Addressing the nation on National Voters’ Day, the Prime Minister referred to Jagdish Prasad Ahirwar, a beat guard posted in the forest areas of Panna. Modi said Ahirwar’s work stood out for its long-term value to conservation, research, and traditional knowledge systems. “The efforts of Jagdish Prasad Ahirwar from Panna district are very commendable,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi explained that while on routine forest patrols, Ahirwar realised that information on many medicinal plants found in the region’s forests was scattered and largely undocumented. Concerned that this traditional knowledge could be lost over time, the forest guard began systematically identifying medicinal plant species and recording their details.

According to the Prime Minister, Ahirwar documented more than 125 medicinal plants, noting each plant’s photograph, local and botanical names, medicinal uses, and precise forest locations. The collected data was later compiled by the Forest Department and published in book form, making it accessible to researchers, students, publishers, and forest officials.

Modi said such efforts reflect a growing public consciousness about environmental protection and knowledge preservation. He linked the initiative to the broader ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, under which more than 200 crore trees have been planted across the country. “This shows that people today want to contribute to nature conservation in some form or another,” he said.

The Prime Minister also used the programme to touch upon wider civic and developmental themes. Extending greetings on National Voters’ Day, he described voters as the “soul of democracy” and urged communities to celebrate first-time voters in the same way birthdays are celebrated, to deepen democratic participation.

Referring to India’s innovation ecosystem, Modi said the country has emerged as the world’s third-largest startup hub, with young entrepreneurs working across sectors such as artificial intelligence, space technology, nuclear energy, semiconductors, green hydrogen, mobility, and biotechnology. Emphasising manufacturing and services standards, he underlined that “Indian products should be synonymous with quality.”

By spotlighting a forest guard’s field-level initiative alongside national campaigns and innovation goals, Modi said individual commitment remains central to sustainable development and inclusive growth.