PM Narendra Modi Urges Startups, Entrepreneurs to 'Team Up' Under 'Vocal for Local' Theme to Make India Atma Nirbhar in Toy Manufacturing Sector

New Delhi, August 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday during his Mann Ki Baat address urged the people of the country to become self-reliant in the toy manufacturing sector across the globe. He also urged the startups 'team up for toys' under 'vocal for local' theme to increase India's share in the global market.

Highlighting the importance for making 'toys for the world', PM Modi said, "There has been a rich tradition of local toys in our country. Many talented and skilled artisans possess expertise in making good toys. We have given the focus on toys in the National Education Policy too. Learning while playing, making toys etc has been made a part of the curriculum."

Urging the startups to be 'vocal for local' under the Atma Nirbhat Bharat initiative, PM Modi said, "I urge our start-up to team up for toys', this also matches our call for a vocal for local. I urge our young brothers to make games in India and also on India. The global toy industry is over Rs 7 lakh crore but India's share is very small; will have to work to increase it."

Citing examples of the expansion of indigenous toy-making industries in India, PM Modi said Channapatna in Ramnagaram (Karnataka), Kondaplli in Krishna (Andhra Pradesh), Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Dhubri in Assam, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh are recently developing as toy clusters. Apart from this, he said, "My appeal to the young talent of the country is Make Games Games in India and Make Games of India; it is said, Let the Game Begin...so come, let us play."

On the issue of developing online games, the Premier said, "I call upon my start-up friends and new entrepreneurs to team up for toys; let us together make toys; it is time for local toys. You also come forward, innovate and implement something; your efforts in today’s small startups will transform into global conglomerates tomorrow and make a mark for India."