New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: In the hundredth radio show episode of ‘Maan Ki Baat’ on Sunda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the D Prakash Rao, popularly known as ‘Chai Wala’ of Cuttack.
Talking about Rao, the Prime Minister said, “Once we discussed Late D Prakash Rao, a tea seller, was engaged in the mission of teaching poor children, ” adding, “Be it Sanjay Kashyap, who runs digital libraries in a Jharkhand village, Hemlata NK, who helped many children through e-learning during Covid-19. We have referred to examples of many such teachers in ‘Mann Ki Baat'”.
Rao, a noted social activist, passed away on January 13, 2021, while undergoing treatment for Covid-19. He was undergoing treatment at the SCB Covid Hospital since December 25. He received the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2019 for providing free education to slum children in Cuttack City.
Apart from Rao, the PM remembered several heroes in the country.
“In every episode, the spirit of service and capability of the countrymen have inspired others. In this program, every countryman becomes an inspiration to other countrymen. In a way, every episode of Mann Ki Baat prepares the ground for the next episode. ‘Mann Ki Baat’ has always moved ahead with goodwill, the spirit of service-spirit, and the sense of duty,” Modi said.
