Prioritise Domestic Products During Festive Season, Says PM, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to prioritize domestic products under the 'Vocal for Local' campaign during the festive season.
• He highlighted the success of e-Sanjeevani scheme, which has conducted approximately 50 crore tele-consultations, and the operation of nearly 1.9 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across the country.
• The PM paid tribute to Narinder Singh Kapany, known as the 'Father of Fibre Optics', ahead of his 100th birth anniversary.
• He lauded the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT-Madras for developing a brain imaging technology platform using the Param Shakti supercomputer.
• The Kheti Virasat Mission in Punjab's Malwa region was recognized for promoting natural cotton cultivation.

Detailed Insights:

• The 'Vocal for Local' campaign aims to boost indigenous products and contribute to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
• The PM emphasized the importance of good packaging, citing Maharashtra’s ‘Shabari Naturals’ receiving Japan’s Good Design Award.
• The e-Sanjeevani platform, a national telemedicine service, facilitates access to doctors and specialists, bridging the digital health divide, especially in remote areas.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are upgraded Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat, providing comprehensive primary healthcare services.
• The Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at IIT-Madras is undertaking a global project to map the human brain at cellular and connectivity levels, making its data open source for research.
• Narinder Singh Kapany (born October 31, 1926) coined the term "fiber optics" and his research was fundamental to modern communication networks.
• The Kheti Virasat Mission promotes organic cotton, which eliminates the need for chemical dyes and pesticides, supporting environmental conservation.
• The PM also mentioned community efforts to revive the Heval river in Uttarakhand and called for participation in the 'Run for Unity' on October 31, marking National Unity Day.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Vocal for Local: A government initiative encouraging citizens to buy locally manufactured goods to support domestic industries and achieve self-reliance.
• Aatmanirbhar Bharat: A vision for a self-reliant India, encompassing various sectors including economy, infrastructure, and technology.
• e-Sanjeevani: A national telemedicine platform providing online doctor consultations, enhancing healthcare accessibility across India.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: Upgraded primary healthcare facilities under Ayushman Bharat offering comprehensive health services, including preventive and curative care.