PM Modi touches feet of 'waste to wealth' woman at Odisha rally

In an earlier "Mann Ki Baat" radio address, PM Modi had praised her. Moharana had also sent a rakhi made from waste materials to the PM.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 29 bowed down to touch the feet of Kamala Moharana, who was featured in "Mann Ki Baat last year". Moharana, who is part of a self-help group and works on ‘waste to wealth’ and women empowerment, was overwhelmed by the PM’s gesture during a poll rally on the outskirts of Kendrapada town.

PM Shri @narendramodi ji showed true humility by not only stopping a mother from touching his feet, but by also bowing down to receive her blessings. This is what being a leader is about-mutual respect & equality, not power & superiority.

The true definition of 'Pradhan Sevak'! pic.twitter.com/e030KgbcRZ

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— Shobha Karandlaje (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ShobhaBJP) May 30, 2024

“I tried to touch Modi’s feet. But the Prime Minister suddenly bowed his head before me and touched my feet. I will never forget the moment in my life,” Moharana told Times of India.

In an earlier "Mann Ki Baat" radio address, PM Modi had praised her. Moharana had also sent a rakhi made from waste materials to the PM.

“Friends, waste to wealth is also an important dimension of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Kamala Moharana, a sister from Kendrapada district of Odisha, runs a self-help group (SHG). The women of this group make many things such as baskets and mobile stands from milk pouches and other plastic packing materials,” PM Modi said during the radio programme.

A resident of Khairabad under Gulnagar panchayat on the outskirts of Kendrapara town, Moharana manages the "Ma Thanapati" SHG. Formed in 2016, the SHG has around 30 women members who are engaged in converting waste items to beautiful materials like baskets, pen and mobile phone stands, flower pots, hand fans and wall hangings.

"My life changed dramatically from the day the Prime Minister heaped praise on my work. Modi is like my elder brother.Hence, I prepared a rakhi from waste materials ike plastic, polythene, zari and packets of food items, biscuits and milk, among others, and sent it to the PM through a post few months back," she said.

The four-phase election in Odisha has entered the final stage with six Lok Sabha seats, mostly in the coastal region, going to the polls on June 1. The Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 assembly segments under these six parliamentary seats may witness a close contest this time.