File picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a 'Mann ki Baat' radio address.
As his monthly radio address to the nation - Mann ki Baat -- completed one year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people for their response and said his Mann ki Baat has become the nation's Mann ki Baat.
"I sought inputs from you... so many people contributed. The lakhs of letters taught me invaluable lessons. I got to know about the issues in the government," he said on the programme today.
Congratulating the people for the enthusiastic response to issues like the sale of khadi, environmental awareness and the cleanliness campaign, he said people power was very important in democracy.
"Mann ki Baat showcased Samajh Ki Shakti (strength of the people in a society)," he said. The
sale of khadi, he said, has increased much.
"Lakhs of families have given up their gas subsidies. These are not rich people. This is also a silent revolution," the Prime Minister said, referring to his earlier call asking those who can afford it to give up their gas subsidy, so it could be used by the needy.
The Prime Minister also said that he had tried something new - asking the
people to share their thoughts on phone.
"I received 55,000 calls, he said. "One would feel there is negativity all around but the phone calls, they had so many suggestions and so much positivity."
The Prime Minister had started his Mann ki Baat programme last year - a first by any Prime Minister. Over the 12 editions, aired once a month, he had canvassed various issues, including education, cleanliness, family, festivals, nation building and the various initiatives being taken by the government.
In exam-time, he had confided to the students that he had never scored exceptionally well in exams, and had poor handwriting.
When US President Barack Obama visited India in January, PM Modi had invited him to the programme and the two had addressed the nation jointly.