Meerut man elated over mention in PM Narendra Modi’s Akashvani speech

MEERUT: Gautam Pal, a city-based social activist, was thrilled to hear his own name mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his debut speech on Akashvani on Friday morning. The prime minister had recently launched a website, mygov.in, as a forum on which people could post suggestions. Pal had made a suggestion on that forum last week.

On All India Radio, Prime Minister Modi said, "These days, via e-mail, social media and Facebook, a lot of friends write to me. Gautam Pal expressed his concern that specially-abled children should be kept under the special schemes run by civic bodies such as municipal corporations, municipality board and village panchayat etc. We should raise their morale. I liked the idea, as I have my own experience. When I was chief minister of Gujarat, the paralympics were held in Athens in 2011. Specially-able children of Gujarat participated in the event and won medals. When they returned triumphantly, I invited them to my house and spent two hours with them. Perhaps that was the most emotional and motivating moment of my life."

"Specially-able children are the responsibility not just of their parents, but of the entire society. Maybe God chose her/his family, but that child is the responsibility of the whole nation. After that incident, I was touched, and organised sports meets for specially-able children in Gujarat. Thousands of children participated and their parents came to enjoy the event. A belief arose that we can do it. So the suggestions Gautam Pal sent me, I wanted to share," the prime minister said.

Speaking with TOI, Pal said, "This one was my second suggestion on the site. I posted it last week. It is such a big forum for social activists, and it gives us an opportunity to do our bit for the nation. I never thought that the Prime Minister himself would pay attention to my ideas and share my suggestion with the whole nation. I feel so charged hearing the speech, I cannot describe my feelings. This is the most memorable day of my life."