M Nethra, daughter of a Madurai-based salon owner, has been appointed as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador to the Poor’ for the United Nations Association for Development and Peace (UNADAP). The 13-year-old girl convinced her father to donate Rs 5 lakh, saved for her marriage and higher education, to needy during the coronavirus lockdown. Her fascinating story of service before self has earned her praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his monthly radio programme ”Mann Ki Baat”. PM Modi also praised Mohan, father of Nethra, for spending his entire savings to help people in distress during the coronavirus lockdown.
UNADAP in a statement has said that Nethra will be given the opportunity to speak at the United Nations (UN) conferences in New York addressing civil society forums and conferences. This position will allow her to speak to world leaders, academics, politicians and civilians – encouraging them to reach out to the poorest of the poor. Nethra’s benevolent gesture has also helped her bag The Dixon Scholarship worth Rs 1, 00,000.
“We are simple people from a small family. We never expected such kind of honour. It was Nethra who was very much moved by the people’s distress during the lockdown and urged him to help them,” said Mohan, Nethra’s father. He further added that Nethra aspires to become a civil servant and wants to work towards alleviation of poverty and hunger. The family is also grateful to their daughter’s school which has been bearing her educational expenses for over two years now.
