NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged manufacturers across the country to focus on replacing imported everyday household items with made in India products which can also compete in global markets.
"I urge people to prepare a list; whatever items we use throughout the day, analyze them, think of things manufactured abroad that have permeated into our lives unknowingly - Let us find out their substitutes," said the PM.
Addressing 72nd Mann ki Baat, PM Modi pitched for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, reminding the manufacturers of the opportunities currently available in innovation.
"This is the opportune moment to work with the ethos of ‘Zero Effect, Zero Defect’; I urge manufacturers and industry leaders of the country - it is time to ensure that our products meet global standards," he said.
PM Modi said that the unprecedented disruption of the supply chain during the lockdowns triggered by the coronavirus pandemic inspired people to be more self-reliant.
"Every citizen has felt the changes triggered by the pandemic. The supply chain was completely disrupted but people leant new lessons from challenges. We saw a new spirit among the people, we saw the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat in 2020," said the PM.
Pitching for "vocal for local" campaign, however, PM Modi also warned the manufacturers that there cannot be any compromise on quality.
"While we are supporting a self-reliant India, there should be a clear message for our manufacturers that they should not compromise on the quality of the products. Vocal for local is reverberating in each and every household. It is time to ensure our products meet global standards. Whatever is global best, we should make it in India and prove it.
During the monthly radio programme, PM Modi mentioned some of the letters he had received which talked about how the buyer sentiment in India was changing in favour of Make in India products.
"Abhinav ji from Delhi wrote that when he went to Jhandewala to buy toys for his children and noticed how shopkeepers were emphasizing on the quality of the made in India toys being better than the quality of imported toys," said the PM during his radio programme.
PM Modi, further, mentioned "ABC for 2021.." shared with him by Venkat Murli Prasad from Vishakhapatnam.
"I took a close look to understand what he meant by ABC for 2021. ABC stands for 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Chart', which contains a list of all imported everyday items whose Made in India substitutes are easily available. Venkat Ji said that he has decided to use only those items which bear the mark of his countrymen's toil," said the PM.