NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held an extensive meeting on ways to boost toy manufacturing in India and urged the start-ups and youngsters to focus on innovations in the sector.
During the meeting with senior ministers and officials, PM Modi said that toys can be an excellent way to further the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’
In a series of tweets, the PM said the government’s focus would be to support the sector and create toys that ensure physical fitness and holistic personality development.
“India is home to many toy clusters and talented artisans who can make toys that help strengthen life-skills and further psychomotor learning among children. We also discussed how latest technology can be harnessed in the toys manufacturing sector,” he wrote.

He further said, “Educational institutions can organise Hackathons on this as well. Another area that we want to focus on is creating toys that are environment friendly.”
While stressing on furthering the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,’ PM Modi said: “We must look at ways India’s civilisational greatness can be showcased through the toys that are made in our country.”
He added that a vibrant toys sector will further our dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
During the meeting, the impact of toys on psychomotor/cognitive skills of children and how it can become a means for societal change, thereby helping shape the future generation of the nation was also discussed, an official statement said.
The statement quoted Modi as saying that toys aligned with Indian culture and ethos should be used as pedagogical tools across all anganwadi centres and schools for all-round development of children.
Laying emphasis on the fast-growing digital gaming arena, Modi said India should tap the huge potential in this area and lead the international digital gaming sector by developing games that are inspired from Indian culture and folk tales.