At Toy Fair inauguration, PM Modi urges manufacturers to bring Indian stories to the world through toys

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a strong pitch for self-reliance in toy making, urging manufacturers to bring Indian stories to the world.

Inaugurating the first India Toy Fair, Modi noted that 85% of the toys sold in the India were from abroad which also brought along foreign ideas into the homes across the country.

“Indian kids talk more about stars from other countries, instead of Indian heroes and leaders,” the prime minister said underlining the need for imbibe Indian values, culture and teachings through toys manufactured locally.

He said India has now graded the toy industry in 24 major sectors and National Toy Action Plan has also been prepared to encourage domestic manufacturing. He said 15 ministries and departments that aim to make the industry competitive and self-reliant have been roped in the action plan.

“India has tradition and technology. We can take the world back towards eco-friendly toys. Our software engineers can through computer games take the stories of India to the world,” he said.

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The Prime Minister also interacted with traditional toymakers from Channapatnam, Varanasi and Jaipur and impress upon them the need to innovate and make toys more relevant keeping in view the changing taste of children.

Modi also exhorted toy manufacturers to use less plastic and more eco-friendly and recyclable material in a bid to increase the share of the domestic industry in the global market.

More than 1,000 exhibitors were participating in the Toy Fair 2021, which will continue till March 2.

The first toy fair is not just a business or economic event, the prime minister said, adding that it sought to strengthen the country's age-old culture of sports and cheer.

“This toy fair is one such platform where one can discuss toy design, innovation, technology, marketing and packaging and also share their experiences,” he said, adding the world has done research on toys from the era of Indus Valley civilisation, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.