Page 9 - Mann ki Baat - English

crore. These figures are massive. dominates the mind, a person
Behind these numbers lie the stops seeing the truth. People
individual stories of lakhs of steeped in superstition begin
families; somewhere, a mother making decisions without
received help to continue her logic or knowledge of the
children's education, while facts—decisions that lead to
elsewhere, a wife found the great harm. At the same time,
support needed to manage there are those in society who
household responsibilities. challenge such beliefs based on
Friends, Often, a significant science, experience, and logic.
safety net can begin with a very The journey from superstition
small amount and a tiny step; to faith is not easy, and today I
even a small decision can bring certainly want to tell you about
about a major change. I urge one such successful journey.
all of you to share information Friends, A bird is found in
about these schemes with your Assam known as the ‘Hargila’.
families. The ‘Hargila’ is a rare bird. It plays
My dear countrymen, In a vital role in keeping nature
'Mann ki Baat', let us now discuss a clean. However, for a long time,
subject that is thousands of years it was considered inauspicious
old - one that has been deeply in certain parts of Assam. People
ingrained in human society disliked seeing it in their vicinity.
for millennia. That subject is Often, trees housing ‘Hargila’
superstition. Superstition is often nests were even cut down. Just
not merely a misconception; imagine—a bird that helps clean
it begets fear, and when fear the environment became a

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