WHO Declares India Trachoma Free: PM Modi Highlights Major Health Victory in Mann Ki Baat

New Delhi: In the 123rd episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the growing popularity of Yoga worldwide and lauded India’s efforts in public health and social welfare.

Reflecting on the International Day of Yoga held on June 21, PM Modi highlighted that millions had joined in celebrations across India and abroad. “Over the past decade, Yoga has become a powerful part of people’s daily lives, with each year witnessing greater enthusiasm,” he said.

He praised diverse participation across the country, pointing to events in Telangana where 3,000 differently-abled people gathered for a yoga session, and Delhi, where citizens performed yoga by the Yamuna to spread the message of river cleanliness. PM Modi also mentioned the remarkable yoga event at Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, where ITBP personnel demonstrated yoga on one of the highest railway bridges, and at the Himalayan heights.

People in Gujarat’s Vadnagar set a new record when over 2,100 participants performed the cobra pose together, he noted. On the international stage, Indian embassies and communities in cities like New York, London, Tokyo, and Paris also showcased yoga as a symbol of peace and balance. “This year’s theme, ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health,’ is a true reflection of our vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” he remarked.

Turning to religious pilgrimages, the Prime Minister announced the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after a long pause and noted that the Amarnath Yatra will begin from July 3. “These pilgrimages revive the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’,” he said, extending his best wishes to devotees.

The PM also drew attention to India’s achievement of being declared Trachoma-free by the World Health Organization. Once a widespread eye infection, Trachoma has now been eliminated, he said, crediting frontline health workers and the Jal Jeevan Mission for improving sanitation and hygiene.

He further cited a new report by the International Labour Organization, which found that nearly 64% of India’s population now receives some form of social security benefit — a dramatic rise from fewer than 25 crore people in 2015 to around 95 crore today.

In another segment, PM Modi remembered the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. He paid tribute to those who fought to safeguard democracy, describing that era as a time when constitutional freedoms were suppressed. “We must stay vigilant to protect our Constitution,” he cautioned.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged Meghalaya’s Eri Silk, recently awarded the GI tag. Appreciating its eco-friendly qualities, he noted that local communities have preserved its sustainable production methods for generations, calling it an ideal product for global markets due to its cruelty-free and climate-friendly benefits.

Praising environmental efforts, PM Modi highlighted the creation of the Sindoor Forest in Ahmedabad, which honors the courage of soldiers from Operation Sindoor. He also applauded a Pune resident and his family, who regularly spend their holidays planting trees and digging water pits to support wildlife.