J&K’s Amarnath Yatra sanitation model gets national mention; PM cites 46% women beneficiaries under PM Swanidhi Yojana; multiple Chief Ministers tune in
Highlights:
– PM hails Mumbai techie’s AI-built ‘BharatRajya’ historical atlas covering 1,000+ districts across 13 centuries
– Renews “drug-free youth, drug-free India” call, urges youth to make anti-drug content
– Praises Amarnath Yatra’s zero-waste sanitation model; 8,000+ facilities, 414.46 MT waste processed
– Says nearly 46% of PM Swanidhi Yojana beneficiaries are women street vendors
Peerzada Masarat Shah
New Delhi, (BuzzBytes): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 137th episode of his monthly radio programme “Mann Ki Baat” on Sunday, highlighted the interactive historical atlas website “BharatRajya,” built by Mumbai developer Krishna Seshadri using generative AI tools despite having no prior coding experience. “You go to this website, choose any one year, and you will get to know who ruled which part of Bharat,” the Prime Minister said, noting the open-source platform maps over 1,000 districts across 13 centuries, from 700 CE to the present, under Creative Commons Zero licensing. When asked about other hobbies, Seshadri told the Prime Minister he remains “immersed in history and technology,” prompting laughter from Modi. Several state Chief Ministers, including those of Odisha, Assam and Gujarat, tuned in to the broadcast; in Lucknow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and around 4,000 attendees listened to the programme together at a Lucknow Cantonment event.
Renewing his call against drug abuse, the Prime Minister said the “Nasha Mukt Yuva, Viksit Bharat” campaign was gathering pace across the country, with its objective being “drug-free youth, drug-free India.” “Addiction to drugs does not affect just one individual — its consequences are borne by the entire family and, eventually, society,” Modi said, appealing to citizens, especially young musicians, students and theatre groups, to create awareness content in Indian languages for social media. He said the fight against drugs was not the government’s responsibility alone but required the collective effort of parents, teachers, youth, social organisations and ordinary citizens.
Highlighting the growing role of women in the economy, the Prime Minister said nearly 46 percent of beneficiaries under the PM Swanidhi Yojana are women. “Every day, from morning till evening, lakhs of women are engaged in their work on the streets of our cities and towns — some sell vegetables, some fruits, some run tea stalls, while others sell flowers, lamps and puja items. Many times, it is only the lack of capital that stops their business from moving forward. But now lakhs of such mothers and sisters are gaining new strength through PM Swanidhi,” he said, sharing stories of women who transformed their lives with courage and government support. The Prime Minister also praised the spirit of patriotism witnessed during the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign, saying such efforts deepen society’s bond with the nation; this year’s campaign was dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram.”
Separately, the comprehensive sanitation and scientific waste management system implemented during the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, which concluded on August 28, received national recognition after the Prime Minister highlighted it in the broadcast. The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, J&K, deployed over 8,000 sanitation facilities, including prefabricated structures, toilets and bathing facilities, across the Baltal and Pahalgam axes, backed by dedicated sanitation personnel. Under a “Zero Waste to Landfill” approach, 414.46 metric tonnes of waste was collected and scientifically processed during the pilgrimage. “With over 8,000 sanitation facilities deployed and 414.46 MT of waste collected and processed, the Yatra has demonstrated how infrastructure, manpower, technology and behavioural change can work together to create a cleaner and more environmentally responsible pilgrimage experience,” said Director General Rural Sanitation, J&K, Anoo Malhotra—(BuzzBytes)
