New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday heaped praises on tribal women for reviving Santhali sarees in Odisha, during his 124th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat.
“There is a success story in Mayurbhanj, Odisha. Here, more than 650 tribal women have given a new life to Santali saree. Now, these women are earning thousands of rupees every month. They not only make clothes, but also create their own identity,” he said while speaking about the Swadeshi Movement, which infused new energy into local products, particularly handlooms.
The textile sector is becoming a strength of the country, he added.
The PM also highlighted the untiring efforts of Radha Krishna Sankirtan Mandali of Keonjhar to promote responsible actions for environment and forest conservation. “Have you ever heard about people being made aware of forest fires through kirtans? You may not believe it, but this amazing work is happening in Keonjhar district of Odisha. Here, there is a group named Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandali,” he said.
Elaborating further, Modi said that this group, besides Bhakti, is working for 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 travels from village to village, raising awareness against the hazards of forest fire. This example reminds us that our folk traditions are not something of the past; they still have the power to give direction to society,” he added.
Pramila, who is in her 30s, of Murgapahadi village in Ghatagaon block and her 20-member troupe, including adolescent girls, move across all villages in the panchayat throughout the summer season, performing Sankirtan. While the women sing, the men play the musical instruments.
She had revived this mandali, which was formed by her father-in- law three decades back, in 2021 by roping in members from her village and nearby villages. Her motive was to supplement her family income and also help a few others in the area in doing so. The troupe gained popularity by performing during festivals, birth and thread ceremonies or weddings. Following which, the local forest officials approached them to perform Sankirtan on the theme, which has helped to bring down forest fires this year.