PM Modi Endorses 'Wed In India' Campaign For Tourism Uplift

EE News Desk Mar 09, 2024

As per reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi championed the 'Wed in India' initiative, urging citizens to consider domestic destinations for weddings, thereby boosting local tourism. He also called on non-resident Indians (NRIs) to participate in the 'Chalo India' program, encouraging them to send their family members to explore the country.

Speaking at a large gathering at Bakshi Stadium, the first such address since the abrogation of the special status of the erstwhile state in 2019, the PM suggested that visitors to Jammu and Kashmir allocate 5 - 10 per cent of their expenditures to shopping, supporting the local economy and creating job opportunities.

The choice of Bakshi Stadium as the venue marked a departure from the traditional location at SKICC on the banks of Dal Lake. Stressing the importance of contributing to the region's economic growth, Modi underlined the significance of not only touring but also engaging in commerce during their visit.

In the meantime, a viral selfie featuring the Prime Minister and an entrepreneur has gained widespread attention. The PM shared the photo on social media, captioning it, “A memorable selfie with my friend Nazim. I was impressed by the good work he is doing. My best wishes for his future endeavours.”

Nazim Nazeer, a beekeeper hailing from Pulwama, narrated his entrepreneurial journey to the Prime Minister, highlighting his efforts to expand his business by leveraging government benefits. He explained that he acquired 25 beekeeping boxes at a 50 per cent subsidy. During their conversation, Nazeer elaborated on his economic progress, gradually increasing his beekeeping operations to 200 boxes by availing Rs 5 lakh under the PM’s Employment Generation Programme.

Nazeer's expansion efforts resulted in the establishment of his brand, complemented by the creation of a website that garnered thousands of orders, totalling around 5,000 kg, from across the nation. As a result, his business has flourished to encompass nearly 2,000 beekeeping boxes, providing employment opportunities for about 100 youth from the region.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister advised Nazeer to explore the honey produced in Central Asia, particularly around the Hindu Kush mountain and encouraged him to consider cultivating specific flowers around the beekeeping boxes to create a unique honey taste for a niche market.

Later in the day, while in New Delhi, the Prime Minister highlighted the unprecedented speed and scale of his government's work over the past decade. He asserted that his administration has a comprehensive development roadmap for the next 25 years, contrasting it with opposition parties that, according to him, only possess "anger and abuses" without offering viable solutions.

During his address at the Republic Summit, he emphasized that in the preceding 75 days, his government laid the foundation or inaugurated projects valued at Rs 9 lakh crore, effectively bringing government initiatives directly to the people.

“But on the other side (opposition) there is anger, abuse and disappointment. They neither have any issue nor any solution. This is because these parties fought elections only on slogans for seven decades,” he mentioned. Highlighting the accomplishments of his administration in terms of development initiatives, Modi expressed confidence that India will achieve unprecedented and unimaginable heights in the coming decade. “This is Modi's guarantee,” the Prime Minister pointed out.

Visitors advised to spend to support local communities

The Prime Minister has encouraged visitors to Jammu and Kashmir to dedicate 5-10 per cent of their spending to shopping, aiming to bolster the local economy and create employment opportunities.