The Nagaland unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formally launched the Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan in the state at the party headquarters in Kohima on Monday.
The Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, which commenced on September 25 in New Delhi, is a 90-day nationwide campaign inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of self-reliance. It seeks to revive the spirit of Swadeshi by encouraging citizens to support and promote Indian-made products, thereby strengthening the domestic economy.
Addressing media persons, Leader of the BJP Legislature Party and Deputy Chief Minister, Y Patton said the campaign was a reaffirmation of the Swadeshi pledge, describing it as the foundation of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He noted that adopting indigenous products is not only an economic decision but also an expression of cultural pride and national responsibility, reiterating the campaign’s call of “Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi.”
Reflecting on the historical roots of Swadeshi, Patton reminded that the movement was central to India’s freedom struggle, championed by leaders such as Lokmanya Tilak, Sri Aurobindo, and Mahatma Gandhi. He pointed out that although the early decades after independence saw a shift toward import dependence, the Swadeshi spirit was revived in 1964 by Dattopant Thengadi, who stressed the importance of economic self-sufficiency as a form of national security.
Patton said that this legacy evolved into the Atmanirbhar Bharat movement in 1991 and has since gained fresh momentum under Prime Minister Modi through initiatives like Make in India, Startup India, Digital India, and Vocal for Local. These, he said, have strengthened three key pillars of national development—Swadeshi (promotion of Indian goods), Swabhasha (promotion of Indian languages and indigenous knowledge), and Swabhusha (heritage, design, and aesthetics)—which together form the base of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
Highlighting India’s achievements in recent years, Patton recalled the nation’s swift response during the COVID-19 pandemic, when India transitioned from having no PPE production to manufacturing crores of PPE kits, ventilators, and vaccines within months. He added that India not only safeguarded its own population but also extended vital vaccine assistance to over 100 countries through the Vaccine Maitri initiative.
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Patton further cited that India had already achieved its renewable energy target of sourcing 50% of its installed capacity from green energy by 2025. Under the Make in India programme, he said, the country had made remarkable progress in defence production—manufacturing tanks, artillery, drones, and the indigenous fighter jet Tejas LCA Mk1A. He highlighted that India has also become a trusted global arms exporter, noting the export of the BrahMos supersonic missile worth USD 374.96 million to the Philippines.
He observed that India’s digital transformation had reached even the remotest villages, making it the world’s second-largest mobile producer, while the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has become a global model for innovation in digital finance. Similarly, national schemes such as the PM MITRA Parks and Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) programmes, alongside the National Education Policy 2020, are contributing to India’s growing self-reliance in both industry and education.
Calling for renewed commitment to the “Panch Pran” (five pledges) — promoting social harmony, environmental awareness, Swadeshi adoption, family values, and civic responsibility — Patton urged citizens to choose locally made goods to ensure that India’s economy remains self-sustaining.
He emphasized that the Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan goes beyond being a government policy and is, instead, a people’s movement aimed at connecting every citizen to the spirit of Swadeshi. As part of the campaign, he said, activities such as quiz and essay competitions, Swadeshi fairs, and seminars for traders, students, and entrepreneurs will be conducted nationwide.
In conclusion, Patton appealed to every citizen to take the Swadeshi pledge in their daily lives and actively promote local products. He urged the people to spread the message of “Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar-Ghar Swadeshi” to every household, asserting that true progress would be achieved only when self-reliance becomes a shared national ethos and a mark of collective pride.
