Cases of triple talaq decreased by 80 per cent after enactment of law: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat

“Social evils like triple talaq are also coming to an end. Ever since the law against triple talaq (was passed), there has been an 80 per cent decrease in incidents of triple talaq,” the prime minister said in his monthly Mann Ki Baat programme, underlining the “success” of the government’s programmes for women empowerment.

“In the recent past, decisions like increasing maternity leave for women have been taken. The country is trying to give equal rights to sons and daughters by fixing a common age for marriage,” he said, adding that “due to this, the participation of women is increasing in every field.”

The PM said there is yet another “major change happening in the country” as a result of “the success of our social campaigns”.

“Take the success of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, today the sex ratio in the country has improved. The number of girls going to school has also improved. In this, we also have a responsibility that our daughters do not drop out of school. Similarly, women in the country have got freedom from open defecation under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’. A social evil like triple talaq is also coming to an end. Ever since the law against triple talaq has come into being, there has been a reduction of 80 per cent in triple talaq cases in the country,” Modi said.

Tune in to #MannKiBaat February 2022. https://t.co/ajpBQkPkyq

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2022

He added that all these were possible in such a short span of time “because women themselves are now leading the change and progressive efforts in our country”.

The PM also appreciated the role of Indian scientists in the fight against the coronavirus and said “due to their hard work, it was possible to manufacture the Made In India vaccine, which has helped the whole world a lot. This is the gift of science to humanity.”

Flagging the issue of smuggling of antique idols out of India, the PM referred to the country’s history of making idols and said “not only were they a wonderful artistic example of Indian sculpture; our faith was also connected with them. But, in the past, many idols were stolen and kept being taken out of India. Sometimes in this country, at times in another, these idols were sold… and for them they were just pieces of art. Neither did they have anything to do with their history, nor with reverence attached to them. It is our responsibility towards Mother India to bring home these idols. These idols embody a part of the soul of India; faith as well. They also have a cultural-historical significance.”

“Realising this responsibility, India increased her efforts. And resultantly, it fostered a deterrent fear against the tendency to steal. The countries where these idols were stolen and taken away to, also now started to feel that it could have immense significance in… relations with India. India’s feelings are associated with it; India’s reverence is attached as well, and, in a way, it creates a lot of strength in people-to-people relations as well,” he said.

Referring to some of these statues being brought back to India, Modi said, “this is an example of the changing global outlook towards India. Till the year 2013, nearly 13 idols had been brought back to India. But, in the last seven years, India has successfully brought back more than 200 precious idols.”

“Many countries such as America, Britain, Holland, France, Canada, Germany, Singapore have understood this sentiment of India and helped us to retrieve these idols,” the PM added.

The PM also had a special word of praise for Tanzanian lip sync artists Kili Paul and his sister Neema Paul.

He said that “recently, a video of him singing our National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ on the occasion of Republic Day went viral” and “a few days ago, he also paid a soulful tribute to Lata didi by presenting her song’.

‘I really appreciate these two siblings, Kili and Neema, very much for their wonderful creativity. A few days ago, he was also honoured at the Indian Embassy in Tanzania. The magic of Indian music is such that it fascinates everyone,” said the PM.

He added that “if Kili and Neema in Tanzania can lip sync the songs of India in this manner”, children in the different states in the country could also do the same with songs from languages of other states which, in turn, will “create such an environment in which we will be able to experience ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’”.

He urged “the youth of the country to make videos of the popular songs of Indian languages in their own way…”

“You will become very popular! And the diversity of the country will be introduced to the new generation,” Modi said.

The PM also emphasised the importance of mother tongue, saying that “as our mother moulds our life, in the same manner, mother tongue also shapes our life. The mother and mother tongue, both together strengthen the foundation of life; lending it permanence. Just like we cannot abandon our mother, similarly, we cannot leave our mother tongue either.”

He, however, rued that “even after 75 years of Independence, some people are facing a mental dilemma due to which they have reservations with regard to their language, their dress, their food and drink, whereas, it is not like this anywhere else in the world.”

“It is our mother tongue; we should speak it with pride. And, our India is so rich in terms of languages that it just cannot be compared,” exhorted the PM adding that “for centuries, our languages have been evolving whilst learning from each other and have been refining themselves, developing each other.”

Pointing out that “our languages have their own special characteristics”, he said “mother tongue has its own science” and that “for understanding this science, emphasis has been laid on studies in the local language in the National Education Policy. Efforts are being made that our professional courses should also be taught in the regional languages.”

The PM also recalled his meeting with former Kenyan President Raila Odinga, who he said told him about his daughter Rosemary improving her eyesight, which she had almost lost as a result of a surgery for brain tumour, after Ayurveda treatment in a hospital in Kerala.

“The effect of this Ayurvedic treatment was such that Rosemary’s eyesight returned to a great extent,” PM Modi said and added that “it is a matter of great happiness for me that our land and our tradition have alleviated such a great suffering from someone’s life… We all know that not only Odinga ji but lakhs of people across the world are reaping similar benefits from Ayurveda.”

“Prince Charles from Britain is also one of the big admirers of Ayurveda. Whenever I meet him, he definitely mentions Ayurveda,” said the PM who also referred to efforts by the AYUSH Ministry to promote and popularise Ayurveda and other traditional methods of medicine and health.

The PM also spoke about how the “Mission Jal Thal” to clean the lakes and ponds and restore them to their old glory in Srinagar is witnessing massive community participation.