Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Sunday the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign in order to honour the martyred bravehearts of the country in the run up to Independence Day and urged people to upload their selfies while holding the sacred soil of the country.

The announcement came during PM Modi’s monthly address on his radio show, Mann Ki Baat. Modi said that with ‘Amrit Mohatsav’ resonating everywhere and August 15 near, a big campaign, ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ is being launched to honour the bravehearts, and programmes will be organised across India in memory of those who laid down their lives for the country.

“Special inscriptions will be installed in lakhs of village panchayats across the country in memory of these personalities,” Modi said, adding that an ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’ will also be taken out during this campaign.

“This ‘Amrit Kalash Yatra’, carrying the soil in 7,500 ‘kalash’ from villages and various corners of the country, will reach Delhi. This yatra will also carry plants from various parts of the country. From the 7,500 kalash, soil, and plants that will come, an ‘Amrit Vatika’ will be built close to the National War Memorial. This ‘Amrit Vatika’ will also become a grand symbol of ‘Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat’,” the PM said.

“I had talked about ‘Panch Prana’ for the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal from Red Fort last year. By participating in the ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’ campaign, we will also take an oath to fulfil these ‘five resolves’,” he added.

Modi also called upon people to upload their selfies while taking the oath and holding the sacred soil of the country. “All of you should certainly upload your selfies on yuva.gov.in while taking oath and holding the sacred soil of the country,” Modi said.

While addressing the nation on last Independence Day, the PM had announced the Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal- Goal of developed India, to remove any trace of colonial mindset, take pride in our roots, unity, and sense of duty among citizens.