PM Modi praises minor disabled Tushar for his dedication to cleanliness

Bhopal: Praising eight-year-old disabled boy Tushar for taking the initiative to free his village Kumhari in Balaghat district of the state from open defecation, while talking to the nation in the 38thedition of “Mann ki Baat” aired today Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “such examples are an inspiration for all of us”. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan extended his best wishes to Tushar for his constructive initiative. He also congratulated the office-bearers of Kumhari gram panchayat and the administrative team of Swachhata Mission of Balaghat district.

Modi said, “there is neither any age nor any limit for cleanliness. Be it a child or an aged person, woman or man, cleanliness is a must for all and every person needs to make some contribution for cleanliness.” He said that the disabled persons are determined, powerful, courageous and committed.

Praising disabled boy Tushar for his work, Modi said that Tushar has taken up the responsibility of making his village free from open defecation. Such a comprehensive work undertaken by such a small boy, was possible only due to his powerful commitment and passion.

The Prime Minister said that Tushar could not speak so he used his whistle as an instrument to wake villagers up at 5 in the morning moving from door-to-door and educating them not to defecate in the open. Thanks to this 8-year-old boy for visiting 30-40 houses daily and educating the villagers, Kumhari village is free from open defecation today.

Kumhari village, situated 7 kms away from the district headquarter, is made up of small huts. The population here depends on farming for a living besides working as daily wagers. At least 85 percent population of the district resides in villages. Until last year, no gram panchayat of the district had acquired the status of being open defecation free. A student of Saraswati Shishi Mandir, Tushar had come to know about the ill effects of open defecation and ever since decided to make people aware of it. Tushar is deaf and dumb by birth, so he decided to work by whistling to make people understand. Before leaving for school, he would get up at 5 am and go from door-to-door gesticulating people not to defecate in the open. When people did not listen to him, he would repeatedly whistle till they were compelled to listen to him. With the beginning of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, he would be enthusiastic about taking part in the related meetings. Tushar’s teacher Ratnesh Tripathi told that he is more aware about the campaign than other normal children. This initiative by Tushar has created awareness and people have changed their attitude.-Windowtonews