New Delhi, April 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reiterated the need to adopt natural farming for the welfare of future generations while saying that “we should protect mother earth from chemicals.” “I urge every farmer in Gujarat to switch from chemical farming to natural farming. If we don’t stop damaging our soil, Dharti Ma will no longer provide any produce despite the quality of our seeds,” the PM said. Addressing the 14th Foundation Day celebration at Umiya Mata Temple at Gathila, Junagadh in Gujarat on Rama Navami virtually, the Prime Minister said, “As we do not feed unnecessary medicines to our mother, we should not use unnecessary chemicals on our land too.” The PM also talked about measures to preserve land area like water preservation schemes like per drop more crop. While making an appeal to promote natural farming, the Prime Minister recalled the Jan Andolan undertaken during his tenure as Chief Minister of the state. He said that “we cannot afford to relax on the movement of water preservation.” He said that just as he and Keshubhai worked for water, current Chief Minister is working for mother earth. Talking about the occasion of Ram Navami, the Prime Minister said that when we think of Ramchandra ji, we remember Shabri, Kewat and Nishadraj too. “They have gained a place of respect in the heart of people over the years. This teaches us not to let anyone be left behind,” he said even as the BJP organises special programs on “social justice” throughout the country. Modi noted that a large number of girls from Gujarat are representing the country in Olympics. “Daughters of Gujarat have made us proud in various fields. In the Olympics too, 6 women were from the state,” he said. The PM also emphasized the need to be active against malnutrition among children and girls. He emphasized the need to take special care of nutrition of the expecting mothers. Pain of malnutrition needs to be completely eradicated, he stressed. He asked for healthy baby competition in the villages by the temple trust. The PM also requested for coaching classes for poor students and said that spaces and halls of the temple can also be used for yoga camps and classes. He also stressed his vision of 75 Amrit Sarovars in every district. He said that for the people of Gujarat who had made thousands of check dams, this should not be too big a task but the impact of this effort will be huge. Stressing on the need for a social movement, the PM asked this task to be completed before 15 August, 2023. Referring to the efforts during the pandemic, the Prime Minister said that “the virus is very deceptive and we have to remain vigilant against this.” He said that India has performed an amazing feat of administering 185 crore doses of vaccines. Umiya Maa is the Clan-deity or Kuldevi of the Kadava Patidar comm ty in Gujarat. Inauguration of the temple was also done by the PM in 2008, when he was the Chief Minister of the state. The Prime Minister greeted the gathering on the auspicious occasion of the foundation day of the temple and Ram Navami. Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel and on Minister Parshottam Rupala were among those present on the occasion. ASU SHK2027