Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 69th edition of his monthly radio programme. PM Modi started his 'Mann Ki Baat' discussing India's old culture of story-telling. PM said that our oldest members of the family-the storytellers helped us get through these difficult times of Coronavirus.

PM said," Storytelling is as old as our civilisation. Where there is a soul, there is a story."

Harping on the importance of the "art of story-telling", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Every family mostly has an elderly person who talks about traditions, cultures. He/she would tell a story. Story-telling is an art. The power of a story is reflected when a mother tells a story to her child when anyone shares any experience."

"I am proud we belong to a country where stories are told in Panchatantras, kathas, religious stories," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he mentions some storytellers like Amar Vyas, Kathalaya (kathalaya.org), the Indian story Telling Service, Vikram Sridhar."

PM Modi also spoke to the storytellers of Bengaluru and gave the platform to narrate a story. PM urged everyone to promote the art of storytelling in their daily lives and discuss it with families. "Decide one topic and narrate a story to your family, this will give you a new insight and will improve your communication skills," said PM Modi

Farmers are the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat now: PM Modi

Amid protests against Farm Bills, PM Modi spoke about the farmers of the country and praised them for playing a major role in the efforts to build an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "During the Covid-19 pandemic, farmers have suffered a lot, however, they have not given up. Farmers are earning 10-12 lakh per care every year by growing vegetables..sweet corn, cucumber. They have the power to sell it to whoever they want (from anywhere they are getting better price).

PM Modi said, "Rural-youth are directly involved in the market, in the process of farming and selling - it directly benefits the farmers, employs the youth of the village. Three or four years ago, in Maharashtra, fruits and vegetables were excluded from the purview of APMC. This change is an example of how the fruit and vegetable growing farmers of Maharashtra changed the situation, Sri Swami Samarth Farmer's producer company limited - This is a group of farmers. One who is grounded stays firm during the biggest storms. Our farmers are a living example of this during COVID-19."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "In Lucknow 'Irada farmer producers' that frees farmers from mediators and gives them the independence to sell their crop on their own price. Agriculture requires more commercially viable technologies to make it more profitable. Our efforts should aim for the welfare of the poorest in the country."

PM Modi remembers soldiers of surgical strike

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Four years ago, around this time, the world witnessed the courage, bravery, and valour of our soldiers during surgical strike. Our brave soldiers had just one mission and goal — to protect the glory and honour of mother India at any cost."

PM concluded the 69th edition of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', reiterating the need to strictly follow the Covid-19 guidelines, which include social distancing, use of masks and face cover, avoiding crowded places, and maintaining hand hygiene, in order to fight the coronavirus pandemic.