Page 49 - Mann Ki Baat - English

The mantra of Friends, today it is the success of 'Swachh Bharat
'Reduce, Reuse, and Mission' that the mantra of 'Waste to Wealth'
Recycle' (Triple R) is becoming popular among people. People
has become an have started talking about 'Reduce, Reuse and
integral part of our Recycle' and giving examples of it. Now I came to
daily lives, promoting know about a great effort in Kozhikode in Kerala.
sustainable practices Here, 74 year old Subrahamanian ji has repaired
that not only benefit
the environment but also more than 23 thousand chairs and made them
encourage resourcefulness. usable again. People also call him 'Reduce, Reuse,
People across the country and Recycle' i.e., RRR (Triple R) Champion. These
are adopting these principles in unique efforts of his can be seen in Kozhikode
various ways. Civil Station, PWD and L.C. offices.
For example, many households are
switching to cloth bags instead of
single-use plastics, local artisans are PM Modi in his 114th
transforming discarded materials into 'Mann ki Baat' address
beautiful handicrafts. In cities like Pune and
Bengaluru, community-led initiatives encourage
residents to separate waste at the source, making recycling more effective.
A shining example of this mantra is 74-year-old Subrahamanian ji from Kozhikode,
Kerala, who has repaired over 23,000 chairs, giving them a new lease of life. His
remarkable efforts have earned him the title of 'RRR Champion,' inspiring many in his
community. Following Prime Minister Modi’s mention of his achievements in 'Mann ki
Baat', Subrahamanian ji was honured with a reception organised by Anganwadi workers
in his village, reflecting the pride and recognition that such sustainable initiatives can
bring to individuals and their communities. Let us see how Subrahamanian ji reacted to
this recognition from the Prime Minister.

My family and neighbors are very happy and proud about the Prime
Minister’s mention of me in 'Mann ki Baat'. The Anganwadi workers in my
village organised a reception program for me after the broadcast of the show.
When a damaged chair is repaired, it can be reused, turning waste into
something useful. This type of chair is particularly suitable for people suffering
from back pain. After I repair the chairs, the Safai Karmachari collects the
waste generated from the repairs, which usually happens once a week.
In the past, I used to repair six chairs a day. However, due to my old age, I can now only
repair two chairs each day.
Subrahamanian Malayathodi,
Kozhikode, Kerala

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