New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Pulwama in Kashmir is playing an important role in educating the entire country as 90 per cent of the country's demand for the pencil slats and timber casings comes from this district.
Addressing his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, the Prime Minister said, 'My dear countrymen, today, Pulwama in Kashmir is playing an important role in educating the entire country. Today, when children all over the nation do their homework, or prepare notes, somewhere behind this lies the hard work of the people of Pulwama! The Kashmir Valley meets almost 90 per cent demand for the Pencil Slats, timber casings of the entire country, and of that, a very large share comes from Pulwama.'
'Once upon a time we used to import wood for pencils from abroad, but, now our Pulwama is making the country self-sufficient in the field of pencil making. In fact, these Pencil Slats of Pulwama are reducing the gaps between states! Chinar wood of the valley has high moisture content and softness, which makes it most suitable for the manufacture of pencils,' Mr Modi said.