Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for a 10% reduction in cooking oil consumption to tackle rising obesity, while urging citizens to integrate fitness, yoga and healthy eating into their daily routines.
Speaking after inaugurating the Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandira at Adichunchanagiri in Mandya district, Modi emphasised the need to prioritise preventive healthcare. “Making yoga and healthy eating a part of everyday life is essential,” he said.
Highlighting the link between agriculture and nutrition, the Prime Minister encouraged farmers to adopt natural farming practices and urged the younger generation to embrace millets, including ‘ragi mudde’, a regional staple popularised by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.
Modi lauded the community service initiatives of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt in healthcare and education, recalling the contributions of the late Sri Balagangadharanatha Swami and its current head Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swami. He said such efforts complemented the government’s welfare agenda.
Referring to the expansion of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, Modi said it now covers senior citizens above 70 years, ensuring access to quality healthcare. “We are ensuring that the elderly receive healthcare with dignity, while crores of poor citizens continue to benefit from free treatment,” he added.
Describing Karnataka as a confluence of ‘Tattvagyan’ (philosophy) and ‘Tantragyan’ (technology), the Prime Minister said the state exemplified the blend of tradition and modernity. He also highlighted Mandya’s cultural identity as the ‘Sakkare Nagara’ (Sugar City), noting the role of institutions such as the Adichunchanagiri Mutt as a moral and spiritual anchor.
Drawing from the mutt’s guiding principles across food, education, health and spirituality, Modi proposed a broader national resolve. He urged citizens to conserve water, plant trees under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, maintain cleanliness in public and religious spaces, and promote self-reliance by adopting Indian products and boosting domestic tourism.
“We must protect Mother Earth while strengthening our domestic industries,” Modi said.
