PM Modi further added that “International Labour Organisation has said over 64% of Indian population getting some form of social protection benefit.”
In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (June 29, 2025) said that India has been declared free of Trachoma – an eye disease.
In the 123rd episode, Mr. Modi said, “I am delighted to share with you that World Health Organisation [WHO] had declared India free of Trachoma, an eye disease.”
Trachoma is a bacterial infection of the eyes caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It’s a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, particularly in impoverished areas with poor access to clean water and sanitation.
95 crore people now benefiting from social security schemes
Mr. Modi said around 95 crore people are benefiting from one social security scheme or the other, while till 2015, government schemes reached less than 25 crore people.
In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Mr. Modi cited an International Labour Organisation (ILO) report which stated that more than 64%t of India’s population is getting some form of social protection benefit.
“Presently, most of the populace in India is taking advantage of one social protection benefit or the other and recently a very important report of the International Labour Organisation [ILO] has come out. It has been mentioned in this report that more than 64% of the population of India is now definitely availing some sort of social protection benefit or the other,” Mr. Modi said.
This is one of the biggest coverages in the world, he said.
“Today, around 95 crore people of the country are getting the benefit of some or the other social security scheme; whereas, till 2015, the government schemes were reaching less than 25 crore people,” Mr. Modi said.
From health to social security, the country is moving ahead with the feeling of saturation in every field, he said.
“This is also a great picture of social justice. These successes have instilled a belief that the coming times will be even better; India will become even stronger at every step,” Mr. Modi said.
Those who fought Emergency should always be remembered: PM Modi
Mr. Modi played remarks of leading anti-Emergency politicians in his monthly radio broadcast to slam the then Congress Government for atrocities on people, and said they should always be remembered as it inspires people to stay alert to keep the Constitution strong.
Speaking in his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Mr. Modi said those who imposed the Emergency not only murdered the Constitution but also made judiciary their puppet.
His condemnation of the Congress for the Emergency-era excesses without naming the party of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi came amid an ongoing bitter war of words between the ruling BJP and Opposition parties, which have claimed that an undeclared Emergency prevails under the Modi Government.
Mr. Modi said people were tortured on a large scale during the Emergency for the 21-month period between 1975 and 1977. There are many examples which cannot be forgotten, he added.
He played bits of speeches of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and former Deputy PM Jagjivan Ram related to the period.
George Fernandes was shackled, he noted and recalled that anyone could be arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) at that time.
Students were harassed and freedom of expression throttled, he added.
Thousands of people were arrested and subjected to inhuman treatment, but it is the strength of Indians that they did now bow and accept any compromise with democracy, he said.
People finally won, the Emergency was lifted and those who imposed it lost, he said.
Noting that the 50th anniversary of Emergency was commemorated recently as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’, he said those who fought against it must always be remembered.
The Emergency was imposed on June 25, 1975 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
On international yoga day
Mr. Modi highlighted the recent celebrations on the International Yoga Day in which lakhs of people participated from all walks of life.
He said, “All of you must be filled with the energy of Yoga and memories of International Yoga day. This year too, on June 21, crores of people took part in the international day of Yoga celebrations. It began 10 years ago, over these years, every year this tradition is becoming even more grand than before. This also indicates that more and more people are incorporating yoga in their daily lives.”
He spoke about the mesmerising visuals from across the country, including in Visakhapatnam, from where the Prime Minister led the largest ever Yoga gathering of three lakh people. “We saw many mesmerising images of this celebration.
“In Visakhapatnam, 3 lakh people performed Yoga together on the beach. Another incredible sight from Visakhapatnam was that over 2,000 tribal students performed 108 surya namaskars for 108 minutes. Imagine the discipline needed. A grand display of Yoga was showcased on our naval ships,” Mr. Modi said.
“In Telangana, 3,000 divyang friends came together for a yoga camp. They showed how Yoga can be a powerful means of empowerment. Connecting Yoga with the resolve of clean Yamuna, people of Delhi performed Yoga on the river banks. In Jammy and Kashmir, at Chenab bridge, at the world’s highest railway bridge. ITBP jawans at Himalayas also performed at the snow-capped peaks, showcasing a blend of courage and spiritual discipline” he said.
“People of Gujarat, in Vadnagar also set a new record, when 2,121 people performed bhujangasanas (Cobra pose) together,” he added.
The Prime Minister also mentioned international participation, across Indian embassies and otherwise. “New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, pictures of yoga were from every major place in the world. Every image conveyed a special message of peace, satability and balance. This year’s theme was also special, Yoga for one earth, for Health. This is not just a slogan, but a direction that resonates the feeling of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” he added.
This year’s Yoga day theme was ‘one earth, one health’, the day, recognised by the United Nations aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of Yoga.