Latest news with #MannkiBaat
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Grassland bird census in Kaziranga: What was special about this survey, which PM Modi talked about
In his Mann ki Baat radio programme on Sunday (July 27), Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted a 'first-ever grassland bird census' in Assam's Kaziranga National Park and the technology used for this. What is this 'bird census', what was the methodology involved, and what are the concerns surrounding grassland birds? Between March 18 and May 25, a survey to record the grassland bird population in Kaziranga National Park was undertaken by a team of forest officials, scientists, and conservationists. It all began when a doctoral student Chiranjib Bora, who is studying the threatened grassland bird Black-breasted parrotbill, received the INSPIRE fellowship from the central government's Department of Science & Technology, along with acoustic monitoring tools to conduct his research. He and the Kaziranga authorities then decided to use the tools to count all grassland bird species in the national park, 70% of which is covered by grasslands. 'Our main goal was to monitor what grassland bird species live in Kaziranga. Most of the grassland bird species have become rare. These are small and well-camouflaged birds that are not easily spotted, unlike wetland birds. Also, they live in peculiar habitats that are rapidly declining,' said Bora. The survey prioritised 10 species that are either globally threatened or endemic to the Brahmaputra floodplains: Bengal Florican, Swamp Francolin, Finn's Weaver, Swamp Grass Babbler, Jerdon's Babbler, Slender-billed Babbler, Black-breasted Parrotbill, Marsh Babbler, Bristled Grassbird, and Indian Grassbird. Including these, it recorded a total of 43 grassland bird species, including 1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, and 6 Vulnerable species, according to the IUCN Red List. What was the methodology and why was it unique? According to Kaziranga National Park Director Dr. Sonali Ghosh, the use of passive acoustic recording monitoring was the highlight of the survey. 'Surveying these small, shy, and highly camouflaged birds is very difficult using traditional methods like visual counting. So, the acoustic recorders were placed in tall trees near grasslands during the breeding season of the birds, between March and May. This is the season when they are very vocal, calling out for mates and with males defending territory. The instruments recorded all the birds singing in the landscape,' she said. Bora said that different tools were then used to identify the birds based on the recordings. 'After recording for three consecutive days, we removed the recorders and analysed those sound files. If the sound was not identifiable, we used software to create a spectrogram, which is a graphical representation of the sound, to aid us in identifying. We also used a tool called Birdnet, which uses machine learning to try and identify species by bird song. We covered 29 locations in the national park using six recorders,' he said. What is the significance of the findings? Dr. Ghosh called grassland birds 'an indicator of good health' of an ecosystem, likening them to indicators such as BMI for human health. 'The presence of these birds tells us that the habitat is healthy,' she said. The national park authorities have been particularly excited by the discovery of a breeding colony of the endangered Finn's Weaver, which is endemic to the Brahmaputra flood plain. 'They nest on the tops of trees but till now, we had not known where they had been nesting. During the survey we found a colony of over 85 nests in Kaziranga,' she said. What are the threats to the habitats of grassland birds? Bora said that in the past four decades, Assam has lost around 70% of its grasslands. 'There are anthropogenic factors such as overgrazing and clearing of grasslands for cultivation. But there is also a natural phenomenon called ecological succession, which is basically an instinct for grasslands to gradually transition to forests. Among the 10 species we had prioritized, three are endemic to the grasslands of the North East, which means that if they vanish from here, they become extinct,' he said. Climate change also contributes to these concerns. 'It is a cause of worry. If we look at some species, for instance, the Bengal florican, we used to see a lot more of them, but this time we could detect only one or two. Further study can tell us if the decline is influenced by climate change or other factors,' said Dr. Ghosh.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Modi lauds Odisha's devotional singers for awareness campaign against forest fires
Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday drew the attention of the country towards the environmental awareness campaign against forest fires undertaken by 'Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandali', a group of devotional singers from Keonjhar district, who are spreading the message of conservation through traditional songs and music. The Prime Minister highlighted the group's unique initiative during his address on the 124th episode of the monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. 'The most beautiful glimpse of India's diversity is found in our folk songs and traditions, and our bhajans and kirtans are a part of this. But have you ever heard that people are made aware of forest fires through kirtans? You may not believe it, but amazing work is happening in Keonjhar district of Odisha. Here, there is a group named Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandali,' said Modi. The Prime Minister also praised the leader Pramila Pradhan, who spearheaded the unique and novel effort against forest fire in her locality. 'Along with devotion, today, this group is also chanting the mantra of environmental protection. The inspiration behind this initiative is Pramila Pradhan ji. To protect the forest and the environment, she has added new lyrics and new messages to traditional songs. Her troupe went from village to village. Through songs, people were made to understand how much damage forest fires cause,' he added. The example of Pramila and her troupe of devotional singers, the 'Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandali', reminds one that folk traditions are not relics of the past, but they still have the power to give direction to society. During his 'Mann ki Baat' address, Modi also mentioned the 'National Handloom Day' observed on August 7 every year to commemorate Swadeshi Movement, which began on August 7, 1905. He said this year, August 7 marks the completion of 10 years of 'National Handloom Day'. While highlighting numerous efforts by people across the country to revive traditional handlooms and the revolution in the textile sector that took place during the last 10 years, Modi praised the efforts by tribal women in Mayurbhanj district to revive the traditional Santhali saree. 'There is a similar success story in Mayurbhanj. Here, more than 650 tribal women have revived the Santhali saree. Now these women are earning thousands of rupees every month. They are not just making cloth, but also carving their own identity. The achievement of Naveen Kumar from Nalanda, Bihar, is also inspiring. His family has been associated with this work for generations,' added Modi.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Mann ki Baat: PM Modi lauds rising interest of youth in space, start-ups
