JAMMU, Sep 27: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv Devraj Sharma today listened to the 138th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ along with local residents at Prem Nagar, Bansultan, and described the programme as an important platform for connecting national priorities with people’s participation at the grassroots level.
The 138th episode was broadcast on Sunday at 11 am. During the programme, the Prime Minister highlighted several examples of community participation, cleanliness, environmental protection, social service, cultural preservation and efforts to address social challenges. He also referred to Sheikhgund village in Anantnag, where local residents have undertaken efforts to create awareness against substance and tobacco use.
Speaking on the occasion, Adv Devraj Sharma said that the reference to Sheikhgund in Anantnag was particularly significant for Jammu and Kashmir, as it demonstrated how local communities can contribute towards addressing social challenges through collective action. He said that community-led initiatives, particularly those involving youth, can play an important role in strengthening social awareness and creating a healthier environment for future generations.
Sharma said that the message of public participation, cleanliness, environmental protection and social responsibility carries special relevance for Jammu and Kashmir. He maintained that the Union Territory has considerable potential in tourism, agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, youth entrepreneurship and other sectors, but sustained development requires active participation by citizens alongside government institutions.
He said Jammu and Kashmir’s youth should be encouraged to participate in constructive activities, skill development, entrepreneurship, sports and community service so that their energy can be channelled towards productive nation-building. He also stressed the importance of creating greater awareness about the harmful effects of substance abuse and strengthening community-level efforts for prevention and rehabilitation.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s emphasis on environmental protection and cleanliness, Sharma said that Jammu and Kashmir, with its mountains, forests, rivers, lakes and fragile ecological zones, has a particular responsibility towards environmental conservation. He called for greater public participation in keeping towns, villages, water bodies and tourist destinations clean and protecting the region’s natural resources.
He further said that the spirit of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ and other environmental initiatives should be translated into sustained grassroots action in J&K, with schools, youth groups, panchayats, civil society organisations and local communities participating actively in plantation and conservation activities.
Sharma also welcomed the broader emphasis on community participation in national development, saying that the progress of Jammu and Kashmir should not be viewed only through government projects and infrastructure but also through improvements in education, employment, public health, cleanliness, social harmony and opportunities for young people.
He said that ‘Mann Ki Baat’ provides examples from different parts of the country that can inspire similar community initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, adding that local solutions and public participation can complement government programmes and improve their reach at the grassroots.
“Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed enormous changes in recent years, and the next phase of development must be people-centric and participation-driven. Every citizen, particularly the youth, can contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous, clean and self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma said.
He urged people to listen to the Prime Minister’s monthly programme not merely as a broadcast but as an opportunity to identify ideas that could be adapted to local needs. He said that initiatives related to cleanliness, environmental conservation, social service, cultural heritage and youth engagement can be strengthened through collective community action.
Sharma also appreciated the local residents who assembled at Prem Nagar, Bansultan, to listen to the programme together, saying that such gatherings promote awareness and encourage discussion on issues of national and local importance.
The programme, which began as a monthly radio interaction with citizens, continues to feature examples of community initiatives from different parts of India. The Prime Minister’s official archive lists the preceding 137th episode on August 30, 2026.