Special invitee at ‘National Conclave: Mann Ki Baat@100’ goes into labour during event, delivers baby boy

A woman invitee gave birth to a baby boy after going into labour at the ‘National Conclave: Mann Ki Baat@100’, which was held recently in the national capital to celebrate the soon-to-be-aired 100 episodes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio address to fellow countrymen.

Poonam Devi, one of the event’s 100 special invitees, went into labour and was rushed to Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Poonam, whose name was mentioned in one of PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episodes, is from a small village near Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh and is a member of a Self Help Group that makes various products out of waste banana stems.

The family expressed their joy at welcoming a new member into their family on such a “momentous day.” The Lakhimpur Kheri Self Help Group makes handbags, mats, and other items out of fibre from banana stems, a one-of-a-kind initiative that not only provides an additional source of income for women in the village but also helps to reduce waste and promote sustainable practises.

Several Self-Help Groups in the area have embraced the initiative. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar kicked off the day-long ‘National Conclave: Mann Ki Baat@100’ event. Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah, Railways Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw, and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur were among those who attended the event. The event included discussions on a variety of topics, including ‘Naari Shakti’ (women’s power), people’s movements, and India’s culture and tradition.