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded the growing interest among students and the youth in the field of space, science, sports and start-ups, saying the space journey of Subhanshu Shukla and the earlier launch of Chandrayaan-3 has created a new curiosity among children about space science while the stellar performance of our sportspersons has encouraged more young people to excel. These developments have led to the rise of start-ups in the two areas, he said. In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' address, the Prime Minister said that in the last few weeks, a lot of events have taken place in the field of sports, science and culture which have made every Indian proud. "Recently, there was a lot of talk in the country over Shubhanshu Shukla's return from space. As soon as Shubhanshu landed safely on earth, people jumped with joy... a wave of happiness rippled through every heart. The entire country was filled with pride. I remember, when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in August 2023, a new ambience was created in the country. A new curiosity also arose among children about science and space," Modi said. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Digital Marketing Others healthcare Data Science MBA Artificial Intelligence CXO Project Management Product Management Data Analytics Design Thinking Operations Management PGDM Healthcare Finance Cybersecurity others MCA Public Policy Degree Management Technology Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK CEO Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK-Women Leadership Programme INDIA Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 22 Weeks Indian School of Business SEPO - ISB Venture Capital & Private Equity India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM praises Nalanda weaver for innovation
Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to revolutionary freedom fighter Khudiram Bose for his bravery, patriotism and martyrdom. He also lauded Naveen Kumar of Nalanda for modernising his family's handloom business through the use of new technology. Speaking during his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' programme, the PM recalled the hanging of the 18-year-old freedom fighter in Muzaffarpur jail on Aug 11, 1908. "His face was full of pride. There was no trace of fear. Thousands of people had gathered outside the jail to bid a final farewell to a brave man. His sacrifice still inspires," Modi said, adding that August is also the month of revolution. "It was dawn. Every street, intersection and movement in Muzaffarpur seemed to have stopped at that time. There were tears in the eyes of the people, but there was fire in their hearts. People had surrounded the jail where an 18-year-old youth was paying the price for expressing his patriotism against the British. That brave, courageous youth was Khudiram Bose. At the age of just 18, he showed such courage that shook the whole country," Modi said. Quoting contemporary newspaper reports, he said, "When Khudiram Bose moved towards the noose of hanging, there was a smile on his face." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Senior Living Homes in Cisaga May Surprise You Senior Living | Search Ads Undo The PM said it was after countless such sacrifices and centuries of penance that the country finally attained independence. He also took the opportunity to highlight the achievements of Naveen Kumar, a handloom weaver from Nepura village in Nalanda. He praised him as a role model for how traditional artisans can adopt innovation while preserving heritage. Describing Naveen as an inspiration for others, Modi said, "His family has been associated with this craft for generations and is now taking this art forward by adopting new technology." He added that Naveen, the secretary of the Nepura Primary Weavers' Cooperation Committee, has also ensured that his children are educated in handloom technology and they are now employed with major brands.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Mann Ki Baat inspires, rekindles confidence across nation: BJP leaders laud PM Modi's 124th episode
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 124th episode of the monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, broadcast on Sunday, drew praise from several BJP leaders for its consistent messaging, emotional connect with the people, and emphasis on national pride and participation. Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar lauded the Prime Minister for remembering Bengal's revolutionary legacy. "In this Mann ki Baat Prime Minister mentioned so many things, especially in the context of Bengal. I would like to thank the Prime Minister, he named Khudiram Bose," Majumdar said, highlighting the recognition of Bengal's freedom fighters and their contribution to India's Independence. Echoing the sentiment, Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra praised the continuity and global uniqueness of the programme. "Since its inception, he has been speaking to the people on the last Sunday of every month without fail. This is truly unprecedented globally. Staying connected with the people and discussing even the smallest matters," Malhotra noted, underscoring how Mann Ki Baat has become a consistent platform for grassroots dialogue. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the programme was helping rebuild India's national confidence. "The British rule tried to break India's self-confidence. PM Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat is an optimistic program that inspires the youth and rekindles confidence across the nation," she said. During the episode, Prime Minister Modi focused on the Swachh Bharat Mission, describing it as a powerful symbol of collective national will. "Sometimes a task comes across as impossible to some people... But when the country comes together on one thought, even the impossible becomes possible. 'Swachh Bharat Mission' is the biggest example of this," he said, adding that the mission, which will soon complete 11 years, remains just as relevant and necessary today. Calling the movement a 'true mass movement', the Prime Minister noted that public participation has made it successful. He pointed out that the annual Swachh Survekshan continues to encourage people to take ownership of their local environments and keep them clean. As Mann Ki Baat continues its journey into its second decade, it remains a key initiative connecting the Prime Minister directly with the people, offering inspiration, encouragement, and national purpose, one Sunday at a time.
