In the run-up to the elections, the PMO wants to address the criticism that Mann Ki Baat features too much one-way communication from PM Modi.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat is likely to be in for a makeover in the last few months of his NDA government’s tenure.
Faced with criticism from multiple groups and the opposition over the one-way communication format of the show, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is contemplating making it more interactive, highly placed sources have told ThePrint.
As of now, Mann Ki Baat doesn’t feature any live interaction from the audience. The PM reads out letters sent to him, while at times, pre-recorded voice messages from the audience are played out, to which he reacts.
Mann Ki Baat — broadcast on the entire All India Radio network — is one of Modi’s biggest mass outreach platforms. It was launched in October 2014, five months after the BJP-led government came to power at the Centre. The programme has often made the headlines on the day it is broadcast — usually on the last Sunday of each month (barring a few episodes which were broadcast on other Sundays).
The PMO is currently discussing the possibility of changes with many different stakeholders, an I&B ministry source told ThePrint. However, a final call is yet to be taken.
Also read: Four years of Modi’s Mann Ki Baat: Lots of policy & motivation, not one mention of BJP
Not the first change
This is not the first proposed improvement to the Mann Ki Baat programme; it has been fine-tuned several times.
This includes increasing the number of regional languages broadcast of the show, which are translated from the original Hindi and broadcast later on the same day.
Some months ago, the show began being broadcast in Sanskrit too (titled Manogatam), primarily to promote the language. In the August 2018 edition of the programme, Modi spoke about the preservation of Sanskrit in detail.
Private radio channels also broadcast Mann Ki Baat, while it is also visually adapted by Doordarshan, as well as private television news channels.
It is live streamed for the global audience and has listenership among the Indian diaspora, primarily in Australia, East Africa and India’s neighbouring countries.
Also read: With an eye on 2019, AIR launches programme to promote Modi and his schemes
50th anniversary show
Mann Ki Baat is touted as the most heard show on All India Radio, and is slated to be broadcast for the 50th time this month.
According to sources, the PMO is also scouting for fresh ideas for Modi to speak about on this golden jubilee show. Usually, the PM selects a couple of current issues and speaks on them, often peppered with best practices adopted by an individual or a group, or success stories.
“Several ideas had come up during discussions on the golden jubilee edition of Mann Ki Baat, from surgical strikes to the many other reforms carried out by this government,” a source privy to the developments said.
What’s the point in having an interactive Mann ki baat where some people are programmed to ask prepared questions? It’s a very welcome thing that the PM finally wants to interact and not just deliver grand sounding monologues. To really make these interactions meaningful, Mr Modi should start the practice of holding press conferences. He hasn’t had even one ever since he became the prime minister.