Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, June 28, 2026, praised the people of Meghalaya for their centuries-old tradition of preserving living root bridges, sharing his admiration during the latest episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat.

Context

In his post, the Prime Minister wrote: 'India is proud of the people of Meghalaya for the manner in which they have preserved the root bridges.' The remark was made in the context of Mann Ki Baat, Modi's long-running public outreach programme broadcast on All India Radio, in which he regularly highlights grassroots achievements, cultural heritage, and community-led initiatives from across the country.

Living root bridges are a remarkable feat of bioengineering found in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills districts of Meghalaya, particularly around the village of Cherrapunji (Sohra) and Mawlynnong. These bridges are grown — not built — by training the aerial roots of the Indian rubber fig tree (Ficus elastica) across streams and ravines over decades, sometimes centuries.

Policy Backdrop

The recognition fits within a broader Central Government emphasis on safeguarding India's intangible and natural heritage. Meghalaya's living root bridges have been on India's tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, with community groups and state authorities working to formalise their preservation and document traditional Khasi knowledge systems associated with their cultivation.

Mann Ki Baat, which began in October 2014, has consistently served as a platform to amplify stories of local innovation and cultural stewardship that might otherwise receive limited national attention. Featuring such traditions on the programme typically boosts tourism interest and policy focus on the highlighted regions.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary stewards of these bridges are the Khasi and Jaintia tribal communities of Meghalaya, who have maintained the practice across generations as a functional solution to the region's heavy monsoon rainfall and difficult terrain. A single root bridge can take 15 to 30 years to become fully functional and can last for hundreds of years.

National recognition from the Prime Minister is expected to draw fresh attention to conservation funding, eco-tourism infrastructure, and the intellectual property rights of indigenous communities over their traditional ecological knowledge. Local guides, homestay operators, and craftspeople in the region stand to benefit from increased visitor footfall.

What's Next

The spotlight from Mann Ki Baat may accelerate ongoing efforts to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Meghalaya's living root bridges, a bid that requires sustained documentation and community consent processes. Central and state agencies may also be prompted to increase budgetary support for bio-heritage conservation in the Northeast region. The episode underscores a pattern of using the programme to build national pride around indigenous ecological wisdom ahead of broader heritage policy announcements.