Differently-abled boy and his loyalty to ODF

BHOPAL Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mention of a differently-abled boy’s passion to make his village open defecation free (ODF) in his radio address on Sunday has brought the family of a marginal farmer under the spotlight in a remote village in Madhya Pradesh.

Speech and hearing impaired Tushar Uradae of Kumhari village in Balaghat district, some 450km south east of Bhopal, will turn nine on December 25. He has a younger sister.

“You will be amazed to learn that Tushar, an eight-year-old differently-abled lad from Madhya Pradesh had taken a firm resolve to make his village open defecation free. It was a young boy faced with an enormous task. But his grit and determination were greater and mightier. The eight-year-old is speech impaired, but he used a whistle as an armament,” Modi said.

Thanks to Tushar’s commitment, he had already been made brand ambassador of the district in 2016, but the national recognition has made his family doubly proud. Now, Modi’s mention of Tushar has pitchforked the family from obscurity to limelight.

Talking to Hindustan Times over phone, Tushar’s father Santosh, who is a marginal farmer with 2.5 acres of land, said his son was very delighted that his work has been recognised. “I am getting calls and the villagers are flocking to our house congratulating me and my family. We are all feeling so proud of him.”

Santosh is worried about his future, though. “He does not go to any special school, and has a tough time coping with his studies. But I am also hopeful that his determination will stand him in good stead,” Santosh said.