PM Modi hails fight against superstition that saved rare stork in Assam

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi had a word of praise in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast for those who rely on science, experience and logic to challenge superstitions as he hailed a successful campaign led by a biologist in Assam to save a rare stork species which once faced extinction as people considered it inauspicious. While the hargila plays a vital role in keeping nature clean, it was targeted for a long time because it was considered a bad omen. Even trees that had their nests were cut down, Modi said. “A bird that helps clean the environment became a victim of people’s fear. It was during that time that biologist Purnima Devi Barman resolved to change the misconceptions deeply rooted in people’s minds. She spoke to women and explained the facts based on science,” Modi said. The PM noted this was the beginning of a major transformation as the hargila became part of the villages’ identity. Women in large numbers joined the conservation movement and are now known as “hargila army”, he said. While these women initially faced resistance, they finally prevailed in driving away the superstitious belief. Warning against superstition, the PM said it begets fear, and when fear dominates the mind, a person stops seeing the truth. People steeped in superstition begin making decisions without logic or facts, leading to great harm, he added, while hailing those who challenge such beliefs. Modi touched on quite a few other positive developments in the North-East, including Nagaland Baby League to nurture football talent from a young age; and Nagaland Women Futsal League, indoor football that is played in a smaller field. Highlighting the root bridges in Meghalaya, Modi spoke of community efforts behind their growth that convey their deep respect for nature. The PM also praised a Maharashtra family for providing accident insurance to nearly 3,500 people in their village on the occasion of a wedding in the family, while appreciating a group of women from Madhya Pradesh for converting plastic waste into eco-bricks and beautifying public spaces with them.