainly upload your selfies on yuva.gov.in as you take the oath while holding the sacred soil of the country,” the Prime Minister said.

He also called for a continuation of the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan which was carried out the occasion of August 15 last year, to this year’s Independence Day as well

“The whole country came together for the campaign, similarly this year, too, we have to hoist the Tricolor at every house and continue this tradition,” PM Modi said.

“With these efforts, we will realize our duties… we will realize the innumerable sacrifices made for the freedom of the country; we will realize the value of freedom. Hence, every countryman must join in these efforts,” the Prime Minister observed.

He exhorted the nation to always remember those who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country and work day and night to make their dreams come true.

PM Modi also referred to the monsoon havoc in his Mann KI Baat. He said that the past few days have been full of anxiety and hardships on account of natural calamities due to flooding in many rivers including the Yamuna and people in many areas have had to suffer. Landslides have also occurred in hilly areas. Meanwhile, in the western part of the country, the Biparjoy cyclone also hit the areas of Gujarat some time ago.

However, in the midst of these calamities, the power of the collective effort of the entire nation came to the fore again. The local people, NDRF jawans and those from the local administration have worked day and night to combat such calamities. While capabilities and resources play a big role in tackling any disaster, it is the sensitivity and spirit of hand-holding that is equally important. This spirit of Sarvajan Hitaaya is the hallmark as well as the strength of India, he explained.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the water conservation and tree plantation campaigns that are being successfully carried out in the country to fight climate change.

More than 60,000 Amrit Sarovars built during the ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ are increasingly radiating their glow. Presently, the work of building more than 50,000 Amrit Sarovars is also going on, he explained.

PM Modi pointed out that a few days ago a record planting of 30 crore trees in a single day was done in Uttar Pradesh. This campaign was started by the state government; it was completed by the people there. Such efforts are great examples of public participation as well as public awareness and everyone should participate in them, he added.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the need to step up the war against drugs to protect the nation’s youth and expressed satisfaction on how this was being taken up as a “common cause” across the country after the launch of the ‘NashaMukt Bharat Abhiyan’ on 15th August, 2020. More than 11 crore people have been connected with this campaign. Two weeks ago, India took a huge action against drugs in which 1.5 lakh kg consignment of drugs was destroyed. India has also created a unique record of destroying 10 lakh kg of drugs, he added.