NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat asked people to exercise care during celebrations. Onam is an international festival and the joy of it will be felt all over the world, he said.

‘During COVID period we saw unprecedented simplicity and restraint in our festivals. There is an inherent connection between our festivals and nature. Farmers are the ones who fight against adverse conditions. Agricultural production declined during the COVID period,’ he said.

Modi said India has talent and ability to become a toy hub for the entire world and called upon startups to work towards realising this potential while being vocal about local toys.

He said the global toy industry is over ₹7 lakh crore but India’s share is very small, as he stressed on the need to work to increase it.

Modi called upon start-up entrepreneurs to ‘team up for toys’ and said it is time to get vocal for local toys.

He also hailed farmers for increase in sowing area for different grains.

He also asked young entrepreneurs to develop computer games in and also about India.